R19, AFL 2010 Swans V Hawks: Pre-game discussion

[CJK]

I have to be in Singapore this weekend.

/checks Australian Network

Confirmed! Midday! \o/

[Go Swannies]

The Cats fan I sat next to on Sat night was insistent that LRT only got a game as his old man paid the club to ensure he got a spot.

$1.2 mill/year

W.T.F??

She was good value apart from that madness.

To keep the conspiracy going, I bough raffle tickets at the Blues AM from LRT's sister - only looks like him in a good way. Sophie? But yes, The RTs have been big supporters of the club.

But anyone who watched the past 2 weeks and didn't wish for LRT to be out there isn't following the game.

[ShockOfHair]

Some exciting ideas on player motivation here.
Fears for North Korea's World Cup coach after team subjected to six-hour grilling

[Melbournehammer]

To keep the conspiracy going, I bough raffle tickets at the Blues AM from LRT's sister - only looks like him in a good way. Sophie? But yes, The RTs have been big supporters of the club.

But anyone who watched the past 2 weeks and didn't wish for LRT to be out there isn't following the game.

I'll bite for the sake of it. (And this is a little tongue in cheek - lets be clear he wouldn't have done much worse)

But exactly which tall forward killed us the last two weeks ? Would things have been better if LRT played on green ? played on Johnson ? Ablett ? Wonamierri ? Are we saying he would have floated across packs to take marks from the incredibly poor delivery over the past two weeks to packs of players ? Who could he have zoned off on ?

Again structurally he is important as the cascading effect of having richards play on a tall (and fwiw I think he beat mooney on sat night and i don't think grundy was beaten either) means that richards (who plays loose better than anyone else in our team) was forced to play tight which meant that each subsequent small defender was caught playing on a slightly better forward without any meaningful support.

the reality is that our defeats this season have not been due to our poor defenders with the possible exception of some of the comedy of errors in the st kilda game and the first geelong game. So I'm not critical of LRT's games (although he has been at times well beaten by hall, riewoldt).

LRT would have made almost no difference on sat night and little enough difference against melbourne. The problem starts in the poor structures in the forward line meaning that the ball comes back frighteningly fast without any opposition and a midfield that has been crushed too often (and on sat night with appalling kicking at goal which prevented us applying any scoreboard pressure and exacerbated their scoring prowess to half-time).

LRT tries hard and has his strong defenders on this website and elsewhere but make anythign other than a marginal difference - nope.

[hammo]

Roos gave White a fair whack after the game, so he may well be a candidate for the axe.

As has happened a few times now White has been recalled to the seniors far to quickly. It's a combination of injuries and getting carried away with flattering reserves form (he kicked a bag about a month ago but it's certainly wasn't due to where he was leading).

Clearly he needs to go back to the 2s and be closely coached on where to lead. Any goals he kicks from pack marks in Canberra should be discounted because it simply doesn't happen consistently at AFL level - to any forward. When he kicks a bag as a result of marks taken from good leads then he should come back in.

Frankly I see no reason why Johnston shouldn't play this week in place of White. As a leading forward his lighter frame should be less of an issue.

[Go Swannies]

I'll bite for the sake of it. (And this is a little tongue in cheek - lets be clear he wouldn't have done much worse)

But exactly which tall forward killed us the last two weeks ? Would things have been better if LRT played on green ? played on Johnson ? Ablett ? Wonamierri ? Are we saying he would have floated across packs to take marks from the incredibly poor delivery over the past two weeks to packs of players ? Who could he have zoned off on ?

Again structurally he is important as the cascading effect of having richards play on a tall (and fwiw I think he beat mooney on sat night and i don't think grundy was beaten either) means that richards (who plays loose better than anyone else in our team) was forced to play tight which meant that each subsequent small defender was caught playing on a slightly better forward without any meaningful support.

the reality is that our defeats this season have not been due to our poor defenders with the possible exception of some of the comedy of errors in the st kilda game and the first geelong game. So I'm not critical of LRT's games (although he has been at times well beaten by hall, riewoldt).

LRT would have made almost no difference on sat night and little enough difference against melbourne. The problem starts in the poor structures in the forward line meaning that the ball comes back frighteningly fast without any opposition and a midfield that has been crushed too often (and on sat night with appalling kicking at goal which prevented us applying any scoreboard pressure and exacerbated their scoring prowess to half-time).

LRT tries hard and has his strong defenders on this website and elsewhere but make anythign other than a marginal difference - nope.

The point I was making was not just his role playing on a tall forward but as an invaluable final line of defence. Much of this year we've seen LRT take one saving mark after another (or there's been a point scored off his hands) after our midfield broke down so the ball was heading our way fast. I only saw the game live on Saturday and haven't had the heart to watch the replay but it seemed that at least six of our scoring shots became points when a Cats player got fingers or foot to the ball. At the other end no-one was doing that in the absence of LRT so an exceptional number of their shots were goals.

[aardvark]

I spoke to Bird on Saturday. He said he's ready to play - and so are LRT and Smith. I asked if he thought they'd be brought back into the seniors straight away and he wouldn't comment.

I knew i'd seen it somewhere, thx GS.

[aardvark]

Roos gave White a fair whack after the game, so he may well be a candidate for the axe.

White has hands of stone and no feel for the game at all. Its also quite possible he is uncoachable. We should trade him while he is still worth something / Ducks for cover....

[Margo]

First up, I am no expert on the game. However, I want to throw in my 2 bits worth. I am not a HUGE fan of LRTs because of his clangers. (I do concede that his clangers are more noticeable than most). But I did wish he was there on Sat night. We may not have won, but I believe he would have been valuable. He positions himself well and never gives up. I was at the game and watched most players very closely. I wasn't upset at all after the game, felt that most players gave their all, and was really happy to see Jude and Goodes in fantastic form. Not so with Jesse. I too cannot work him out. Is it a confidence thing ? He seems to be "polite" to the opposition. His size (and tatts) look intimidating but he was too often standing around, not bothering anyone. As I said, I am no expert, but does anyone see any value in putting him in defence to see how he goes ? He might see things from the other side, he has the size to bump forwards out of the way, and a good straight kick which may get the ball going forward quicker for us than it is now. He wouldn't have to think about where to lead, just stick with his man. Just a thought.
Prediction: Jetta will get his long awaited goal this Saturday afternoon. Cannot wait. Bless him. How fast and exciting was that run on Sat night.

[ugg]

Clearly he needs to go back to the 2s and be closely coached on where to lead. Any goals he kicks from pack marks in Canberra should be discounted because it simply doesn't happen consistently at AFL level - to any forward.

Except he's not even going for those pack marks at senior level. I think that's what the coaches are really on about, really hit the pack hard and split some heads open like he did against Lachie Hansen earlier this year. I think his general leading was fine on Saturday, just that his teammates didn't want to kick it to him.

He isn't very good with the picking up the loose ball on the ground either, he totally messed one up against the Cats.

[reigning premier]

Invited a lot of friends along to the game for the fwd pocket function. Not looking fwd to being embarassed by my team at all. At least the bar will be open.

[ugg]

Latest word is Smith and LRT will miss but Rohan under consideration for a recall


Development over finals - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club

[Melbournehammer]

Except he's not even going for those pack marks at senior level. I think that's what the coaches are really on about, really hit the pack hard and split some heads open like he did against Lachie Hansen earlier this year. I think his general leading was fine on Saturday, just that his teammates didn't want to kick it to him.

He isn't very good with the picking up the loose ball on the ground either, he totally messed one up against the Cats.

Yeah I agree. There was one occasion where someone marked in front of white and he sort of went for a half spoil with the hand. Plugger would have killed the guy. Even accepting for a change in the way the game is played jesse needs to take the man and the ball a little more often when someone seeks to mark in front of him.

[Matt79]

Invited a lot of friends along to the game for the fwd pocket function. Not looking fwd to being embarassed by my team at all. At least the bar will be open.

I must say the only time I have felt 'embarassed' watching the Swannies was against Melbourne last Sunday week...no effort and very little heart. Against the Cats the effort, hardness and determination was there...unfortunately the class was not. Injuries have a fair bit to do with that!

[Go Swannies]

Latest word is Smith and LRT will miss but Rohan under consideration for a recall


Development over finals - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club

"The Swans remain in the eight despite successive losses to Carlton, Melbourne and Geelong". No wonder we're in doubt for finals when even the club website doesn't credit our wins!