Good piece from Kieren about what went wrong against Geelong

[RedDragon1972]

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2010/08/01/swans-gave-all-against-a-slick-geelong-cats/

[Margo]

pretty well summed up.

[Primmy]

I imagine his honestly sessions would be fairly bare boned. Future leader? wouldn't surprise me.

[giant]

I think he might be kidding himself a bit about his contest with Selwood - Selwood was just outstanding I thought. Clearly the best young mid in the competition for mine - I'd kill for one of those at the Swans. Who knows, maybe young Dan might be.

[Kirkari]

I love Kieren but maybe not so much well said by him as well prepared by Roos.

[Nico]

He was seriously flogged by Selwood. So many times he was acres away from him and at centre clearances Selwood regularly lost him on the other side of the pack. His comment about midfield matchups just about explains our last 4 years of deplorable centre clearance rates. It is matchups, matchups, matchups that never seem to work. What about a few blokes making the ball their object like all good sides do at cemtre bounces.

By the way the Goodes on the ball experiment appears to have been abandoned after 2 successful weeks.

I reckon we give up 3 or 4 goals a week due to our centre clearance trouncing.

[Nico]

I love Kieren but maybe not so much well said by him as well prepared by Roos.

IMHO Jack is a far better and creative footballer when he is not tagging. I don't know that Roosey has done him any favours in that regard.

[Kirkari]

IMHO Jack is a far better and creative footballer when he is not tagging. I don't know that Roosey has done him any favours in that regard.

I was just talking about his press conference.

[Primmy]

A man who does not believe he is beaten is not beaten.

[satchmopugdog]

A man who does not believe he is beaten is not beaten.

Fight ya weaky..it's only a flesh wound

[Chilcott]

[QUOTE=Nico;499712]He was seriously flogged by Selwood. So many times he was acres away from him and at centre clearances Selwood regularly lost him on the other side of the pack. His comment about midfield matchups just about explains our last 4 years of deplorable centre clearance rates. It is matchups, matchups, matchups that never seem to work. What about a few blokes making the ball their object like all good sides do at cemtre bounces.

Agree Nico. Several of our on-ballers have a very defensive mindset. That's fair enough around the ground, to a certain extent, but we often get beaten in the middle because the focus is not on the ball, but on their opponent.

We are often second to the ball because of it.

[Matty10]

He was seriously flogged by Selwood. So many times he was acres away from him and at centre clearances Selwood regularly lost him on the other side of the pack. His comment about midfield matchups just about explains our last 4 years of deplorable centre clearance rates. It is matchups, matchups, matchups that never seem to work. What about a few blokes making the ball their object like all good sides do at cemtre bounces.

By the way the Goodes on the ball experiment appears to have been abandoned after 2 successful weeks.

I reckon we give up 3 or 4 goals a week due to our centre clearance trouncing.

What were the centre clearance stats? I don't have those particular numbers to compare, but in general, our clearance work on the weekend was pretty good (we basically broke even with Geelong). We certainly didn't get slaughtered by that on the weekend - our big problem was turnovers (where they scored heavily) and our inability to stop Geelong's run (or apply any pressure) when they had the ball, which meant our backs had little help in stopping their forwards. Combine that with our inability to convert, and the tale is told.

I am not saying that this has been the case for the whole year, but I am not sure that it was the big problem on the weekend.

[ugg]

According to afl.com.au we won centre clearances 36-35. What it doesn't tell you though is how many were clean clearances because Geelong certainly would have smashed us in that regard.

[Go Swannies]

According to afl.com.au we won centre clearances 36-35. What it doesn't tell you though is how many were clean clearances because Geelong certainly would have smashed us in that regard.

I'm not convinced. Our ruckmen didn't seem to be having a dominant night but it was just the turnovers under pressure that killed us. We got the ball okay but a few seconds later it was heading to our defensive 50 and a certain goal. Inaccuracy all around the ground cost us. But if we apply the same pressure - and kick a bit straighter - I think we can win a home game at the SCG against the Hawks. Despite the hype, they are a lot more Blues than Cats.

[Go Swannies]

More by Ben:

Time for Swans to start delivering: McGlynn



Time for Swans to start delivering: McGlynn - AFL.com.au

?You can sit there and talk and have all the meetings you want but it?s more about your attitude on the field and what you can deliver.?

?Actions speak louder than words so hopefully we can do that this weekend.?

Where a lack of effort was the chief concern after the surprise 73-point loss to Melbourne, McGlynn said skill execution cost the Swans dearly against the Cats.

Amen to that Benny.