Roos and the Youngsters

[Hartijon]

Can someone tell me the geographical imperative that the RWO posters who are most strident in their criticism of the team and Roos are those outside the Sydney-Melbourne corridor? I've been noticing it for a few days. Is it that distance gives more objectivity or is it that it makes people more alienated?

This is an interesting point. You could argue either way. As I am definately one of the people you mention (as Chiang Mai Thailand is certainly not in the Sydney Melbourne corridor)my point of view is
1.I miss Aussie rules and Australia a lot
2. I am the only one in my workplace that follows the Swans
3.I get ridiculed by clowns who don't know a Sherrin from a Burleigh when we lose
4. I desperately want the team to get back to the top 4.
5. All my posts are to that end.What is the best thing the coaches,players etc can do to become a top 4 side

If that means i am sometimes(not always) critical..so be it.i am desperate for success. The distance makes that desperation keener!I wait with anticipation for the telecast ,BBQ ready,beers cold and have a little bit of Australia during the game. I hate it when they lose,my week is never good after that.

[Swandering]

I'm not willing to criticise the coach as, for me, he has the track record. Many times there have been questions about his tactics, and then later he is proven totally correct.

However, it seems to me that the young guys who have been given a chance this year have been dropped after giving what I considered to be quite solid performances. This is on my mind as I have just seen that Meredith has been dropped for this week. I thought his performances over the last few weeks have been great, certainly I couldn't fault his dedication. Last week there were a few camera shots from behind the goals on the kick-ins that showed him as the only forward running his heart out from player to player, trying to put pressure on the defence. It didn't always pay off, but he was the only one I could see who was actually making the attempt. Of course, him against 4 or 5 opposition was never going to be effective every time. He also did some great tackling.

Another one in this position is Rohan. It seems that they get three games to begin making a difference, then as soon as they do, they get dropped.

What's going on?

[Scottee]

On McVeigh and ROK; McVeigh finished the Carlton game with a calf injury and ROK appears to be carrying a groin injury since that game. (victims of the ground). My problem with their form is that perhaps they shouldn't be out there. Over the past few years we appear to have been playing injuured players regularly when maybe we should have been resting them. I am not convinced our injury management has been that flash over the past few years.

My thoughts exactly. Too many players obviously injured and still playing. Will be very pee'd off if Pyke rolls his already injured ankle this week and misses half the Game when Curry could have played in his place and offered the team some of the things that Pyke doesn't.

[liz]

Don't know Gordon's work Liz - where would he play and whom would he replace?

Who he replaces probably depends on who the 2 or 3 senior players are that Roos wishes he could drop. As he himself has pointed out to we fans, it is all about following coach instructions so he would have a better idea than us about who the worst offenders are. From my perspective, Goodes, McGlynn, Hanners, Malceski, Kennelly (good other than against Melbourne), Jack, Mumford and Grundy should have no question marks over their positions in the team. Pyke is only facing competition from Currie, while Bolton has been decent enough over the past month, even if not quite at the top of his game. Kirk probably gets a pass because of who he is. Ted isn't best equipped for the role he's currently being asked to play but has made a decent fist of it for the past couple of weeks and there is no-one really to replace him.

The rest have all been dodgy to different degrees. Some (eg ROK) almost certainly have injury excuses but that doesn't mean they should keep playing. Who knows about the rest.

In terms of where Gordon would play - probably the same "spare parts" role that most of our youngsters get given to play when they come into the team. He's been playing mostly onball in the reserves this year but I don't see him as a natural onballer at senior level. He would probably best slot in as a hardworking half forward flanker. He is very fit, has decent enough pace, is very good overhead (and probably stands at about 186cm) and while not an elite kick, certainly can snare a goal or two.

[jono2707]

In terms of where Gordon would play - probably the same "spare parts" role that most of our youngsters get given to play when they come into the team. He's been playing mostly onball in the reserves this year but I don't see him as a natural onballer at senior level. He would probably best slot in as a hardworking half forward flanker. He is very fit, has decent enough pace, is very good overhead (and probably stands at about 186cm) and while not an elite kick, certainly can snare a goal or two.

I reckon he could be given a run-with role in a similar manner to how Jack and Smith have been brought into the team recently. If he can run and follow instructions, and with the tenacity I saw him exhibit last weekend, he might do ok as a tagger as an educational introduction to senior footy.

[Captain]

Who he replaces probably depends on who the 2 or 3 senior players are that Roos wishes he could drop. As he himself has pointed out to we fans, it is all about following coach instructions so he would have a better idea than us about who the worst offenders are. From my perspective, Goodes, McGlynn, Hanners, Malceski, Kennelly (good other than against Melbourne), Jack, Mumford and Grundy should have no question marks over their positions in the team. Pyke is only facing competition from Currie, while Bolton has been decent enough over the past month, even if not quite at the top of his game. Kirk probably gets a pass because of who he is.

Kennelly definitely has a question mark. He is one who needs to lift his game for us to start winning games.

Bolton has been magnificent this year and is way ahead of Kennelly in the 'no question mark' section.

[liz]

Kennelly definitely has a question mark. He is one who needs to lift his game for us to start winning games.

Bolton has been magnificent this year and is way ahead of Kennelly in the 'no question mark' section.

I was thinking specifically about the last month of footy. Kennelly has been in the best handful in 3 out of 4 of those games, including being right up there with Goodes in last week's debacle.

Bolton has had some very good moments this year but his last month has been OK, rather than great. He's certainly been the best performed of our 4 man senior onball team (from which I am excluding Goodes) but that really isn't saying much.

[Lucky Knickers]

McVeigh?

[Captain]

I was thinking specifically about the last month of footy. Kennelly has been in the best handful in 3 out of 4 of those games, including being right up there with Goodes in last week's debacle.

Bolton has had some very good moments this year but his last month has been OK, rather than great. He's certainly been the best performed of our 4 man senior onball team (from which I am excluding Goodes) but that really isn't saying much.

It is much easier to remember the last month, though surely you have to look at the year as a whole. Wouldn't suprise me to see Jude leading our B&F.

As for Kennelly, I like him, loved him at his peak, just feel the game has gone past him. I definitely hope I'm wrong! Then again, maybe I'm just bitter about him being played in the backline when he is a rubbish defender. Maybe if he played on a wing or HFF then that would be the way to go.

[Captain]

McVeigh?

Yep. Hopefully McVeigh is carrying on injury, if not then our midfield is in a bit of trouble. Same goes for ROK.

[liz]

It is much easier to remember the last month, though surely you have to look at the year as a whole. Wouldn't suprise me to see Jude leading our B&F.

As for Kennelly, I like him, loved him at his peak, just feel the game has gone past him. I definitely hope I'm wrong! Then again, maybe I'm just bitter about him being played in the backline when he is a rubbish defender. Maybe if he played on a wing or HFF then that would be the way to go.

In terms of picking a team for now, I would have thought form over the past month was a reasonable basis to do it.

[royboy42]

Notice there are rarely quick, smart alec replies to posts from Liz? Nice to have a thoughtful, logical poster here. Lifts out average football IQ a bit (including mine).

[Captain]

In terms of picking a team for now, I would have thought form over the past month was a reasonable basis to do it.

So if someone played 12-14 excellent games and had an off month you would drop them?

With Kennelly, it is a difficult one. He has a lot of credits in the bank and is obviously a very good player. I just feel that his influence on games is not what it was. Hence maybe moving him to a wing or HFF would be ideal.

[royboy42]

Sigh!

[Melbournehammer]

So if someone played 12-14 excellent games and had an off month you would drop them?

With Kennelly, it is a difficult one. He has a lot of credits in the bank and is obviously a very good player. I just feel that his influence on games is not what it was. Hence maybe moving him to a wing or HFF would be ideal.

I'm with Captain on this. Kennelly was my absolute favourite player 2003-2007 - he was fast, clean, exciting, risk-taking, would handpass receive another another distribute to hall or rok on a lead, receive it again and so on. He played the game as I really liked it - hbf to ff by handpass and foot and three possessions - it was great.

I've watched him really closely this year. His speed has gone - his defensive skills are really bad - he looks to give a free rather than a contest at times. And whether its the team or our style he is often handpassing to very stationary players and they get hammered. I'm not at all convinced that his last month has been all that flash - sure he played well against a geelong which was completely dominant.