It's Longmire's squad now!

[DST]

Raw numbers can be misleading because of the number of ruck contests the Swans compete at each game. I don't think it's as big a problem as Nico makes out though.

Agree, hence why I added our average differential against our direct opponents for the year.

Statistically you might get alot of stoppages in our games, but it's important to show that when we do we beat our opponents on average more than almost all the teams.

Not sure if we can get them, but stats on scoring shots from clearances, first hands on the ball and contested possesions would be very interesting to see and I would take a stab that we would be above average when compared to our direct opponents.

What these three stats do show is that when we return to getting first hands on the ball, winning clearances and contested possesion our scoring and game winning rates increase significantly and you can see why we choose to play the game style we do as it is a proven formula for our side. When last year these three key stats dropped off so did our wining rate.

DST

[Red]

Paul Chambers - Ruck Coach
Stefan Carey - Hair Stylist

The big question is will Horse coach from the sideline?

[Cheer_Cheer]

Troy Luff to look after the inter change bench..

[Primmy]

Stuey is already coaching from the sidelines.....I love having a passionate and involved runner.....flirted with the thought of Kirky as a runner......disaster.

Leo as interchange would be interesting. Or perhaps "I have nothing to say" Crouch......

[ScottH]

Raw numbers can be misleading because of the number of ruck contests the Swans compete at each game. I don't think it's as big a problem as Nico makes out though.

You're right about the raw stats, but it showed big time on Sat night (2nd half) and in the 3rd qtr in the EF.
Nico makes a valid point, one he's made a few times.

We don't have a "silky" skilled player who can get the ball and plant it on the chest of a leading forward.
We do just bang it forward and hope for the best.
Jude's been doing it for years.
Jack is fast becoming that player we need, but he doesn't have the kicking skills of some of the elite players.

Troy Luff to look after the inter change bench..

Would've thought Jesse White had that job in the bag.

[robamiee]

As per "RED" wonder if Horse will coach from the sidelines?????.....................
i dont know why the instance on clearances when we were ranked high in that area...HOwever we do need a line breaking midfielder "JUDD" mould..i think that is the one thing we do not have is that CLASSY & EXPLOSIVE midfielder other teams have.

[Triple B]

Punters Club Treasurer - Kieran Jack

[Lucky Knickers]

Thanks Nico for posting. I actually started another thread not realising there was all this discussion going on - too damn busy at work and making up for all the neglect in the last few weeks.
Plus distracted by all the new roles and awards being made.
Scott - if you can merge the threads on clearances that would be great - it's a really interesting discussion and one I'm keen to improve my knowledge on and realise so much is around the definition.
I just look our clearance work and always think "phew...we got it away" but totally agree with Nico considering we are more defensive at the stoppage and often focussed on blocking that we don't really have a lot of clean take away.

[Nico]

Thanks Nico for posting. I actually started another thread not realising there was all this discussion going on - too damn busy at work and making up for all the neglect in the last few weeks.
Plus distracted by all the new roles and awards being made.
Scott - if you can merge the threads on clearances that would be great - it's a really interesting discussion and one I'm keen to improve my knowledge on and realise so much is around the definition.
I just look our clearance work and always think "phew...we got it away" but totally agree with Nico considering we are more defensive at the stoppage and often focussed on blocking that we don't really have a lot of clean take away.

LK, I watch this every game because it has bugged me for a longtime. Stats might show we are good at clearances but I am very specific on centre clearances. We have always been competitive around the ground. A couple of years ago there was an article I read on how we leave a gaping hole at the back of the pack at centre bounces that clubs exploited. Nothing has changed. I know rotations mean we can't have the same players at all centre bounces, but there is no doubt this season when Jack and Hannaberry have been in combo things have happened for us. Goodes often comes quickly in off the wing at times and is able to snag a centre clearance. The ideal players to have a centre bounce contests are Goodes, Jack, Hannaberry and McGlynn because they read the play, have quick reflexes and go straight at the footy.

You can't win them all but 50/50 would be nice. It gets me why there isn't a seperate stat on centre clearances.

[Xie Shan]

Just from watching our games (without looking at any stats), I'd guess that we would go close to breaking even on the raw numbers (total centre clearances won), but in terms of how many are quick kicks forward under pressure vs. clean, quick centre clearances, then I would definitely agree with Nico that we don't have a lot of the latter category because we do have a tendency to turn it into a scrap at the centre bounces. It's definitely an area we can improve on now that we have players like Jack and Hannebery in the side.

[Lucky Knickers]

A couple of years ago there was an article I read on how we leave a gaping hole at the back of the pack at centre bounces that clubs exploited.

I seem to recall watching a footy show, I think it was probably something on Fox and Dunstall rings a bell, where Dean Bailey was going through some match tactics. He had some vision and drawings on WCE centre clearance set-up and was showing how they set up at centre clearances with that hole deliberately so the inside player would clear through that gap at the back to Judd/Cousins and they would wheel out and then send it forward. Bailey was training the young Dees to block that up that hole but of course on the game day they couldn't execute the plan but it was very clear on the vision they showed.
This was a few years ago not long after Bailey took over.

[The Big Cat]

Hasn't Berbakov gone to St Kilda and Dew elevated?

[Bas]

Hasn't Berbakov gone to St Kilda and Dew elevated?

Yes and Yes

[wolftone57]

LK, I watch this every game because it has bugged me for a longtime. Stats might show we are good at clearances but I am very specific on centre clearances. We have always been competitive around the ground. A couple of years ago there was an article I read on how we leave a gaping hole at the back of the pack at centre bounces that clubs exploited. Nothing has changed. I know rotations mean we can't have the same players at all centre bounces, but there is no doubt this season when Jack and Hannaberry have been in combo things have happened for us. Goodes often comes quickly in off the wing at times and is able to snag a centre clearance. The ideal players to have a centre bounce contests are Goodes, Jack, Hannaberry and McGlynn because they read the play, have quick reflexes and go straight at the footy. You can't win them all but 50/50 would be nice. It gets me why there isn't a seperate stat on centre clearances.

You are right we do leave gaping holes but on the defensive side of the centre bounce & sides like Geelong & Pies set up on that side. We also set up on our defensive side but our players seem to set too close together. The idea is to have one player central & one either side about 2 to 3 metres away, this allows for both attack & defense but if the players are too close together they get bunched alowing the opposition space on the sides. The wingers & h/backs act as the outriders to take the dish off.Our wing options sometimes come too strait into the contest & are often times caught out of position in an opposition break or congest the centre. The half backs get it right but if the opposition get a centre break they are suddenly exposed. The other thing is we give them the space &instead of varying our set up to play to the oppositions weaknesses we stay static until they get a few centre clearances then we go on the defensive & defensive footy means lots of stoppages which we are reasonably good at still but you cna't rely on those to score a lot of goals. A quick break from the centre is still the most direct & fastest road to goal.

[31 hard at it]

Reported in todays Sunday Herald Sun that Leigh Tudor will quit the Saints coaching panel at season end and join Longmire at Swans.
Tudor will replace Berbakov who leaves Swans for Saints.
"Tudor worked under Mark Thompson at the Cats before joining St Kilda, where his knowledge and insight was said to be extraordinary.
His playing career soanned eight seasons 1989 - 96 with Geelong and North Melbourne".