Worst win we've had for a long time.

[giant]

Yes, Scott, yes it was.

I've lived thru some awful crap with the Swans but that makes three games in a row where I haven't managed to keep watching till the end - and we won two of those games! Playing with no confidence, no system and only occasional moments of ticker. Need something or someone to turn this on its head or it all ends in tears.

[barry]

Horse has a lot to answer for. We recruit a forward (Johnson) as an early draft pick. We play him in defense in the reserves for a few years. Then when he gets a game he's played forward.

Perfect way to confuse a young player. Ordinary coaching. Blind freddy could tell you the positions open in the seniors this year are forward. Why wasnt Johnson played up forward in the 2's for all of 2011?

[swansrule100]

I stand by my belief that they will merge with the GC within 5 years.

would gold coast want to merge with that rabble?

[Plugger46]

Don't knock winning games - that's as relieved as I've been since the EF last year. We'll get some players back and we'll get better. I don't think we've played particularly well all year and we're 6th, a game and % out of the top 4

[dimelb]

Horse has a lot to answer for. We recruit a forward (Johnston) as an early draft pick. We play him in defense in the reserves for a few years. Then when he gets a game he's played forward.

Perfect way to confuse a young player. Ordinary coaching. Blind freddy could tell you the positions open in the seniors this year are forward. Why wasn't Johnston played up forward in the 2's for all of 2011?

I suspect because he already knows how to do that, as we saw on Saturday. I also suspect it's about versatility. No more one-trick ponies.

[Primmy]

I never know whether a Swans match is any good until I see the replay. Too focused on the result to worry about the aesthetics of the game.

+1

[laughingnome]

I stand by my belief that they will merge with the GC within 5 years.

And I stand with you in that belief, save for the 5 years. The media deal assures 9 games a round, so for North to merge/fold within 5 years would require another team to be invited into the league. But no suprises if it happens in time for the next deal.

would gold coast want to merge with that rabble?

It worked for Brisbane when they merged their up-and-coming list with the few Fitzroy players that were still there that could (or would) cut it. Plus the F/S bonuses.

[Primmy]

Horse has a lot to answer for. We recruit a forward (Johnson) as an early draft pick. We play him in defense in the reserves for a few years. Then when he gets a game he's played forward.

Perfect way to confuse a young player. Ordinary coaching. Blind freddy could tell you the positions open in the seniors this year are forward. Why wasnt Johnson played up forward in the 2's for all of 2011?

they all have to earn their strip. Its not a given. And the kid was really only playing his first year of the game at a higher level, and the best way to learn about how to be a defensive forward is to learn how to play down back. He could already take a safe mark. He could already kick a straight ball. He had a lot to learn about everything else. And he played hot and cold all last year which generally means an above the shoulders issue. You have ressie players who are itching to play anywhere anytime, learn and learn, like Sam Reid and Hanners, and then you have some others. I have no issue with the way his talent/game has been handled. Mature bodies does not automatically mean a mature attitude.

[GoSouth33]

Doubt that a merger could happen....The Suns have received all their draft concessions and will develop into a very competitive unit without North players. I think a merger might test the loyalty of current Suns members who are accepting them with current colours and logo. North turned their backs on the GC a while back perhaps they will head to Hobart where they're hoping to play a couple of games a year in a deal currently being explored.

[Melbournehammer]

they all have to earn their strip. Its not a given. And the kid was really only playing his first year of the game at a higher level, and the best way to learn about how to be a defensive forward is to learn how to play down back. He could already take a safe mark. He could already kick a straight ball. He had a lot to learn about everything else. And he played hot and cold all last year which generally means an above the shoulders issue. You have ressie players who are itching to play anywhere anytime, learn and learn, like Sam Reid and Hanners, and then you have some others. I have no issue with the way his talent/game has been handled. Mature bodies does not automatically mean a mature attitude.

I also think hes got a long way to go to become a regular. He gets outbodied really easily at the moment and is not quite quick enough to create enough space on a lead between him and the defender.

Playing him in defence may well be one of the ways to teach him how to outbody bigger players who may be slower at the NEAFL level than at AFL.

he reminds me a little of jason heatley circa 1997 - if you can get the ball in his hands he'll kick you a goal but you need to get it into his hands

[Nich]

He'll need to work on his pace as well. It will all improve as his body gets stronger and more mature though. Facts are he turned 20 2 months ago. We have to remind ourselves sometimes, well I do anyway!

[ShockOfHair]

Sure, we were rubbish, but North were a complete flop, the umpires were fabulously unpredictable and North fans are spewing. Lots of positives.

[Hartijon]

To me the win showed we are one of the best teams around at defending a lead.Heroic defense again down to the wire.Well done backline and followers

It also showed we lack any potency in attack. We can't kick a decent lead. Our lack of forward structure was partly addressed with LJ at FF as raw as he is. Persist with this and with Reid at CHF and by this time next year we will have a potent forward line. Add TDL to the pocket and we are in business.If we don't settle the forward structure down expect to get slaughtered by any top 4 team and some othere too.Thank God for Mc Glynne!

It showed we have some good players who give their best regardless of the score.It showed LRT is not a ruckman or forward. It showed Goodes is having problems above the shoulders with his play.It showed North are rubbish.

It showed that if you choose the right sub,it can win you the game

[BSA5]

There have been a lot of "very bad wins" this year. To be honest, I think this is a good thing. A number of times, we've found a way to win when it didn't seem possible. This can't be understated. 2005 followed a similar pattern, getting back into games when we really shouldn't have. We lost that ability in 07-09, and in fact it turned into the opposite: we couldn't win a close game no matter how we hard we tried. In 2010 we won a couple. But in 2011, suddenly, we've found a way to save games, to not get run down, to protect our lead, or stage a come back, and at least scrape a draw.

To me, this is the sign of a good team. Not necessarily a good team right at this second, but a team that will be good sooner rather than later.

[goswannie14]

And I stand with you in that belief, save for the 5 years. The media deal assures 9 games a round, so for North to merge/fold within 5 years would require another team to be invited into the league. But no suprises if it happens in time for the next deal.

That could be Tassie, or the other option is North relocates to there. Either way, I can't see them survivng as North melbourne..