Lets get real

[aardvark]

Today we played with 10 players under 50 games. Add Mummy,Everitt, Meredith, Heath, Pyke, TDL, Rohan, Lamb, and White (if you must). Even Sphanger has only played 26 games.
We are still managing to find wins with a very inexperienced list. Its only going to improve so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

[RBS1]

Like the thread Aardvark and agree to a large extent , but as our captain pointed out at press confrence this week regardless of age and games played there is a level performance expected , I thought the kids were good today , we served up some genuine @@@@@ going inside 50 and kept north in the contest .... But yes it's a win and plenty of exciting times ahead let's just keep flying under the radar

[Rob-bloods]

Today we played with 10 players under 50 games. Add Mummy,Everitt, Meredith, Heath, Pyke, TDL, Rohan, Lamb, and White (if you must). Even Sphanger has only played 26 games.
We are still managing to find wins with a very inexperienced list. Its only going to improve so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Good point my worry is more with our structure than the cattle, Reid Johnson Johnston Parker look real prospects, Jack and Rohan and Mummy missing today, Seaby needed a run one appearance as sub prior in 14 months bound to be rusty, Pyke may well be a better bet though. The defence can be brittle but they battle hard in fairness, forward line is the real worry McGlynn smart little tough nut as he is, but leading goal kicker!!

[top40]

Your point Aardvark was in my sub-conscious and you flushed it out. Good work.

I worry in the short term that the Swans are very much depended to stand up and win the big games, on players over the age of 30, notably Goodes, Bolton and O'Keefe. Hopefully, by the time those three are ready for retirement, the younger players will have not have gained important experience, but will have sufficiently improved to be game winners themselves.

[Hartijon]

For once in a long time I don't necessarily agree with your point Aardvark although seeing you made it I will take it seriously.The main reason is I watched the Gold Coast Suns take Geelong apart in the first quarter and lead at 1/2 time.The form of their youngsters is quite exceptional.

Of course the more experienced Geelong made them pay for mistakes and won through in the end. Secondly their team structure was good and their plan of fast movement ,play on at all costs made for an exciting match and opened up the game for their forwards.

So yeah,obviously our youngsters will improve and our results will get better if we do nothing and wait for Father Time to mature them. Will we end up a top 4 team by this happeneing? No! We need a plan,a structure and selection policy .Just because you are 18 doesn't mean you can't follow a game plan. watch the Suns!

[aardvark]

So yeah,obviously our youngsters will improve and our results will get better if we do nothing and wait for Father Time to mature them. Will we end up a top 4 team by this happeneing? No! We need a plan,a structure and selection policy .Just because you are 18 doesn't mean you can't follow a game plan. watch the Suns!

I think playing Johnson, Johnston Reid and Parker ahead of White Moore and Bevan is an excellent selection policy. If we persist with LJ and Reid as our KP forwards there will be short term pain for long term gain. I agree totally that GC are going to be good for a long time in a year or two but we have to work with what we've got. Our situation is very different to theirs.
Colless said on ABC radio before the game that we are rebuilding, rebuilding sides rarely sit 6th on the ladder.

[ScottH]

Hanners did mention this last night, how raw some of the guys playing are still.

[Nich]

I think playing Johnson, Johnston Reid and Parker ahead of White Moore and Bevan is an excellent selection policy. If we persist with LJ and Reid as our KP forwards there will be short term pain for long term gain.

Gotta agree with this!! Reid and LJ need serious game time this year. On another point Hanners is looking hungry again. Really seeking out the ball and trying to be measured in his decision making.

[Peace]

If we are all going to get real then all "promising" afl team lists are going to have to come to terms with GC and GWS taking every premiership for 3 or 4 years, starting in 2013.

SO, if we are going to win a premiership this decade, we need to do it in the next 2 seasons!!

[Hartijon]

The selectors are starting to get it right but its taken a while.Agree that LJ and Reid although short on experience at least gave us a forward target and the beginnings of a forward structure. But selection HAs been a problem. Why is TDL still not in the team? Is it because our plan to win is to stop the opposition scoring rather than us scoring more than them?

This kind of plan will simply be exposed by the top 4. The game against North was aweful. Anyone else and we would have lost playing like that. I maintain we need not just youngsters to get older! We need a selection policy that encourages attack (TDL, LJ stay at FF),we need a game plan of attacking as strongly as we defend and a structure that seems to be slowly emerging.

I congratualte the coaching staff on getting the sub right (at last!) .That move probably won us the game!

[swansrule100]

interesting only 2 players on our senior list are yet to debut, the list is being developed and they are least seeing what we have got.

[wolftone57]

Good point my worry is more with our structure than the cattle, Reid Johnson Johnston Parker look real prospects, Jack and Rohan and Mummy missing today, Seaby needed a run one appearance as sub prior in 14 months bound to be rusty, Pyke may well be a better bet though. The defence can be brittle but they battle hard in fairness, forward line is the real worry McGlynn smart little tough nut as he is, but leading goal kicker!!

Pyke is still 2 weeks away so why not give young Currie a go. Rohan about 6 weeks this is according to the official Swans site. Mummy back next week. I was not impressed with Seabs 4 marks, 5 possessions & 19 Hit Outs compared to Goldstien 53 HO, OK Goldie didn't do anytrhing else. I think getting the structure right is paramount & I also think advanced skills training is paramount

[wolftone57]

The selectors are starting to get it right but its taken a while.Agree that LJ and Reid although short on experience at least gave us a forward target and the beginnings of a forward structure. But selection HAs been a problem. Why is TDL still not in the team? Is it because our plan to win is to stop the opposition scoring rather than us scoring more than them?

This kind of plan will simply be exposed by the top 4. The game against North was aweful. Anyone else and we would have lost playing like that. I maintain we need not just youngsters to get older! We need a selection policy that encourages attack (TDL, LJ stay at FF),we need a game plan of attacking as strongly as we defend and a structure that seems to be slowly emerging.

I congratualte the coaching staff on getting the sub right (at last!) .That move probably won us the game!

I agree totaly Hartijon I hate this defensive footy, Roosie had us playing exciting footy last year & the skill level was very high. This year, low skill level & totally defensive style & no emphisis on attack or scoring. We will get shat on by all the sides in the eight if we continue this, just like the Hawks & Cats destroyed us (26 to 19 scoring shots doesn't seem much but it was worse I was there). Yes bring on TDL & eventually Lambie, lets get some people who know how to manufacture a goal in there.

[RogueSwan]

... I was not impressed with Seabs 4 marks, 5 possessions & 19 Hit Outs compared to Goldstien 53 HO, OK Goldie didn't do anytrhing else...

I was satisfied with Seabs game. It was his first full game for a very long time and he was competitive and had a go. He should only get better. Hopefully he stays in when Mummy returns, I think he is a real marking option across the forward line. Reid, LJ and Seaby/Mummy with McGlynn and TDL playing around their feet would be a good combination and gets Goodes back on the ball.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Colless said on ABC radio before the game that we are rebuilding, rebuilding sides rarely sit 6th on the ladder.

Doesn't that call into question what Roos did in his last few years? The team hasn't been a genuine Premiership threat since probably 07/08, so why has it taken that long to play youngsters?