Can our BACK LINE win us a GF ?

[Melbourne_Blood]

our backline ( like most of our team) lacks a bit of class. We have no Yarran, Deledio type that can run out with some toe and distribute the ball cleanly and creatively. Not saying he is in the same calss as these guys, but Armstrong could improve us in that area.

[Triple B]

It's good that you sydney fans are now able to watch footy live..then you will see how far behind we are from the top 4 teams.

Which top 4 sides should we concentrate on watching, the two that beat us last year or the two that we beat at their home 'fortress' ???

[Melbourne_Blood]

Its all well and good winning a once in a blue moon game against a cat side with nothing to play for ( i dont want to belittle that win, it was great sticking it to cats supporters ), its another thing losing to bottom 8 sides in crucial games that determine our place in the 8.

[jono2707]

Gee i think we need more than a good back 6 to win the flag. How about we start with a midfield that can actually hit targets?

I think 6th-8th is our position with the current line up. It's good that you sydney fans are now able to watch footy live..then you will see how far behind we are from the top 4 teams.

That sounded really patronising - I'm pretty sure you didn't mean it or anything, but plenty of us Sydney people watch plenty of games not involving the Swans and have a very good idea of other teams' styles, strengths and weaknesses etc. The free to air channels up here have always played a couple of games over weekends, and a number of us also have Foxtel. I think you'll find most of us here have just as much knowledge of the other teams in the AFL as anyone else....

My 10 cents worth is that I think our backline stacks up pretty well against the other teams in the league, and Armstrong was definitely recruited to provide a bit of class so hopefully he can develop into a role similar to that of Malceski. We could always do with a bit more pace and skill in our midfield group, we have some nice x-factors in Rohan and Jetta, and we are struggling up forward in getting decent support and structure around Reid.

[DLBIA14]

Its all well and good winning a once in a blue moon game against a cat side with nothing to play for ( i dont want to belittle that win, it was great sticking it to cats supporters ), its another thing losing to bottom 8 sides in crucial games that determine our place in the 8.

That's a problem with our consistency not capability. Top teams have uncharacteristic losses too. I don't care about losses we know we could have won, I'm more concerned about the games we were never in with a chance of winning in the first place. Carlton/Hawthorn especially.

On another point I have no idea why Grundy cops a lot of @@@@ for his disposal when half out team is of the same ilk. He offers a bit of run an counter attack too which is unusual for a key defender. He's not worse that LRT in my mind. Both are good defenders, but both have some degree of limitation with their disposal.

Our midfield and forward line let us down more times that our backs did last year. In fact, I'm certain that we won games on the back of their significant contribution. At least the forward line has an excuse - their not really quality so you can't expect much. The midfield on the other hand looks very classy on paper, but I felt like we lost the clearance count and contested ball numbers against teams who have a less rated collection of players.

[Dosser]

That's a problem with our consistency not capability. Top teams have uncharacteristic losses too. I don't care about losses we know we could have won, I'm more concerned about the games we were never in with a chance of winning in the first place. Carlton/Hawthorn especially.

On another point I have no idea why Grundy cops a lot of @@@@ for his disposal when half out team is of the same ilk. He offers a bit of run an counter attack too which is unusual for a key defender. He's not worse that LRT in my mind. Both are good defenders, but both have some degree of limitation with their disposal.

Our midfield and forward line let us down more times that our backs did last year. In fact, I'm certain that we won games on the back of their significant contribution. At least the forward line has an excuse - their not really quality so you can't expect much. The midfield on the other hand looks very classy on paper, but I felt like we lost the clearance count and contested ball numbers against teams who have a less rated collection of players.

I disagree. As stated before, I am a Grundy fan but his disposal is very, very poor. Yes, our guys are generally bad, but his is worst. Just watch him this weekend with this in mind. He will limit his opponent very well and will repel a number of attacks, but he will hand the ball over to their midfield with his kicks more times than not. *


* Now he will play a blinder...

[Dosser]

Actually, when I first saw this thread I was intrigued as to how Teddy was going to find me a lady...

[WeHaveTheGoodes]

Which top 4 sides should we concentrate on watching, the two that beat us last year or the two that we beat at their home 'fortress' ???

I wouldn't call our win against a flat and tired geelong as a feather in the hat. If emotions hadnt been running high that week for the bloods we could have been beaten by a half arsed geelong side.

I enjoyed the win but i wouldnt call it a win against a very good geelong side on the day.

[Untamed Snark]

Actually, when I first saw this thread I was intrigued as to how Teddy was going to find me a lady...

Now there is a subject for the Richards Report

[BSA5]

Grundy is the weak link. Makes too many unforced errors and sides appear to work on getting him back onto the last line of defence to exploit this weakness.

I reckon this problem is overstated. Obviously last year he was pretty terrible at times, but then it was revealed he'd been battling glandular fever for a couple of months. Having suffered this myself a couple of years back, I'm not in the least bit surprised he was making errors. I could barely put my socks on when I had it. While he made a couple of minor mistakes against GWS, he wasn't alone, and his preseason form has been very solid. I reckon we'll see a much improved Grundy this year.

[Jeffers1984]

Armstrong will hopefully be our Yarran in terms of being that way out with precision kicking.

[wolftone57]

listen Pet our backline is not the problem! In a pinch I think our lot win 7 out of 10. What we need to do is try to win 6 out of 10 in the forwardline. Bloody near impossible with what we are working with! Not only from the point of view that we seem to play every tom, dick and backman in the forwardline. We have to at least give those playing there a good run at the footy by delivering it to their advantage. We also have to have people who can run to the right spot to get delivered to!

[DeadlyAkkuret]

It's frustrating that we're really just one more KPP (forward) away from the top 4. You only need to look at the difference Bradshaw made during his brief stay at the club, we were direct and looked dangerous every time we went forward.

[swanspant12]

It's frustrating that we're really just one more KPP (forward) away from the top 4. You only need to look at the difference Bradshaw made during his brief stay at the club, we were direct and looked dangerous every time we went forward.

Exactly right. Were just missing that true FF. Id play sammy at FF and goodesy at half forward if i was horse. Will offer us heaps of directness and potency up forward if sammy can get his kicking good.

[wolftone57]

Exactly right. Were just missing that true FF. Id play sammy at FF and goodesy at half forward if i was horse. Will offer us heaps of directness and potency up forward if sammy can get his kicking good.

Sam is a true CHF if I am from Broken Hill! The problem is we have not had a good record of treating or knowing how to play CHF's up here due to the short SCG. But there was a time when our ground was not the only short ground and SHF's were appreciated on the SCG! Luffy managed as did Denis Carroll