NAB Cup: Sydney Swans v Carlton Blues v GWS Giants - team list and match discussion

[R-1]

Would I be correct that the Giants had more senior-experienced players on the field in game three than we did?

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Remember we start the season proper against the Giants and then the Suns, so that in a way offsets any potential premiership hangover.

[Reggi]

Would I be correct that the Giants had more senior-experienced players on the field in game three than we did?

Yesterday we played 10 guys who had never played an AFL level game. I always thought we would be soundly beaten.

Disappointing that more young guys did not look closer to ready.

Longmire needs to persist with playing them. We do need 5-6 to step up.

Sounds like Rampe, Towers and Lockyer, are the most likely at this stage

[Big Al]

Thought it was a pretty good hit out considering where we are in our preparation. Like the Hawks, we were effectively a month behind our opposition so the results didn't surprise. Would expect to get better each week and be ready by Rd1 .

[Reggi]

I think it is exciting to be playing young guys though, think horse should definately persist. Find out which ones have a future

[liz]

I think it is exciting to be playing young guys though, think horse should definately persist. Find out which ones have a future

Except that he'll find out more about who is ready, or close to ready, if there are fewer in the team at any time - ie who can be effective playing a role in a decently strong side?

[707]

Having watched a few NAB Cup games in the past week, every team seemed to have untried players looking like they deserve an AFL debut. Some were outstanding.

The worry for me out of our matches yesterday, and I'm sure it's worrying the coaches, is that not one untried player for us looked to be deserving of a start in the seniors. That is a worry given our lack of experienced depth and still a few flag players getting over injuries.

Carlton and GWS were far from full strength as well.

[Mr Magoo]

We all know the drill. They will introduce a few more first 22 next week , rest some that played on the weekend, slowly increase the numbers of starting 22 round by round and keep those players in that look likely to snag a berth if normal starting 22 arent ready. The rookies such as X Richards, Naismith etc will get maybe one more game at most as the players that are more likely to snag a round 1 berth are kept in the side.

With only 10 regular first 22 playing and a lot of players who wouldnt have played together at all against proper opposition , the result wasnt suprising. It did look very disjointed and there were few that stood out but difficult to do so in the circumstances and conditions.

One thing that was encouraging is that if the swans slide in a couple of years time, I think we might have another sydney side up there in the eight. GWS look to be a pretty good side in the making and the forward duo will be downright scary in a year of twos time.

[Velour&Ruffles]

It was certainly painful to watch. I think we can tell how much the coaching staff cared about the results by the very small number of players we used. We know some are injured, but not Kennedy, Pyke, Jetta, Jude, LRT, Eski. Still, the games show there is a lot of work to do before the season starts.

Agree with Nico that the 'contact below the knees' rule needs a bit of tweaking. Fully understand why they have introduced this - if we can stop another player suffering a broken leg like Rohan all will be well. But the umpires need to learn to distinguish between something that is dangerous to the standing player and a player just putting their head over the ball. To be fair to the umpires, it is a new rule for them too, so they might take a bit of time to get the balance right.We know what the likes of Ted, Macca and ROK can do. And they generally did it OK tonight. My main positive was probably Armstrong, who injected himself well into the games and showed he could break the lines.

Giving the free kick to the guy who has his leg broken rather than the slider would be a good start. Gary Rohan was penalised last year in the incident which broke his leg.

[ShockOfHair]

The headline says it all: Longmire looking for positives

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Having watched a few NAB Cup games in the past week, every team seemed to have untried players looking like they deserve an AFL debut. Some were outstanding.

The worry for me out of our matches yesterday, and I'm sure it's worrying the coaches, is that not one untried player for us looked to be deserving of a start in the seniors. That is a worry given our lack of experienced depth and still a few flag players getting over injuries.

Carlton and GWS were far from full strength as well.

Carlton were a lot closer to full strength than us. They had 6-7 more regulars playing than we did. It's easier for new players to look good and feel confident with a few more seniors around them.

The sky isn't falling just yet.

[Nico]

It was certainly painful to watch. I think we can tell how much the coaching staff cared about the results by the very small number of players we used. We know some are injured, but not Kennedy, Pyke, Jetta, Jude, LRT, Eski. Still, the games show there is a lot of work to do before the season starts.

Agree with Nico that the 'contact below the knees' rule needs a bit of tweaking. Fully understand why they have introduced this - if we can stop another player suffering a broken leg like Rohan all will be well. But the umpires need to learn to distinguish between something that is dangerous to the standing player and a player just putting their head over the ball. To be fair to the umpires, it is a new rule for them too, so they might take a bit of time to get the balance right.

We know what the likes of Ted, Macca and ROK can do. And they generally did it OK tonight. My main positive was probably Armstrong, who injected himself well into the games and showed he could break the lines.

I don't know what the free kick count has been in the NAB Cup so far, but it seems there have been a lot of very technical frees given in games I have watched. The one I do like is where a player comes in front on over a player on the ground and gets them high, after another opponent is already trying to hold the ball under the player for a free. Trouble is it appeared they just paid a free regardless if the contact was high. As you said Liz the umpires have to get these rules correct most of the time and it is fair to give them time, but these rules are going to be open to a hell of a lot of criticism and I can see umpires getting caned for favouring one team, and it will be the team that goes hard at it that cops it. Any guesses as to who one of those teams is? I can also see that they are trying to reduce concussions, but I havent seen a lot of players left lying on the ground after a pack is cleared in my more than 50 years watching the game.

A more intelligent comment that came from the waffle of a commentary was;" that a club like us needs to keep improving and it was good to see Armstrong step up and show that he can have a place in the side, given few premiers in the next season keep the same side, and would have more than 3 new players going into the next seasons finals". I reckon we can add Cunningham to that.

Has anyone else noticed the way footy commentary has started the season? They just talk all through the game. If it continues it will be like listening to the cricket. Watching the EPL games this season they might as well be in the pub. They just talk adnausium during the game about nothing. A recent game between Liverpool and West Brom was a waffle fest about Liverpool with the assumption they will slot a couple of goals and ho hum. Guess what; they came to life when West Brom went ahead in the second half then scored again. It was almost; they cant do that, how dare they!

By the way did we all watch the half time quiz when Frawley beat Brereton. Brereton was not happy when Danny got ahead and quickly lost interest. What a flog.

[Swansongster]

For those who missed it (as I did), here is Jesse's goal.

One-two, then super White drills it - AFL - YouTube

[Swansongster]

I only saw a little bit of the first game and found it frustrating that they just couldn't get going at all. While the Blues seemed to show a lot of energy, we didn't. Even more disappointing was the commentary. It seemed that only our established players got a mention in the call. Everytime an unfamiliar face in red and white went neatr the ball they were not mentioned. While I learn these new faces and numbers, it would have been good to know who it was getting involved.

[BillyRayCypress]

For those who missed it (as I did), here is Jesse's goal.

I think Jesse's new nickname should be "Burlesque". Hardly ever shows anything but when he finally does, it's pretty good.

I missed the game yesterday as I am house minding my ex in-laws place and they don't have foxtel. Listened to the SEN cover on the AFL app and both Swans games sounded like a premiership hangover.

I have the games on IQ so will watch next weekend. Terry Wallace gave it to the Swans for their poor ball skills.

Certainly Rounds 1 and 2 will give a true indication. I don't think that GWS will be easy in Round 1.