Swans vs. Magpies

[mcs]

Very disappointing game.

The positives:

1. Any doubts about our back 6 should be dispelled. Without Ted, Reg and Rampe, we would have been thrashed last night.
2. Tippett is worth every cent we paid. I'm not sure if he was the only option left to us, or we're become dependent Hawthorn-Buddy style, or 2008 Swans-Bazza style, but he is on fire.
3. Though he didn't always finish off perfectly, Jesse used his size well on a few occasions to bust through packs and create opportunities. If he regains his accuracy in front of goal, he could be an X-factor come finals time.
4. BJ was a revelation when he came on. He added some life where we had none. With our lack of speed, I wonder whether we'll see him in the starting lineup next week?

The worries:

1. Collingwood looked unnervingly like the Bulldogs last week, but with a bit more class. Whenever a ball fell out of a pack, there were two Pies there and no Swans. Longmire and friends need to come up with a counter-strategy that works or the Bulldog's contribution to the finals will be showing everyone else how to beat us.
2. Our midfield got smashed. Enough's been said already, but what was with all those intercepted hand-passes? Why didn't the ball ever come our way out of contests?
3. We had no run off half-back. However, Shaw looked lively last night. Perhaps it's time for him to move down back again?

The questions:

1. Is Hannebery injured? That would be a disaster.
2. I've heard somewhere that the top 4 teams do a mini-preseason at this time of year to prepare for finals. Could this be why our team looked tired and slow last night? Or why we lost three of the last four last season? Is that why Geelong and Hawthorn dropped games that they were expected to win?
3. How far away is Rohan? He would have to be looking very tempting to Longmire right now.
4. Did McGlynn do enough to keep Lamb out of the team? On the face of it, I'd say no, but I'm sure Longmire has a strategy.
5. Are these high-pressure games the perfect preparation for the finals or are they exposing weaknesses in our team? If we don't get our senior personnel back, then I'd say they're critical for bringing our youngsters up to standard.

BJ has some serious potential, but last night showed why we can't win a flag with him still in the team come finals time. He certainly has impact when he comes on, but he is so raw. Point in question was early in the last when he was well within range to kick a goal. Had he kicked well and got it back to a couple of kicks, we might have kicked on. But his kick was an absolute shocker, going way out to nowhere and completely wasting the chance at very least to keep it down there and the pies under pressure. I think he is going to be awesome, but at the moment, we just can't afford to waste chances like that. Lamb into the team for next week if you ask me for BJ (unless they think Rohan is ready - which it sounds like he is very much not.)

Mcglynn had a shocker last night, but frankly I think they rushed him back and he isn't fit.. Really, really struggled to get into the game.

If we make top 4, I give us a real sniff of going a long way, as we saw how good we are last year at being able to lift when needed. But we desperately need to get some more senior, experienced blood back in the team. SOS Mr Goodes, and SOS Mr Jetta - we need you back ASAP!

- - - Updated - - -

i agree with DK,the midfield particularly looked tired and slow,a week at coogee beach might be good for them.everitt went backwards and grundy has no confidence just handballs to the nearest teammate and mcglynn was way off.lamb and cunningham would be better contributors,briggs must be close to earning a game and surely rohan must return.
recruiting masterstroke was tippett,what a star

No doubt Biggs has potential, but so much of our issue at the moment is due to inexperience in our bottom few. Lamb I think needs to come back in there, even if it means we play one less midfielder. That should not be so much of an issue after next week, as then Shaw will have had 3 weeks back (I thought he was decent last night), which should release McVeigh (despite how good he is down back, we need him in the middle). Lamb played very well against the Dogs and out of the youngsters (Lamb,BJ,Cunningham etc), looks by far the most likely to contribute on the bigger stage in September.

[Jewels]

Lamb was out on the ground pinging at goals for ages after the ressies game, he is such a beautiful kick I was hoping there was a last minute change of heart and he was in the seniors and I must confess to feeling a bit disappointed when he didn't come out with the team to warm up. He and Rohan should be in next week.

[Dosser]

Well, what started as a great night of anticipation finished as a train wreck. I was so looking forward to settling in to watch the Swans then the cricket. However, the more I watched, the more frustrated I got and after half time when I saw the Pies score another goal I thought 'that's enough!' and flicked it over to the cricket - just in time to see Khawaja get out the very next ball! I immediately turned it back to the Swans but a little later when the Pies goaled again, I thought 'well at least I can get some satisfaction from the cricket' so I turned it over again - to see Clarke get out the next ball!
It was obviously not my night...

[Jewels]

Well, what started as a great night of anticipation finished as a train wreck. I was so looking forward to settling in to watch the Swans then the cricket. However, the more I watched, the more frustrated I got and after half time when I saw the Pies score another goal I thought 'that's enough!' and flicked it over to the cricket - just in time to see Khawaja get out the very next ball! I immediately turned it back to the Swans but a little later when the Pies goaled again, I thought 'well at least I can get some satisfaction from the cricket' so I turned it over again - to see Clarke get out the next ball!
It was obviously not my night...

Haha gotta hate those nights.

[aardvark]

Well, what started as a great night of anticipation finished as a train wreck. I was so looking forward to settling in to watch the Swans then the cricket. However, the more I watched, the more frustrated I got and after half time when I saw the Pies score another goal I thought 'that's enough!' and flicked it over to the cricket - just in time to see Khawaja get out the very next ball! I immediately turned it back to the Swans but a little later when the Pies goaled again, I thought 'well at least I can get some satisfaction from the cricket' so I turned it over again - to see Clarke get out the next ball!
It was obviously not my night...

I had to go out for tea. Looks like I was the lucky one!

[Ludwig]

There were a few remarks that Pendleberry and Swan didn't train last week. Some thought they were injured. But the rest during the week had them firing yesterday. I think our midfielders need a quiet week to freshen up. Perhaps a few need a week off to recapture their form before the Geelong game, which we will play with only a 6 day rest.

Our midfield was simply flat last night. We couldn't get any run into our game like we have in the past. We should be okay if we can regain our form from earlier games. It's hard to know what the answer is: are the players sore, tired our just mentally not ready for a team that came to play pressure footy.

I don't think Rohan is quite ready yet, but Biggs, Lamb, Armstrong and Towers should be given consideration for selection next week.

McGlynn was never in the game, but he should get another go. Perhaps lost the pace of the game with the 3 weeks off.

[liz]

SOS Mr Goodes, and SOS Mr Jetta - we need you back ASAP!

I think we need to put a line through Jetta for this year. He's missed months and his endurance base wasn't great to start with. I think an unfit Jetta would be more of a liability than an asset. Even Goodes I am concerned about getting back into a state of fitness where he can truly impact, but at least he has 17 pre-seasons and more than 300 games of experience, meaning he will know how to impact even when far from match fit.

[Blood Tunnel]

Harry Cunningham looks the next player to get a few consecutive games in the seniors.
Perhaps Cunningham & Lamb in.
White (too top heavy last night) & B Jack out.

[stellation]

Our midfield was simply flat last night. We couldn't get any run into our game like we have in the past. We should be okay if we can regain our form from earlier games. It's hard to know what the answer is: are the players sore, tired our just mentally not ready for a team that came to play pressure footy.

I saw a headline about Longmire blaming our work rate, and I instantly assumed in my brain he was suggesting that our work rate through the season had been too high (cue Roosy: "Yeah, nah, look- the Swans are a super two way running team"). He wasn't, he meant work rate in the game (and he was right) but that initial thought did have me pondering just how much of a physical toll our amazingly intense game style has on players through the course of a season.

[ernie koala]

I suspect we're in the middle of our last hard training block before the finals...Hence why so many of our mids seemed flat....

Well that's my excuse for them anyway....Time will tell.

[Primmy]

It was clearly brought home to me last night just how much I hate losing to collingwood anyone but them.

Not going to read the thread. I cannot put myself in the way of everyone's pain.

OK I have only one other comment to make. @@@@ Bugger Bum.

[dimelb]

Well, what started as a great night of anticipation finished as a train wreck. I was so looking forward to settling in to watch the Swans then the cricket. However, the more I watched, the more frustrated I got and after half time when I saw the Pies score another goal I thought 'that's enough!' and flicked it over to the cricket - just in time to see Khawaja get out the very next ball! I immediately turned it back to the Swans but a little later when the Pies goaled again, I thought 'well at least I can get some satisfaction from the cricket' so I turned it over again - to see Clarke get out the next ball!
It was obviously not my night...

So you're the one responsible!

[Bloodthirsty]

I think a light training load would be beneficial, but I'd think very carefully about resting players for a match. Although the Saints suck, they are still an AFL team, and we are the hunted this year. They have nothing else to play for other than to damage us. One of my biggest frustrations this year has been that we are almost ALWAYS on the end of [insert opposition name]'s "best game for the season". Do teams find form against us? Why do we let them?

Going forward, I will assume that no matter what - even if we are undefeated - we will always lose to Collingwood at ANZ. That way, I won't be let down by this false sense of confidence. I hate McGuire, I hate their fans, I hate Harry O'Brien, I hate the umpires that are always on the 'Big 4 Victorians's' payroll and I hate ANZ stadium - the worst AFL stadium you can get that is of no advantage to us.

If Collingwood or Richmond were to finish 4th and play the Hawks, they would play a home final on their home ground. If we finish second, we don't even get to play on our home ground. For ****'s sake what kind of joke is that.

[annew]

I think a light training load would be beneficial, but I'd think very carefully about resting players for a match. Although the Saints suck, they are still an AFL team, and we are the hunted this year. They have nothing else to play for other than to damage us. One of my biggest frustrations this year has been that we are almost ALWAYS on the end of [insert opposition name]'s "best game for the season". Do teams find form against us? Why do we let them?

Going forward, I will assume that no matter what - even if we are undefeated - we will always lose to Collingwood at ANZ. That way, I won't be let down by this false sense of confidence. I hate McGuire, I hate their fans, I hate Harry O'Brien, I hate the umpires that are always on the 'Big 4 Victorians's' payroll and I hate ANZ stadium - the worst AFL stadium you can get that is of no advantage to us.

If Collingwood or Richmond were to finish 4th and play the Hawks, they would play a home final on their home ground. If we finish second, we don't even get to play on our home ground. For ****'s sake what kind of joke is that.

You got it in one - I agree and am thinking of never going to ANZ again as I hate it so much. Trouble is I love the swans too much to not go to the games.

[DK_]

I suspect we're in the middle of our last hard training block before the finals...Hence why so many of our mids seemed flat....

Well that's my excuse for them anyway....Time will tell.

I suspect you're right. The pattern certainly fits. We've got a midfield known for work rate, intense pressure and two-way running. Suddenly they seem flat and tired. Same pattern last year and same pattern being displayed by Geelong and Hawthorn.

Longmire is far mored guarded with his comments this year, but from the things he said last year, I don't think he'll lose much sleep over whether we come first or fourth. He'll be completely focussed on preparing the team to win finals. That means intensive training now even if it results in the team dropping a couple of games through exhaustion. Of course, he's running the risk that we'll come fifth, but that's the gamble you take.

Compare that to Collingwood, who can't afford to risk dropping any games now, even if that means sub-optimal preparation for September.