ROK?

[vincere]

With all he's given to the club, we'd all love to see ROK reach 300 games on merit.

This year, it's been more than the ordinary NAB games or the 43% disposal efficiency, including two clangers and two frees against, as a sub in round one - it's been the vibe.

The coaches clearly have a different role in mind for him in 2014 and want him to do well. In January, at 33 years of age, ROK insisted he'd be the one to decide when he'll stop playing. In the end, it will be injuries, his performance at training and his attitude that will decide how often he plays again.

[Doctor]

More than ever before, you have to be superfit (tick) and you have to be able to run to play AFL football. If anyone can find a way to make it work ROK can. I want him out there against Collingwood on that narrower ground so even if he doesn't go to Perth I would hope that he plays most of the time. If this huge effort in training is a result of his omission for Round 1 then it may well be a very good thing.

[Mike_B]

So after tonight's game, what do people think? IMHO he's in big trouble now - won't play next week and could be a while before we see him back in the seniors. He looked slow tonight; we know footspeed was never his strength. But the most concerning thing for me was a lack of intensity and effort - there were a few times where he was in the forward line and just watched as Collingwood ran it out, not even bothering to make a token chase. Very un-ROK like and very unSwans like, but it's a telling sign.

[Jeffers1984]

He's finished. If he can't play in the middle, he sure as hell is useless in the forward line. Get Towers in to play a lead up forward to get some @@@@ing structure.

[R-1]

Yeah I think he's done and Shaw may not be far behind.

[Ludwig]

It's hard to see Ryan getting another game. He's not going to get any quicker. I don't know how he can improve.

[Matt80]

ROK is clearly being played out of position. He was amongst the best half forward flankers from 2004 - 2008, but that time has passed. Playing him on the half forward flank, as he was against Collingwood, is like asking Adam Goodes to play in the ruck.

ROK needs to be played in tight alongside Kennedy in the inside midfield battle. He can use his quick reactions, tackling ability, and brute strength in tight.

I'm a huge fan, but if Longmire refuses to use him in tight, then he is in big trouble.

[aguy]

I too think ROK is in trouble. I was a bug supporter if him after last week. But I think we had very little impact last night and when he did get the ball he was pretty in effective with it. There were one or two possessions he had on the 50 metres arc which he would have back for a set shot in the past but now just looked for a target closer and most often turned the ball over.

I hate saying that cause I love ROK he has been a been a champion for us. But I don't think he can be part of our forward structure. If he is not fast enough of the midfield anymore then we can't afford to play him. If we are losing as a team then we have to look to the younger players.

[ugg]

Very surprised none of the journos asked about ROK in the press conference

[Triple B]

Very surprised none of the journos asked about ROK in the press conference

They're probably saving the ROK questions for Buddy so the naysayers can have another grizzle about the Buddy recruitment...

[mcs]

I think he is done as well. A couple of times last night his attempts at 'tackles' did not get within cooee of the players, and his stats tell that he did not lay one successful tackle.


Its so sad to see, but footy moves on, and we are certainly in no position to be being sympathetic if we want to get our season going any time soon. I'd still love to see him make it 300, but we would need to be selective in which matches he plays in in order to reach the milestone, as he looks more and more like he will just be a passenger in the big games.

[Nico]

He starts every season slowly. Last year at the same time people were calling for his head. Like race horses; as they get older they take longer to get to their top with each preparation. Shaw has had a Lars job, so you can't expect him to be at his top yet. If you have played the game and you lost your touch, then you would agree it takes time to find it again.

[mcs]

He starts every season slowly. Last year at the same time people were calling for his head. Like race horses; as they get older they take longer to get to their top with each preparation. Shaw has had a Lars job, so you can't expect him to be at his top yet. If you have played the game and you lost your touch, then you would agree it takes time to find it again.

That's true Nico, but ROK looks done in terms of having pace and stamina to be effective. He will be a target now for opposition teams, as anyone with any reasonable amount of pace will run off him at will. I hope he comes good, but I have strong doubts after watching him live last night that he will

[giant]

After that effort, it's hard to see either of Shaw or ROK playing much seniors this year. You don't write champs off too quickly but he looked wayyyy of the pace.

[goods78]

I am guessing that the plan was for ROK to be subbed off at 3Q time, but the injury to Rohan prevented that.

He looked horribly out of place and barring a big injury toll, I can't see him making a Swan's senior return.