Changes for Round 3 V The Crows

[aguy]

I agree with you on all counts.

Why thanks ernie

[ugg]

Really? I thought he was positively putrid, turning it over all night by hand, foot and just outright spilling the ball straight into their hands.

With his new haircut, he looks like McVeigh from a distance...

[Ludwig]

With his new haircut, he looks like McVeigh from a distance...

Rhyce took Macca's haircut in exchange for his kicking skills.

[vincere]

Did anyone else watch the 'highlights' from was it Friday's or maybe it was Wednesday's, practice? I haven't a clue as to what routines teams normally do at practices but I was somewhat amazed to see the entire bit shown was of the Swans kicking the ball to each other from one end of the field to the other, all uncontested kicking and uncontested marking, up and down the field or round and round almost robotically. Watching it, I couldn't help thinking, this is just what the players do in matches. However, in matches they are mostly kicking under pressure and 75% of the time their team mate is either not standing in that spot or is being heavily marked, Whatever could be the purpose of such a drill? It may go some way to explaining the kicking blindly and almost mindless kicking to opposition players!!

Yep. Had refrained from making a similar comment in the hope that the dinky clip was for our entertainment and not the serious stuff. I'd be much more entertained by watching quality kicking to forwards' leads, run and spread to quality kick outs, kicking to advantage from stoppages etc

[Meg]

Rhyce took Macca's haircut in exchange for his kicking skills.

The kicks that I recall from Macca that went to opposition players were the result of great anticipation and interception by Collingwood players. Macca was targeting a Swans player and it would have gone to them but for the intercept. The problem is that our players are stationary waiting for the ball to come to them instead of leading to the ball. That makes interception much more likely.

On the other hand the kicking by Shaw and others straight to opposition players was exactly that. There was no Swans player to kick to. And that's another story, in my view going back to our game plan and hence our coaching staff.

[wolftone57]

Well maybe I'm a bit harsh. I could be wrong. I've tipped like 4 wrong so far this round so my footy brain is pretty much the size of a pea. I guess I just like ranting and screaming a lot.

I'm surprised people are harsh on Shaw's performance though. Thought Shaw had an above average game.

- - - Updated - - -



Pyke is an outstanding set-shot though.

Shaw had 12 possies and most wet to Pies players. He does that against his favourite footy team. Must be hard having the Pie history his family have to play against them. You could say the same for Joey but Hawks are not Pies, Pies players and fans with a family tradition are fanatical.

[liz]

If he goes well today, maybe young Jones might be in the mix. The coaching staff and senior players talked up his pre-season, and he was very lively against GWS a fortnight ago (if not always effective). He'll bring lots of energy and pressure if nothing else.

I have no idea why Reid spent so much of yesterday's game in defence. Collingwood only have one decent tall forward (who played). Ted and Reg seemed to be doing as well as could be expected keeping Cloke quiet, given the up the ground turnovers, as well as Jesse ineffective. Reid's forward line marking was pretty decent, when he was up there. Surely two forwards is a minimum requirement? If Longmire did think he went in short of a defender, then bring Laidler back so that Reid's not wasted down there. And give Rampe a licence to carry the ball with a dash out of defence. He looked quite good on the couple of occasions he did that yesterday. We desperately need to run and carry the ball more, rather than hoof it on the boot.

[mcs]

The kicks that I recall from Macca that went to opposition players were the result of great anticipation and interception by Collingwood players. Macca was targeting a Swans player and it would have gone to them but for the intercept. The problem is that our players are stationary waiting for the ball to come to them instead of leading to the ball. That makes interception much more likely.

On the other hand the kicking by Shaw and others straight to opposition players was exactly that. There was no Swans player to kick to. And that's another story, in my view going back to our game plan and hence our coaching staff.

The lack of leading last night was appalling. Nobody was trying to create space, move players around or actually lead proper. That is half the issue - if there is no one to kick to, then you are going to turn it over a lot, as we did last night. The whole team has to lift the work rate about 200%.

[Meg]

The lack of leading last night was appalling. Nobody was trying to create space, move players around or actually lead proper. That is half the issue - if there is no one to kick to, then you are going to turn it over a lot, as we did last night. The whole team has to lift the work rate about 200%.

I agree but I don't think we are able to because we clearly don't have the fitness levels required for today's AFL standards. We simply can't compete for 4 quarters. We will be annihilated in the last quarter by Port Adelaide, probably the fittest team in the comp, whom we play twice this year.

I'm bewildered by this. I don't believe the players partied all summer. But it seems to me that the Swans fitness programs must not have kept up to date with modern sports science expectations.

[juliec]

Don't we have the new altitude room!!!!!!!!

[Ludwig]

Don't we have the new altitude room!!!!!!!!

Yes.

Now we are incapable of playing at sea level. The air is too thick. It's slowing us down.

[Ludwig]

If he goes well today, maybe young Jones might be in the mix. The coaching staff and senior players talked up his pre-season, and he was very lively against GWS a fortnight ago (if not always effective). He'll bring lots of energy and pressure if nothing else.

I have no idea why Reid spent so much of yesterday's game in defence. Collingwood only have one decent tall forward (who played). Ted and Reg seemed to be doing as well as could be expected keeping Cloke quiet, given the up the ground turnovers, as well as Jesse ineffective. Reid's forward line marking was pretty decent, when he was up there. Surely two forwards is a minimum requirement? If Longmire did think he went in short of a defender, then bring Laidler back so that Reid's not wasted down there. And give Rampe a licence to carry the ball with a dash out of defence. He looked quite good on the couple of occasions he did that yesterday. We desperately need to run and carry the ball more, rather than hoof it on the boot.

There must have been a discussion about the forward setup and what to do about ROK, and the decision was made to give him a go as a small forward again and drop Laidler. I think we saw the result. I can understand wanting to give a champion another shot. I doubt it will happen again.

Good suggestion on Zak. Look forward to the ressies report to see who performed well. At this moment, halftime, we are killing them 40-2, and I suppose it's raining too.

[Auntie.Gerald]

now that i have calmed down if we simply used our angles better with our forward entries we would have tipped the pies over and we would have gone on to win by 5 or 6 goals......if that still didnt work then we need to have a plan B cause we have looked ordinary !!!!

after two losses the message has to be sent loud and clear

Coaching - we got smashed in the last 2 games in the last qtr and 50% of this was because of our coaching not adapting to the way the opposition counter attacked with loose defenders in behind the ball and then spreading wide qickly on got us on the rebound

Players - i know it was wet greasy conditions both games but we seriously looked like local footy at best in the skill department while the opposition in the last qtr both times looked sharp !!!

if some of our players are just kicking straight and not using the angles for our forwards to run onto then they need to be dropped - as we kicked it long and straight like park footy players.........we started to get that out of our game with Ryan not doing it so much last season.......we need to be able to slow the game down and play short sharp passing like the Hawks or Geelong when our 50m forward line is flooded with loose defenders

[mcs]

now that i have calmed down if we simply used our angles better with our forward entries we would have tipped the pies over and we would have gone on to win by 5 or 6 goals......if that still didnt work then we need to have a plan B cause we have looked ordinary !!!!

after two losses the message has to be sent loud and clear

Coaching - we got smashed in the last 2 games in the last qtr and 50% of this was because of our coaching not adapting to the way the opposition counter attacked with loose defenders in behind the ball and then spreading wide qickly on got us on the rebound

Players - i know it was wet greasy conditions both games but we seriously looked like local footy at best in the skill department while the opposition in the last qtr both times looked sharp !!!

if some of our players are just kicking straight and not using the angles for our forwards to run onto then they need to be dropped - as we kicked it long and straight like park footy players.........we started to get that out of our game with Ryan not doing it so much last season.......we need to be able to slow the game down and play short sharp passing like the Hawks or Geelong when our 50m forward line is flooded with loose defenders

'Use our angles better'. What does that even mean? We could of done whatever we wanted kicking forwards last night, but with no forward structure or set up, we were no hope. Our skills are deplorable and our fitness absolutely questionable.

Agree about trying to slow the game down and play short passing to control tempo. But we can't hit a target for the life of us this season so far, so that will be a struggle too!

[Ludwig]

The problem is more that we ARE kicking too much on an angle, like off the side of the boot angle to the opposition, instead of kicking it straight to someone on our side. Now that would be a welcome change.