vs Melbourne match thread

[Swansongster]

I was taken aback by the way Melbourne supporters swung between euphoria ((when Demons kicked a goal) and abuse of their own players when they lost the ball. Perhaps they've needed to have an emotional release to survive the bad times. And may be I am mollycoddled by usually sitting in a Swans members area. But in my experience Swans fans groan when we stuff up but on the whole we don't abuse our own players.

While I would largely agree with you Meg, I do remember a small portion of our cheer squad (and surrounding supporters) going feral once on the team. Ironically it was at the G against Melbourne a few years back when the Dees inflicted Roosy's largest ever loss as a Swans coach.

I was appalled at some of the abuse being dished up to our players that day. My kids were frightened. We played really badly but the anger of the fans was over the top.

I think Teddy and Marty bore the brunt of it, from memory.

But I re-iterate, that is the only time I can recall it happening. Even during the dark days that preceded our renaissance. Perhaps, we have been fortunate in sustained success.

[ScottH]

Jack watts is a replica of everitt and saddington. Not strong enough and never will be to play as a key defender. Good skills but lacks the ability to play really tight. He might work as a bachir houli type as a looseish third defender flanker or wingman. But that is not really a swans type player. Our flankers have to start by beating their man then play for the ball.

I just can't see him thriving with us.

As an aside of the melbourne players that have moved on none have done really well. Moloney is nothing special at Brisbane, Sylvia can't get a game at freo, rivers is playing third tall defender at Geelong, Morton can't get a game and so on.

I'd steer clear personally.

If he wasn't a number 1 draft pick , maybe expectations wouldn't be so high.

[Ludwig]

I wouldn't take a player that wasn't good enough to play for Paul Roos.

[Meg]

While I would largely agree with you Meg, I do remember a small portion of our cheer squad (and surrounding supporters) going feral once on the team. Ironically it was at the G against Melbourne a few years back when the Dees inflicted Roosy's largest ever loss as a Swans coach.

I was appalled at some of the abuse being dished up to our players that day. My kids were frightened. We played really badly but the anger of the fans was over the top.

I think Teddy and Marty bore the brunt of it, from memory.

But I re-iterate, that is the only time I can recall it happening. Even during the dark days that preceded our renaissance. Perhaps, we have been fortunate in sustained success.

That's interesting. I was at that match but with my Melbourne friends in the Melbourne members area. So I wasn't aware of the Swans fans reaction you describe. I do remember vividly the hysterical excitement of the Melbourne fans however!

[Triple B]

If he wasn't a number 1 draft pick , maybe expectations wouldn't be so high.

That's pretty much the gist of it. If he wasn't #1 pick he'd just be another big fella taking time to mature as big fellas do....

[aguy]

I was taken aback by the way Melbourne supporters swung between euphoria ((when Demons kicked a goal) and abuse of their own players when they lost the ball. Perhaps they've needed to have an emotional release to survive the bad times. And may be I am mollycoddled by usually sitting in a Swans members area. But in my experience Swans fans groan when we stuff up but on the whole we don't abuse our own players.

Except I've heard too many of our own supporters abusing buddy. It's time to get behind the team and buddy is a big part of our team now

[Primmy]

Except I've heard too many of our own supporters abusing buddy. It's time to get behind the team and buddy is a big part of our team now

if our 'supporters' are abusing The Bud then we have to ask them to stop. I have. Pointed out that the team love him so pull your head in. Mostly it was an ignorant clown (read Members Stand) who had no idea. And the boys do really like the big lump, don't they.

[aguy]

if our 'supporters' are abusing The Bud then we have to ask them to stop. I have. Pointed out that the team love him so pull your head in. Mostly it was an ignorant clown (read Members Stand) who had no idea. And the boys do really like the big lump, don't they.

I agree. It's been great watching the team get around buddy when he has scored some big goals. He's just warming up for us so far. He's had a tough time from defenders because he's been the only big forward up front but if goodes Tippett plus it minus Reid are there too then watch the big guy go

[Doctor]

You have to feel for the bloke. Perhaps he is another Jesse who would fulfil his potential at another club. And not in Vic.

He does seem the perfect type to move to somewhere out of Victoria. I reckon Ken Hinkley could sort him out.

[Doctor J.]

I agree. It's been great watching the team get around buddy when he has scored some big goals. He's just warming up for us so far. He's had a tough time from defenders because he's been the only big forward up front but if goodes Tippett plus it minus Reid are there too then watch the big guy go

100% He may have been the main man at Hawthorn, but he also had some pretty useful assistants in Roughie, Hale, Gunston, & Cyril helping him out. Currently its only him, and it was absurd on Saturday night to see him having to contend with up to 3 defenders all at once. He may be good but even Plugger struggled under these similar circumstances.

[Industrial Fan]

I see all the Derrickx bashers are out with their baseball bats again after he, yet again, did all that was asked of him, made a contest and hurt a few bodies along the way and again gave Myke a chopout and a chance to further ease into the season after a limited pre-season.

Anybody critical of his game last night has an obvious axe to grind and is not watching his game objectively at all...

Normally agree with you, but not this time Mr BBB. If there was going to be a game he dominated it was against Melbourne, with a severely undersized opponent. I cant think of a worse player in red and white in the past 14 years.

I dont watch ressies so cant comment on the capability of N & N to replace him, but it's a sad indictment of our list management that we can say that he deserves his spot for being capable of running into players without any expectation of him around the ground.

Cant help but feel that as opposed to creating a contest he's a space clogger in our forward line, with little to no hope of having an impact (unless the ball has been blessed by the Messiah).

Aside from giving an early season chop out to Pyke I dont see what else he does. Reminds me of Charlton Hestons role in Waynes World where he replaces a crap actor "I mean I know it's a small part - but surely we can do better than this". If we just want a lump that runs at people, surely we can get someone capable of adding to that brief?

[Matt80]

100% He may have been the main man at Hawthorn, but he also had some pretty useful assistants in Roughie, Hale, Gunston, & Cyril helping him out. Currently its only him, and it was absurd on Saturday night to see him having to contend with up to 3 defenders all at once. He may be good but even Plugger struggled under these similar circumstances.

Be carful Doctor J. A person jumped down my throat for questioning how Plugger would go with constant double teaming!

[goswannies]

I hear you Ludwig. Unless Tippett or Goodes (Brownlow winning ruckman) spend any time in the ruck, then you will have to play either Tom D or LRT!

The Swans had a policy of not playing Goodsey in the ruck ever since he did his FIRST PCL, as it was conservatively managed (after he won the first Brownlow) - he didn't miss a match with that one. With no PCL, there is a significantly increased risk of instability & further knee trauma. I doubt they will ever backflip on that unless every other potential ruckman is out (even when LRT was first used as a backup ruckman, Goodsey was available, but the risk was too great so LRT got the gig).

[0918330512]

Be carful Doctor J. A person jumped down my throat for questioning how Plugger would go with constant double teaming!

Rest easy Doc, I think the issue might've been that Matt80 implied in a post that Plugger wasn't double teamed too much:

How would Lockett go against constant double teaming?

(I guess that's how the quote might be interpreted anyway)

& it was pointed out in response (as you also did) that he was nearly always double teamed:

He was double (and triple) teamed for most his whole career ... and nearly his whole time at the Swans.

Some days he coped (a fair few times he managed ok with 10+ goals a game) other days he didn't (unfortunately taking a trip or two to the tribunal).

[liz]

The Swans had a policy of not playing Goodsey in the ruck ever since he did his FIRST PCL, as it was conservatively managed (after he won the first Brownlow) - he didn't miss a match with that one. With no PCL, there is a significantly increased risk of instability & further knee trauma. I doubt they will ever backflip on that unless every other potential ruckman is out (even when LRT was first used as a backup ruckman, Goodsey was available, but the risk was too great so LRT got the gig).

I reckon they'd play Ben McGlynn in the ruck ahead of Goodesy!