Brisbane v Sydney

[ugg]

Commentators kept going about Kiz's "new forward role" being about breaking a tag but didn't touch on his ribs injury. Still could see padding on his right side last night and I wonder where he will play next week

[Auntie.Gerald]

it appears we are building a much nicer balance of inside outside players this season - Jake, BJ and Cunningham becoming part of the Snrs DNA bit by bit

These 3 certainly bring sharp kicking skills and then Laidler and Rampe at the back no doubt thru out the season and more confidence will become sharper with their forward entries....

I think that the lift in kicking skills and the increase in leading (fast break) style players puts us in good stead to be able to be flexible against well coached well skilled dominant teams like the Hawks, Geelong and Freeo

When ever I think of Geelong and the Hawks I immediately think of how strong they have been off the back lines with incredibly penetrating passing that leads to such direct fast goals when they need it most in tight contests.

I like that Rampe and Laidler are on the rise and of course we have Mal - these guys off the HBF do have penetrating kicks albeit Rampe and Laidler are not yet in the mould of a Josh Hunt or Brent Guerra but they are on the rise and who knows by season end where they could be at.

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Commentators kept going about Kiz's "new forward role" being about breaking a tag but didn't touch on his ribs injury. Still could see padding on his right side last night and I wonder where he will play next week

I hope Clarkson is guessing too !

[Ludwig]

JPK did some rucking, believe it or not!

And it works!

I've been arguing this for quite a while. Play 4 mids in the centre square and no ruckman. This strategy gives you the option of playing Tom Mitchell instead of Tom Derickx, for example. I think this produces an overall benefit, because you win a lot more of the ball over the course of the game.

[Big Al]

On kicking skills. Could Jake be the player who brings balance to the force and improve our foot skills?

Being May the Fourth this could well be true. We do have a darth of good kickers at the moment.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I think there are several layers to a few being very critical of our skills - Adam Goodes showed you dont just loose your skills over night........but sometimes there are factors that pressure your skills and at the Swans there has been more pressure on execution via our change of play around the rucks and direct play

in years gone past we saw players like ROK be instructed to kick immediately out of the ruck and that mean bomb it forward without looking - this used to drive me insane as a spectacle, but I understood that a couple of our midfield players were instructed to move the field advantage into areas we could create another contest and the swarm our pressure in a tighter space........we very much liked to do this forward

Then in 2012 we became very good out handling the pressure of the forward press and we developed our counter attack brilliantly coast to coast with Jetta and Jack making Slingshot footy and art form !

In 2013 and more so this season I have noticed us bringing in two significant changes with our style of play

Firstly, we are backing our extraction skills from rucks and looking to play thru hands and feet alot more then seasons past and this has certainly contributed to more pressured disposals and what has stood out to us spectators has been turnovers from players that we have never noticed make errors much at all in the past

Secondly, From the backline we are desperately trying to share our attack and play more direct with our kicks - I have never seen Nick Smith kick as direct ever in season past and in the first 4 games his frequency of kicking direct increased dramatically.......in addition I have also never seen Nick Smith turnover kicks as much as he has in 2014 which was a direct result of Nick kicking direct and into high pressure areas of the field........I only use the protected smooch as an example of the Swans varying up their counter attack and that in the real games this has been a little tricky for our guys to learn to play as direct out of the backline - at training this pre season this was a big focus ie the direct corridor passing

For me the evolution of our football at the Swans is critical and such has been the leadership by our coaches to find players that can match the blue print of success for the 2014 season

My gut feeling is that if we had Tippett, Goodes and Reid in all first 7 games we may not have had to work as hard on our clearances and direct counter attack and our forward structure may have appeared better..........but i strangely feel very comfortable with our season thus far

1. we have had a stack of injuries to key players
2. we have blooded with conviction young outside players, a new Key Forward and Laidler into our "back 6"
3. we have changed Shaws and Roks roles which has been significant..........
4. We have sent a very clear message on our Plan A, Plan B and Plan C to our playing group and opposition
5. we met GWS and North at their best this season and we got taught a serious lesson how deep this competition is this year
6. We had a few midfielders not at their best in their early games and this was a real frustration that probably brought a greater resolve towards our team goals via honest communication

[aguy]

Watching the replay. Loving it

[ScottH]

Commentators kept going about Kiz's "new forward role" being about breaking a tag but didn't touch on his ribs injury. Still could see padding on his right side last night and I wonder where he will play next week

Yes, I laughed at that.

Tony Shaw also said that Jetts was down tonight as he had been in terrific form over the last month
i though it was Jetts best game so far this year.

[stellation]

Commentators kept going about Kiz's "new forward role" being about breaking a tag but didn't touch on his ribs injury. Still could see padding on his right side last night and I wonder where he will play next week

I have to admit that did bother me a little in "how hard is it to be moderately informed" manner. I think Tony Shaw at one point was basically suggesting it should be a new permanent role for him.

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And it works!

I've been arguing this for quite a while. Play 4 mids in the centre square and no ruckman. This strategy gives you the option of playing Tom Mitchell instead of Tom Derickx, for example. I think this produces an overall benefit, because you win a lot more of the ball over the course of the game.

I'm not sure that last night's game is a good one to use as an example of where we'd be better off with Mitchell over Derrickx.

[Auntie.Gerald]

oops and

7. no mummy !!! .....playing and training without Mummy is a massive change........I loved having a guy like Mummy in the team when playing any sport........Mummy brought a presence to the midfield and he knew when to lift intensity and when to crack a joke !..........its a big change and you could equally see what he brought to GWS in the first few games this season

[ugg]

I have to admit that did bother me a little in "how hard is it to be moderately informed" manner. I think Tony Shaw at one point was basically suggesting it should be a new permanent role for him.

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I'm not sure that last night's game is a good one to use as an example of where we'd be better off with Mitchell over Derrickx.

Tony Shaw kept calling Rampe "Ramp Key" all night. And then in the post match wrap up, when they were going on about the Swans left footer, he said Bird was a left footer.

[crackedactor]

regardless

Could Jake Lloyd be a better player than Tom Mitchell. He certainly has more leg speed. Would anyone look good against this mediocre team!

Regardless of the poor opposition, you cannot deny his effort to work hard and run hard to the spaces. 29 disposals is not bad for someone who previously played just 5 quarters of footy. But did anyone see the last quarter evasion skills of Lloyd in the back pocket? Where he eluded 3 players, almost Gary Ablett like! But I suppose we should not get carried away until he does it against quality opposition.

[Swansinger]

Good win. Plenty of positives .
Not necessarily a predictor of our next game , though - it was a bit like the Hawks v Saints game : hard to fathom how the commentators were praising the Hawks so effusively when it was , effectively , a two-hour training drill. Friday will be the real thing - a huge test for both sides .

[mcs]

Commentators kept going about Kiz's "new forward role" being about breaking a tag but didn't touch on his ribs injury. Still could see padding on his right side last night and I wonder where he will play next week

The padding was quite clear at the ground. I like him up forward, but I do wonder if its as much about giving him some time off from the heavy impact of the middle, especially in a game like last night where we had it well under control, and could try a few bits and pieces.

[Primmy]

Impressed with Bo. All that criticism from R&Wers didn't seem to phase him. He will get better.
Point out to some of you - Mummy has played only two games this season, he is injured. Again. No point in what ifs here.
Yes, noted that Jetts is carrying a bit of muscle density around his back. Not impressed with his team efforts and decision making all the time. Maybe that's why he appears to be a bit slower. However his defensive work has improved a lot. Thank heavens he has lost the Buddy look alike do.
Salute to Macca we can be proud of him.
Impressed with Young Harry. All he needs is experience.
As for JLo. I shake your hand young man.
Rampe is such a reliable player that Reg looked to be having a bit of a rest. Luxury

Really enjoyed Rhyce and Mals' game . they can be such a combo together that it's a pleasure to watch.

Next week is going to be a killer. Cannot feel confident, but ...


I apologise for tooing and froing. New iPad is doing its own thing.

[Jewels]

Tony Shaw also said that Jetts was down tonight as he had been in terrific form over the last month
i though it was Jetts best game so far this year.

Funny how we all see things differently. I agree with Shaw, I thought he was ordinary at best last night, though his defensive side has improved.