Sydney v Hawthorn

[dimelb]

The problems began with the midfield, which for whatever reason did not have our usual intensity. They were second to the ball most of the time, and if they got there first, soon turned it over.
Hawthorn are the next phase of development in the game. Their accurate kicking, for goals and around the field, is a very difficult weapon to counter, and we weren't up to it.
The forwards weren't bad when they had the opportunity, but there were more than the usual number of clangers. As so frequently happens we paid the penalty for that. The backs were scrabbling all day, and although Reg made the odd clanger, he also did his share of good stuff, as did Ted, Rampe and Smithy.
A really disappointing game to watch, so much so that by half way through the second quarter I was sadly accepting the inevitable, gone beyond fuming and ranting.
Where do we go from here? One thing is the kicking accuracy. It might be OK to bomb it long against some teams but with the Hawks it simply becomes another turnover, and I lost count of those today. There were some nice short range kicks to get down the field but the crucial delivery into the forward 50 was almost non-existent.
And how on earth do you get blokes to switch on? If you can't turn up for a GF I can't imagine what other stimulation might do the trick. Some heavy work ahead for the coaches as well as the players.
And I'll still say "Go Swans".

[MarshallG]

Just been for a bike ride, thought it would clear my head, get rid of some of the, I dunno, anger? probably to harsh a word but I can't accept 'it wasn't our day'.

How could the collect psyche of the team have been so bad?

[Melbournehammer]

Top 4 is not a given. I foresee a fair bit of trading this off season. Dons, tigers, crows, west coast all capable.

We are only one or two injuries away from being in trouble.

- - - Updated - - -

The problems began with the midfield, which for whatever reason did not have our usual intensity. They were second to the ball most of the time, and if they got there first, soon turned it over.
Hawthorn are the next phase of development in the game. Their accurate kicking, for goals and around the field, is a very difficult weapon to counter, and we weren't up to it.
The forwards weren't bad when they had the opportunity, but there were more than the usual number of clangers. As so frequently happens we paid the penalty for that. The backs were scrabbling all day, and although Reg made the odd clanger, he also did his share of good stuff, as did Ted, Rampe and Smithy.
A really disappointing game to watch, so much so that by half way through the second quarter I was sadly accepting the inevitable, gone beyond fuming and ranting.
Where do we go from here? One thing is the kicking accuracy. It might be OK to bomb it long against some teams but with the Hawks it simply becomes another turnover, and I lost count of those today. There were some nice short range kicks to get down the field but the crucial delivery into the forward 50 was almost non-existent.
And how on earth do you get blokes to switch on? If you can't turn up for a GF I can't imagine what other stimulation might do the trick. Some heavy work ahead for the coaches as well as the players.
And I'll still say "Go Swans".

Accurate summation. But bomb it long as a strategy can work if you play Ballantine Walters motlops christen stokes breast at their feet. Play goodes and Reid there and you are just giving the ball up

[swanwolf]

I was reasonably impressed by how gracious the Hawthorn supporters were.

You've been far luckier than I. Went out with a Hawthorn girl once but I'm much better now.
In general, I've found their supporters to be sore losers and even worse winners. They'll see we never live this down.

[DamY]

we'll always have 2012!

[kfchin]

Yes, it's baffling. How can a team be so good one week and so bad the next. Except, Buddy. He's a league above the rest.

[Dave]

What other sides are going to push us out of the top four next year? We had a shocker today but are a cut above the bottom half of the eight.

Oh, and don't forget we have the Eddie annointed Messiah next year, Isaac Heeney!

We'll see what happens in the off-season. If they'd lost by a goal or 2 I would be feeling more confident.

[DamY]

I thought Jetta was ginger after the whack he copped from McEvoy. I thought Hanners was well down. Buddy was great but also gave a free away but they were understandable after the treatment he was copping

[Ampersand]

The problems began with the midfield, which for whatever reason did not have our usual intensity. They were second to the ball most of the time, and if they got there first, soon turned it over.

Our midfield has lacked intensity and results for weeks. Apart from the Bulldogs game we have not won the clearance count since Round 17. Even a layman couch coach like me can see that the structure for getting the ball out has been terrible for weeks. The most disturbing thing is nothing was done about it by the coaching staff and we finally got completely pantsed for it.

[Ludwig]

I'm sure the plan was to be in their faces from the start. Tackle hard and deny them space. But the reality is that it simply didn't pan out that way. I don't think we will ever know why we performed so lethargically in a grand final. We fans are not the only ones shocked by that performance. We were heavily favoured by pundits and punters. I expected that we would be the ones to come out and play like Hawthorn did, but would never have expected such a thrashing by either side; I more expected a game like 2012 with both sides giving their all in a close match and one side prevailing in a close match.

When a team gets beaten so thoroughly, it is pointless to blame one, two or even a few players. There certainly were some very poor showings, but it was clearly a team loss.

I suppose someone will start a postmortem thread to discuss how we go forward into next year.

[annew]

Yes, it's baffling. How can a team be so good one week and so bad the next. Except, Buddy. He's a league above the rest.

That sucked big time and I am so confused as to how they were so bad and could look so flat and be so beaten

[MarshallG]

When a team gets beaten so thoroughly, it is pointless to blame one, two or even a few players. There certainly were some very poor showings, but it was clearly a team loss.

Yep, but how can so many players be down? Where were our leaders when things were turning ugly?

[Ampersand]

Just to put things in perspective: there have likely been Bulldogs, St. Kilda, Melbourne and South Melbourne fans that were born and died without seeing their teams win a Premiership.

Think of the good times.

[wolftone57]

Wolf tone- that was seriously funny. Started by saying stop ranting about players and ended with ranting about three in particular....

The coaching was seriously bad today. But several players were just disgusting. Mal's delivery was crap. Shaw's delivery was crap. Reg was just crap, constantly made the wrong decisions. Where did I say I don't blame the players, they are out there it is up to them to get it right? This is the worst loss in a final ever!!! I have decided I hater Hawks, never did before!!!

- - - Updated - - -

We'll see what happens in the off-season. If they'd lost by a goal or 2 I would be feeling more confident.

reg, Mal, Rhyce obviously don't want to be here, good riddance!

[Zlatorog]

Just to put things in perspective: there have likely been Bulldogs, St. Kilda, Melbourne and South Melbourne fans that were born and died without seeing their teams win a Premiership.

Think of the good times.

Nope, I refuse such thinking. That is why Swans never became such a great club, because the fans have to be pleased with so little. Have a look at stats how many premierships Hawks,Bombers or Blues have won for the past 30 years. Not to mention Geelong. We should look up to those clubs not Bulldogs or St. Kilda.