Out with the Old - In with the New

[Ludwig]

I am not for change just for the sake of change. And it's not just because we were beaten by a team that was 3 years younger and 63 games less experience. But it does show that a relatively inexperienced team can play well structured football and do most things right. PA from a couple of years back, when they made their move to join the top teams, is a similar example.

I don't think you "earn credits" to stay in the side (as McVeigh and Shaw have said in recent interviews) just because you've played well in the past. The game moves on quickly and you have to move with it or go into decline. Instead of just toying around with the 'should we or shouldn't we' scenarios, we should make the call now, and get some game time into some of our younger players. Hopefully with a 10 or 20 games under their belt, they will find their feet at senior level when finals time comes around.

Here are some of my suggestions:

1. Rhyce Shaw: Everyone loves him. He's a great mentor and leader at the club. But he makes too many mistakes and this must certainly be his last year. He would be a fantastic asset for us and be of much greater value to play in the reserves and teach our young defenders how to play. He seems like a senior coach in the making. We can find a replacement from our midfield (e.g. McVeigh) or I would give Zak Jones a go first. He's he bit rough and will make mistakes, but he's a very hard footballer and brings a lot of energy to the game.
2. Heath Grundy: He knows how to play and generally works well with Richards, but lack of pace, modest skills and questionable decision making often make Reg a liability. Reid is the obvious replacement with better skills and pace. He's someone that can also provide an outlet target coming out of defence, something that Reg not longer does. We are a bit thin in the key defender area and may have to wait to see who looks good in the reserves. Xav Richards has been inconsistent, but so is Reg. At least Xav has got some pace. I like what I see from Abe Davis so far. He reads the flight of the ball well and takes a strong mark, but perhaps it's still too early. It may well come down to deciding whether Reg or Laidler stay in the side, because having both makes us too slow. Laidler is improving, so he gets the nod for now. He can also kick long.
3. Adam Goodes: I think he still has something to offer, but what he can contribute is not what we need at the moment. He's become a cameo role player and opportunistic goal scorer. I thing our forward structure should revolve around Buddy, Tippett and Rohan. Towers doesn't provide enough pressure to earn a spot and needs to find that element in his game if he wants to play senior footy. Cunningham is in a bit of a form slump, but he could be that small forward with a bit more pressure. BJ may be the one long-term if he can improve his decision making and consistency; he's making progress. As for now we can fill the forward line with rotating mids and use it as a training ground for Heeney and Robinson, in effect competing with Towers and Cunningham for spots in the senior side.
4. Ben McGlynn: A tough call, because he brings a lot to the team and is not really old. But I would rather give Heeney, Robinson and Jones a go and see Benny more as a depth player for the moment.
5. Mike Pyke: Probably still our best ruckman. He's very strong and can physically match it with the best ruckmen and win his fair share of the taps. But he's a liability around the ground. He's a poor defender and can be taken back into defence where he can be exploited both in the air and with ball in hand. Pyke monstered Ayce Cordy, which was to be expected, but had less success against the Boyd/Roughhead combo. He's no longer providing that forward option Both Naismith and Nankervis are playing well. Naismith seems the better ruckman and Nankervis is good around the ground. Both can take a mark and kick goals. I think it's worth trying both. The sooner the better.

Frankly, if we have to depend on the above 5 for success, then we are in big trouble.

Our defence should be Ted, Reid, Laidler, Smith and McVeigh, with Jetta and Rampe covering the respective wings. I think Rampe will do better if we don't depend on him as a key defender. Everyone has noted that our defence is our weak spot this year and things may change as the season progresses. It may even turn out that Nic Newman can play a role this year. He's already 22 yo, is a good size and has senior VFL experience.

[jetts32]

I can see where you are going for the most part, don't agree with it all though.

We have a premiership window that could close at any time.

We need the experience behind us, players that haven't played a game yet or have little experience won't win us a premiership.


If we didn't have this window, I would totally agree.

Plus finals experience is a huge benefit.

[Scottee]

My only comment is that Reid found his niche as midfielder/follower going third man up against the Dockers and he is not the answer in defense. He is the Goode's replacement (unfortunately because l love Goodsey).

[mcs]

I can see where you are going for the most part, don't agree with it all though.

We have a premiership window that could close at any time.

We need the experience behind us, players that haven't played a game yet or have little experience won't win us a premiership.


If we didn't have this window, I would totally agree.

Plus finals experience is a huge benefit.

Hawthorn has shown over the last 2 seasons that you can still be blooding a lot of young players but not necessarily being at a point where they can't win the premiership.

[mcs]

I am not for change just for the sake of change. And it's not just because we were beaten by a team that was 3 years younger and 63 games less experience. But it does show that a relatively inexperienced team can play well structured football and do most things right. PA from a couple of years back, when they made their move to join the top teams, is a similar example.

I don't think you "earn credits" to stay in the side (as McVeigh and Shaw have said in recent interviews) just because you've played well in the past. The game moves on quickly and you have to move with it or go into decline. Instead of just toying around with the 'should we or shouldn't we' scenarios, we should make the call now, and get some game time into some of our younger players. Hopefully with a 10 or 20 games under their belt, they will find their feet at senior level when finals time comes around.

Here are some of my suggestions:

1. Rhyce Shaw: Everyone loves him. He's a great mentor and leader at the club. But he makes too many mistakes and this must certainly be his last year. He would be a fantastic asset for us and be of much greater value to play in the reserves and teach our young defenders how to play. He seems like a senior coach in the making. We can find a replacement from our midfield (e.g. McVeigh) or I would give Zak Jones a go first. He's he bit rough and will make mistakes, but he's a very hard footballer and brings a lot of energy to the game.
2. Heath Grundy: He knows how to play and generally works well with Richards, but lack of pace, modest skills and questionable decision making often make Reg a liability. Reid is the obvious replacement with better skills and pace. He's someone that can also provide an outlet target coming out of defence, something that Reg not longer does. We are a bit thin in the key defender area and may have to wait to see who looks good in the reserves. Xav Richards has been inconsistent, but so is Reg. At least Xav has got some pace. I like what I see from Abe Davis so far. He reads the flight of the ball well and takes a strong mark, but perhaps it's still too early. It may well come down to deciding whether Reg or Laidler stay in the side, because having both makes us too slow. Laidler is improving, so he gets the nod for now. He can also kick long.
3. Adam Goodes: I think he still has something to offer, but what he can contribute is not what we need at the moment. He's become a cameo role player and opportunistic goal scorer. I thing our forward structure should revolve around Buddy, Tippett and Rohan. Towers doesn't provide enough pressure to earn a spot and needs to find that element in his game if he wants to play senior footy. Cunningham is in a bit of a form slump, but he could be that small forward with a bit more pressure. BJ may be the one long-term if he can improve his decision making and consistency; he's making progress. As for now we can fill the forward line with rotating mids and use it as a training ground for Heeney and Robinson, in effect competing with Towers and Cunningham for spots in the senior side.
4. Ben McGlynn: A tough call, because he brings a lot to the team and is not really old. But I would rather give Heeney, Robinson and Jones a go and see Benny more as a depth player for the moment.
5. Mike Pyke: Probably still our best ruckman. He's very strong and can physically match it with the best ruckmen and win his fair share of the taps. But he's a liability around the ground. He's a poor defender and can be taken back into defence where he can be exploited both in the air and with ball in hand. Pyke monstered Ayce Cordy, which was to be expected, but had less success against the Boyd/Roughhead combo. He's no longer providing that forward option Both Naismith and Nankervis are playing well. Naismith seems the better ruckman and Nankervis is good around the ground. Both can take a mark and kick goals. I think it's worth trying both. The sooner the better.

Frankly, if we have to depend on the above 5 for success, then we are in big trouble.

Our defence should be Ted, Reid, Laidler, Smith and McVeigh, with Jetta and Rampe covering the respective wings. I think Rampe will do better if we don't depend on him as a key defender. Everyone has noted that our defence is our weak spot this year and things may change as the season progresses. It may even turn out that Nic Newman can play a role this year. He's already 22 yo, is a good size and has senior VFL experience.

I'd be happy to see Rhyce go asap - his brain farts have always been a regular part of his game, but this year they are proving exceptionally costly.

Grundy is a tough one - we have no one really developed well enough to replace him yet I don't feel. He is such a confidence player as well - when he is in form, he is vastly better than when he is not playing well - like at the moment.

You have summed up my views on Goodesy pretty well - he is a bit part player at best now sadly - too slow for midfield, and his marking has deteriorated as well. His decision making is really hurting us as well - he coughs the ball up more often than he uses it well. Its sad, but he will have to very quickly find some serious form in the next two weeks or I fear we won't see him again in the top team.

McGlynn has just had a poor start to the year. He was superb last year, and will find form at some stage. Still well in the first 22 to me.

As for Pyke - its a really tough one. Still great in the middle, but his output around the ground has deteriorated significantly. I can't see any solution this year - maybe Naismith, but surely we have to seriously reconsider our approach from 2016 onwards.

I also don't think Jetta is going to make it as a defender, I just don't He should move back to the wing where he can truly play his best footy.

[tasmania60]

Agree with ludwig other than mc glyn , dont believe there's a swans player with his determination, hard to go against the thought pattern ! Wonder if the coach bites the bullet ?

[Hotpotato]

The "credits" thing is more about the camaraderie these players have had with each other over many years and is understandable .
But as far as

- - - Updated - - -

the evolution of the team goes , it shouldn't be a major factor .

[ernie koala]

I don't see either Jetta or Reid as full time defenders.

Both seem to play their best footy, and have most impact, on the wings. I'd like to see them line up there more often than not.

Obviously Reid can go back on occasion to help out when extra height is needed.

I agree with McVeigh to defence, it's a must at this stage, he's our best decision maker.

Agree on Pyke, he just doesn't do enough around the ground. He should be taking relieving marks out of defence at the very least...It would help our defence a lot.

I love the look of Jones, but he had a delayed start to the year and I haven't heard much about his form so far this year.

I'd give Shaw a couple more weeks to find his best form, if he can't, then bring in Jones...Assuming he's going well in the 2's.

Laidler's lack of pace is a bit of a worry....Patful would of been nice, thanks Gil. Not sure we have an obvious replacement at this stage.

Both Smith and Rampe need to find some form. Smith seems a much better player when he has a gun forward to mark.

Rampe has such a penetrating kick, if he could add accuracy he'd be awsome....Work hard on it Dane.

Agree with others, McGlynn is in our best 22....Perhaps bring him back in as sub this week. He could really add something, late in a game, against tired legs.

[Conor_Dillon]

I think McGlynn is definitely best 22 but he needs match-time more than anything now so the sub-vest wouldn't be ideal, he should either start in the 21 or have another game in the NEAFL.

Ideally it would be Reid, Heeney, Jones in for Towers, Cunningham and Shaw. Let Zak play against big bro and start Goodes in the vest...he is an impact player these days and there's no reason he couldn't come on in the last quarter and kick a couple of goals.

[The Big Cat]

Forgive me I must be misreading the Swans' win/loss. I was sure we had won three out of five games and smashed Port at home and lost the two games by a kick or so. I guess now that we've bottomed out it is time to get rid of a quarter of the team. Having so many tall defenders knocking on the door in the ressies makes Grundy's departure a monty.

In all seriousness, Grundy does make the odd clanger but people forget how many times he saves us.

[bodgie]

Shaw and Goodes maybe. We easily could've beaten the dogs by 3 or 4 goals. Way too early to be tossing out important players. Given our situation Pike is it for now so suck it up.

[Ludwig]

It's so easy to be optimistic as a fan. Now that a few days have passed, I'm not so upset with the likes of Grundy and Shaw, who have played some very good football over the past several years.

But the question remains if we are good enough to beat Hawthorn with our current defensive setup. Why do we struggle in the rain so much? When I compare the difficulty we have moving the ball out of defence to the ease that Hawthorn have, I can't see us defeating them with our current setup. I think we could well be good enough for 2nd or 3rd, but not the premiership. So I am looking for weaknesses where we might be able to improve.

It's such a fine line between success and failure. I don't envy the match committee when the sit down and select the side each week. I look at Hawthorn game and often say "that was a risky kick." But they nearly always seem to pull it off. But with the Swans I find myself saying "that was dumb decision, why didn't we play safe and kick it down the line?" When you don't have the skill it really constricts your game and if you take risks, like we did on Saturday, you often pay the price with turnover goals.

Is there a solution to our dilemma other than hoping that Reg can run faster, Shaw can kick straighter, or Pyke can do something on the ground other than compete in a ruck contest.

We've only played one good game out of 5 this year. We lost to a team on our own turf that was missing Griffin, Cooney, Higgins, Libratore, Dale Morris and Mitch Wallis. We had nearly a full list to select from. Perhaps things will get better on their own. I hope they do.

[jono2707]

Forgive me I must be misreading the Swans' win/loss. I was sure we had won three out of five games and smashed Port at home and lost the two games by a kick or so. I guess now that we've bottomed out it is time to get rid of a quarter of the team. Having so many tall defenders knocking on the door in the ressies makes Grundy's departure a monty.

In all seriousness, Grundy does make the odd clanger but people forget how many times he saves us.

Hallelujah!

Good to see that not everyone thinks the sky is falling in after a close loss in the wet against a good young team currently playing with a lot of confidence....

[liz]

We lost to a team on our own turf that was missing Griffin, Cooney, Higgins, Libratore, Dale Morris and Mitch Wallis. We had nearly a full list to select from. Perhaps things will get better on their own. I hope they do.

If we are allowed to count Griffin, Cooney and Higgins as missing from the Dogs side, can we point out that Mumford, Williams and Plugger were missing from ours?

[Ludwig]

If we are allowed to count Griffin, Cooney and Higgins as missing from the Dogs side, can we point out that Mumford, Williams and Plugger were missing from ours?

Yes, we were certainly missing a few big names from the past as well. Malceski is the one we really missed, the 2014 version that is.

Anyway, just pointing out that 6 of their biggest names from last year were not in the their team and they managed to replace them with younger players that got the job done against the second best team in the league. It can be surprising what can happen when you're forced to replace some of your best players.