Changes for Rnd 17 V West Coast

[troyjones2525]

Gary we only lack one thing. Players who are footballers and have the skill to deliver the ball with precision under pressure. That's what we lack. Our players waste far too much ball. Other than that it isn't a player problem it is a coaching problem. The coaches are too one dimensional. They can't seem to adjust to Clarkson's strategies (now used by half the coaches in the AFL) and the players haven't got the ball skills to take Hawks on.

In reality it is a drafting problem. We draft too many players who have @@@@ ball handling skills. We do have a few in the twos who are pretty good but they are also young yet. Hewett (kicks both feet & HB both hands), Newman ( not young but great skills, about time to upgrade and give a game), Melican (when not injured), Perris (on the way back from an injury), Heeney (great at delivery), Robbo ( very good kick), Davis (good skills) & Rose is improving and is a wonderful mark. They all have one thing in common, they are footballers. Natural footballers with natural skills. We have too many players who fit the Paul Roos category of athlete first and footballer later. They play the defensive run, run, run game that is so exhausting that sides like Hawks laugh at. They just hit targets all the time because they are highly skilled. They drafted highly skilled players, we didn't. We drafted in and under runners who had endurance to play our hard running game. We need to do the other & keep drafting highly skilled footballers not athletes and change our game plans.

Couldn't agree any more!

[Conor_Dillon]

In all seriousness it's probably better to give Pyke another week off...against Natanui he's not going to make a difference...we will get slaughtered either way. Better off bringing in Towers to play ruck with Nank and try and hurt the eagles around the ground. Our mids will have to go man on man all match to try and stop them from winning too many effective clearances and Reid is going to have float through the midfield to be the third man up as often as possible.

If Laidler still isn't right well then it's going to have to be Marsh...his form has seemingly been consistent enough at reserves level so why not give him a game, nice touch to debut in his home state as well.

[Plugger46]

So it looks like we'll finish top 4 for the fourth consecutive season with a bunch of athletes who aren't footballers.

Comical.

[chammond]

So it looks like we'll finish top 4 for the fourth consecutive season with a bunch of athletes who aren't footballers.

And if we'd only had better coaches over the past ten years, we'd have a fast, skilful team like Richmond, or a squad full of quality draft picks like Melbourne.

But everyone knows it's all just part of the McGuire/AFL illuminati conspiracy to keep the Swans under the Victorian hegemony.

This is only the thin end of the wedge . . . let's see what happens to Fast Eddie when Collingwood miss out on the finals again this year!

[neilfws]

Shame Ted will be out, he looks handy

AFL ABC Grandstand Sport Australian Broadcasting Corporation .jpg

Sydney Swans full-back Ted Richards offered one-match AFL ban - ABC Grandstand Sport (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[O'Reilly Boy]

Interesting time to be a Swans fan. That was the worst result I've witnessed since becoming a member in 1999, and I was almost inconsolable on the way home. However . . . this could be a watershed moment. I like the selection challenge of no Ted, no Kurt. Feels like the opportunity to roll the dice. And I reckon they'll come out pretty hot on Sunday, whoever's in the team, and whoever is coaching it. From where I was sitting (directly behind the Hawk's bench) two things stood out: we kept handballing to blokes under pressure, and we had no plan for coming out of the back half. I miss Malceski setting up at CHB to distribute to a runner going through the corridor, a free man on the boundary, or a one-on-one on the wing. We had nothing going, and I don't think it was just because the Hawks manned up well. The switches across the back line were so slow and predictable. Strangely, a few days on, I don't feel as gloomy as I did on Saturday night.

[Swanny40519]

Interesting time to be a Swans fan. That was the worst result I've witnessed since becoming a member in 1999, and I was almost inconsolable on the way home. However . . . this could be a watershed moment. I like the selection challenge of no Ted, no Kurt. Feels like the opportunity to roll the dice. And I reckon they'll come out pretty hot on Sunday, whoever's in the team, and whoever is coaching it. From where I was sitting (directly behind the Hawk's bench) two things stood out: we kept handballing to blokes under pressure, and we had no plan for coming out of the back half. I miss Malceski setting up at CHB to distribute to a runner going through the corridor, a free man on the boundary, or a one-on-one on the wing. We had nothing going, and I don't think it was just because the Hawks manned up well. The switches across the back line were so slow and predictable. Strangely, a few days on, I don't feel as gloomy as I did on Saturday night.

Sorry OB I still feel very gloomy. We are playing with no heart, no desire, no skill, no noticeable tactics from our many coaches and no passion.

I don't know what has happened to the team from the one that played a great style of football in round 8 to beat the Hawkes. I know they are missing Benny and Gaz from that side and both of them are key forward players who will put pressure on the opposition defenders. I think that we have too many players that are badly out of form or carrying injuries - Lloyd, Smith, Cunningham, Shaw (been bad all year) , Richards, Reid (been bad all year), Pyke. Even Parker has been inconsistent this year and even though has gained lots of possessions has not been able to kick those important goals like he did last year.

Our coaching staff need to take a long hard look at themselves and after watching the Monday footy shows which blasted the Swans for their low scoring capability, turnovers when going forward and tactics, I think they have to pull the switch and play a more attacking style, stop having 18 man defense and leave some bloody forwards in our forward line, so when/if we do gain possession we have someone to kick to. Rather than see the ball come straight back over their heads.

[stevoswan]

So it looks like we'll finish top 4 for the fourth consecutive season with a bunch of athletes who aren't footballers.

Comical.

You are missing the point. If you enjoy being 'top four' but not going on to win premierships, that's fine. The point is we are good enough to reach the top four, but will never win the flag until we address certain issues that are obvious to all but the people who are charged with that responsibility, the coaches and recruiting staff. Gameplan flexibility, targeted and innovative training, and better recruiting is what will drag us out of this malaise we find ourselves in. It can be done, but equally, we could slip into obscurity, and as a life long Swans fan, that is something I don't want to return to. Alas, I find my optimism waning more each week.

[Ludwig]

Interesting time to be a Swans fan. That was the worst result I've witnessed since becoming a member in 1999, and I was almost inconsolable on the way home. However . . . this could be a watershed moment. I like the selection challenge of no Ted, no Kurt. Feels like the opportunity to roll the dice. And I reckon they'll come out pretty hot on Sunday, whoever's in the team, and whoever is coaching it. From where I was sitting (directly behind the Hawk's bench) two things stood out: we kept handballing to blokes under pressure, and we had no plan for coming out of the back half. I miss Malceski setting up at CHB to distribute to a runner going through the corridor, a free man on the boundary, or a one-on-one on the wing. We had nothing going, and I don't think it was just because the Hawks manned up well. The switches across the back line were so slow and predictable. Strangely, a few days on, I don't feel as gloomy as I did on Saturday night.

I agree with you. It's good to be out of 'at least we got the 4 points' mode and get back to reality. I find being both a realist about where we are and an optimistic about the future quite compatible. I'd rather be a Swans fan than a Hawthorn fan at this time. For Hawthorn fans, you only have disappointment or 'ho-hum' to look forward to. You only have the possibility of that awful feeling and a 2 month depression if something goes wrong, like we experience last year.

As for this week's game, I'm fairly optimistic. We play well at Subiaco, so no fears on that account. Normally I wouldn't feel that good about getting Pyke back, but given the circumstances he will be important to at least give Nic Nat a bit of a challenge. We'll lose the ruck contests, but we don't want him to have a Goldstein day out. It looks like Laidler and Heeney will be the other inclusions. I doubt we will have any others, although it would be nice if we could take advantage of their lack of height defensively but hard to see Reid freeing up from defending Kennedy. It seems that they will go with Schofield and first gamer Barass as their tall defenders. Theoretically, Buddy should have a day out if we can get the ball to him often enough.

If we can put an effective tag on Gaff, it would be a big help. Sounds like a job for Cunningham, or even Lloyd.

Whatever the result, it probably won't matter too much for the final standings. I expect that we will finish 3rd if we win and 4th if we lose. If we can't come home with a wet sail and take out our final 6 games you wouldn't think we'd go very deep into the finals.


The injury list is looking a bit clearer. Finally the Groin Brothers (Naismith and Melican) are listed at 1 and 2 weeks, respectively. Thankfully Rohan is down to 1 week as well. Names not on the list were also pleasing, as Ugg mentioned that Hewett came off with what looked to be a possible injury, and Derickx seemingly can play on despite some shoulder problems, although he may not travel to Darwin since he's having problems lining up a date worthy of his celebrity status.

[Plugger46]

You are missing the point. If you enjoy being 'top four' but not going on to win premierships, that's fine. The point is we are good enough to reach the top four, but will never win the flag until we address certain issues that are obvious to all but the people who are charged with that responsibility, the coaches and recruiting staff. Gameplan flexibility, targeted and innovative training, and better recruiting is what will drag us out of this malaise we find ourselves in. It can be done, but equally, we could slip into obscurity, and as a life long Swans fan, that is something I don't want to return to. Alas, I find my optimism waning more each week.

I'm not missing any point. I just think the reaction is hysterical.

I'd love us to win more premierships. Finishing top 4 gives you the best chance to do that. I also recognise that they're bloody hard to win.

I think you're kidding yourself if you think the supporter base see something the coaches don't.

Were you like this in 2005 when the Saints outclassed us at Docklands? Or when Geelong ran away from us in the last H&A game of 2012? What about last year when we were 1-3?

Footy changes so quickly and I'm yet to see a flag given out in mid-July. Buckle up, there's plenty of 2015 to play out yet.

[paper_rival]

I'm not missing any point. I just think the reaction is hysterical.

I'd love us to win more premierships. Finishing top 4 gives you the best chance to do that. I also recognise that they're bloody hard to win.

I think you're kidding yourself if you think the supporter base see something the coaches don't.

Were you like this in 2005 when the Saints outclassed us at Docklands? Or when Geelong ran away from us in the last H&A game of 2012? What about last year when we were 1-3?

Footy changes so quickly and I'm yet to see a flag given out in mid-July. Buckle up, there's plenty of 2015 to play out yet.

^^^

[liz]

^^^

+1

[Untamed Snark]

You mean the sky isn't falling?

[Plugger1300]

The sky isn't falling and the premiership race isn't over (well it might be) but i do agree with many posters that the actual issue with the team is skill level.
Factor this in with injuries and it can make any team look subpar.

I actually think this is an AFL problem. People are complaining about the rolling mauls and stoppages but if players were cleaner with the ball. We wouldn't be having these issues.

Pies V Port
Ess V Melb
Swans V Lions
Carl V Rich

All these games contained horrible skills that resulted in very average games.

[mcs]

The sky isn't falling and the premiership race isn't over (well it might be) but i do agree with many posters that the actual issue with the team is skill level.
Factor this in with injuries and it can make any team look subpar.

I actually think this is an AFL problem. People are complaining about the rolling mauls and stoppages but if players were cleaner with the ball. We wouldn't be having these issues.

Pies V Port
Ess V Melb
Swans V Lions
Carl V Rich

All these games contained horrible skills that resulted in very average games.

It is a trend that has permeated across a lot of clubs in the league - and I think it relates to the obsession with taking players that are athletes first and footballers second, not the other way around. Until more clubs think (dare I say it) like the Hawks in terms of the level of elite skill they are looking for, things won't improve.

Reducing interchanges and taking the focus away from it being all about 'gut running' might help in time too.