Rnd 19 MDT Fremantle V Sydney. 13.20 pm. D.S.

[Primmy]

I am almost wishing he didn't give himself a grownup haircut! I like the long haired slobby look. Looks like we have a keeper.

Sheeze hats off to the ressies coaches (I mean you Shawry). They are coordinated, cohesive, mostly smart, and confident. That smacks of some serious coaching. One or two yes, but all of them at once??? nah, that's a bit special.

[YvonneH]

I am almost wishing he didn't give himself a grownup haircut! I like the long haired slobby look. Looks like we have a keeper.

Sheeze hats off to the ressies coaches (I mean you Shawry). They are coordinated, cohesive, mostly smart, and confident. That smacks of some serious coaching. One or two yes, but all of them at once??? nah, that's a bit special.

So glad Shawry decided to stay with us as a coach. Who would have thought that when he came to us from the Pies.

[mcs]

I am almost wishing he didn't give himself a grownup haircut! I like the long haired slobby look. Looks like we have a keeper.

Sheeze hats off to the ressies coaches (I mean you Shawry). They are coordinated, cohesive, mostly smart, and confident. That smacks of some serious coaching. One or two yes, but all of them at once??? nah, that's a bit special.

Naismith in terms of a tap ruckman has been ready for a while in my opinion, it really just is his body that has held him up in my opinion. Now he is having a run of good fitness, he is showing us what he can do in the big time

The development of our younger players this year has been superb - we are doing a lot of things right in that space, long may it continue!

[Aaron]

JOHN BLAKEY started in the newly created role of HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT after KIRK returned. It may be a factor too.

[Nico]

That Mark he took in the forward pocket was that of a man with very good hands. Sinclair drops those. If Sam continues like this he will be one of top rucks in the comp next year. With he and Tippett resting up forward come finals, we come a much more formidable side. Might be worth taking the flag odds right now.

[neilfws]

That was a pretty good performance by us, but I was more struck by how far Freo have fallen. They were mostly awful.

It is startling. I read somewhere that they are missing 8 of the players from their win over us last September...but we were missing 11. So it seems deeper than a personnel issue.

Mind you, that journo also refers to "Martin Pyke" in this otherwise good, short article about our "rebuild on the run" skills:

AFL season 2016: Sydney Swan's young stars take flight

[undy]

Sinclair looked as though he had his marking mojo back in his last game.
Bring em all in (even TD). 5 ruck-men at the bounce.

[bloodspirit]

I think we are in a good place with Tippet, Reid, Tahlia (maybe), Laidler, Sinclair, Foote, Richards, Robinson, BJ, McGlynn and Newman (did I miss anyone) who could slot into the team (after recovering from injury for some of them).

Rose, AJ, Jones, Marsh.

Derickx anyone?

[Sandrevan]

Did we play well or were Freo really bad? I was surprised how much space and time our players had around the ground. Outside of the stoppages we had lots of space. I haven't seen what our disposal efficiency was but I'm guessing it was quite good (even with the low efficiency by Hannebery).
When you have low pressure around the ground it's easier for our bottom 6 players to look good - and they did. However, I hope they take some confidence from this to do it against the better teams. Towers got a lot of the ball and was pretty good I thought.

Sam Naismith - For those who watched on Ch7 would have heard Dennis Cometti's comments on Sam. Very positive. I think Sam has jumped the queue; IMO he's now ahead of Sinclair.

Zac Dawson is a turkey. He has a history of doing that sort of stuff. Does he ever learn? I hope Lloyd is ok.

[Industrial Fan]

Did what we had to, no injuries, big win. Good result.

From what they served up in games against us, it's hard to believe freo are ahead of the lions. They were terrible, with a lot of our scores coming from basic handling errors.

[CureTheSane]

Sam Naismith - For those who watched on Ch7 would have heard Dennis Cometti's comments on Sam. Very positive. I think Sam has jumped the queue; IMO he's now ahead of Sinclair.

Was ahead of Sinclair for me after his first game this year.
I'm well and truly on the "we have tonnes of depth, if a player isn't performing they get replaced and sent to the two's to find form" bandwagon.
It's Nankervis vs Sinclair at the moment.
And when Tippo returns, it will be him and Naismith locked in unless one of the other two start to star.

[moocher]

So glad Shawry decided to stay with us as a coach. Who would have thought that when he came to us from the Pies.

What's emerging from the resies is the story of the year. Not in wildest dreams did I think so many would play so well. Great coaching & development

[barry]

Was ahead of Sinclair for me after his first game this year.
I'm well and truly on the "we have tonnes of depth, if a player isn't performing they get replaced and sent to the two's to find form" bandwagon.
It's Nankervis vs Sinclair at the moment.
And when Tippo returns, it will be him and Naismith locked in unless one of the other two start to star.

That bandwagon has worked out so far this year, but we need to start consolidating on a finals squad so they can get used to working together. Injuries have played havoc I know.

I still think the Sinclair of the first 6 or so rounds (prior to Brisbane game) is better as a forward/ruck than Nainsmith of last few rounds.

Assuming all fit and firing, horse has to decide his optimal combination. These would be my order or pref.

1. Tippet first ruck, Sinclair forward and 2nd ruck
2. Nainsmith first ruck, Tippet forward and 2nd ruck.

Sinclar/Nainsmith are backups to either combo, and Nanker is backup to the backups. Derrickx is backup to the backups to the backups.
Allir is backup to the backups to the.....

[crackedactor]

Naismith in terms of a tap ruckman has been ready for a while in my opinion, it really just is his body that has held him up in my opinion. Now he is having a run of good fitness, he is showing us what he can do in the big time

The development of our younger players this year has been superb - we are doing a lot of things right in that space, long may it continue!

I am glad that Naismith is starting to be recognised. I thought his last 3 weeks have been very good and he is well ahead of Sinclair. Evidentially there is a problem with him running out a full game but hopefully he has reached the fitness level now. Though quite in the second half, AA's game in the first half was quite outstanding. The future is looking quite bright and its great to have some backup players that can step up when required. Unlike last year when we had all those injuries during our finals campaign.

[aardvark]

Eddie will want us banned from the NEAFL or want a pies team included.....