1st QF Swans v Giants

[Steve]

I hope there was a cooling off period in XR's new contract. He's just not up to it. Not just the horrible dropped chest marks, kicking etc - you watch him aimlessly drift around and can see he has no idea.

We were also out-coached at selection and throughout the game. We had far too many young players in when capable experienced players are available, and it backfired badly.

Dysfunctional forward line once again - you might have thought at some point they might try Buddy deep forward, even if just to actually try something different.

How many times was it just XR and a McGlynn or Papley forward.

[bloodsbigot]

I agree. Clever tactics by GWS (and what I expected) but not tactics that I admire. That said our players have to learn to withstand it without getting rattled.

Well that's the thing, isn't it?

We as supporters expected it, so how come it seemed like the team were under-prepared for it? You'd think we'd have spent the two weeks preparing for the physical/thuggish strategy they'd bring in the first quarter.

I predicted it. You predicted it. Maybe all swans supporters predicted it. Why didn't Horse foresee it and prepare for this @@@@?

[Blue Sun]

Agree but they should handle it better. If we're such a tight, congestion team, you'd think we'd be a little tougher.

I agree. Clever tactics by GWS (and what I expected) but not tactics that I admire. That said our players have to learn to withstand it without getting rattled.

Being mentally tough is one thing, but having your head targeted is another thing. You can't learn to withstand a charged shoulder to the face or getting punched in the back of the head. The umpires need to protect the player going the ball. They did nothing today.

[Meg]

Well that's the thing, isn't it?

We as supporters expected it, so how come it seemed like the team were under-prepared for it? You'd think we'd have spent the two weeks preparing for the physical/thuggish strategy they'd bring in the first quarter.

I predicted it. You predicted it. Maybe all swans supporters predicted it. Why didn't Horse foresee it and prepare for this @@@@?

Have to agree. But we do have some very young inexperienced players. Need to give them some leeway. They will learn.

[stevoswan]

We all lamented the same lack of mongrel after the '14 GF, and hoped that we would collectively show more......we haven't changed at all. Yes we like to beat teams with skill with integrity, and that's noble, but when we are on the receiving end, we respond with shyness and confusion. Very frustrating.... Actually the umpires helped create the confusion with their absolute nil protection of our players, but I think we have to get used to that in this league.....

[Nico]

Beaten by a better side. They beat inside in those really tough pack situations. Where our quick hands usually get us away they just worked hard to get the footy off us. Talk about Heeney's non free, what about McGlynn's clanger across goal. He handed so many misdirected kicks to the GWS. He is such a liabilty in tough games. So 2 situations at a critical time pretty much changed the whole momentum.

On another note; why are we seemingly so poor coming off a bye. Did they have a sabbatical last week. I heard a player mentioned that they had "freshened up". Strewth we should be hardening up. We looked soft and under done if that is possible. Parker had an absolute shocker. Most of his possessions were shabby. Mitchell got a lot of possessions late. I know we love Naismith but Nankervis would have been a lot better up front today. X looked good early but his inexperience showed in the 2nd half.

Leon Cameron just said in his presser that they will train hard in the next 2 weeks. Lets hope we harden up next week.

[bloodsbigot]

We all lamented the same lack of mongrel after the '14 GF, and hoped that we would collectively show more......we haven't changed at all. Yes we like to beat teams with skill with integrity, and that's noble, but when we are on the receiving end, we respond with shyness and confusion. Very frustrating.

Yeah this.

To be a truly great team we need to win these thuggish contests and change our gameplan up when the time comes.

I'd love to win fairly and nobly, but the AFL is turning a blind eye on the thuggish @@@@ because of Clarkson's politiking.

[goswannies]

We were also out-coached at selection and throughout the game. We had far too many young players in when capable experienced players are available, and it backfired badly.

Yeah but it was those young kids that got us to minor premiers.

How would you justify dropping them?

Which experienced players are you bringing in? I love Ted, but he hasn't set the NEAFL alight.

[bloodsbigot]

On another note; why are we seemingly so poor coming off a bye. Did they have a sabbatical last week. I heard a player mentioned that they had "freshened up". Strewth we should be hardening up. We looked soft and under done if that is possible. Parker had an absolute shocker. Most of his possessions were shabby. Mitchell got a lot of possessions late. I know we love Naismith but Nankervis would have been a lot better up front today. X looked good early but his inexperience showed in the 2nd half.

Maybe losing is the best thing that could happen to us then. We don't have anymore byes from hereon.

[Scottee]

I agree. I think the umpiring had little to do with it. The Heeney non-free was bad though.

Questions need to be asked about our players mental toughness as they seem to get rattled quite easily with physical intimidation. Same occured in the 2014 Grand Final.

Exactly what I was thinking re the 2014 GF.

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[Meg]

I've watched replay where Kennedy got hurt about 5 times but can't pick up the actual contact by Johnson. Was it an elbow? But the Mumford sling tackle on Tippett is very clear on the video. Think it should be two weeks down to one for that. Very very dangerous.

[stevoswan]

Maybe losing is the best thing that could happen to us then. We don't have anymore byes from hereon.

......and we've never lost two in a row this season!

- - - Updated - - -

I've watched replay where Kennedy got hurt about 5 times but can't pick up the actual contact by Johnson. Was it an elbow? But the Mumford sling tackle on Tippett is very clear on the video. Think it should be two weeks down to one for that. Very very dangerous.

Shoulder, with added force. Sniper....should go for a few weeks, if there is any justice. I won't hold my breath there.....Tippett had his arms pinned, Mummy should go too, again, not holding my breath.

[bodgie]

I'm convinced that losing today (although you wouldn't hope for it) will be a better path to making the GF. Having a break next week would have been seen us become even softer. Although Kennedy might need TLC. Some players will know they need to sharpen and toughen up

[dejavoodoo44]

Slowly getting my head around the Frankenstein's monster that the AFL has created. It is going to be very hard for any team to stop them from winning the flag. Their tackling pressure was excellent and some of their run impossible to stop. And many of their players are only going to improve. If they do win the flag, I suspect that the backlash from the powerful Victorian clubs will be vengeful. I just hope that we don't get caught in the crossfire.

[Scottee]

I've watched replay where Kennedy got hurt about 5 times but can't pick up the actual contact by Johnson. Was it an elbow? But the Mumford sling tackle on Tippett is very clear on the video. Think it should be two weeks down to one for that. Very very dangerous.

I couldn't tell either Meg, but it seemed a little high to be a shoulder. More like a well targetted elbow.

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