Match Day Rnd.4 West Coast V Sydney. Domain Stadium 20.10 pm.

[Mark26]

Roos raised a point post-match I hadn't thought about. The Swans midfield would not be getting their usual rotations off because their were so many youngsters in the team. Thus Parker, Hannes et al look a bit out of sorts because of the heavier load. I respect Roos - he certainly knows a lot more about the game than I do.

[crackedactor]

Good point and I never thought that aspect. Roosey doesn't get it wrong very often , very knowledgeable. Also backline is disorganized, hoping Rampe or McVeigh can make a difference.

[Hotpotato]

The Premiers aren't that impressive so far .

It's a pretty even year.
I quite like the Swans at $26 , if they string a few together soon they will be back into $9.50.

[wolftone57]

Tim Worner?

Gillon McLachlan

[Ludwig]

Hewett gets a lot of stats when he is lying on the ground.

That can happen when you're the club's leading tackler. But a good effort from JPK who is only 4 behind Hewett for the year. Harry 'The Intimidater' Cunningham though is a tackling machine, nailing 7 yesterday, one more than Hewett. Might give him a run for his money.

[WauchopeAnalyst]

He did after the 2014 GF. Said he didn't have a clue how to fix the problems. No idea at all. Said he was out-coached and caught on the hop with no second, third or otherwise plan that could have worked. That shows he is not an A student of the game. But yes, I agree it is generally their fault according to John. But I can remember in 2011, we were not going that well and the game plan wasn't working. The senior players approached Horse and there was a frank discussion about that apparently. His plan was simple just bomb the ball in and hope the forwards clean up. Unfortunately against good sides the ball came out faster than a Drag Queen at a formal.

There needs to be an open discussion as to where the game plan is going as sometimes stuff just doesn't work or coaches end up blinkered, as in the Bud situation we have. Take the idea of having Sam Reid as the second ruck. If we had Melican in the team, he would have been perfect for Kennedy, then Aliir could have rucked. But Longmire went with the tried and failed model. Sam needs to STAY in the forward line Horse!

As much as I knocked Harry. He was quite reasonable last night. Not our worst by far. But I still have doubts about his long kicking. He doesn't often kick to our advantage when he kicks long. This was one of Harry's strengths but it is failing him at the moment. He needs to work on that at training. Maybe some extra work with a couple of teammates.

I am not worried about being 0-4 or 0-5. We have players to come back. If we make the finals well and good then we will give it a shot. But if, even with all the players returning, we fall off the perch then I say give the season away and play youth. A few things that need to happen as we get players back. Nick Smith to the reserves to get form and Zac Jones to the pocket. Melican in, he needs to play next week and quite frankly Aliir might just miss out after a horrible game. Although he had to pick up Smithy's man on several occasions and Kennedy when Reg got burned off. I don't think he could play his game. But he was beaten in too many contests by staying back too far. Has to get that right.

Good post. I was apoplectic last night and have settled down.

Our defensive style will almost always keep us in the game but when we need to score, we cant change speed. You cant score enough if you FF is inside back 50 when you create a turnover.

Notes:

Sorry Harry. Poor tackle effort was Marsh, with WC player standing still and muffed it. Wellingahm take the mark but kicked a point.

Joey picks up the ball just inside F50 after a contest and turns and hacks it towards goals and either point or OOTF. 12 Swans in F50 but no-one with 30m of goal. How can that happen?

We win a CC and Jake has the ball, Dan rans past straight towards goal, but Jake holds the ball and running towards the boundary line and hacks it around the corner, straight to the free WC defender. Why?

Why is the best forward in the comp, spending most time in the midfield?
If playing forward there has to be more room/space for other forwards or mids!

Smooch has the ball under some pressure, but Reg, Marsh and another defender (Jones i think) still running towards our defence goal, with just JJK there and all 3 on the outside of JJK. Why doesn't 2 of them peel away and give Smooch and easy kick and starting our rebound, but no, terrible choice by Smooch, and goal.

We finally win the ball in the D50, just inside, and Hewett under pressure, hacks forward. 4 or 6 WC defenders ready. 2 in centre square and 1 on each wing or more. Buddy our futherest forward. (See pic)

There were so many things but cant get all of them in.

Are these questions reasonable?







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[RogueSwan]

Oh, how precious we can be. We have a bad run of games at it is the end of the world.

I didn't mind last nights game and I think what it showed is how valuable leadership is. All the times the Weagles got free was more due to the inexperience of our kids and, possibly, not enough instruction happening on field. You may not like this but is Kennedy the wrong choice as Captain? Two years ago everyone was calling Parker the next Captain, would that have been a better choice? Who knows.

....

We need to revamp of defence. Reg was great last year, but I don't see the point in playing him any more this year....

I realise you like to throw out some different ideas but this is nuts. Reg is the only thing holding the makeshift backline together. Who is going to lead them if he isn't there? Smooch or are you getting rid of him too!
We have already introduced enough newbies over the last two years. Time to consolidate what we have instead of even more changes. For mine, I think Laidler should have played, sure he isn't the greatest defender going around but he would help out Grundy with experience and determination.

[dimelb]

Oh, how precious are you all.
We have a bad run of games at it is the end of the world.
I didn't mind last nights game and I think what it showed is how valuable leadership is. All the times the Weagles got free was more due to the inexperience of our kids and, possibly, not enough instruction happening on field. You may not like this but is Kennedy the wrong choice as Captain? Two years ago everyone was calling Parker the next Captain, would that have been a better choice? Who knows.

I realise you like to throw out some different ideas but this is nuts. Reg is the only thing holding the makeshift backline together. Who is going to lead them if he isn't there? Smooch or are you getting rid of him too!
We have already introduced enough newbies over the last two years. Time to consolidate what we have instead of even more changes. For mine, I think Laidler should have played, sure he isn't the greatest defender going around but he would help out Grundy with experience and determination.

I think Josh is the best captain we can find atm. He leads by example, which is a good thing but more insight is needed. Perhaps McVeigh can provide that element when he's back in.

And Reg and Smithy had some awful moments last night; I expect they can only improve.

[Meg]

Match Day Rnd.4 West Coast V Sydney. Domain Stadium 20.10 pm.

I think Josh is the best captain we can find atm. He leads by example, which is a good thing but more insight is needed. Perhaps McVeigh can provide that element when he's back in.

And Reg and Smithy had some awful moments last night; I expect they can only improve.

I agree Josh leads by example but with so many newbies I do think it is possible more direction is needed on the ground. And for that I also agree that McVeigh will be very welcome when he returns.

The comparison I make is after Adam Goodes relinquished (joint) captaincy you could still see him giving lots of direction and encouragement on the field (but not in a way that usurped McVeigh & Jack). I have wondered (with no reason than casual observation) if part of Jetta's lack of form/confidence since he moved west has been caused by no longer playing with Goodes. I know that is very speculative.

Ps: in the past there have been many occasions when new players have said how much help they have received from the experienced players telling then where to run etc. I'm not sure that's happening at the moment - and perhaps the critical ratio of experienced to unexperienced has dropped too low for that to happen.

[liz]

I agree Josh leads by example but with so many newbies I do think it is possible more direction is needed on the ground. And for that I also agree that McVeigh will be very welcome when he returns.

The comparison I make is after Adam Goodes relinquished (joint) captaincy you could still see him giving lots of direction and encouragement on the field (but not in a way that usurped McVeigh & Jack). I have wondered (with no reason than casual observation) if part of Jetta's lack of form/confidence since he moved west has been caused by no longer playing with Goodes. I know that is very speculative.

Ps: in the past there have been many occasions when new players have said how much help they have received from the experienced players telling then where to run etc. I'm not sure that's happening at the moment - and perhaps the critical ratio of experienced to unexperienced has dropped too low for that to happen.

It doesn't help that our vice-captains - Parker and Hanners - are both struggling for form. They are possibly a little too engrossed in trying to get their own games going to direct others as much as they should. But still, we have a strong group of experienced players so there should be enough voices out there.

Yesterday was a step forward. I think the contested ball was a lot better. It was just those awful turnovers that cost us. Some had an element of bad luck - the bounce, or a richochet into the legs of another player - but all teams face the wrong bounce of the ball at times.

[Ludwig]

I realise you like to throw out some different ideas but this is nuts. Reg is the only thing holding the makeshift backline together. Who is going to lead them if he isn't there? Smooch or are you getting rid of him too!
We have already introduced enough newbies over the last two years. Time to consolidate what we have instead of even more changes. For mine, I think Laidler should have played, sure he isn't the greatest defender going around but he would help out Grundy with experience and determination.

I think Reg has been great over a long period of time, but his kicking has been awful this year and his turnovers have lead to many goals. He's never been quick, but reads the play well and is a an excellent mark. But I think it is time to introduce Melican to the side. He's quick and a good kick on both sides. I've said in previous posts that I thought we could play 3 talls in the side if 2 of them, meaning Aliir and Melican, were quick. I take the view that this will be Grundy's last year as a starter. I know there is some pain involved in these transitions, but time stops for no one.

We have to address the issue of poor ball movement coming out of defense, a need for better kicking and more speed. I see the back line at year end or the start of next year being Aliir, Melican, Rampe, Smith, Newman and probably Marsh, with perhaps Jones as a run and carry 7th defender.

Smith is not having a great start to the year, but I have never suggested that he be dropped from the side. I also think highly of Laidler, but it seems Marsh offers more now and still has some upside, while Laidler had probably reached his peak.

[Meg]

It doesn't help that our vice-captains - Parker and Hanners - are both struggling for form. They are possibly a little too engrossed in trying to get their own games going to direct others as much as they should.

I totally agree that this doesn't help and is probably part of the problem.

[Meg]

I think Reg has been great over a long period of time, but his kicking has been awful this year and his turnovers have lead to many goal.

This is something I don't understand about footy each year. Why do some players drop their form in a matter of a few months?

Many of us thought Reg was unlucky not to get selected as an All-Australian last year and he was one of our best in the GF. He had a lovely relaxed holiday off-season (judging from Instagram), came back for an injury-free (as far as we know) preseason training period - and now within his good defending we see too many stuff- ups. Very puzzling.

[jcroz29]

I

We are in an interesting phase of the club's evolution, one that we haven't experienced in quite a while. We're not winning, but I can feel something good brewing with the rewards just over the horizon. It can be a great time for us Swans fans, filled with hope and anticipation.

Let's enjoy the ride.

While my neighbours who hear me yelling at the TV may not believe me - I'm with you on this Ludwig

[AB Swannie]

I'm lucky to be in Hawaii at the moment so didn't get to see the game. I've only seen highlights. However, it looks like Reg had a shocker and contributed to a number of Weagles goals. He has been a fine servant and is allowed an off game.

This seems to be symptomatic of our "if only" year we are having. In all four games we have been close enough if good enough but have had a crucial error here, a 50-50 call there, a chain rope here, a glandular fever there. When it clicks, look out.

I reckon we'll likely lose again next week against the GWScum and be the first team to start a season 0-5 to make the finals. North Melbourne made it last year after having two streaks of 5 losses. I think we can finish with a 13-9 record and place 7th or 8th. It'll be fun to watch anyway.