Match Day Thread Rnd. 5. Sydney V GWS. SCG. 19.25 pm.

[Foreign Legion]

The good thing out of that is the Mills talked the talk, then walked the walk in the second half.

Yep, totally agree Nico. Mills can certainly hold his head high - he was easily our best IMHO.

[Hotpotato]

I can't believe how we miss a fast unpredictable rebounding defender like Shaw, Leo, Malceski or Aliir .....

They seem such an important person in the team ,..

[111431]

Wow how the mighty fall
The Indv efforts in the contested ball are embarrassing
I am disappointed with our non ability to Indv dominate our opposing player

Exhibit A

3rd qtr
Parker in the midfield wins the ball
Couldn't get it away
Looked like a deer in headlights deciding to not hand pass but was under pressure
Gws journeyman sam Reid no 50, chases Parker, drives Parker into the ground

While Parker is still getting off the ground , gws sam Reid jumps up and sprints forward putting 30m on Parker to support Greene and Greene scores a goal with 5 or so swans trailing behind him

30m he put on Parker
30m !!!!!!!!

Embarrassing !!!!!

The lack of urgency just getting off the ground to chase when we were still close enough ie 20pts in the 3rd is so disappointing!!

I actually think it was 50 - very disappointing and in bloods like

[annew]

Exactly Meg - i get frustrated by those trying to rewrite history to make it a Tippo v Mumford story. It was most definitely not.

I dont think Tippett has worked out for us overall, but as you eloquently outline, the move made plenty of sense at the time.

Exactly but hey the best recruiting tool of all would be to have a crystal ball.

[goswannies]

I dont think Tippett has worked out for us overall, but as you eloquently outline, the move made plenty of sense at the time.

Better than Bradshaw

[Meg]

Better than Bradshaw

Yep agree with that too!

[Dosser]

Better than Bradshaw

But that one torp... ????

[bloodspirit]

The main point I have been making is a change in mindset. We may well be able to make the finals this year with a good run, but I don't think it will matter in the end. It's far more important to find the right mix of players that can work together to play the kind of football that can match it with the best. I think we can do a rebuild on the run, but it has to start now.

I am confused by what you write. You seem to be contradicting yourself. On the one hand I agree with this paragraph (above). However, as you point out in your next post, we are already doing this. We *have* already blooded 13 since the beginning of last season with the prospect of more debutants to come. We already have one of the league's youngest sides.

However I think it would be a mistake to overdo it. We need the more experienced players to guide all the new blood. If you are only talking about dropping one additional player, Reg, then I still don't agree but that sounds more reasonable. But you seem to be going further and saying we should stop playing now all the players that we don't see as being part of our longer term future and I don't agree with that. As regards Reg in particular, I think even if we wish to transition to a more aggressive, rebounding defence, there is still room for one or more staunchly defensive individuals in the mix.

[goswannies]

But that one torp... ????

Got him for nothing. Made my night. Worth it!

Hmmm I've always been pro Tip, but I can't recall him giving me that much entertainment.

[rojo]

I still think the boys are spooked by the GF loss - they need a good shrink and they need them now!!!

This may be the explanation as to why Hanners, Parks, Joey and some others are so down on form. Last year they played their hearts out for most of the year and in the end of year matches v Adelaide and Geelong they played some superb footy. The inclusion of new life in Heeney, Mills, Papley and Aliir seemed to have worked. Just that final 10 minutes in the final cost them the flag. The flag that would have made all the angst and consequences of getting Tippo and Buddy worthwhile.

Instead of the GF loss spurring them on to be there again this year, the raft of injuries and the need to play more newbies has meant that the flag window has all but closed - in the short term. I can understand, a little, if the senior players are feeling a bit flat and discouraged. Maybe its going to be Jones, Heeney, Mills, Papley and perhaps Aliir who can provide the spark and zing that is desperately needed. Maybe we just need Rampe back and Reid and Rohan to run into good form. Now is the time for those two to stand tall and shoulder more of the load.

It is also going to be time for the coaches to rise to this new challenge. They can't leave all the inspiration and motivation to come from the players themselves. More effective tackling techniques would be a start!

[stevoswan]

.....plus a decent truth and honesty session. Where are you Brett Kirk? They need to get right in their heads and the body will follow. Also, looks like we're on the bottom now. Hawks beating Eagles atm.

[Swanny40519]

This may be the explanation as to why Hanners, Parks, Joey and some others are so down on form. Last year they played their hearts out for most of the year and in the end of year matches v Adelaide and Geelong they played some superb footy. The inclusion of new life in Heeney, Mills, Papley and Aliir seemed to have worked. Just that final 10 minutes in the final cost them the flag. The flag that would have made all the angst and consequences of getting Tippo and Buddy worthwhile.

Instead of the GF loss spurring them on to be there again this year, the raft of injuries and the need to play more newbies has meant that the flag window has all but closed - in the short term. I can understand, a little, if the senior players are feeling a bit flat and discouraged. Maybe its going to be Jones, Heeney, Mills, Papley and perhaps Aliir who can provide the spark and zing that is desperately needed. Maybe we just need Rampe back and Reid and Rohan to run into good form. Now is the time for those two to stand tall and shoulder more of the load.

It is also going to be time for the coaches to rise to this new challenge. They can't leave all the inspiration and motivation to come from the players themselves. More effective tackling techniques would be a start!

I agree with that point about the affects of loosing another GF and the mental scars it must have left on the whole team - coaches included.

I don't know how you can overcome that impact and how to treat it. The players get paid very well, but they have to carry on their shoulders, and probably more importantly, between their ears, the doubts and negative thoughts those two GF defeats cost.

Its time for Horse to show what he has - the players look very tired, unhappy, not playing as a team and very p#$$^^ off.

[Ludwig]

I am confused by what you write. You seem to be contradicting yourself. On the one hand I agree with this paragraph (above). However, as you point out in your next post, we are already doing this. We *have* already blooded 13 since the beginning of last season with the prospect of more debutants to come. We already have one of the league's youngest sides.

However I think it would be a mistake to overdo it. We need the more experienced players to guide all the new blood. If you are only talking about dropping one additional player, Reg, then I still don't agree but that sounds more reasonable. But you seem to be going further and saying we should stop playing now all the players that we don't see as being part of our longer term future and I don't agree with that. As regards Reg in particular, I think even if we wish to transition to a more aggressive, rebounding defence, there is still room for one or more staunchly defensive individuals in the mix.

It's not so much about one specific player or another. We each have our opinions about what constitutes the best team to play. I'm not picking on Reg. It's only that we have a good contingent of KPDs atm and I would like to see if we could find the right combination and this would mean someone taking Reg's place in the back line.

I see this as a heuristic process that will hopefully lead us to finding the best mix of players sometime in the second half of the year. We are not in a good place right now which goes beyond simple player substitution. The key problem is finding out why some of our most reliable players are so down of form this year. But while we are in this state we might as well give a go to those players putting in good performances in the reserves.

I don't think it's beyond us to easily win the next two games, build confidence, and go on to string 10 wins on the trot. But however the win loss record goes, we should still proceed building our team of the future.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Letting Mumford go to get Tippett was a grave mistake.

At the time Mumford had some knee issues and they thought that he would have a shortened career. Unfortunately, he's been very lucky with injuries at GWS to date. I agree about Tippett. He's a lemon as a forward. I think that he needs to play in the ruck. It's the only position he's good at.

[redsox]

At the time Mumford had some knee issues and they thought that he would have a shortened career. Unfortunately, he's been very lucky with injuries at GWS to date. I agree about Tippett. He's a lemon. I think that he needs to play in the ruck. It's the only position he's good at.

They were looking like certainties for the finals in 2015 until they lost mummy for the second half of the year. Mummy and tippet were on the list together on 2013. They didn't let go of mummy for tippet. It was franklin who tipped mummy out

Tippet = muppet regardless of how many players left because of him