Alright, who's the weakest link?

[mattybloods]

The media (Neil Cordy) has started sharpening the knives on Kizza Kieren Jack?s AFL form slump: Sad Sydney Swans exit looming

Pretty harsh on KJ, he's playing as a small forward and that's definitely not his preferred position. Put him in the middle and watch his form return

[707]

Weakest link? How about the match committee?

How the hell did they drop Newman who had been getting plenty of the ball and looked good with his disposal. Gets send back to the NEAFL to get 30+ yet again.

What do they see in Foote who is clearly not AFL standard, what few possessions he does get he turns over but they keep him in and boot out Newman!

[ugg]

He played most of the second half as a midfielder.

[707]

Pretty harsh on KJ, he's playing as a small forward and that's definitely not his preferred position. Put him in the middle and watch his form return

Well send him back to the midfield which is clearly not functioning and put in anyone that's capable of more than KJ has been producing as a small forward.

There needs to be some serious rejigging of our team line up.

[707]

He played most of the second half as a midfielder.

Think our posts crossed in the ether so assume you're saying KJ played as a midfielder and not Newman in the NEAFL.

[ugg]

Yes I was talking about Jack. He started the second half in the middle with Parker forward and while he still spent time forward most of the second half he was in the middle

[RogueSwan]

... What do they see in Foote who is clearly not AFL standard, what few possessions he does get he turns over but they keep him in and boot out Newman!

I don't mind the perseverance with Foote. He doesn't appear a natural football talent but he appears to do everything asked of him, on field and off, is strong on inside and not a bad kick. A description that would've fit a young Kirk.
We haven't had a good tagger for a while, maybe Foote is being groomed for that kind of role?
Then again, I think that is what should be done with Rohan. Turn him into a tagger. With some more experience he could play on the Dangerfields of the game. This week he could run with Cripps. And it would also teach him where to run to to get the ball, his main weakness as I see it. He just doesn't get the ball enough.

[mattybloods]

Yes I was talking about Jack. He started the second half in the middle with Parker forward and while he still spent time forward most of the second half he was in the middle

Fair enough, it would be good to see him playing the whole match there though not once we are 32 points behind trying to stem the bleeding

[Nico]

I don't mind the perseverance with Foote. He doesn't appear a natural football talent but he appears to do everything asked of him, on field and off, is strong on inside and not a bad kick. A description that would've fit a young Kirk.
We haven't had a good tagger for a while, maybe Foote is being groomed for that kind of role?
Then again, I think that is what should be done with Rohan. Turn him into a tagger. With some more experience he could play on the Dangerfields of the game. This week he could run with Cripps. And it would also teach him where to run to to get the ball, his main weakness as I see it. He just doesn't get the ball enough.

He has never had a enough of the footy. In Under 18's he was an around the ground utility. Yes, use him as a tagger, but I suspect he hasn't got a big tank. I would play him forward out of the square. Leave him there and under no circumstances let him drift into the backline. We need someone one out other than Franklin.

[Markwebbos]

Fair enough, it would be good to see him playing the whole match there though not once we are 32 points behind trying to stem the bleeding

Think KJ is seriously underdone. Started on the bench on Saturday

[RogueSwan]

... I would play him forward out of the square. Leave him there and under no circumstances let him drift into the backline. We need someone one out other than Franklin.

Yes, I like your full forward suggestion. Not too many could match him on a quick lead but can our midfield kick it to his advantage?

Think KJ is seriously underdone. Started on the bench on Saturday

What, when we were domintating???? I'm not implying anything ;-)

[Captain]

Our issue isn't 'weak links' instead it is the fact our gun players seem to no longer be guns.

Tippett, Parker, Smith, Hanners, Jack. All in shocking to average form.

Even Kennedy and Buddy are down on output.

Until we get the above group right, no good blaming young players or making excuses about those out of the team.

[aardvark]

Our issue isn't 'weak links' instead it is the fact our gun players seem to no longer be guns.

Capture.JPG

[Plugger46]

Our issue isn't 'weak links' instead it is the fact our gun players seem to no longer be guns.

Tippett, Parker, Smith, Hanners, Jack. All in shocking to average form.

Even Kennedy and Buddy are down on output.

Until we get the above group right, no good blaming young players or making excuses about those out of the team.

This.

[Markwebbos]

Just looked at the stats from the final when we last lost to GWS.

Hannebery went from 31d7t in last years game to 23d8t Saturday
Parker 22d6t to 17d4t
Jack 22d7t to 12d3t
Kennedy 30d1t to 22d2t
Lloyd 26d2t to 29d0t
Hewett 15dt to 19d2t

Last time we won clearances 39:34 and contested possessions 157:150 and still got beaten by the better team. We also won the hitouts 42:36

This time lost clearances 26:42 and CP 108:142. Won't even talk about hitouts.

Lloyd / Hewitt / Jones are all better this year than last but they aren't able to cover the hole caused by Mitchell leaving / No McVeigh / drastic loss of form of Jack / "underperforming" Parker and Hanners

I think there's too much heavy lifting inside being left to Parker / Kennedy / Hanners. Teams know if they beat those three they'll win around the contest. And if you win the contested ball you beat the Swans.

I think they need to play Jones on ball more. Heeney (which they will), Rohan, Mills, Lloyd as others have suggested. I wondered about Aliir in short spells might be an awkward matchup.

And what has happened to our tackling? I'm sure that stat is largely based on effort. We used to be the best tackling team in the comp.