Changes for R12 v Saints

[707]

Cameron is definitely 2018?s Dawson.

I?ve been telling myself they are ?saving him? for the Weagles next week.

Don't remind me of the non selection blunder when Dawson was BOG week after week and provided a different senior option but they'd select Foote instead, drove me mad!

[Hotpotato]

Family Feud? Cameron and Amartey are both playing better than McCartin in the NEAFL, but the AFL and the broadcasters forced us to include him so they would have something to talk about to fill the time in what is likely to be yet another boring game.

Really . Tongue in cheek or boring for the Vict biased AFL and broadcasters?

Watching these young kids running around with such enthusiam and terrific potential is pretty cool , the solid development of Sinkers, the ageless Grundy n Macca , Buddy really good half way in, finals on the cards again .
I?m sure you?ll stay glued.

[Levii3]

Not understanding the negativity towards McCartin yes he doesn't kick goals or take big grabs. He creates a contest bring the ball to ground tackles harasses our small forwards play better with McCartin playing. Unlike Bud he doesn't push to far up the ground and is a target down the line.

[MattW]

Not understanding the negativity towards McCartin yes he doesn't kick goals or take big grabs. He creates a contest bring the ball to ground tackles harasses our small forwards play better with McCartin playing. Unlike Bud he doesn't push to far up the ground and is a target down the line.

Well said.

[Ludwig]

Really . Tongue in cheek or boring for the Vict biased AFL and broadcasters?

Watching these young kids running around with such enthusiam and terrific potential is pretty cool , the solid development of Sinkers, the ageless Grundy n Macca , Buddy really good half way in, finals on the cards again .
I?m sure you?ll stay glued.

I really am finding the footy boring this year. I think the general level of play is the worst I can remember. We are lucky to get one high quality game a week and perhaps another one that's interesting because the score is close.

As for the Swans, the Hawthorn game was of a very high quality, but the rest were pretty ordinary and a few downright boring. The last 2 games would fit into this category. I'm always happy to see individual players going well, especially the younger ones who will take us into the future. It's all very positive, but it's not enough to make the game itself a good spectacle.

I care less about the Swans winning games than playing entertaining football. One of the reasons I have been looking forward to Aliir coming into the senior side has less to do with his ability to improve the side than his excitement factor. I also wouldn't mind giving Rose a shot on the same basis.

I've also been hoping to restructure our defence to free up 2 of our more exciting players in Rampe and Jones.

On the positive side, many of our younger players like Hayward, Ronke and Florent do play an energetic brand of football. I think the development path we are taking is very promising.

It would be helpful if a few of our senior players, particularly Hanners and Rohan, could lift their output, as that would go a long way to helping us move the ball with greater proficiency.

To many it may sound irreverent to put entertainment value ahead of premierships, but I prefer to see the Swans play good entertaining football and lose than win ugly. It's really an empty feeling after a game when all you can say about it is: at least we got the 4 points.

[caj23]

I agree with most of your points Ludwig, except for the bit about winning ugly

I'll take the ugly win, the problem is that I don't think our best is good enough at the moment to claim the premiership

[MattW]

I did find the 'at least we got the four points' consolation particularly hollow last week - there wasn't much redeeming from that game - but for me it's still better than an entertaining loss.

[Aprilbr]

I certainly feel our game style is very conservative at present. For example, we rarely take the attacking kick into the corridor option even when it looks to be on. It makes our ball movements forward look very predictable and methodical. While it works effectively against weaker sides I am not convinced that it could win us another flag.

I also feel our midfield is no longer is elite with the drop off in output of some of our more experienced players. We really need to find another elite midfielder to challenge unless Hanners and Co can somehow recapture past glories.

In terms of changes for this week it is certainly a conservative set of changes reflecting this philosophy. McCartin and Robinson as Ins does not suggest that they are looking to playing a more attacking brand of football. There are several exciting prospects playing in the NEAFL who are just not getting an opportunity despite good form. We may never know if players such as O?Reidon and Cameron are up to AFL standard.


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[Swanny40519]

I certainly enjoy the team winning games (even ugly ones), however we have a reputation across the football fraternity that we win ugly, with dour defensive football.

I do slightly agree with that, but we are missing a couple of key players - CHF Reid, CHB Melican and our first choice ruckman.

So with those key players out, plus loosing Tippo at the start of the year, we have certainly exceeded our performance from last year. Hopefully with a full team returning after the bye, we should be able to play a more attacking game style and kick more goals and improve on our low percentage.

However to beat the top 3 sides now (despite our round 1 win), we would have to play a higher standard of attacking football.

[longmile]

It's been a strange year so far as a Swans supporter. Our defence has been magnificent and resolute all season and is the only reason I think we're in the top 4. Even against the bottom four sides our defensive unit has been under pump the whole time, repelling and handling consistent pressure. Must be a stressful time to be Dane Rampe and Heath Grundy.

And at the other end of the ground our forward line seems to be extremely efficient, making the most of limited opportunities. Which makes me question is it our famous star-studded midfield brigade that's letting us down and preventing us from being as good as the top three sides? Bar Fremantle we haven't been able to put a single team away, which has made some exciting viewing but also makes me question our credentials. It's well known this season that Jack and Hannebery are shadows of their former selves and Kennedy is yet to hit is straps consistently. If all three of these blokes turn back the clock we'll be up their for favourites but it may be asking too much from their battered bodies.

Am I right to identify that it's our midfield that's letting us down so far this season? The only real room for improvement I can see in the second half of the season is if these 3 lift or if someone like Dawson, Towers or Robinson really level up.

Side note but Hewitt, Heeney and Florent are really killing it this year!

[liz]

Am I right to identify that it's our midfield that's letting us down so far this season?

We may not be being talked about as premiership contenders at the moment but there's more upside to our form than the other clubs around us on the ladder, simply because we have one area of the ground that is clearly functioning below the level it has in the past. The core personnel are still there, albeit that at least two, maybe three, are playing a bit sore, plus the load has been spread across more players than in the past.


Whether the midfield can lift largely depends, I suspect, on the health of the senior citizens but I'd like to think the club is deliberately working towards peaking in September, not May/June.


This time last year people were remarking on the improvement in the Tigers but few were identifying them as a serious premiership contender. They simply got better as the year went on.

[Blood Fever]

We may not be being talked about as premiership contenders at the moment but there's more upside to our form than the other clubs around us on the ladder, simply because we have one area of the ground that is clearly functioning below the level it has in the past. The core personnel are still there, albeit that at least two, maybe three, are playing a bit sore, plus the load has been spread across more players than in the past.


Whether the midfield can lift largely depends, I suspect, on the health of the senior citizens but I'd like to think the club is deliberately working towards peaking in September, not May/June.


This time last year people were remarking on the improvement in the Tigers but few were identifying them as a serious premiership contender. They simply got better as the year went on.

Notice we aren't being rated as highly this year in the media. Not sure yet if we are flag material, but we have always done well when underestimated.

[Markwebbos]

Notice we aren't being rated as highly this year in the media. Not sure yet if we are flag material, but we have always done well when underestimated.

Agree as usual with Liz and this sentiment. I?d much rather we peak later in the year and enter finals as underdogs than go through a repeat of 2014!

Our midfield is down, partly because it is being rebuilt in the run with a host of players (Papley, Hayward, Ollie etc) getting involved rather than the standard 3. I know it?s early, but its looking like we will play finals (unlike 2017) and I?m hoping that by the time we get there we?ll have improved significantly.

Losing Naismith for the year is going to hurt us against some sides. I am confused that Cameron isn?t getting a game.

[aardvark]

I really am finding the footy boring this year. I think the general level of play is the worst I can remember. We are lucky to get one high quality game a week and perhaps another one that's interesting because the score is close. .

Seems one of our old bosses agrees with you Lud. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...08-p4zk9t.html

[sprite]

Seems one of our old bosses agrees with you Lud. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...08-p4zk9t.html

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There is only one reason the channel seven boss wants more goals; "Worner said: "I want more goals ... That's the most valuable 30 seconds of screen real estate in Australian television"

It's only about the money.

I want a good contest that keeps me fixed to the TV, I don't care if there are only 5 or 6 goals kicked as long as the contest is tight.