#AFL Rd 16 Sydney v Geelong, SCG, 05 July 2018 @SydneySwans #SwansCats

[Sandrevan]

It has been so noticeable that in the last 2 weeks against the better teams is how we struggle to get the ball out of our defensive zone. However, once we do get the ball into the forward line the opposition seems to repel it quite easily. There were a few times against Geelong that we were able to lock the ball into our F50 but it didn't translate into goals.

We get 1 good kick out of defence then don't seem to know what to do after that.We butcher the ball, the opposition get it and straight back into our D50 again. Our players are not moving in the centre part of the ground trying to create space and opportunity - it's very static and easy to defend against.

It's sad for KJ - but this may have been his last game in the AFL. Horse said that Hannebery got a calf injury but lets's wait for the news about something else - there has to be some smoke and mirrors going on with Hanners. We probably won't see McVeigh for the rest of the year which is a shame as he has been good this year.

If we continue playing like last night we're not going to win too many more games. Next week we play Norf, we still have to play Essendon, Collingwood, Melbourne and Gold Coast.

[mcs]

It’s an aside but I had a thought about Longmire’s dogged insistence on playing out of form golden oldies with runs on the board.

Which is, I think he’s got a magic formula somewhere for what the age composition of the team should be and a belief that if you play too many young / inexperienced players the team falls apart.

So I think he’s been reluctant to drop DH, KJ etc primarily for that reason.

Its a funny one - because I would argue this year that it has been many of our younger/inexperienced players that have had critical impacts on games and helped deliver many of our wins.

There is always a tipping point where too much inexperience/youth probably does end up being too much, especially when you've already got your best young guys firmly established in the team - but to me its a risk worth taking. Don't have such a choice now with McVeigh and KJ both having extended time on the sidelines to come.

The more time the core of our potentially next Premiership winning team gets together as a group as they develop, the better I say. The building blocks are there - take a chance, back 'em and see how they go. As they've shown this year already, there is a very bright future to come, where not only are we still perennial challengers now, but should be for the foreseeable future (assuming average luck with injuries, and good recruitment outcomes on average over the next several years).

[Plugger1300]

RWO posters

Swans win = Yay
Swans Lose = why do we bother, can't win the premiership. Play youth and look to the future

Time to think about hitting post just after a tough loss ....

We were always going to struggle to score last night
Until we have Paps, Reid, and Heeney back tohelp Buddy and McCartin
Patience is needed
We are lucky that outside of the Tigers most teams are inconsistent
We can and will still finish top 4

[Plugger1300]

I understand the pessimism, but I think it is worth noting that the injuries we have are affecting our structures and contributing to the poor play.

Longmire emphasised in the press conference that we were smashed out of the centre, particularly in the first half. The clearance stats from last night are stark. Kennedy had 12, then Parker (who played forward a lot) had 5, Sinclair and Lloyd with 4, then Fox and McVeigh had 2, and several had 1 (including Hewett, whose average is 4). That's a pretty shallow midfield. Heeney back will help with that, both through his own play (he averages over 3) and by allowing Parker to move into the centre. Dawson (7) topped the clearance count for the reserves last weekend and if he plays well on Saturday he should be a smoky for next week. It is clear he will have an important role winning the ball in the future.

Longmire commented in the presser that he was forced to play Parker forward more given the lack of target up forward. That lack of target was noticeable during the game. Aside from Parker, we only really had Buddy and at times McCartin (who played mostly up the wings) to kick to. Reid, Heeney and Papley back will help provide marking targets and allow Parker to play in the middle more.

Longmire also noted that we didn't force enough repeat entires last night, and our forward 50 pressure did look noticeably down. Hayward and Ronke both picked up the majority of their possessions in the defensive half last night, I think due to us not being able to win the ball in midfield, and we need to get them playing forward more, where they contribute important forward 50 pressure. Hannebery playing forward with his injured calf and Towers failing to chase, didn't help. Papley and Rohan returning will also assist with that, provided they are fully fit. Papley's chase has been poor for a lot of the year as he has battled with injury and fitness - his tackle count is well down on his career average.

Longmire acknowledged Aliir's good form in the press conference, and he also noted Fox did some good things. I like that Fox goes hard at the ball and moves well with it. He has a good leap and takes players on. There is adventurism to his play. He's better than Towers playing a similar role. His heat map is interesting - he played all over the ground, which I think suits him and us.

A Sunday game next week is handy. It maximises the chances that Heeney and Papley will return and that Reid will be able to play reserves and have time to recover.

This makes a lot of sense
Thank you
Structure and personal
Is our major problem at the moment
Would've changed plenty last night

[MattW]

McVeigh 6 weeks, Hanners 3, Jack possibly available next week believe it or not: Andrew Wu on Twitter: "Injury update on the Swans. Jarrad McVeigh to miss 6 weeks with broken collarbone. Having/had surgery today. Dan Hannebery out for 3 weeks with strained calf. Kieren Jack has grade 1 medial ligament strain, not ruled out for next week".

[Markwebbos]

McVeigh 6 weeks, Hanners 3, Jack possibly available next week believe it or not: Andrew Wu on Twitter: "Injury update on the Swans. Jarrad McVeigh to miss 6 weeks with broken collarbone. Having/had surgery today. Dan Hannebery out for 3 weeks with strained calf. Kieren Jack has grade 1 medial ligament strain, not ruled out for next week".

Mixed emotions about the reason Hanners won't be playing, but glad he's out and hoping Kieren doesn't get up too. Swans need fit players in the side. Shame about Macca. He's been extremely good this year, but is not big on "two way running". Hoping they'll give Newman / COR a crack at his role.

Going to be a very different Swans team against North.

[ASSASSIN]

Majority of the Swans players can't play high tempo footy. That is first to the ball, and pick the ball up cleanly. Everything is rushed and that just equates to errors. Better discipline and high tempo training is needed.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[707]

I'd make four outs next week, McVeigh, Hanners, KJ & Towers who was terrible last night. If they play well tomorrow, Reid, Dawson, Newman and COR to debut. Got to try something, it may just work!

[Bexl]

I'd make four outs next week, McVeigh, Hanners, KJ & Towers who was terrible last night. If they play well tomorrow, Reid, Dawson, Newman and COR to debut. Got to try something, it may just work!

Reid Dawson Papley Heeney COR to come in. Newman makes too many mistakes I think.

[707]

Reid Dawson Papley Heeney COR to come in. Newman makes too many mistakes I think.

Oops, in my hasty post between jobs I forgot Heeney and Papley to return! We await the NEAFL game outcome

[S.S. Bleeder]

We all say things after losses we regret.... there is one for you Merdo.

Technically Merdo is 100% correct. Getting both Buddy and Tippett WAS a huge mistake. The problem was that; 1) we couldn't have predicted that Buddy would want in the next year, and 2) we took a gamble on Tippett hoping his body would hold up which it didn't.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Getting Tippo was a mistake getting Bud was the best decision we've possibly ever made. We would not have made 2014 or 16 GF without him. Giving Sam Reid another huge contract is a huge mistake.

????.

[CureTheSane]

RWO posters

Swans win = Yay
Swans Lose = why do we bother, can't win the premiership. Play youth and look to the future

Time to think about hitting post just after a tough loss ....

We were always going to struggle to score last night
Until we have Paps, Reid, and Heeney back tohelp Buddy and McCartin
Patience is needed
We are lucky that outside of the Tigers most teams are inconsistent
We can and will still finish top 4

I haven't seen much of that sooking this time.
More analysis of the losee and players who underperformed.
nothing wrong with that.
I think most of us are positive still, doesn't mean a loss can't be broken down and assessed...

[barry]

Getting Tippett was the recruiting coup of the century. The reining premier secures the number one available player under everyone's nose, and he wasn't really that available. How it worked out later is history but as a recruitment manoeuvre, it was the best of the best.

Buddy, less so, he basically walked up and said "take me". Keeping it quiet was well done though.

[Nico]

I noticed last night that Hewett was present at many centre bounces, lured in there by Selwood who he was tagging. Frankly, Hewett has turned out to be a good tagger but not much good at anything else. Has no awareness with ball in hand of both team mates and opponents, is slow to react with ball in hand and doesn't know which way to turn with ball in hand. When he gets a free (stages for them) or the odd mark he stands there like a stale bottle of beer. Got caught holding the ball 4 times in the first half against Richmond. A waste of time at centre bounces. As Ludwig would say, out there for his good looks.

I still do not get how people thought Allir didn't play well. 8 intercept marks is pretty darn good and his disposal went at 93% effective. Plus his 1%er spoils were excellent.

Our problem is not our defence. We miss Mills but they have been marvellous this year. It is the mids that have let us down and their horrible disposal and lack of possessions. It looks like the selectors will be "forced" to bring in some young players into that area. Put Ronke and Florent in there for all centre bounces. With Jack and Hanners going poorly (finished) we have lost that red hot go for the footy. We need some urgent grunt in there.