#AFL Rd 18 Swans v Suns, SCG, 21 July 2018 @SydneySwans #SwansSuns

[stevoswan]

Far too many 'after the fact' experts here tonight.....selections are always a gamble and if there was ever a game to try a thing or two, today's was it. As I've said many a time, no one has a crystal ball, none of us nor the selectors. They tried a few things that didn't pay off, basically due to a team wide complacency......hardly their fault.

While it would be silly to suggest that this was a loss we had to have as a reality check before gearing up for a big finals series (because in reality it was a chance to cement our place the finals which we now have to fight for), I do know we can play far better than we did today and as a result of that embarrassment, I'm sure we shall improve in the coming weeks and the selectors will maybe not be so 'bold'.....except Dawson in next week and surely Grundy will return.

Yes, it was a shocker today but it's not time to run around carrying on like headless chooks. In all honesty, considering all of our injuries and our overall list, I'm looking to 2019 for really meaningful progress, I think this year is fading......but some crucial list management decisions will have to be made. Maybe that's where 'boldness' will be needed......

[barry]

True, swans treated this game like a bye both at selection and endeavour. A very risky move to play with your form not far out from a finals.

[Auntie.Gerald]

A stack of steady and experienced players out today

Grundy and macca would have steadied the ship Today I do believe

Melican
Macca
Grundy
Jack
Hannes
Reid
Naismith
Towers
Rohan
Tippett

[Swannette]

True, swans treated this game like a bye both at selection and endeavour. A very risky move to play with your form not far out from a finals.

At endeavour yes but selection? To harp on that a couple of personnel changes would have made the difference is denying the real reasons we lost - mostly application and skill - across the board.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Swanny40519]

True, swans treated this game like a bye both at selection and endeavour. A very risky move to play with your form not far out from a finals.

That assumes we will make the finals.

I am very sorry to say this - I dont think we will make (or even deserve) to make the finals.

How can a potential finals contender be beaten so badly by a team that has never won at the SCG, never won against the Swans and has taken any confidence the team has and thrown it up against the wall.

[Hotpotato]

They just didn’t go at it with their customary zeal.

[barry]

The sun's were actually really good too.

[0918330512]

That assumes we will make the finals.

I am very sorry to say this - I dont think we will make (or even deserve) to make the finals.

How can a potential finals contender be beaten so badly by a team that has never won at the SCG, never won against the Swans and has taken any confidence the team has and thrown it up against the wall.

How? The Swans were undermanned. The Suns had to win some time - that time was, unfortunately, today. This season the SCG is hardly a fortress for us (realistically, based on current form we’re almost better off playing games and finals away from our home ground). I doubt that the Swans will lose confidence based on a single game. They will refocus and regroup and try to salvage the season. Unlike despondent supporters who whinge and whine after a loss and cast blame, the players know their job is to play football and to endeavour to win and will keep trying despite the odds.
The season isn’t over until we have no more games left (be that at the end of round 23 or the last Saturday in September). And while I’m sure supporters are hurting now, sure as heck the players are hurting more. While many supporters are angry, the players will be embarrassed - and hopefully inspired to rise above. But if they are professional athletes that I believe them to be, I have faith that they will continue to give their all. It might not be enough in the end, but win, lose or draw, if my team (which has been hit pretty hard by injuries) is giving all it can and falls short, I can’t ask any more of them. Today was disappointing. And costly. But ranting and venting and lamenting the what if’s achieves very little. Moving on to next week for the players - and probably supporters - would seem to be a much better use of our time and energy.

[Doctor]

While we're all at it, and understandably so, I would just like to congratulate the Suns. They turned up and never gave up.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[redsox]

A stack of steady and experienced players out today

Grundy and macca would have steadied the ship Today I do believe

Melican
Macca
Grundy
Jack
Hannes
Reid
Naismith
Towers
Rohan
Tippett

Tippett? Rohan? Towers?

Surely u jest.

And of the others on the list. Who do u think would be a regular starter in any other team in the comp in 2019. Melican would. The rest are dads army and the medical ward. Jack and McVeigh are done. Grundy has been a servant but is 32. Hannebery body has been destroyed by the task set for him over the past 5 years by the ‘tactics’. Reid can’t be relied on to play 15 games.

The future is in the kids that have been consistently played over the past two years. Stick with them and let them learn to be steady heads. That is what makes Sydney the envy of most clubs. The production line of kids. 2018 is now for looking to the future

And give them a game plan that kicks more that 12 goals a week

[goswannies]

Tippett? Rohan? Towers?

Surely u jest.

And of the others on the list. Who do u think would be a regular starter in any other team in the comp in 2019. Melican would. The rest are dads army and the medical ward. Jack and McVeigh are done. Grundy has been a servant but is 32. Hannebery body has been destroyed by the task set for him over the past 5 years by the ‘tactics’. Reid can’t be relied on to play 15 games.

From a medical point of view, I'm not sure why McVeigh should be considered "done". His form prior to the fractured clavicle was generally good (some would say quite good). Might have lost a little leg speed, but his footy smarts and disposal skills were still there and he effectively martialled the back-line giving composure & structure (which would have been helpful over the last 2 weeks). Without the fractured clavicle, I suspect it would have been his call as to whether he wanted to continue into 2019, and if he decided he wanted to, then the club's call as to whether his wishes could be accomodated.

With the fracture, while 2018 will be compromised, I don't see why this should impact on 2019 plans. Fractures take 6-8 weeks to heal is all goes well. As we get older, perhaps up to 12. Surgery can expediate the early part of healing (alignment) although the actual union of the bone can be slightly delayed because of less micromovement stimulating fibrocartilagenous callus formation and bony callus formation. Either way, lets say that there are no complications of non-union or infection, but conservatively assume delayed union and a 3-4 month healing time. This would write off 2018 but have Macca ready for the 2019 pre-season. If everything goes well and heals at the quicker end of the spectrum, that could mean back in time for 2018 finals (if we made it). General and match fitness would be a concern for a 2018 resumption, alough lower impact activities can be resumed once the orthopod/club doctor were certain that the fracture had sufficiently healed & stabilized. Either way, I can't see why an uncomplicated recovery should prevent Macca playing in 2019 if he and the Swans wanted him to (based on the injury and his form).

Just an opinion with no knowledge of Macca's specific injury severity, management or recovery thus far. Although the club has reported that 1) he’s had fixation surgery, 2) he’s resumed running, 3) he might resume playing in 3-4 weeks (ie 6 weeks from the initial injury).

[AnnieH]

What's wrong with buddy?
He doesn't seem to want to kick a goal.

[goswannies]

What's wrong with buddy?
He doesn't seem to want to kick a goal.

Seemed to play well up the ground a lot yesterday. They would say the game isn’t about individual honours but yesterday was the perfect chance to get back into Coleman consideration (which would likely have put us into a winning consideration too).

[YvonneH]

If you’re there boo them off the ground
Disgraceful

NEVER do that.

[Kafka's Ghost]

NEVER do that.

I’m with you, Yvonne. People forget very quickly that we’re playing half the NEAFL team. Even Aliir, one of our best players yesterday, has played less than 25 games. I still believe the future looks bright, but inconsistency is the hallmark of young teams.