#AFL Rd19 Bombers v Swans, Docklands, 27 July 2018

[chalbilto]

The kids are tired and the senior players are playing hurt. We have no-one else to bring in so they soldier on. They're trying their guts out they just don't have anything left to give. If you bring in lots of inexperienced players and keep playing them, this is what happens. They'll be better for it next year, and the year after.

If they are going to soldier and hanging in on a thread, then bring in Towers, Robinson, Maibaum (see what he has got to offer), Alex Johnson, Marsh and Cameron. Rest anyone who is injured.

[mcs]

Agree, Bombers aced us.

But....the umps are a major factor in our games, they were a big factor in this game and have been all season. I'm tired of focusing on that when I want to enjoy the game.

Putting the lop-sided free kick count aside, I'd be pissed off being a Bombers fan too. Just @@@@ umpiring this season, not just in our games. Is there blatant, deliberate umpiring bias? Yes. 17 free kicks against a side in one half - 19 if you add the first minute of the third quarter - is not accidental, nor fair. Is this bias a specific conspiracy against the Swans? No. I've seen howlers this year not involving the Swans. Being a non-Victorian team, we just end up on the wrong side of the ledger more often than not unfortunately. Still dirty and angry about it though.

Summed it up well Danzar. We get the raw end of the stick more often than not, and even during the rare neutral game I watch now (Just haven't really had the will to watch a lot of other AFL this season), I still find myself getting royally frustrated by the sheer consistent inconsistency of the umpiring. The AFL won't admit there is a problem, but it is turning long term fans of the game away from the game, independently of how their team is going.

I have only got a few home games this year due to other commitments (done a few away games), but seriously am not sure I can be stuffed going up next weekend, just to most likely be royally frustrated - between the poor form of our team and the awful officiating that is playing far too big a role in the game more often than not. I don't want to fall out of love with footy, but I fear it will happen. I'm sure a good medicine would be a rapid return to form for our boys, but its still not what it was even if that was to happen.

Saying all that, I will seethe till the day I die about the '16 stitch up for the fairypuppies. What frustrates me is you cant ever fathom to dare speak a word about it outside of Swans groups or with swans fans, for fear of the 'bad loser' tag... but most know deep down we were utterly bent over that day - I still feel with a consistent, fair handed umpiring display that day, there would of been a kick at most in it....

[Scottee]

It's hard to estimate the impact that 2 consecutive 6 day breaks had on top of a long injury list, but it did expose that some of our younger players are not well drilled at playing at this level and hang on to the ball too long, can't stick or break out of tackles and often kick or tap the ball on blindly.

It also exposed the poor physical presence of a range of players.

I'm hoping for the best, but we do look finished for the season.

We are we need to get cracking and find a really good strong quick midfielder or 2 because Hayward and Florent may not develop in that role.

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[mcs]

Dawson showed some promise I thought

Yep did some good stuff - we must persevere with him for the rest of the season and give him a run in the team. Nice goal too.

[0918330512]

Has anyone here been watching training during the season? The dix on channel 7 keep quoting Longmire’s throw away line that Buddy has trained “20 minutes for the year”.

Has anyone who has watched them train seen Buddy on the track for longer than that in one session to quash what sound like the most improbable stat?

[Swanny40519]

Amazing comment by the Horse. I really believe that is a big minus for the swans. He his the best forward of the last 20 years. And Horse stuffs him up ?? WTF is going on in our club.

[mcs]

What was so apparent during that game was the superior skill level of the bombers. It was the simple things like hitting a target, being ready for a quick hand pass from a team mate, leading into space, playing in front etc. As a team, our skill level is pretty bad at present. Which I guess brings me to my point. The game plan can only reflect the players' capabilities. There is no way we can play a fast, uptempo, skillful game when our players are not capable of doing so. This was evident towards the end of the 4th quarter when we were trying to play a more run and carry game through the corridor and just continually missed targets and turned it over. Our list has been stagnant over the last few years in terms of recruiting existing AFL listed players. It is time to make some hard decisions about our list and start rebuilding whilst we still have capital as one of the top sides capable of playing finals footy most years. If we don't and play out some lean years with not much change to the list, then we run the risk of enduring what the Lions have - unattractive team to go to or stay at for top pick draftees (think Docherty, Polec, Schache, Aish, Rockliff, Redden, Longer etc).

I agree and disagree.... it failed at the end because we played desperate footy chasing points and the guys are buggered.... the few times across the season where we have had passages of taking the game on, we have looked quite good at times. I think mindset/gameplan has a huge part to do with it - I said somewhere else tonight, so often we look for the 'safety first' option, even though that often requires tougher skills to execute then what may be a higher risk/more attacking play. Mind sets are hard to change, and when it is drummed into you to always go 'safety' first, it affects how you play the game, in terms of running into space, taking greater risks and taking the game on - which is needed to play more attacking footy. Its a change that won't happen overnight - but I feel we have the cattle to do it, especially in the younger guys.

The rebuilding process is well underway in terms of the list, and there is a lot to like about what is happening. I agree about not recruiting existing AFL listed players - that is partly down to the big chunk Budster and Tippo has had (and the need to maintain plenty of our own), I feel a bit down to the fact we will get burned at the stake yet again should we ever dare to take a big name free agent, and part to do with a feeling the list was pretty good to go in terms of a flag tilt.

Now though is the time for us I feel, to a small degree, to reboot the 'recycling master' CD, but with a focus on trying to find players with decent skill, or at least some speed. How we could use finding the equivalent of a Rhyce Shaw and a Marty Mattner on the trade table right about now.... but we must continue to focus on looking to find absolute young quality in the draft, with a focus on midfield grunt surely central to what we need. The nucleus of a very, very good Swans side is there - we just need to find the handful of parts to fill the gaps as the older generation goes, and the obvious holes that are there right now. That should be a mix of young players and some experience too.

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We won a shootout so why the return to dour negative football. The Kangas also arent that good as is now being shown. Also we did lose to Gold Coast!

Its a conundrum isn't it - I also don't think its a coincidence that we have played some of our best footy (not tonight of course) in recent seasons at Etihad - often with quite high scores.... it sounds stupid, but I'd be happier winning 10 or 11 games playing good to watch, attacking footy, then winning 10 or 11 games and playing the boring footy we play at the moment - it is awful to watch too often, gets absolutely crucified by the yellow maggots, and isn't going to win a flag anytime soon with the direction the game is going.

[wolftone57]

3 weeks ago we play in one of the games of the year a shoot out against the kangaroos. 3 weeks later coach needs to be sacked. Ease up. Essendon played really well. Who had the younger the side?

No. i never rated Norf. Who had they beaten? Nobody is the reality. We were good that day but the signs were there. The fact was if they had some of their injured players in they would have flogged us. you cna talk about Reid and Naismith all you like but they are about the only players who would have been in our starting 22.

[Swannette]

...And the guys are buggered.... So other teams haven't played 18 weeks too? Cop out. We are just below par. Period. If unfit it's not bc we have done more than the rest.


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[crackedactor]

I agree and disagree.... it failed at the end because we played desperate footy chasing points and the guys are buggered.... the few times across the season where we have had passages of taking the game on, we have looked quite good at times. I think mindset/gameplan has a huge part to do with it - I said somewhere else tonight, so often we look for the 'safety first' option, even though that often requires tougher skills to execute then what may be a higher risk/more attacking play. Mind sets are hard to change, and when it is drummed into you to always go 'safety' first, it affects how you play the game, in terms of running into space, taking greater risks and taking the game on - which is needed to play more attacking footy. Its a change that won't happen overnight - but I feel we have the cattle to do it, especially in the younger guys.

The rebuilding process is well underway in terms of the list, and there is a lot to like about what is happening. I agree about not recruiting existing AFL listed players - that is partly down to the big chunk Budster and Tippo has had (and the need to maintain plenty of our own), I feel a bit down to the fact we will get burned at the stake yet again should we ever dare to take a big name free agent, and part to do with a feeling the list was pretty good to go in terms of a flag tilt.

Now though is the time for us I feel, to a small degree, to reboot the 'recycling master' CD, but with a focus on trying to find players with decent skill, or at least some speed. How we could use finding the equivalent of a Rhyce Shaw and a Marty Mattner on the trade table right about now.... but we must continue to focus on looking to find absolute young quality in the draft, with a focus on midfield grunt surely central to what we need. The nucleus of a very, very good Swans side is there - we just need to find the handful of parts to fill the gaps as the older generation goes, and the obvious holes that are there right now. That should be a mix of young players and some experience too.

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Its a conundrum isn't it - I also don't think its a coincidence that we have played some of our best footy (not tonight of course) in recent seasons at Etihad - often with quite high scores.... it sounds stupid, but I'd be happier winning 10 or 11 games playing good to watch, attacking footy, then winning 10 or 11 games and playing the boring footy we play at the moment - it is awful to watch too often, gets absolutely crucified by the yellow maggots, and isn't going to win a flag anytime soon with the direction the game is going.

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[aardvark]

Has anyone here been watching training during the season? The dix on channel 7 keep quoting Longmire’s throw away line that Buddy has trained “20 minutes for the year”.

Has anyone who has watched them train seen Buddy on the track for longer than that in one session to quash what sound like the most improbable stat?

I noticed tonight Buddy is looking a bit porky, It could be true. Is this the beginning of the end for Buddy?

[mcs]

...And the guys are buggered.... So other teams haven't played 18 weeks too? Cop out. We are just below par. Period. If unfit it's not bc we have done more than the rest.


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I should have clarified my original comment better - firstly what I meant in terms of tonight was that they 'were buggered' by that stage of the game, and its hard to just switch it on and change game style successfully so late on.

More broadly, what I meant is some of our younger guys really are looking tired - and many of them were instrumental in our form earlier in the season. Many do not have hardened bodies in terms of having several pre-seasons under their belts - and yet have been lifting a heavier load than they should at this stage in their career. Of course every team has tired players at this time of year, no doubt about that. But a key part to our better form has been big contributions from some of our younger guns, and the season seems to be catching up with them. And with older guys missing through injury, others in the team but clearly struggling, and the end coming for some, we seem to be falling into a deep dark hole.

[Mel_C]

Very very disappointing game. ????
Where do I start?

Our players are not fit. Apart from the North game, since the bye every team has overrun us in the second half and have constantly had shots at goal. Watching them live tonight they were always behind their opponents even in the forward line.

Buddy could not run or chase and it made Hurley look like a champion. It was sad to see. Every time Hurley beat him the bomber supporters acted like they had won the premiership.

We just don't tackle anymore. I don't know if that's on purpose or if it's because we no longer have the players that can tackle properly.

Constantly when we had the ball there were no players leading so of course it was bomb bomb bomb.

Jones won't be playing next week...probably even longer.

Grundy won't be playing either...he was injured, that's why he was in the forward line. At one stage when he came off he shook his head to the bench.

The umpires weren't the reason why we lost but they sure didn't help us. No consistency yet again. And omg didn't the bombers sook after every non free. Even one of their players (might have been Devon Smith) sooked to the umpire that he had cost them 2 goals.

I have come to the realisation that we won't win another game this year. That's hard for me to say because I'm normally an optimist person but since the bye we have been terrible. They don't seem to have confidence and there is no cohesion. Too many senior players injured and the youngsters can't keep up.

It sucks losing on a Friday night...won't be able to sleep.

[Markwebbos]

I noticed tonight Buddy is looking a bit porky, It could be true. Is this the beginning of the end for Buddy?

I believe this is due to the injury he picked up in round 1 in Perth. Horse said there was no point resting him as he'll need months of rest to really get better.

[mcs]

I must say, as a foreigner who maybe doesn't understand how Aussie sports work from the business side, it is appalling to me that the Commissioner (CEO, Chairman, whatever) can publicly go for a "cup of coffee" with a sitting coach during the season. Do the words "appearance of impropriety" not exist down under? That should have been Gillon's dismissal right there! I don't get to have a cup o' Joe with a sitting judge when I am at trial! I don't care if it was coffee with Longmire or anyone else, it is beyond inappropriate and nobody is willing to call him to task on a blatant act that is tantamount to public corruption! On the other hand, the NRL seems to let the head of officials supervise their own kin, so what do I know? Maybe they can shift to the NBA, since several of the convicted felon referees have retired...

Its appaling to plenty of Australians too US - utterly ridiculous. But its a symptom of many in public life here at the moment - that the rules don't seem to apply to some at the top.