Is Longmire cooked?

[Markwebbos]

I think that comment would have merit if we'd had the same coaching panel for several seasons. But we had a big turnover of assistant coaches at the end of last year. It's possible that the new panel hasn't gelled, or that we just don't have good ones. But turning the panel over again just for the sake of change won't guarantee improvement.

As I rambled on about above, I think the problem at the moment is playing personnel, not coaches or game styles. It's impossible to make any judgement on the coaching or game style with the team (personnel and fitness of those personnel) the club is currently able to put out on the ground.

Liz I agree with most of what you say in your first post and that we have a personnel problem / lack of experienced, hard players.

Personnel wise:

(1) Our backline is in reasonable shape but we have real problems in the midfield. We will (fingers crossed) gets Mills, Hanners (fit), Naismith back next year but I don’t think that will be enough to rediscover our dominance inside.

Do you think we’ll get it from improvement & physical growth in Florent, Hayward, Heeney etc OR do you think we should trade for it OR adapt our gameplan to be more of an outside team?

(2) Similarly our under siege backline is one of the few success stories of 2018, but has enormous problems moving the ball out of D50. We can’t continue to kick it long down the line in 2019, which means we have to change that element of our game.

I understand that the way we move the ball depends on players, when I look at the impact AA is having. Btw he only came in by default due to Melican’s injury.

I guess I’m trying to say to continue to play as we have been next year would be madness. Our gameplan has to change if we are to challenge. We’ve struggled in every game this year except the Saints game.

My note about assistants was more that Richmond and Collingwood changed their gameplan without changing their coach. I guess that Horse is a good with the players, but may not be at the cutting edge tactically. BUT with the right assistance could change significantly as Bucks and Dimma have. I don’t know what the new assistants are like ... it could be them or we may need fresh blood. More about Horses willingness to change.

We do so many things well at the Swans. But I think Horse needs to be prepared to revisit our gameplan in the light of our younger, quicker players if we are to have any hope of success next year.

What do you think should happen next year?

The panel has changed but the default gameplan has not.

[stevoswan]

The panel has changed but the default gameplan has not.

This is my biggest gripe about how things have turned out this season (bar our unfortunate injury list)......new ideas in the coaches box that either haven't been aired (why?) or have been ignored.....again, why? Is Horse too rigid in his approach? Is this why a number of assistants left last year? Do we even have harmony in the coaches box and is this affecting the players? I don't have the same confidence in the 'solidarity' of our club at the moment.......or the playing group. I don't see "Bloods 'never say die' culture", I see signs of possible fracture. I am worried......

[The Big Cat]

This is my biggest gripe about how things have turned out this season (bar our unfortunate injury list)......new ideas in the coaches box that either haven't been aired (why?) or have been ignored.....again, why? Is Horse too rigid in his approach? Is this why a number of assistants left last year? Do we even have harmony in the coaches box and is this affecting the players? I don't have the same confidence in the 'solidarity' of our club at the moment.......or the playing group. I don't see "Bloods 'never say die' culture", I see signs of possible fracture. I am worried......

What evidence is there of
Assistants unhappy last year or discontent in the coach's box? Or fractured playing group. We seem to be signing everyone we want who are rapt to stay .

Blake Caracalla is out of contract at Richmond as an assistant and is apparently the factor behind
Hadwick going from dud to premiership coach. He was also at Geelong for some of their premierships as assistant coach. Maybe it's time we shifted Kirky sideways (to meditation manager) and throw the chequebook at Carracella

[Markwebbos]

What evidence is there of
Assistants unhappy last year or discontent in the coach's box? Or fractured playing group. We seem to be signing everyone we want who are rapt to stay .

Blake Caracalla is out of contract at Richmond as an assistant and is apparently the factor behind
Hadwick going from dud to premiership coach. He was also at Geelong for some of their premierships as assistant coach. Maybe it's time we shifted Kirky sideways (to meditation manager) and throw the chequebook at Carracella

It's hard to know who is responsible for what when you have a team, but given the consistency of our "brand" of footy through so many years it must be largely Horse's choice to play this way. If Horse were to delegate ball movement to an expert (or have an expert suggest best options for our skill set) it might be a good thing. No point getting in Caracella if you aren't going to apply his expertise.

Rule changes - 6/6/6 etc might be a positive if they force a rethink on our coaching panel.

There was discussion this week on the Age Realfooty podcast (or should I now say - NEG's podcast) about a major difference of opinion between Dew and Longmire over tactics, which may have been a significant factor behind Dew's decision to go after the Gold Coast job. Of all the journos out there, I think the formerly Fairfax lot seem the most decent. That would explain the total clean out at the end of 2017.

[Blood Fever]

What evidence is there of
Assistants unhappy last year or discontent in the coach's box? Or fractured playing group. We seem to be signing everyone we want who are rapt to stay .

Blake Caracalla is out of contract at Richmond as an assistant and is apparently the factor behind
Hadwick going from dud to premiership coach. He was also at Geelong for some of their premierships as assistant coach. Maybe it's time we shifted Kirky sideways (to meditation manager) and throw the chequebook at Carracella

Media like a guru story and have singled out Caracella. Who knows if it's true or not. Meditation sessions worked in the Roos era - bring them back I say. Lot of people doing it these days to good effect.

[chalbilto]

It's hard to know who is responsible for what when you have a team, but given the consistency of our "brand" of footy through so many years it must be largely Horse's choice to play this way. If Horse were to delegate ball movement to an expert (or have an expert suggest best options for our skill set) it might be a good thing. No point getting in Caracella if you aren't going to apply his expertise.

Rule changes - 6/6/6 etc might be a positive if they force a rethink on our coaching panel.

There was discussion this week on the Age Realfooty podcast (or should I now say - NEG's podcast) about a major difference of opinion between Dew and Longmire over tactics, which may have been a significant factor behind Dew's decision to go after the Gold Coast job. Of all the journos out there, I think the formerly Fairfax lot seem the most decent. That would explain the total clean out at the end of 2017.

Dew has been after a senior coaching position for a few years and he went after the Gold Coast job when it became available. It had nothing to do with difference of opinions with Longmire. Dare I say "fake news".

[Blood Fever]

It's hard to know who is responsible for what when you have a team, but given the consistency of our "brand" of footy through so many years it must be largely Horse's choice to play this way. If Horse were to delegate ball movement to an expert (or have an expert suggest best options for our skill set) it might be a good thing. No point getting in Caracella if you aren't going to apply his expertise.

Rule changes - 6/6/6 etc might be a positive if they force a rethink on our coaching panel.

There was discussion this week on the Age Realfooty podcast (or should I now say - NEG's podcast) about a major difference of opinion between Dew and Longmire over tactics, which may have been a significant factor behind Dew's decision to go after the Gold Coast job. Of all the journos out there, I think the formerly Fairfax lot seem the most decent. That would explain the total clean out at the end of 2017.

Dew was a candidate for other jobs before Gold Coast. Fairfax used to be more decent but in recent times have joined the rumour monger brigade. To be taken with a grain of salt in my opinion.

[CureTheSane]

In the end the only thing that matters is his relationship with the board.
Look at Buckley. Amazing that he held his job as long as he did. He obviously was able to repeatedly make his case and had they not moved up the ladder this year may well be on shaky ground again.
Are the board frustrated with Longmire?
Is he not delivering what he said he would?
Have they questioned his game plan and sought changes that he hasn't been able to deliver?
Do they think that the quality of players we have should be performing better?
Are they sympathetic to the injury list?
How much good grace does he have to allow for poor team performance?
Has there been assistant coach dissent?
Etc?
Etc?

They'd have a list of questions to answer and move from there.
In all likelihood, they are a bit more pragmatic than most fans who call for his head after a few poor performances.
They would have their own criteria that he's need to satisfy to feel safe in his job.

So everyone can speculate as much as they like as fans, but in the end it's all just that.
A very different story when looked at professionally.

[Blood Fever]

In the end the only thing that matters is his relationship with the board.
Look at Buckley. Amazing that he held his job as long as he did. He obviously was able to repeatedly make his case and had they not moved up the ladder this year may well be on shaky ground again.
Are the board frustrated with Longmire?
Is he not delivering what he said he would?
Have they questioned his game plan and sought changes that he hasn't been able to deliver?
Do they think that the quality of players we have should be performing better?
Are they sympathetic to the injury list?
How much good grace does he have to allow for poor team performance?
Has there been assistant coach dissent?
Etc?
Etc?

They'd have a list of questions to answer and move from there.
In all likelihood, they are a bit more pragmatic than most fans who call for his head after a few poor performances.
They would have their own criteria that he's need to satisfy to feel safe in his job.

So everyone can speculate as much as they like as fans, but in the end it's all just that.
A very different story when looked at professionally.

Good post CTS. It has worked out for Collingwood this year but Buckley only survived, in my opinion, because McGuire is a protected species in the Melbourne media and Nathan is 'his boy'.

[Snork]

The thing that has continually astounded me is our kick outs after a behind. Lloyd seems to always be the go too but continually kicks a short kick to the pocket which is then kicked down the line. Ok tactics when you have Sam Reid or Tippo as the bail out but just makes no sense with our current line up. I have been slow to get on the oust Horse bandwagon given the respect he affords from supporters as a Premiership Coach but I just see no changes to how we played in 2014 and when playing styles were so different and we had different players. Roosy left after 8 years as he felt the players would need a new voice but the players of our club have had Horse as a coach in one role or another since 2003??

[crackedactor]

I think he is, his look in the coaches box is one of not knowing what to do.

Surprised everyone is putting blame on Longmire. They looked slow and sore and really struggled to see out the game. The sight of Buddy just trotting after a Essendon player was sad to see. With all these injuries and sore sorry players, maybe it's time to look at the fitness staff. No plan B would have helped last night.


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[stevoswan]

Dew has been after a senior coaching position for a few years and he went after the Gold Coast job when it became available. It had nothing to do with difference of opinions with Longmire. Dare I say "fake news".

'Fake news'......yes there is a lot of that going around these days but you can't just write off every footy news story. They're not all made up surely.....I don't think blind loyalty to a club excuses ignoring something that might have credence and in a lot of ways, makes a lot of sense. I love Horse as much as the next Swans fan but everyone has their limitations and no one is perfect.

[Hotpotato]

The thing that has continually astounded me is our kick outs after a behind. Lloyd seems to always be the go too but continually kicks a short kick to the pocket which is then kicked down the line. Ok tactics when you have Sam Reid or Tippo as the bail out but just makes no sense with our current line up. I have been slow to get on the oust Horse bandwagon given the respect he affords from supporters as a Premiership Coach but I just see no changes to how we played in 2014 and when playing styles were so different and we had different players. Roosy left after 8 years as he felt the players would need a new voice but the players of our club have had Horse as a coach in one role or another since 2003??

Agree, kicking to a pack rarely works for Sydney. Macca doesn’t, usually finds a man in space.

[Nico]

The thing that has continually astounded me is our kick outs after a behind. Lloyd seems to always be the go too but continually kicks a short kick to the pocket which is then kicked down the line. Ok tactics when you have Sam Reid or Tippo as the bail out but just makes no sense with our current line up. I have been slow to get on the oust Horse bandwagon given the respect he affords from supporters as a Premiership Coach but I just see no changes to how we played in 2014 and when playing styles were so different and we had different players. Roosy left after 8 years as he felt the players would need a new voice but the players of our club have had Horse as a coach in one role or another since 2003??

On the kick outs. We seem to take the just 15 metre kick to the back pocket too often. This allows the opposition to set up down the line. So often we then back across ground. We now have Dawson in the team who is a terrific kick who can kick way beyond 50. So why wouldn't get someone like that to kick out to get some quick movement through the midfield. Lloyd picks a lot of his stats up from the old one, two plays.

[Snork]

I just don't understand why we don't use Rampe as designated kicker, his kick is so penetrating and usually spot on but this comes back to the coaching, surely Ramps could play midfield when Melican is back next year? I am totally bemused by this "pension off Reg" line of commentary. He is obviously injured but was among our best players consistently up until the last four weeks. I think Kizza needs to be put out to pasture for the year, along with Bud and Hanners as we will not win it this year but with a bit of tweaking of our list we could be a massive show next year. btw I would love to see Stoddart play for the rest of the year as I think he could be an absolute gun!