Is Longmire cooked?

[liz]

Matthew Lloyd has just stated the bleeding obvious - we've not been playing well, but doesn't offer any insight other than the fact many of our important players are "banged up".

[707]

Matthew Lloyd has just stated the bleeding obvious - we've not been playing well, but doesn't offer any insight other than the fact many of our important players are "banged up".

I say once again that we'd be better off missing the finals and getting needed surgical procedures done soon and our first full length pre-season since 2009-2010. So much talent coming through that we need the more mature types to start 2019 in good shape, softer draw, good ND picks on board, bright future.

[Hotpotato]

I say once again that we'd be better off missing the finals and getting needed surgical procedures done soon and our first full length pre-season since 2009-2010. So much talent coming through that we need the more mature types to start 2019 in good shape, softer draw, good ND picks on board, bright future.

You are probably right, however tanking is not in the Swans mindset , they will keep having a crack.

[Markwebbos]

Matthew Lloyd has just stated the bleeding obvious - we've not been playing well, but doesn't offer any insight other than the fact many of our important players are "banged up".

He says correctly it’s all gone wrong in the midfield where we are being smashed on the inside and on the outside. And correctly that we have a serious depth problem.

He also correctly points the finger at Hanners/Jack. I don’t think he’s right that Jack is banged up. Think he’s past it.

We have been playing more players through the midfield, but it hasn’t yet borne fruit. Heeney, Hewitt, Mills, Jones haven’t yet stepped up or in some cases been given time to establish themselves in the midfield.

Maybe like Ziebell at North’s move out of the midfield we need to move Parker permanently forward to give a younger player the opportunity to blossom? I like the way Hawthorn save Burgoyne for the last quarter when he comes into the centre fresh and has an impact.

I’m meandering. Our midfield is shot and I don’t see us fixing it without major surgery and an infusion of new talent in the off-season.

It’s not obvious to me who that talent is

[Beerman]

He says correctly it’s all gone wrong in the midfield where we are being smashed on the inside and on the outside. And correctly that we have a serious depth problem.

He also correctly points the finger at Hanners/Jack. I don’t think he’s right that Jack is banged up. Think he’s past it.

We have been playing more players through the midfield, but it hasn’t yet borne fruit. Heeney, Hewitt, Mills, Jones haven’t yet stepped up or in some cases been given time to establish themselves in the midfield.

Maybe like Ziebell at North’s move out of the midfield we need to move Parker permanently forward to give a younger player the opportunity to blossom? I like the way Hawthorn save Burgoyne for the last quarter when he comes into the centre fresh and has an impact.

I’m meandering. Our midfield is shot and I don’t see us fixing it without major surgery and an infusion of new talent in the off-season.

It’s not obvious to me who that talent is

+1.

The only thing holding our midfield together at the moment is Parker & Kennedy, and with Kennedy being slightly down this year, that means trouble.

We really need some players to step up into that midfield role. Early in the year I thought this might be Heeney's year to do it, but he's been very quite the past couple of months and playing more in the forward like (perhaps due to absence of Reid & Rohan).

Florent is still too inexperienced and I'm not 100% happy with Papley's performance there either. Maybe Ling could be part of the answer, but considering he hasn't played a game for the Swans yet, there is no guarantee of that.

[caj23]

I think we should go hard at Dom Tyson who is uncontracted and in and out of the Melbourne midfield. If he isn't available I'd also roll the dice on Miles from Richmond.

Kennedy and Parker need help on the inside.

I think we've got the outside run available but its being affected by the lack of assistance to the two above

[Ludwig]

He says correctly it’s all gone wrong in the midfield where we are being smashed on the inside and on the outside. And correctly that we have a serious depth problem.

He also correctly points the finger at Hanners/Jack. I don’t think he’s right that Jack is banged up. Think he’s past it.

We have been playing more players through the midfield, but it hasn’t yet borne fruit. Heeney, Hewitt, Mills, Jones haven’t yet stepped up or in some cases been given time to establish themselves in the midfield.

Maybe like Ziebell at North’s move out of the midfield we need to move Parker permanently forward to give a younger player the opportunity to blossom? I like the way Hawthorn save Burgoyne for the last quarter when he comes into the centre fresh and has an impact.

I’m meandering. Our midfield is shot and I don’t see us fixing it without major surgery and an infusion of new talent in the off-season.

It’s not obvious to me who that talent is

A lot of what you say is correct. Our midfield has played well below what we should expect from this group, but I think it's an exaggeration to say it's shot and not fixable without major surgery. If that turns out to be the case, then we will be in trouble for quite some time to come.

It's reasonable to expect players like Parker, Kennedy and Hannebery to get back to playing consistent quality football again.

There has been a confluence of events this year that hasn't allowed our midfield to work well together for any fair stretch of games. What's happened to Jack is disappointing, but not totally unexpected. Hannebery has been playing injured, or out injured, as his is now. Heeney, Jones and Hewett have all played very good footy most of the season, but have had some poor games as well. And we can go down the list of players and find something not right with just about every one.

Here's a list of our key midfielders (not including depth players) going forward, as a list manager might view it, sorted by age, and starting with JPK:

1. Kennedy 30
2. Hannebery 27
3. Parker 25
4. Lloyd 24
5. Cunningham 24
6. Jones 23
7. Hewett 22
8. Heeney 22
9. Mills 21
10. Dawson 21
11. Florent 20
12. Ling 19

You can work out the players omitted from this list that I am including as our defensive and forward line starters or depth players. It's a fairly young demographic that you would expect to improve over time. The number of fringe players and developing young players (not on the list) also seems about right with the usual expectations that some will make it and others won't.

I suppose a case for failure can be made for every player on the list, but so can one for the player being or becoming a top 50 midfielder.

I see a solid list with about the right mix of inside and outside players, as well as a variety of skill sets. I see a midfield on the rise, not on the way down, and one that won't peak for at least another couple of years.

[AB Swannie]

Just watched Longmire's post-game presser. I, for one, am delighted to have him as our coach.

[Blood Fever]

Just watched Longmire's post-game presser. I, for one, am delighted to have him as our coach.

Outstanding person who has over achieved already this season regardless of what happens from here on in. With our injury list at times and with a horde of inexperienced players, we have won 13 games and stand 6th on the ladder, with distill a theoretical chance for top 4. He is also the cultural leader of the club who never whinges, boasts or puts spin after the result of any game. Straight shooter.

[ScottH]

Hewett is fast becoming an invaluable midfielder.
Doesn't get the accolades of some of the others, but like Smith, goes about his job, usually does it well and seems to fly under the radar.
Some of his work yesterday was outstanding, when we were under the pump early in the game.

[neilfws]

Just watched Longmire's post-game presser. I, for one, am delighted to have him as our coach.

Agreed.

Throwing Heeney back yesterday proved to be a master stroke. Something for the "no plan B" complainers to think about.

[Agent 86]

Agreed.

Throwing Heeney back yesterday proved to be a master stroke. Something for the "no plan B" complainers to think about.

Yep.

One of the best.

Unless someone can come up with a better option (& no one has) I reckon we put this to rest.

[0918330512]

Yep.

One of the best.

Unless someone can come up with a better option (& no one has) I reckon we put this to rest.

We’ve just had two wins. If/when we suffer our next loss, the knives will be out again from the regulars on here.

[Blood Fever]

Yep.

One of the best.

Unless someone can come up with a better option (& no one has) I reckon we put this to rest.

In the press conference he was asked about our 'reputation' for defence and slow ball movement. He simply answered that we attempt to move the ball quickly but like the first quarter yesterday sometimes it doesn't happen.As for reputation,he said that this changes week to week in the press and that self belief was what really counted. Very good example of his own self belief that ignores any external rubbish and focuses on the job at hand. This has clearly rubbed off on the players over the years he has been coach. In my view, Melbourne, for example, has more talent but couldn't overcome our effort and belief. Not the whole story but a big part of it.

[CureTheSane]

Throwing Heeney back is not a plan B.
It's just player movement that worked.
I am seeing changes to our game style. Again, not a plan B

Do we need a whole separate game plan (plan B)?
I think most were frustrated that more player movements weren't initiated earlier in the season when it was obvious that what we were doing wasn't working.

Not sure if say Heeney going back is something that is practised and planned for, or just a whim.
Keep in mind that it could have backfired, which is always the risk when making these kinds of changes.
Then it's damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I like what I'm seeing though.
Rathr than reactionary "we have to do something different" it seems to have been given thought and tweaking, which is the best way to move forward into finals.