Past players - what are they up to?

[stevoswan]

Following all the comment and debate here about Rohan and his "walking on eggshells" remark is an article that provides more illumination about what he meant: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/mr-...27-p51hrp.html.

Among other things Gazza said:

"I feel more free. At Sydney I felt I was more down as a pressure forward so I would put myself in spots where I probably wouldn't get the ball. I would get in a more defensive spot.... Here I want the ball in my hands and I am enjoying it."

To me this implies that his role at Geelong has allowed him more freedom and opens us up to question whether we should have limited his role in the way we seemingly did. On the one hand it's easy to say we got it wrong - because it's working so well for him at Geelong and we all like goals. On the other hand our game style is different and perhaps we/Horse place a greater premium on defensive pressure and not for nothing have we had one of the best defensive records for the past several years. We are a really hard team to score against. It's hard to evaluate what the Cats are sacrificing by giving Rohan more freedom. Anyway, hopefully Horse and the other coaches (especially Stevie J) will see what is happening with Rohan at Geelong and reflect on our approach and whether we think it can be improved (albeit with other players now that Rohan is gone).

I do feel sad that we didn't get to see more of Rohan using his great talent offensively. I tend to feel we did make a mistake by limiting him to a primarily defensive focus.... but what would I know?

If this is true then he was badly managed at the Swans and we deserved what we got from him. Who in their right mind would force the fastest player in the league to have a defensive mindset and play predominately defensively?

I get that when the opposition has the ball, we need him to be defensive and that his pace could be used to great effect in regard to forward defensive pressure....but when we are in possession of the ball, offense becomes the object and his focus should have been to attack and get away from his opponent, lead to the ball and grab that mark as he is doing at Geelong now, not to have a defensive mindset and worry about where his opponent is. His opponent should be worrying about where he is because we have the ball and Gary should have been doing his own thing and using his pace to leave his opponent and get to the ball, or to get to a position where he could present to receive it.

It's basic stuff.....maybe the message wasn't being conveyed to him effectively at the Swans because he certainly seems to understand his role at the Cattery much better than he understood his role with us....because what we are now seeing him do at Geelong is what we craved for during all the years he was a Swan.

This question has to be asked......Did the Swans coaching strategy effectively dilute or even waste Gary Rohan's talent?

I'm thinking YES it did....

[jono2707]

The article talks volumes to how we are currently playing across the board -too many players seem overly worried about what the opposition is doing at the expense of hunting the ball. The Brett Kirk-style defensive mindset worked well in the past but I think the balance has tipped too far in that direction.

It does sound like we are trying to rectify that but lack of cattle and a confidence deficit is probably holding us back at the moment.

Gary is a joy to watch in full flight and for various reasons we didn't see enough of that here. It's great seeing him do well so far in his stint at the Cats.

[The Big Cat]

Enough of the Monday Quarterback rubbish please. Gaz was tried as a leading forward and didn't cut the mustard. Most people on here called for his trade.

[Markwebbos]

This on Gaz in the Age today. And for the record, I was one of those who called for Rohan to go myself.

The comparison to Menzel stings. Menzel was a 2 goal a game marking forward at Geelong, Gaz is averaging 2.5. The most he ever averaged at the Swans was 1.4 a game.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/4-points-unearthed-treasure-parker-is-key-in-st-kilda-renovation-20190428-p51hyp.html

What the Swans need

Sydney could use a strong-bodied, fast, medium-sized player who is good overhead and can take a mark belying his height. Exceptionally quick and able to get out on a lead, he would be an attacking weapon.

The player that fits Sydney’s needs was there last year. The player they need now is Gary Rohan. OK, they need more than Rohan, and in fact the Rohan we describe now was not the Rohan we could describe at the Swans last year or in previous years.

Yes, he had been wracked by injury through his time at the Swans but he has also said himself recently that he felt he was walking on egg shells in his last days at Sydney. Rohan is a renewed and rediscovered talent. He rounds out the Cats’ attack, being a more athletic version of the role they used Dan Menzel in previously.

Geelong, clear on top of the ladder now, look more potent this year not just for the altering of roles for Selwood and Ablett but the inclusions of Dahlhaus and, in particular Rohan.

[bloodspirit]

Ouch!

[stevoswan]

Enough of the Monday Quarterback rubbish please. Gaz was tried as a leading forward and didn't cut the mustard. Most people on here called for his trade.

I don't think anyone is questioning his trading to Geelong.....it seemed the right thing to do at the end of last season.

What people are questioning now is 'did we use his talents properly at the Swans?'. His performances so far at the Cats and the fact that he himself stated he was forced to have a defensive mindset at the Swans suggests we did not....and this is regrettable and we are justified in highlighting it.

Sometimes coaching panels should just accept what certain hugely talented players offer and let them play to their strengths instead of trying to force them to fit into a rigid game plan.....ie; don't try to fit square pegs into round holes. Geelong aren't and they are now reaping the benefits we should have.....and that's frustrating.

This inflexible attitude of our coaching panel is largely the cause of our teams current problems.....we take talented, inventive young footballers and turn them into dogged bores, sapping their confidence to instinctively play to their strengths.

[The Big Cat]

I don't think anyone is questioning his trading to Geelong.....it seemed the right thing to do at the end of last season. What people are questioning now is 'did we use his talents properly at the Swans?'. His performances so far at the Cats and the fact that he himself stated he was forced to have a defensive mindset at the Swans suggests we did not....and this is regrettable and we are justified in highlighting it.

Have you ever heard a player go to another club and say "They played me in all the right spots, I just wasn't up to the task at that time. I now realise that I won't survive being a bit player getting a game on my potential and my high draft position, so I've had to dig deep. I've been genuinely lucky at this stage because virtually every second one of my disposals for the game have been scores, whereas at my previous club I often butchered the ball and wasted my average six possessions. My present Club look for me a bit more because I'm not playing next to one of the greatest players to ever grace the game and he drew most of the ball"?

[Markwebbos]

Have you ever heard a player go to another club and say "They played me in all the right spots, I just wasn't up to the task at that time. I now realise that I won't survive being a bit player getting a game on my potential and my high draft position, so I've had to dig deep. I've been genuinely lucky at this stage because virtually every second one of my disposals for the game have been scores, whereas at my previous club I often butchered the ball and wasted my average six possessions. My present Club look for me a bit more because I'm not playing next to one of the greatest players to ever grace the game and he drew most of the ball"?

BC, that's an alternative interpretation that isn't supported by the evidence in those articles, unless someone from the Swans comes out and says otherwise.

My fear is that the Swans coaching panel tend to focus too much on what players can't do, and not enough on what they can.

[Markwebbos]

Chris Scott's SEN interview is a bit kinder to the Swans. Implies being back home has been a huge factor for Gaz

Chris Scott breaks down the Gary Rohan move and why it's working

Geelong exchanging pick 61 for Gary Rohan seems as if it’s going to go down as the steal of the trade period. Rohan is in career-best form for the Cats, kicking four goals on the weekend and 15 for the season so far.

Coach Chris Scott believes being back around his home area has greatly contributed to his wellbeing off field and thus his performance on it.

“I don’t think there’s anything necessarily that we’re doing with Gary (that has caused his form spike) and he should take full credit for his performances, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he’s enjoying his footy and he’s enjoying his life outside of footy and those two things are translating to performance,” Scott told SEN’s Whateley.

Scott said even he was surprised by Rohan’s ability to play as a lead-up marking forward.

“It was an interesting conversation that we had with him early days when we were considering that exchange with Sydney, even I was a little surprised that he felt one of his strengths was his marking ability,” he said.

“Stephen Wells (list manager) absolutely confirmed that having watched him as a junior, he’s a little taller than most people would expect when you actually see him in the flesh.

“I think everyone knows the power and speed he has, you combine his height with his power and spring and he can get up, so we’ve encouraged him to do that, we think that helps us.

“It’s been a nice fit there and we’ve still got a long way to go as well, but I think it can be really difficult for forwards, particularly medium or small forwards to have consistency.

“The one thing they can do week in week out is apply pressure and he certainly can do that with his speed.”

[stevoswan]

Have you ever heard a player go to another club and say "They played me in all the right spots, I just wasn't up to the task at that time. I now realise that I won't survive being a bit player getting a game on my potential and my high draft position, so I've had to dig deep. I've been genuinely lucky at this stage because virtually every second one of my disposals for the game have been scores, whereas at my previous club I often butchered the ball and wasted my average six possessions. My present Club look for me a bit more because I'm not playing next to one of the greatest players to ever grace the game and he drew most of the ball"?

No, because that would be BS!

I don't want a debate....I've made my point.

[stevoswan]

Chris Scott's SEN interview is a bit kinder to the Swans. Implies being back home has been a huge factor for Gaz

Chris Scott breaks down the Gary Rohan move and why it's working

Geelong exchanging pick 61 for Gary Rohan seems as if it’s going to go down as the steal of the trade period. Rohan is in career-best form for the Cats, kicking four goals on the weekend and 15 for the season so far.

Coach Chris Scott believes being back around his home area has greatly contributed to his wellbeing off field and thus his performance on it.

“I don’t think there’s anything necessarily that we’re doing with Gary (that has caused his form spike) and he should take full credit for his performances, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he’s enjoying his footy and he’s enjoying his life outside of footy and those two things are translating to performance,” Scott told SEN’s Whateley.

Scott said even he was surprised by Rohan’s ability to play as a lead-up marking forward.

“It was an interesting conversation that we had with him early days when we were considering that exchange with Sydney, even I was a little surprised that he felt one of his strengths was his marking ability,” he said.

“Stephen Wells (list manager) absolutely confirmed that having watched him as a junior, he’s a little taller than most people would expect when you actually see him in the flesh.

“I think everyone knows the power and speed he has, you combine his height with his power and spring and he can get up, so we’ve encouraged him to do that, we think that helps us.

“It’s been a nice fit there and we’ve still got a long way to go as well, but I think it can be really difficult for forwards, particularly medium or small forwards to have consistency.

“The one thing they can do week in week out is apply pressure and he certainly can do that with his speed.”

Sounds like Scott just 'get's him'......maybe Horse didn't and that's a worry for our whole list. Square pegs and round holes as I said before. Time for Horse to evolve as a coach I think....oh wait, where have I heard that before and for how long now?!

[Legs Akimbo]

I think this is going to make for hard reading amongst our coaches, and so it should. The evidence seems pretty clear. We played him defensively, he felt constrained, he didn't perform. Geelong gave him a more attacking role. He enjoys it more and his performance is improved. Not sure where that interpretation falls down. I'm happy for him and I'm sad for us.

The comment about playing people to their strengths is really telling. Why draft someone and focus on making them something they are not. I wouldn't hire and train a person that way at work.

[The Big Cat]

No, because that would be BS!

I don't want a debate....I've made my point.

There is no debate. And yes, you have made your point - over and over and over again - Everything the club does is wrong, the coaches are hopeless and know so much less than you, and making the finals virtually every year in this century is no measure of competence or success.

The negativity on RWO by some posters wears on a bloke. Hate to see what these people would write about teams they don't support. But maybe I'm being sucked in by trolls.

Nothing personal in all this, I just don't understand.

[Legs Akimbo]

There is no debate. And yes, you have made your point - over and over and over again - Everything the club does is wrong, the coaches are hopeless and know so much less than you, and making the finals virtually every year in this century is no measure of competence or success.

The negativity on RWO by some posters wears on a bloke. Hate to see what these people would write about teams they don't support. But maybe I'm being sucked in by trolls.

Nothing personal in all this, I just don't understand.

I guess it depends on the degree to which you feel the current situation is self inflicted. I love the club and the players but I think it is ok to question their various decisions on a non club affiliated internet footy forum. I also dig your defense of the club and players. Actually I think we're all entitled..to an opinion.

[Mel_C]

We had Papley and Ronke in the forward line and they were also pressure forwards. They were able to find the ball and kick goals.

Over the years there were games where Rohan produced like he has at Geelong, but unfortunately he was never consistent and that's what frustrated us fans because we knew what he was capable of.

I'm glad he's found his confidence at Geelong and I wish him the best.