#AFL Round 2 Swans vs Crows Fri 29-Mar at SCG #AFLSwansCrows @sydneyswans

[Melbourne_Blood]

I think it may have been Liz mentioned earlier but what has happened to our tackling ? They don’t stick them like they used to . Not just the young guys but the veterans too. Parker was a big culprit last night . Kills us .


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[Blood Fever]

Pretty much this. We were just a tiny bit less clean with our ball handling skills than the Crows, just slightly slower at reacting to the drop of the ball, just slightly poorer at getting players to contests, and just slightly worse at missing tackles (or better at missing tackles). It all adds up and saps the confidence somewhat, but we only need a handful of players to improve by a small margin and better football will follow.

The umpiring was frustrating as. It was signalled with a free to Walker in the first quarter for being out of position in a marking contest and flailing in the air, and carried on all night. I have no idea what some of the decisions against us were for but I am sure others will provide an autopsy over the next few days. However, I did just want to comment on a couple of acts by our two oldest and most experienced players out there this evening. They were both among our better contributors tonight, so my criticisms are specific to a few instances.

Firstly, the 100m penalty rule is dumb, but players trying to milk a 100m penalty by veering off course and deliberately running into an opposition player is not on for me. The umpires fell for it in a JLT game but weren't going to fall for McVeigh's attempt tonight. I expect better from him. (It wasn't helped by the fact his mind was clearly not on the next passage of play, given he then proceeded to kick the ball 15m to an unmarked Crows player.

Secondly, I know a lot of players play for frees, and appeal for frees, particularly when they get frustrated. And I'm sure Buddy was as frustrated by the umpiring tonight as we were, sitting in the stands. But twice (at least) he just fell over with minimal contact from an opponent and voraciously appealed for a free kick. You're better than that Lance. Leave that for the mere mortals. (I also don't think I've seen him blatantly duck into a tackle as he did once this evening - and actually fooled the umpire and kicked a wonderful goal from it. Another thing I hope doesn't become a regular part of his game. He's too good to resort to that).

Not only do I not like the poor sportsmanship of incidents like these, it also sends a poor message to the younger players. Team do get shafted by the umpiring from time to time, and sometimes possibly perceive they are getting shafted even when they're not. But there's little they can do to control that. The players just need to move on from decisions that go against them, and play the next passage of the game. A lot has been said about the 2016 GF umpiring but the 2012 umpiring was almost as bad. Yet the team still won the game because they didn't let it affect them. If the leaders of the team don't ignore it, and just keep their concentration on what they can control, how can we expect the younger players to do so.

Having said that, it was wonderful to see Buddy starting to get some touch back. He showed tonight that he's got a lot of quality football left in him yet. He's not quite up to full speed yet, but a few of his plays tonight were exquisite.

Perhaps Buddy and McVeigh, who are only human, acted as they did as because they were in effect of and frustrated by the unequal treatment handed out to them personally and to the team. Neither are saints and there is a limit to turning the other cheek.

[Blood Fever]

As disappointed as I am with the result, I was encouraged by tonight's game. The team was much better than last week and will continue to improve. The Swans have a bunch of youngsters on the team and I was impressed with the energy of Ronke and Blakey, in particular. The mid-field came together in the middle of the game and really took command. Unfortunately, the officiating (again) was uninspired. I do get frustrated at the last few years of the AFL and NRL treating the umpiring like special flowers when they are criticized. They are supposed to be the best in the world at what they do and they were ordinary...they should be held to account. If the Swans continue to progress, I would expect them to have a solid win next week.

I chuckled when I saw the chart of the last six times the Swans went 0-2. Made Finals every time. If this list stays healthy, it will be competitive... there are 20 games to go!

We will be competitive but don't think we should get hung up on making finals this year. Watching development of side, regardless of result, can make this year worthwhile and enjoyable.

[Hotpotato]

There’s one person I’m missing ....
Gazzas mercurial marking in the inside 50.
Where did he go again, I hope he’s enjoying life there.

[waswan]

We will be competitive but don't think we should get hung up on making finals this year. Watching development of side, regardless of result, can make this year worthwhile and enjoyable.

Disagree, nothing wrong with developing and aspiring just look at Hawks last year

[aardvark]

One of our issues is the lack of effectiveness of tackling all over the ground and, in part, this can be attributed to the number of young, immature bodies we have out there. I'd hoped it would improve a bit this season compared to last but the early evidence is that it hasn't.
Our midfield has never been the most skilled, disposal wise, so has always been prone to turnovers, but they were generally able to apply supreme pressure to win the ball back. Now we can't.

Why? They either aren't up to it yet, will never be up to it or they're not being coached properly.

[Blood Fever]

Disagree, nothing wrong with developing and aspiring just look at Hawks last year

And the year before, they missed out on finals. Who said club wasn't aspiring? Just saying if we don't make them, not the end of the world.

[waswan]

we have a list to play finals in a very open field
not sure we have a coaching box for it though

[Blood Fever]

we have a list to play finals in a very open field
not sure we have a coaching box for it though

Maybe we have the list but we have a lot of young players who will have their ups and downs. Hawks have not won a final since 2015. Missed finals in 2017 and went out in straight sets in 2016 and 2018. Nobody thinks coaching is their issue yet our last three years have been better than theirs.

[stevoswan]

The Eagles won the Granny against the biggest club in Victoria and AFL umpires .
So it can be done.

The Eagles also have a +400 free kick count over the last ten years (and ours is so far in the negative we are at the bottom of the same table).....for some reason the umpires love them......and we know they don't love us. Anyone thinking the Eagles gifted situation applies to us, is possibly deluded......or optimistic beyond reality.

[stevoswan]

Maybe we have the list but we have a lot of young players who will have their ups and downs. Hawks have not won a final since 2015. Missed finals in 2017 and went out in straight sets in 2016 and 2018. Nobody thinks coaching is their issue yet our last three years have been better than theirs.

True but they still beat us more than we beat them.....

[S.S. Bleeder]

West Coast +400 frees more than any other team?

+447 to be precise. Whilst we are on bottom by a clear -168.

[Hotpotato]

+447 to be precise. Whilst we are on bottom by a clear -168.

Wow, thanks for those stats, simply staggering.
Can we work out why they don’t like us so much.

[waswan]

Maybe we have the list but we have a lot of young players who will have their ups and downs. Hawks have not won a final since 2015. Missed finals in 2017 and went out in straight sets in 2016 and 2018. Nobody thinks coaching is their issue yet our last three years have been better than theirs.

Will happily go out in straight sets playing Mills and Heeney in position

Better knowing then not knowing what if we played them in the middle

Look at all the lists and even Carlton this week, they dont wait til players are 25 before they put them in the midfield

[waswan]

Also im pretty sure Hawks were coming off 3 flags which again id happily bottom out for