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I couldn’t see one quote that indicated an interview between Barrett and Longmire had taken place.
Weird!
Weird!
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Wayne Carey pondering the Swans list and Horse's future, amongst other things. I wonder if he spoke to Horse about any of it?
"the Swans might just be the best 1-6 side in AFL history - if you don’t count the team that played finals two years ago, after being winless through six rounds."
"For just the second time in 16 years, they should be on holiday in September. But, with the talent on their list, I have no doubt they can rebound quickly."
"it’ll be interesting to see what the club’s personnel changes will mean for Longmire and his game plan, should he stay at the helm"
"... we’ve seen over the past few weeks they’ve been trying things, and like Chris Scott has at Geelong I think "Horse" will adapt to the cattle he has on the park."Comment
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I can think of a few valid reasons for that:
- we were coming off a grand final appearance, and it's generally accepted that teams that go deep into finals might take a while to get going the following year, especially if they have numerous important players that require patching up over the summer. We had several of our best in that category - certainly Franklin (who always needs a good service over summer), Hanners recuperating from his knee and then the subsequent onset of soft-tissue injuries. (Back then it occurred to anyone how long term his problems would prove to be). Parker, too, suffered a knee injury (I think) during the finals campaign and was in rehab for much of the summer. It was probably assumed that these players would hit their straps in time.
- in addition to key players still finding match fitness, we had a number missing through injury - Rampe, Heeney are two off the top of my head but I remember the youth of the side we were putting on the park being acknowledged. The teams we have put out this year have probably been younger but the perception (probably accurate) is that there aren't reinforcements due back any time, unlike in 2017.
- although we didn't win any of the first six games in 2017, my recollection is that we were a bit more competitive than we have been this year, at least in four of the six games. We did get very soundly beaten by GWS and the Eagles but the other games were reasonably close. In contrast this year, aside from the Carlton game that we won, there was only one game where I still thought we were some chance of winning halfway through the final quarter, namely the Crows game. Maybe the Dogs game too, at a pinch. But even though we haven't been punished too harshly on the scoreboard this year (apart from the late flurry of largely arsey goals that the Giants kicked), we have been soundly beaten around the ground in most aspects of the game, maybe not for the whole of games but certainly for extended periods.
- we really don't have anyone of any experience running around in our NEAFL team to come into the team. Even those players that we NEAFL watchers think are physically ready for senior footy - COR, maybe Rose, maybe, at a pinch, Cameron - have played very few senior games between them, let alone individually.
I do think we will eventually improve as this season wears on, and I don't think we will finish in the bottom couple (unless we have more injuries pile on top of those we already have), but I can see why a wooden spoon is viewed as a possibility this year when it wasn't in 2017. And the team did manage to prove that the first six rounds of 2017 were something of an anomaly by qualifying for the finals.Comment
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I've got to say I'm impressed with the attitude, spirit and effort of the team over the last few weeks.
It looks like Longmire has the players in a good frame of mind.Comment
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Spirit is exactly what came to mind for me watching the last 3 weeks. Is it since horse has moved to the bench ? Maybe the personal touch , who knows, but credit where frost is due , he has got these youngsters playing their guts out and improving consistently . Onya John
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Same here. I was disappointed that we lost last night, but not with the way the team attacked the task; they do seem to have developed greater self-belief and to have been more pro-active over these past few weeks. When Papley was asked a question after last week's win, a question that referred to the side's youth and inexperience, and either stated or implied that it would take a while for the Swans to find sustained success again, he made a response along the lines that no, the players are playing for success now. Dispassionately, it may have been unrealistic - but it was just the attitude I want to see in my team.
Personally, I don't buy into the criticism of Horse except to the degree that we can always wish he'd made a move here or there, or given more opportunity to a player we particularly like; I get the impression that he understands the need for young players to be given time to develop, and generally has good relationships with them. I especially like his on-going concern to drive high standards, and I agree with the Wayne Carey article mentioned in earlier posts, "I wouldn’t be backing against them rebuilding rapidly and making a September return as soon as next season." https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/why...09-p51lks.htmlComment
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Interesting that David King doesn't have Horse on his wish list as potential coach of North Melb, describing Horse's coaching style as not suited to North as they need some excitement. King said Horse is very suited to Sydney's long standing game style.
His order of preference is Clarkson, Adam Simpson, Michael Voss & Ross Lyon.Comment
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3h ago May 26, 2019
| Mark Robinson on North Melbourne's future…
"I have no doubt John Longmire will be at North Melbourne next year."
— 3AW Football (@3AWisfootball) May 26, 2019Last edited by KSAS; 26 May 2019, 03:35 PM.Comment
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