#AFL Round 17 Swans v Blues Sat 13-Jul at SCG #AFLSwansBlues @sydneyswans

[barry]

A couple of weeks ago we had won three in a row including a smashing of the reigning premiers. Now we’ve lost two by a combined 17 points without our superstar forward and with no ruck and everyone jumps off. I agree that it is disappointing but we need to put everything into context. We are a rebuilding team who are going to have ups and downs.
.

No one is jumping off, but those two losses are against very ordinary teams. Losing to Carlton?, At home?.
We are a long way from a finals side, and our Ruck and superstar forward are both the wrong side of 30 and will need replacing before we contend again.
The 3 wins could have been a bit of fools gold.

[Swanny40519]

Went to the windy SGC yesterday, walked out shaking my head about the way we were playing, watched replay of the game last night and I woke up this morning more worried.

I really don't understand the coaching tactics that want all of or mids and defenders to stand back 3-4 metres from their opposition player and let them mark and play on, or handball to another player with no Swan nearby. Then when we do get the ball our immediate reaction is to handball away to another player in a worse position or one that is surrounded by 2-3 opposition players. Our goal kicking is deplorable completely off the scale.

So what in the hell are our so called professional coaching staff doing about improving our skills. Yes we have a lot of younger players but so do a lot of other clubs, our skill level is terrible.

We give away so many uncontested possessions.

Our game style is terrible, to watch and to keep the scoreboard moving. I know we don't have Buddy but other teams manage to score more goals than we do without a superstar forward.

We need to take a good long hard look at all aspects of our football department and game style over the long hot summer.

[waswan]

I wonder if Alir goes against Sandilands and Lobb or are they tall enough to warrant playing an actual Ruck ?
Or if that Fyfe guy is warranted of a tag ? Maybe Clarke ?
Essendon was winnable but we just ran out of legs, Carlton was lost at selection.
Play a ruck and Alir can help Ramps against a guy a foot taller
Tag Walsh and they have no run
Piss poor coaching box
3 more years of this muppet

[Auntie.Gerald]

The tap work was the major issue for me

Hitouts 20 < 55
Clearances 32 < 45
Stoppage clearances 24 < 34

U can’t win games with that area of the game providing a nightmare for our defence

The ball came in hot and we struggled

U have to get ur hands on the ball in the middle to win more then u lose

Frustrating but part of the journey

Not many great options for the ruck yest and we still only just lost

Onward we go

[grarmy]

Cannot see this group making progress next year either. Without the inclusion of some key position players the quest to build from the bottom up will be long and painfull.

In no particular order the Swans need some genuine ruck stocks and a new bull midfielder (Kennedy has run himself into the ground). We need psychiatric support staff. I mean this. There is something wrong in the heads of players who cannot kick straight some 20 metres from goal or to an unmanned team mate.

[Ralph Dawg]

No need to panic. We've got some good players, still a bit young so I wouldn't expect across the board consistency.
Re coaching, I think our hand was forced as something had to be done about the midfield contest. We were getting hammered there and the only thing keeping us in the game was some poor options by the Blues. By swinging an extra player into the contest in the third, we stemmed the flow to an extent and stayed in the game, at least on the scoreboard. This has been our way for a number of years under Longmire. It's frustrating because it leaves them with one free in defence but sets us up for one last tilt as we are always within striking distance.
I think now that we are out of finals contention, we can stop the tactic of an extra in the midfield. Play more of an accountable style and see what we've got. We had been doing this prior to the bombers game and perhaps losing our ruck with the flow on disruption to our key position stocks has made Horse revert back to old ways. Picking a ruckman would definitely help.

[dimelb]

Went to the windy SGC yesterday, walked out shaking my head about the way we were playing, watched replay of the game last night and I woke up this morning more worried.

I really don't understand the coaching tactics that want all of or mids and defenders to stand back 3-4 metres from their opposition player and let them mark and play on, or handball to another player with no Swan nearby. Then when we do get the ball our immediate reaction is to handball away to another player in a worse position or one that is surrounded by 2-3 opposition players. Our goal kicking is deplorable completely off the scale.

So what in the hell are our so called professional coaching staff doing about improving our skills. Yes we have a lot of younger players but so do a lot of other clubs, our skill level is terrible.

We give away so many uncontested possessions.

Our game style is terrible, to watch and to keep the scoreboard moving. I know we don't have Buddy but other teams manage to score more goals than we do without a superstar forward.

We need to take a good long hard look at all aspects of our football department and game style over the long hot summer.

Apart from the bit about going to the SCG, I agree with every word of this.

[Ludwig]

Hayward and Ronke are both having poor seasons, but I think they will find their best form in due course. This is especially true for Hayward, who has both talent and endeavour. I don't think a player just loses talent, but many go through down periods, especially when it comes to goal kicking.

I mentioned it several times before, but Ronke's problem is his ineffectiveness as a pressure player, which he self-identifies as, so he knows what he has to do to stay in the seniors. I'm not so sure about Ronke, but he has the basic tools to be a good pressure player, he's still quite young and determined. He's contracted for next year, so we'll see how he goes.


Every team has gone through extremes this year. Collingwood were worse than us last week and then come out this week, play great footy despite missing many star players and beat the Eagles, the Premiers who are going so well, except for the fact that we smashed them just a few weeks ago.

We still have a lot of development to go through to become a top competitive team and it probably won't happen next year, but hopefully we will see some solid improvement.

[0918330512]

I wonder if Alir goes against Sandilands and Lobb or are they tall enough to warrant playing an actual Ruck ?
Or if that Fyfe guy is warranted of a tag ? Maybe Clarke ?
Essendon was winnable but we just ran out of legs, Carlton was lost at selection.
Play a ruck and Alir can help Ramps against a guy a foot taller
Tag Walsh and they have no run
Piss poor coaching box
3 more years of this muppet

Ah there it is!! Didn’t take long

[Blood Fever]

Ah there it is!! Didn’t take long

A lot of panic merchants around

[Ludwig]

Piss poor coaching box
3 more years of this muppet

Make that 4!

That should cheer you up.

[stevoswan]

I wonder if Alir goes against Sandilands and Lobb or are they tall enough to warrant playing an actual Ruck ?
Or if that Fyfe guy is warranted of a tag ? Maybe Clarke ?
Essendon was winnable but we just ran out of legs, Carlton was lost at selection.
Play a ruck and Alir can help Ramps against a guy a foot taller
Tag Walsh and they have no run
Piss poor coaching box
3 more years of this muppet

4 actually....which means 4 more years of your harping.

[stevoswan]

Cannot see this group making progress next year either. Without the inclusion of some key position players the quest to build from the bottom up will be long and painfull.

In no particular order the Swans need some genuine ruck stocks and a new bull midfielder (Kennedy has run himself into the ground). We need psychiatric support staff. I mean this. There is something wrong in the heads of players who cannot kick straight some 20 metres from goal or to an unmanned team mate.

Shows how much you know about the club you 'support'. The Swans have excellent psych support, possibly the best in the league.....Longmire is renowned for building up this aspect of the club.

We obviously need more skills coaching so the coaching panel definitely do need to lift their game in this area.

[grarmy]

Shows how much you know about the club you 'support'. The Swans have excellent psych support, possibly the best in the league.....Longmire is renowned for building up this aspect of the club.

We obviously need more skills coaching so the coaching panel definitely do need to lift their game in this area.

How come you are not at the Castlemaine pub? If they have such excellent psych support how come Reid and co. cannot kick straight. What about cutting a deal with your therapist and have him work it out?

[stevoswan]

How come you are not at the Castlemaine pub? If they have such excellent psych support how come Reid and co. cannot kick straight. What about cutting a deal with your therapist and have him work it out?

Nice work mate.....keep punching!