Pre-season 2020

[stellation]

I'm glad nobody busted anything. And if it showed up how we rate against a top team, we are better for knowing it and knuckling down in response.

Those are my general sentiments- better to get that sort of thing out of the way in the pre-season if we can, if the team needed a push for a bit more intensity at training that was likely it.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

A good tap ruckman was once important but now much less so. The mids mark each other so closely now that the contest is where the ball lands. It's very rare for a ruckman to tap directly into his team mates hands.

And therein lies our problem and why Naismith (or even Grundy and Hawn) is unlikely to fix too much. Hence we should aim for a ruckman who can gain a degree of parity but is mobile enough to drop back in defence or sneak into our forward 50. Our defenders especially are going to need as much help as possible in 2020 I suspect..................

Although I've been known to wax lyrical on good tap work, I sort of agree with you, and much prefer a ruckman with another string to their bow. But in addition to supporting the defence or kicking the occasional goal, my #1 item on a wish list it being a meataxe - make second efforts both offensively and defensively, spread anxiety around the opposition etc. etc.

[Ralph Dawg]

Although I've been known to wax lyrical on good tap work, I sort of agree with you, and much prefer a ruckman with another string to their bow. But in addition to supporting the defence or kicking the occasional goal, my #1 item on a wish list it being a meataxe - make second efforts both offensively and defensively, spread anxiety around the opposition etc. etc.

Absolutely re second efforts and the ability to iron out opposition mids and put the fear of God in them. Should've kept Nankervis the "tank". Have to say none of our current rucks strike fear in the opposition..................

[Ralph Dawg]

I'm glad nobody busted anything. And if it showed up how we rate against a top team, we are better for knowing it and knuckling down in response.

I know it was a trial but I'm concerned that Hopper, Hately, Green, Caldwell, deBoer conclusively outplayed essentially what was our number one midfield unit. Imagine if it was Hopper, Taranto, Ward, Coniglio and Kelly against us with relief from Whitfield, Williams and Greene! Throw in a FF of Cameron's quality too!

Btw I'm tipping a GWS flag.

[KSAS]

That first Marsh practice game has further heightened my feelings that we must keep Papley at all costs and any salary cap room we may have must be used to recruit a quality midfielder over getting Daniher.

[Rod_]

Every year we have this conversation, where the Swans roll out the kids and a few senior players in the first match of the pre season.. We, the supporters hope we win by 10 goals and unfortunately the reality is, we have lost more preseason first games in the past 10 years than our hopes and needs after the long hot summer..

By the end of the year (except one in say 10) we make the finals and give it a red hot go!

I was at the game on Saturday and noted that a lot of kids move well. Realistically, they don't really know where to move to, and our skills on the day was very poor. We need to improve our skills and work harder. (Lucky it is the pre season where we can practice these things.)

Depth and experience is only obtained by time. We need to give them time.

Horse bashing when he didn't coach. Interesting. Guess I could be blamed for not barraging loud enough if we take that line..

Go Swans. 22 games plus finals is the focus. 14 wins will do, then 4 winning finals will do me.

[Blood Fever]

That first Marsh practice game has further heightened my feelings that we must keep Papley at all costs and any salary cap room we may have must be used to recruit a quality midfielder over getting Daniher.

Spot on

[stevoswan]

That first Marsh practice game has further heightened my feelings that we must keep Papley at all costs and any salary cap room we may have must be used to recruit a quality midfielder over getting Daniher.

I agree. Our young forwards are developing nicely.....our biggest need is to strengthen stocks in the middle and to actually get the ball to our forwards frequently enough to kick a decent score (and for the forwards to actually kick straight!).

[stevoswan]

Horse bashing when he didn't coach. Interesting. Guess I could be blamed for not barraging loud enough if we take that line..

If you're referring to my post from during the game, I didn't mention any names and I was referring to Kirk.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I know it was a trial but I'm concerned that Hopper, Hately, Green, Caldwell, deBoer conclusively outplayed essentially what was our number one midfield unit. Imagine if it was Hopper, Taranto, Ward, Coniglio and Kelly against us with relief from Whitfield, Williams and Greene! Throw in a FF of Cameron's quality too!

Btw I'm tipping a GWS flag.

we won 8 games and came 15th on the ladder in 2019

We get back 4 guys from the game yest next week Kirky said........hmmmm can they bridge 15 goals or so ? bloody unlikely

I said that i was very concerned we didnt try and trade harder as I dont think we have the talent that gives us the greatest probability of getting back in the top 8 in 2020 nor 2021

That will be 3 seasons outside the top 8 most likely........ and Buddy, Kennedy and Rampe on the way out 2yrs from now and a ruck and a midfield just not good enough IMO

Someone made a fair point that GWS didnt have Taranto for the whole game and no Coniglio, and no Josh Kelly, no Greene rolling thru the midfield and no Whitfield and their Captain missing also from the midfield.........6 players missing from their starting midfield rotation !!!!!!

Holy @@@@

I like our guys
great guys
but they are not up to the top6 top8 teams and that is the blend we have gone for which is wrong in my opinion vs other clubs who have rebuilt on the run

We should have and should do make an offer for player like Jye Caldwell as i mentioned last year that GWS cant match and or others like him that can go on and be real 10yr top8 team midfielders

GWS can not with all of their midfield match serious offers for an out of contract Caldwell etc

Players move clubs and we should have and should be doing everything we can to bring in quality and or emerging quality so 2021 we are a serious top4 threat

[Auntie.Gerald]

plse delte above as wrong thread
apologies

[Nico]

A good tap ruckman was once important but now much less so. The mids mark each other so closely now that the contest is where the ball lands. It's very rare for a ruckman to tap directly into his team mates hands.

And therein lies our problem and why Naismith (or even Grundy and Hawn) is unlikely to fix too much. Hence we should aim for a ruckman who can gain a degree of parity but is mobile enough to drop back in defence or sneak into our forward 50. Our defenders especially are going to need as much help as possible in 2020 I suspect..................

It didn't matter whether Naismith or Jacobs got the tap or where it went to. Our players had no idea how to read the tap and for whatever reason didn't go to where the ball went. It was damn well nauseating to see the ease at which GWS took the ball out of the centre with consummate ease without a Swans player in sight. Blind Freddie has been telling me for donkeys ages that this has been going on for years.

[Aprilbr]

I just listened to the latest Footyology podcast. For those who don't know this site, these guys really know their footy and it's free to listen.

They talked about the GWS/Swans game and they concluded that the game was telling. GWS showcased their incredible depth with several young players on the margins of the best team showing that they were vastly superior to what the Swans have in comparison. They concluded that the Swans are facing a very tough year. They were critical of our recruiting of players like Gray, Brand and Lewis and questioned whether some of the players that have been there for 2 to 3 years were up to it. They also questioned our recruiting in light of the fact that we still seem to be relying on the same ageing warriors in the midfield that have served us for so many years. They recognised that it's a first-up hit out but the signs are not good. I hope that they are wrong but a lot of what they said seems sadly to be pretty accurate as it looks to me.

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[Markwebbos]

The game did demonstrate that GWS’ second string midfield thrashed our midfield “A team”.

I think GWS would have to have by far the deepest midfield going around.

But as you say it does beg the question why have the Swans done nothing to bolster our midfield at the trade table?

It’s a huge weakness that appears no better based on that match.

Fingers crossed it’s an anomaly

[Blood Fever]

I just listened to the latest Footyology podcast. For those who don't know this site, these guys really know their footy and it's free to listen.

They talked about the GWS/Swans game and they concluded that the game was telling. GWS showcased their incredible depth with several young players on the margins of the best team showing that they were vastly superior to what the Swans have in comparison. They concluded that the Swans are facing a very tough year. They were critical of our recruiting of players like Gray, Brand and Lewis and questioned whether some of the players that have been there for 2 to 3 years were up to it. They also questioned our recruiting in light of the fact that we still seem to be relying on the same ageing warriors in the midfield that have served us for so many years. They recognised that it's a first-up hit out but the signs are not good. I hope that they are wrong but a lot of what they said seems sadly to be pretty accurate as it looks to me.

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Is that the podcast with guru Connolly? If so, surprised he has joined the jumping to conclusions brigade after one practice match.