Swans chat Marsh Series v GWS game 1 reflections

[graemed]

Well nothing like the Swans playing in pre-season games to bring you back to earth with a thud.

I am not ready to give up on 2020 altogether just yet but not being able to win the ball at stoppages continues to be our single biggest problem. A winning ruckman could improve our opportunities, especially if Sam can stay fit, but we still need more from our midfield if we intend to be competitive against serious opposition (and who isn’t this year).

The young backs looked non-plussed by the frequency and quality of the ball coming unhindered their way.

There is a tipping point when the lack of experience can itself create panic. Moreover, if the training drills you’ve been working on all summer, fail because of skill errors upfield leaving you stranded then this can aggravate the panic and lead to a lack of confidence in:

1) the plan
2) your team mates
3) yourself

The coaching team must now engender more confidence back into the list but most importantly the players themselves need to believe again in themselves and their abilities. Practice their skills and then practice some more.

We are better than what we saw yesterday.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Nothing to see here.

A practice match, part of a process to get game time into players, against a very good team. Lots of first time or almost first time players combining for the first time—Stephens, Warner, Gray, Taylor, Brand, Gould, McInerney. Naismith out of the game for two years, Sinclair similarly missing much of last season. (I was also shocked the other week to see that Aliir has the most games in a row for us at the moment: it seems only a few months ago that he was in the naughty corner for missing training). A few players with one season under their belt (Rowbottom, Blakey, Dawson, CO'R, McCartin). Old dogs sensibly playing within themselves. An inexperienced coach. Lots of poor decisions, but that's what you get.

I wasn't at the game, but listened to a bit of it, most of the time just hoping that no-one got hurt. A couple of missed chances early in second quarter, and a great number of butchered passes and turnovers, and GWS kicked away. After that it wasn't even about living the damage: it was a contested training drill.

I don't think that we'll play finals this year, but I still see a great deal of upside in 2020.

[Captain]

They would all be valid excuses if GWS weren't playing a side missing far more topliners than us + losing their B&F winner after 10 minutes.

This is a big year for the coaches to reinvent our midfield. More than ever we need Mills and Heeney to go in their full time, maybe even Papley. Parker should play 80% of the year forward - he is a good mark and set shot. Basically switch roles with Heeney.

Sinclair is a handy ruck back up but certainly not a forward, particularly in this day and age.

I think our backline is a strength. COR, Dawson and Lloyd are all creative off half back and Aliir, Rampe and Melican/Brand can take the pure defensive roles.

Forward line is our greatest enigma. It could be amazing with a fit Buddy and Reid (leaving Blakey or McCartin to be the 3rd tall) or it could be very average if both of these are injured.

[ootf]

Photos from the game (if you can bear to look) Swans v GWS

[TheBloods]

Well what a joyous day at the footy that was... all jokes aside, it was a great atmosphere and crowd that deserved better than the contest it got.

It was up there as one of the most bizarre matches I have watched. I am not sure how it looked on TV but from my view, quite a number of Swans had solid games. Parker looked incredibly sharp, and was making some bold kicks that ordinarily only someone like Dawson or Rampe would try. A fit and confident Parker is a massive tick as we approach the season.

As well as Parker, I thought Florent, Cunningham, Dawson, Gray, Aliir, Rowbottom, McInerney, Brand and O'Riordan were all solid, and certainly showed glimpses of what they are capable of. The problem is that there was no cohesion as a group. There were little moments of individual brilliance from all of the above but none, with the exception of Parker and Cunningham, led to any sort of influence or a dangerous passage for us. Once they had done their job, they would wash their hands. No second and third efforts to help each other out. It was apparent in the crowd, and it felt like GWS could also sense we were in disarray, which only gave them more confidence as the game went on.

It could be as simple as these newer faces adapting to playing with each other, or maybe they were playing selfishly, focusing on their individual performances and pressing claims for round one rather than adhering to the team discipline and structures. At least that is how it felt to me from the bleachers. Perhaps it was also obvious in the coaches box, which might explain Kirk's relatively scathing comments after the match.

A few side notes:
- Naismith looked serviceable on return and made it through unscathed which is most important. He was labouring quite a bit after each contest, which is to be expected after two years out of the game. I don't think we will see his best until the mid-way point of the season.

- Stephens and Gould both had their moments, but I will say that Stephens looked far more uncomfortable under the pressure of an opposition team than at any point I saw him playing over the summer. He had a rude awakening yesterday afternoon but I think he will be better for it.

- I can't say confidently, but it appeared to me as though Cunningham was the most vocal person on the ground, certainly in Swans colours. He was barking instructions, encouraging his team-mates and talking to the younger guys a lot. He's come into his own and we really missed him last year.

- If that is what Hayward starts his fourth year off with after a big pre-season, then I am worried. Looked physically weaker than opponents even younger than him, and did not play with any confidence at all. The timing of his leads and the opportunities to impact a contest that he missed suggest he does not yet know what his best footy should look like.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Agree about moving Parker forward, and injecting some more pace into the middle of the ground. the 'swap' with Heeney would be about right, although I'm also interested in McInerny.

[lwjoyner]

very poor effort. not a lot to like. Not sure if I would say Gray was good, Naismith was just (perhaps we should have recruited Jacobs )he killed us in the ruck Rowbottom, McInernmey and O'Riordan were just NEAFL standard

[dejavoodoo44]

Positives to come out of yesterday's game. I'm fairly sure that the AFL has some sort of clause in the academy drafting rules, that means if we finish in the top four, we would not be able to draft both Campbell and Gulden, if they both attract first round bids. I'm no longer worried about that scenario.

[dejavoodoo44]

But more seriously. I thought Naismith had an encouraging comeback game. He was pretty physical and we actually won the hitouts: although there didn't seem to be much connection with the mids and we lost the clearances. And speaking of ruckmen, even though he only seemed to play for about fifteen minutes, I was quite impressed with Knoll. He seems to be stronger, faster and more agile than last year. Since he showed steady improvement throughout the previous NEAFL season, his off-season improvement suggests to me that he should be able to step up, if Naismith goes awry.

Of the new players, Gould looks an obvious prospect. With the proviso that some his impressiveness, is down to his physical maturity; so he might not have the natural improvement, that other young players have as their bodies mature. I also thought that Gray and Brand did pretty well.

Of our established players, Parker looked set for a high quality season, while O'Riordan, Aliir and Cunningham did plenty of good things in an under siege backline. Dawson was also good.

[Ralph Dawg]

I think we are lacking midfield depth. The fact that we will need JPK to turn back the clock to circa 2016 indicates where we are at. Hately, Caldwell, Green, Cummings and O'Halloran in all likelihood would be walk up starters to our midfield rotation.

- - - Updated - - -

With the benefit of hindsight, we should have done everything humanly possible to keep Mitchell ????

[KTigers]

As I said to Mrs Tigers after they'd kicked their 14th goal in a row, "all the intensity has gone out of this GWS training session".
On the positive it was a beautiful afternoon weather wise, and I got two beers and a pie for only twenty bucks. Can't say that
at the SCG.

[Odysseus]

[QUOTE=TheBloods;791734] {snip}
It could be as simple as these newer faces adapting to playing with each other, or maybe they were playing selfishly, focusing on their individual performances and pressing claims for round one rather than adhering to the team discipline and structures. At least that is how it felt to me from the bleachers. Perhaps it was also obvious in the coaches box, which might explain Kirk's relatively scathing comments after the match.
{snip}

Interesting observations, TheBloods. I missed Kirk's comments. What did he have to say?

[Meg]

[QUOTE=Odysseus;791761]

Interesting observations, TheBloods. I missed Kirk's comments. What did he have to say?

‘Unacceptable performance’ and more along the same lines.

Video now on Swans website.

[The Big Cat]

very poor effort. not a lot to like. Not sure if I would say Gray was good, Naismith was just (perhaps we should have recruited Jacobs )he killed us in the ruck Rowbottom, McInernmey and O'Riordan were just NEAFL standard

Funnily I thought McInerney was one of our best. Unlike others he was very clean. People are hard on Naismith. I thought he was good and had the better of Sauce.

[magic.merkin]

.... and O'Riordan were just NEAFL standard

maybe i watched a different game, i thought he was great on TV.