Scratch Match Thread

[Markwebbos]

Thanks Barracuda for providing the weekly “hope” update.

[bloodspirit]

Thanks Barracuda for providing the weekly “hope” update.

+ 1

[Aaron]

Solid 15 v15 against a big bodied hawthorn side. Best was bell, wicks and Foote. Bell and wicks were very strong physically through the mids and forward. Wicks ended up with 2 goals but could have got 5/6. Foote ran all day.
Jack maibaum and will Gould were the best defenders. Maibaum looked the better of the two.
Ling, mcinerny and gray were quiet. Reid continued to get some good minutes and provided a solid forward target.
Bell, wicks, Foote, maibaum and Gould are ready for senior games.

- Many thanks for the update. Where can we find out when and where these scratch matches are going to play before they happen?

[bloodspirit]

- Many thanks for the update. Where can we find out when and where these scratch matches are going to play before they happen?

We can't. They don't want people attending. The players are meant to be in a bubble. Somehow barracuda has inside information I don't think (s)he's going to share. I, for one, am jealous.

However if fans can attend the AFL matches, why not the scratch matches?

[MattW]

Let me belatedly add my thanks for this excellent contribution! Only catching up with this thread now. We have indeed been crying out for more of this type of information from the club.

P.S. Got a bit distracted enjoying some of your other Twitter feed also.

Cheers mate. Let's hope we get another this week. (I don't want to pester them every week.)

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks Barracuda for providing the weekly “hope” update.

Haha, indeed. Much appreciated barracuda.

[barracuda]

At Lakeside?

Yes

[cherub]

We can't. They don't want people attending. The players are meant to be in a bubble. Somehow barracuda has inside information I don't think (s)he's going to share. I, for one, am jealous.

However if fans can attend the AFL matches, why not the scratch matches?

I would think there is professional security ( or as professional as it gets!) at AFL matches, not so for scratchies. There was an idiot attempted streaker who tried to get on the ground at OPTUS when Coll. vs Geelong. The security guys got him before he got near the players.

[bloodspirit]

And yet I was able to stand next to and chat with a couple of players I saw in public on the eve of our match a couple of weeks ago.

[royboy42]

Saturday a.m.'s? And thank you for the info

Yes

[barracuda]

Having the benefit of the video of the game against hawthorn my observations would be:

1. Will Gould; best game he has played for the swans against quality opposition. Looks to have taken the next step. Lots of good positioning, level headed, good drive forward and plenty of touches
2. Zac Foote; really pushing for senior selection. Endless run matched with good head over the ball attack. Still fine tuning his use of the ball, but is definitely ready for a run in the seniors.
3. Jack Maibaum; Smart defender, with some strong intercept marking. Also looking ready to step up
4. Jammes Bell; Has now developed in to a strong body able to withstand the rigours. Used the ball very well and generally either won the midfield or squared it.

These were the best four. Next was probably Wicks who got plenty of ball and laid a ton of tackles. Some of his ball use could have been better. If so would have got more than 2 goals. However he is a real competitor around congested traffic and is very hard to beat one on one. Ling was pretty good when he was on as was Gray and Thurlow. McIneney was interesting. He can find the ball but is not strong in the tackle. He gets taken to ground very easily rather than standing up in the tackle and disposing of the ball. Rowles started to find the ball, however his use is atrocious. Actually a bit of a problem.

Overall Hawthorn would have beaten the swans by 5-10 goals. It should be noted though Hawthorn was providing 3 or more players to the swans including the ruckman, so the score is not that useful.

My overall observation is that players need to be played in the correct positions. For example:

Zac Foote is an awesome running wingman. As a midfielder or small forward, not so good.
Jammes Bell is a very good inside mid, and a handy high forward
Justin McInerney is a good running wingman but the body strength to be a midfielder is absent, and is not much good playing forward
Wicks is a strong inside mid and a good small forward
Barry Connor ain't no ruckman!

It was really clear when these players were played out of position the impact on the team. In the midfield you could almost count on the clearance being squared or won with bell and or wicks in there. With McInerney especially you could almost count on it being lost. This is noting that Gray in particular is purely an outside mid and will not engage in the body contest to win the ball.

Next week:

If the seniors need backmen go for Gould or Maibaum. Gould tends to stay a bit deeper. Maibaum a bit higher.
If an inside mid is needed go for Bell
If a small kieran jack type forward/mid go for wicks
If a hard running wingman is needed go for foote.

What I hope doesn't happen is they pick the best performing player from the scratch match and play him out of position in the seniors.

[Rod_]

Having the benefit of the video of the game against hawthorn my observations would be:

1. Will Gould; best game he has played for the swans against quality opposition. Looks to have taken the next step. Lots of good positioning, level headed, good drive forward and plenty of touches
2. Zac Foote; really pushing for senior selection. Endless run matched with good head over the ball attack. Still fine tuning his use of the ball, but is definitely ready for a run in the seniors.
3. Jack Maibaum; Smart defender, with some strong intercept marking. Also looking ready to step up
4. Jammes Bell; Has now developed in to a strong body able to withstand the rigours. Used the ball very well and generally either won the midfield or squared it.

These were the best four. Next was probably Wicks who got plenty of ball and laid a ton of tackles. Some of his ball use could have been better. If so would have got more than 2 goals. However he is a real competitor around congested traffic and is very hard to beat one on one. Ling was pretty good when he was on as was Gray and Thurlow. McIneney was interesting. He can find the ball but is not strong in the tackle. He gets taken to ground very easily rather than standing up in the tackle and disposing of the ball. Rowles started to find the ball, however his use is atrocious. Actually a bit of a problem.

Overall Hawthorn would have beaten the swans by 5-10 goals. It should be noted though Hawthorn was providing 3 or more players to the swans including the ruckman, so the score is not that useful.

My overall observation is that players need to be played in the correct positions. For example:

Zac Foote is an awesome running wingman. As a midfielder or small forward, not so good.
Jammes Bell is a very good inside mid, and a handy high forward
Justin McInerney is a good running wingman but the body strength to be a midfielder is absent, and is not much good playing forward
Wicks is a strong inside mid and a good small forward
Barry Connor ain't no ruckman!

It was really clear when these players were played out of position the impact on the team. In the midfield you could almost count on the clearance being squared or won with bell and or wicks in there. With McInerney especially you could almost count on it being lost. This is noting that Gray in particular is purely an outside mid and will not engage in the body contest to win the ball.

Next week:

If the seniors need backmen go for Gould or Maibaum. Gould tends to stay a bit deeper. Maibaum a bit higher.
If an inside mid is needed go for Bell
If a small kieran jack type forward/mid go for wicks
If a hard running wingman is needed go for foote.

What I hope doesn't happen is they pick the best performing player from the scratch match and play him out of position in the seniors.

Thanks for the detailed update!

[Markwebbos]

Having the benefit of the video of the game against hawthorn my observations would be:

1. Will Gould; best game he has played for the swans against quality opposition. Looks to have taken the next step. Lots of good positioning, level headed, good drive forward and plenty of touches
2. Zac Foote; really pushing for senior selection. Endless run matched with good head over the ball attack. Still fine tuning his use of the ball, but is definitely ready for a run in the seniors.
3. Jack Maibaum; Smart defender, with some strong intercept marking. Also looking ready to step up
4. Jammes Bell; Has now developed in to a strong body able to withstand the rigours. Used the ball very well and generally either won the midfield or squared it.

These were the best four. Next was probably Wicks who got plenty of ball and laid a ton of tackles. Some of his ball use could have been better. If so would have got more than 2 goals. However he is a real competitor around congested traffic and is very hard to beat one on one. Ling was pretty good when he was on as was Gray and Thurlow. McIneney was interesting. He can find the ball but is not strong in the tackle. He gets taken to ground very easily rather than standing up in the tackle and disposing of the ball. Rowles started to find the ball, however his use is atrocious. Actually a bit of a problem.

Overall Hawthorn would have beaten the swans by 5-10 goals. It should be noted though Hawthorn was providing 3 or more players to the swans including the ruckman, so the score is not that useful.

My overall observation is that players need to be played in the correct positions. For example:

Zac Foote is an awesome running wingman. As a midfielder or small forward, not so good.
Jammes Bell is a very good inside mid, and a handy high forward
Justin McInerney is a good running wingman but the body strength to be a midfielder is absent, and is not much good playing forward
Wicks is a strong inside mid and a good small forward
Barry Connor ain't no ruckman!

It was really clear when these players were played out of position the impact on the team. In the midfield you could almost count on the clearance being squared or won with bell and or wicks in there. With McInerney especially you could almost count on it being lost. This is noting that Gray in particular is purely an outside mid and will not engage in the body contest to win the ball.

Next week:

If the seniors need backmen go for Gould or Maibaum. Gould tends to stay a bit deeper. Maibaum a bit higher.
If an inside mid is needed go for Bell
If a small kieran jack type forward/mid go for wicks
If a hard running wingman is needed go for foote.

What I hope doesn't happen is they pick the best performing player from the scratch match and play him out of position in the seniors.

Thanks Barracuda. If only your wish were to come true. Most mids stepping up seem to get played as forwards, with mixed (Chad Warner) results. BTW was L Taylor the non-playing emergency on Saturday?

[Ludwig]

Thanks barra for the update.

I would like to make one comment regarding your suggestion that players should be played there correct positions. This is true if the sole aim is to get the best performance from them at present. But playing them in a different position is a learning experience. A case in point is Will Hayward. Look how much his game has improved since being played in defence.

It's only a practice match, so learning is more important than winning, for both coaches and players.

[barracuda]

Thanks Barracuda. If only your wish were to come true. Most mids stepping up seem to get played as forwards, with mixed (Chad Warner) results. BTW was L Taylor the non-playing emergency on Saturday?

yes

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks barra for the update.

I would like to make one comment regarding your suggestion that players should be played there correct positions. This is true if the sole aim is to get the best performance from them at present. But playing them in a different position is a learning experience. A case in point is Will Hayward. Look how much his game has improved since being played in defence.

It's only a practice match, so learning is more important than winning, for both coaches and players.

I agree, my point was more when the players debut in seniors they are often asked to play positions they are not familiar with. In the practice match setting by all means play in a variety of positions.

[chalbilto]

Thanks very much barracuda for your reports, greatly appreciated as there are no official reports from the club.