Matt Ling
Collapse
X
-
Yep agree. He played well against the Hawks but was missing yesterday.
Deserves another chance but can’t see how he is ahead of Stephens and McInerneyComment
-
I’m not sure lockdown is the right role for him. That shimmy and delivery to Reid might be more his natural game.Comment
-
Comment
-
It is interesting that he is being put into that sort of role. Maybe there are concerns around whether his injuries have impacted his pace, or perhaps they are using that as a way to improve the defensive side of his game. But it does feel a bit like we spend too much time as a club trying to get square pegs to fit in round holes - but I'm sure there is some broader thinking there too. Part of it probably being trying to get him a genuine good run of footy without injury to build up confidence in his body, and to get some experience in the senior grade."You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."Comment
-
Comment
-
People need to relax and give him space and time to develop. Ryan O'Keefe and McVeigh never would have played 20 games if people here were selectors.
If Ling's natural game is dashing and using the footy, using his early and formative games to learn how to defend is crucial in his development. If he can be a reliable 1 on 1 defender, then when it's time to unleash him in a more natural role, he'll be accountable and not a weak link.
Kieran Jack started in a back pocket.Comment
-
Its hard too when we also have Lloyd and Dawson already in that role (Though I still think Dawson should player further up the field or in midfield) - you aren't necessarily going to kick one of them out at this point for Ling. Get 8 or 9 games into Ling and a good run without injury for the rest of this season and watch him attack next pre-season really hard and come on in leaps and bounds.People need to relax and give him space and time to develop. Ryan O'Keefe and McVeigh never would have played 20 games if people here were selectors.
If Ling's natural game is dashing and using the footy, using his early and formative games to learn how to defend is crucial in his development. If he can be a reliable 1 on 1 defender, then when it's time to unleash him in a more natural role, he'll be accountable and not a weak link.
Kieran Jack started in a back pocket."You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."Comment
-
Absolutely agree. I wasn't a massive fan of them dropping Stephens for that reason, although happy to defer to the coaching staff re their judgement on whether continued selection was good for him given his inexperience and lack of size.Its hard too when we also have Lloyd and Dawson already in that role (Though I still think Dawson should player further up the field or in midfield) - you aren't necessarily going to kick one of them out at this point for Ling. Get 8 or 9 games into Ling and a good run without injury for the rest of this season and watch him attack next pre-season really hard and come on in leaps and bounds.
But I don't think that applies to Ling; at this stage of his development, I think we just need to get games into him.Comment
-
He has enough skill and just needs time. Like a lots of the new batch of kids. They all need to play and learn together to become a team!
Dawson to have time in the center as I feel he could be very good and hard to tackle given his size... (at least while we have a couple of mid MIA)Comment

Comment