Swans v Giants scratch match

[MattW]

Thanks for the reports, everyone. Sounds positive!

[Ralph Dawg]

T.B. you're entitled to your opinion. And in some way, I agree with you, especially on the point of RB going missing at times.
However, can I respectfully suggest that you may be focussing so much on RB such that any slight mistake is magnified? I have found myself doing that with certain players at times and just had to force myself to take a step back. I remember a few years ago, I'd want to throw a brick through the TV everytime Hanners had the ball. It was very frustrating.
Regarding why other RWO'ers have pushed back so hard, I think part of it is that we have all seen glimpses of what RB, "the finished product" could be and it's exciting. JPK and Parks not getting any younger............

[Foreign Legion]

I think Ling might make it - seems to be able to play Tall/Small and is a very good kick.

Poor Lewis and Tom - the only right footers in our backline I think.

Oops I forgot about Jake. But, we do have a lot of left footers, luckily unlike a certain No.6 full back - they can kick.

[Aaron]

"Official" report from AFL website : Academy Swans star, Logan quiet, Ward's curious role

AN EXCITING batch of Sydney youngsters inspired a second-half turnaround ... with the midfield-bound Callum Mills the standout as the Swans fought back to record a draw "

"Ollie Florent, Chad Warner, James Rowbottom and ...Errol Gulden also enjoyed impressive midfield stints, as the Swans overcame a 21-point half-time deficit "

"Hickley performed admirably but it was his work around the ground that was the feature of his display"

Campbell, Blakey, Ling and Bell were also mentioned and praised.

[TheBloods]

T.B. you're entitled to your opinion. And in some way, I agree with you, especially on the point of RB going missing at times.
However, can I respectfully suggest that you may be focussing so much on RB such that any slight mistake is magnified? I have found myself doing that with certain players at times and just had to force myself to take a step back. I remember a few years ago, I'd want to throw a brick through the TV everytime Hanners had the ball. It was very frustrating.
Regarding why other RWO'ers have pushed back so hard, I think part of it is that we have all seen glimpses of what RB, "the finished product" could be and it's exciting. JPK and Parks not getting any younger............

Maybe i am old fashioned but i think there is an enamoration with youth in footy today. A kid only needs to do a few good things in a match every week and they are then touted as "the future". Their spot becomes pretty much guaranteed every week, they get wraps in the media (as Rowbottom did in the AFL.com recap of this game where he was absolutely NOT in the best players), they are given free passes when they dont perform. So many teenagers have looked the goods and amounted to nothing. I dont believe that will be the case with RB but you just dont know.

Meanwhile if Joey has a bad game he's slagged off as over the hill, Franklin gets an injury and he's put out to pasture. Look around the comp and there are young players overtaking their older peers everywhere. Bailey Smith at the Bulldogs looks every bit as good as guys like Hunter and Macrae . Worpel at Hawthorn, Brayshaw at Dockers. And Serong. They are all doing so well that they out-shine the stars around them. Fremantle could play Fyfe forward last year because the kids were doing such a good job in the mids. Meanwhile Joey and Parker still look five times the player RB is. Yet hes their replacement? At this rate he'll finally be as good as they have been by the time hes 30. Its not good enough. Understand that you cant match them if you are a developing young player. But if you cant match them, then ably support them, or we will find someone who can. We might've found that player in Warner. That could mean trouble for RB and if so the onus is on him to get better. Believe it or not I am rooting for him but no one else can achieve that but himself.

[troyjones2525]

Maybe i am old fashioned but i think there is an enamoration with youth in footy today. A kid only needs to do a few good things in a match every week and they are then touted as "the future". Their spot becomes pretty much guaranteed every week, they get wraps in the media (as Rowbottom did in the AFL.com recap of this game where he was absolutely NOT in the best players), they are given free passes when they dont perform. So many teenagers have looked the goods and amounted to nothing. I dont believe that will be the case with RB but you just dont know.

Meanwhile if Joey has a bad game he's slagged off as over the hill, Franklin gets an injury and he's put out to pasture. Look around the comp and there are young players overtaking their older peers everywhere. Bailey Smith at the Bulldogs looks every bit as good as guys like Hunter and Macrae . Worpel at Hawthorn, Brayshaw at Dockers. And Serong. They are all doing so well that they out-shine the stars around them. Fremantle could play Fyfe forward last year because the kids were doing such a good job in the mids. Meanwhile Joey and Parker still look five times the player RB is. Yet hes their replacement? At this rate he'll finally be as good as they have been by the time hes 30. Its not good enough. Understand that you cant match them if you are a developing young player. But if you cant match them, then ably support them, or we will find someone who can. We might've found that player in Warner. That could mean trouble for RB and if so the onus is on him to get better. Believe it or not I am rooting for him but no one else can achieve that but himself.

Don't forget, those other young players you mentioned were all extremely high draft picks (besides Worpel) so are obviously expected to become high quality players.

Rowbottom was a 2nd round pick so, while you always hope you get it right, they are more speculative selections. I think he's tracking along well enough to be looking like a successful pick so far and hopefully (I think he will) will continue to improve!

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[TheBloods]

Don't forget, those other young players you mentioned were all extremely high draft picks (besides Worpel) so are obviously expected to become high quality players.

Rowbottom was a 2nd round pick so, while you always hope you get it right, they are more speculative selections. I think he's tracking along well enough to be looking like a successful pick so far and hopefully (I think he will) will continue to improve!

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Wouldnt argue with any of that. But hes not without flaws and right now he's outside my best 22. Would not be shocked if he was outside the best 22 when the round 1 team is announced as well.

[stevoswan]

Wouldnt argue with any of that. But hes not without flaws and right now he's outside my best 22. Would not be shocked if he was outside the best 22 when the round 1 team is announced as well.

Well, you're sticking by your guns, I'll give you that. We'll revisit this post just before round one.

[Ralph Dawg]

Watching AFLW Giants v Doggies and. It looks like there are about 6 Nick Haynes clones out there ????

[stevoswan]

It's a bit like putting on an old vinyl record and only listening to the scratches.

Yep.....nice analogy.

[TheBloods]

Well, you're sticking by your guns, I'll give you that. We'll revisit this post just before round one.

Actually just the opposite , my best 22 would be very flexible. Many spots up for grabs for the players who want them. Warner and Bell wanted those spots more today.

[mcs]

Well lets talk coaching departments then. Who was it that wanted RB out in a field nowhere near the action most of the second half while Warner was in all the stoppages ? Would have to have been a coaching call, no?If he is being groomed as a replacement why wasnt he playing Kennedy's role? If he was capable i think he would've been doing that role wouldn't he?

Reading too much into anything in terms of tactics during a scratch match at the beginning of the season is unlikely to give a whole lot of pointers to much at all of note at that sort of individual player level. If you really want to go there, one could make an equally valid postulation that maybe they were simply keen to see what Warner could do in there, whereas they have a fair idea of what Rowbottom's capacity is in such a role. Games like that one today are as much about trying a range of things out as they are about everyone playing where they best fit or indeed settling down the team for Rd 1. If it happens again at the higher intensity of next week then perhaps it will be of more significance.

I do hope you find some other whipping boys soon to start constantly raving on about, please give us some variety please Or else, just tell us already from your fortune telling what is going to happen over the next say 10 years and put us all out of our misery - after all you've already determined that a whole bunch of players are basically no good and we are going nowhere, or at least that is what your constant tone seems to suggest.

Rowbottom is probably somewhere around 99% assured to be there in Rd 1, whether you think he should be or not (unless of course he gets injured).

[TheBloods]

Reading too much into anything in terms of tactics during a scratch match at the beginning of the season is unlikely to give a whole lot of pointers to much at all of note at that sort of individual player level. If you really want to go there, one could make an equally valid postulation that maybe they were simply keen to see what Warner could do in there, whereas they have a fair idea of what Rowbottom's capacity is in such a role. Games like that one today are as much about trying a range of things out as they are about everyone playing where they best fit or indeed settling down the team for Rd 1. If it happens again at the higher intensity of next week then perhaps it will be of more significance.

I do hope you find some other whipping boys soon to start constantly raving on about, please give us some variety please Or else, just tell us already from your fortune telling what is going to happen over the next say 10 years and put us all out of our misery - after all you've already determined that a whole bunch of players are basically no good and we are going nowhere, or at least that is what your constant tone seems to suggest.

Rowbottom is probably somewhere around 99% assured to be there in Rd 1, whether you think he should be or not (unless of course he gets injured).

Duly noted. I will change my tone then.

Warner was sensational today. Strong through the hips takes the game on and very explosive and powerful. Made good decisions under pressure. Also read the rucks taps very well and was proactive in getting first hands on it.

Would have him comfortably in the round 1 side on that outing.

[Nico]

How did my old mate Will Hayward go. Will, Will be in the 22 for Round 1.

[ootf]

Photos from todays gamer for anyone interested

http://cartercapture.smugmug.com/GWS-v-Swans-scratch