Changes for Round 5: Swans vs GWS

[neilfws]

Back from the game. Good crowd and atmosphere. Despite the low score and arm-wrestle nature for much of it, still had some enjoyable moments. Any game Buddy kicks 5 has a few highlights.

The loss though...I just thought it was entirely avoidable, from dumb defensive errors. Reid tapping to a bad position and no one going with Kelly. Really thought they might hang in for the win but, well they blew it.

I thought the defence was coming together after a shaky couple of opening games, maybe just feeling the big loss of Rampe. Anyway, one to learn from and the changes next week are going to be interesting. Couple of the youngsters could use a rest I think.

[Blood Fever]

You don't understand the spirit of my post. I pointed out what consistently happens with these players. Consistency is not just playing well every week, but consistently improving your skills and decision making.

As a team we were second to the ball, weak at the contest and careless with the footy in hand.

We ran out gas yet we had a 9 day break! Don't buy that one.

So you've given up on Dawson and Florent who have been among our best all year? Also, easy to bag the coach after the ball is over.

[ugg]

We missed Rampe at that Kelly goal stoppage. He would have barked instructions at someone to cover

[goswannies]

Horse says Hickey has done is PCL - how long a recovery does that usually take?

Grade 1-2: 2-4 weeks (although Goodsey didn’t miss a game when his did his first one)
Grade 3: up to 3 months (depending on how long it takes the symptoms to settle and any other concomitant injuries)
Reconstruction of a PCL: up to 9-12 months (same issue with tissue healing as ACLs)

It’s not unheard of for PCLs to be successfully conservatively managed even for elite level athletes.

[rojo]

I actually enjoyed watching the game - until the last quarter. Buddy certainly adds excitement. Yes, the physicality of AFL seniors' footy is catching up with the young ones. It was going to happen.

Our backline lacks leadership without Rampe. Lloyd and Harry are not onfield leaders, neither is Dawson or Hewett but they along with McCartin, and particularly Campbell are not that experienced there and Melican is just not skilled enough. They reverted to the old style of bombing it long but was that partly because there was not enough movement upfield? In the last quarter this led to the ball rebounding way too easily from our forward line. A recipe for disaster. Despite all that we did only lose by a couple of points! ?
Hayward's form was a great cover for Heeney, hopefully he can keep it up. However if Hickey joins Heeney and Rampe on the sidelines as seems likely, things are only going to get tougher.

[Foreign Legion]

I think of our young blokes that Warner and Gulden should definitely stay in - McDonald and Campbell maybe a rest to sharpen them up.

I think Campbell is not cooked physically but might need to get a bit more confidence. McDonald looks spent - has done in last 2 games.

Stephens needs a full game not 5 minutes. Hopefully Rowbottom is ok. McLean almost a certainty next week maybe with Sinclair.

[Nico]

[QUOTE=Bexl;815014]In regards to Florent do you remember a game a number of years ago against the Western Bulldogs what was then Etihad Stadium and he marks the ball runs to 50 kicks the goal celebrates and Paul Roos in commentary saying that was the wrong thing to do he should have just taken his Mark kicked to a teammate and waste the time. Longmire agreed. I think having a shot at goal instead of looking for a team mate might have been coached out of him.[/QU

Could be. He seems gun shy too often.

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I think of our young blokes that Warner and Gulden should definitely stay in - McDonald and Campbell maybe a rest to sharpen them up.

I think Campbell is not cooked physically but might need to get a bit more confidence. McDonald looks spent - has done in last 2 games.

Stephens needs a full game not 5 minutes. Hopefully Rowbottom is ok. McLean almost a certainty next week maybe with Sinclair.

I think it is time Campbell was moved to the wing to give better delivery into the forward line. He has no freedom as a half back, and it was clear tonight we lost our run.

Agree; McLean is a certain in. Change ruck with Reid.

[aardvark]

Reality check 101. Time to bring back Squizzy and Sam.

[giant]

Grade 1-2: 2-4 weeks (although Goodsey didn’t miss a game when his did his first one)
Grade 3: up to 3 months (depending on how long it takes the symptoms to settle and any other concomitant injuries)
Reconstruction of a PCL: up to 9-12 months (same issue with tissue healing as ACLs)

It’s not unheard of for PCLs to be successfully conservatively managed even for elite level athletes.

Thanks for that.

[Foreign Legion]

[QUOTE=Nico;815022]

In regards to Florent do you remember a game a number of years ago against the Western Bulldogs what was then Etihad Stadium and he marks the ball runs to 50 kicks the goal celebrates and Paul Roos in commentary saying that was the wrong thing to do he should have just taken his Mark kicked to a teammate and waste the time. Longmire agreed. I think having a shot at goal instead of looking for a team mate might have been coached out of him.[/QU

Could be. He seems gun shy too often.

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I think it is time Campbell was moved to the wing to give better delivery into the forward line. He has no freedom as a half back, and it was clear tonight we lost our run.

Agree; McLean is a certain in. Change ruck with Reid.

Yes I certainly don't see Campbell as a long term half back Nico - he is a bit small for starters. Blakey worries me a bit - so much talent but drifts in and out so often.

[giant]

They were all over us on the last qr, but overall, you could question our decision-making and execution at time, but rarely our effort. I'll still happily take 4-1 thanks very much.

Some of the youngsters struggling - so be it, no disaster. Great to have the somewhat unfairly maligned Hayward and Melican back, both made excellent contributions. And then there's Buddy...sigh. He'll be missed when he goes.

[goswannies]

Last week we had 28 to 20 scoring shots and fell over the line by 3 points. This week we 26 scoring shorts to 19 and we lose by 2. A kick either way and could have been 5:0 or 3:2.

We have a young side. They will be exciting. They will be inconsistent. They will show periods of jaw dropping unbeatable brilliance. They will fatigue and fade for periods.

We have veterans who will lead the way and dig deep when needed to inspire the youth. Those same bodies will tire and be prone to injury. And fail.

We had a dream start at 4:0 and almost no one for the medical team to assess. A week later, take out the most important defender to our structure with a broken finger (that he did two weeks earlier) and a forward/mid who holds marks with hands like Stewart Lowe but with the leap of Warwick Capper who takes the pressure off the other forwards - the book ends of the side - and the dynamics of a previously winning combination will be challenged.

Add to that losing the most important ruckman on the list and at the most inopportune time the back-up to the blood rule and a hard fought win becomes a shattering loss.

The footy Gods can be fickle.

But we’re in the top 4 with a healthy percentage. Our young cygnets are getting valuable match time to develop. Cal Sinclair has stepped up before when needed, and will relish the opportunity for do so again. Sam Naismith is coming along too.

And in reality, how many would have predicted prior to round one, we would be in the the top four having claimed the scalps of last years premiers and prelim finalists by the time we had completed our round 5 match?

And Buddy might have more in him yet. And I’m not talking about the final 2 years of his contract.

For a rebuild on the fly, season might be ok so far.

[Ludwig]

I saw a replay on Fox of the Toby Greene mark that led to their penultimate goal. He's a great talent and took a fantastic mark, but he took the mark waste high surrounded by 3 Swans, McCartin, Melican and Cunningham, none of whom seemed to understand that the ball was in their area. Maybe they thought he was being guarded by Hewett, who was nowhere in picture.

[barry]

injuries have brought us back to the pack

[MattW]

Positives only:
- Campbell showed real flashes tonight - that dash and boot are a real point of difference
- real grit from Sam Reid
- what a pleasure it is to be able to watch Buddy again. A real life treat. Savour every kick
- Hayward still offers something; most possessions in a game since 29 June 2019
- Suns next week; let's bounce back