Changes for Round 5: Swans vs GWS

[bloodspirit]

What a pack of fickle flibbertigibbets!

[Legs Akimbo]

I think the disappointment stems from the fact we should have won it. A litany of silly errors in the last quarter cost is dearly. Also, the constant long kicks down to boundary line. In the last quarter, GWS played the corridor and moved the ball as we had done. It seems we've been worked out and consequently reverted to old habits.

Definitely lots of positives, the main one being booking the experience. Injuries are going to test us.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

It seems after one or two mistakes that Don Pyke football is abandoned. We need to keep going with the high risk corridor football and let our young kids play their preferred style.

We did seem to go into our shells a bit. As the game wore on, the more often it seemed for players (both the kids and experienced) overlook open team mates and take the "safe option" the kick long down the boundary line.

Aside from maybe needing a rest, I don’t think McDonald can play at the SCG in the same forward line as Franklin, Reid and Heeney/Hayward - there’s just not the space for it to work.

Do you think the kids are physically cooked? Or are they struggling with the reality of senior AFL footy?

Agree McDonald didn't give us much today, it was very much the Buddy show.
I know hindsight is 20/20 vision, but I can't help wondering whether playing a resting ruckman would have provided that much less up forward?

[Captain]

The fact we had to use Dawson in the ruck in the last quarter tells me we are one tall/big body too short. If McLean was playing for McDonald then maybe there would have been a difference.

Instead of McLean being the Buddy substitute when he rests, maybe this role needs to go to Logan whilst he puts on a bit of size and gets used to the speed of the game.

We really missed Rampe as well last night. Melican tries hard but his disposal is very ordinary.

I would be definitely sticking with Warner, Goulden and Campbell though.

[crackedactor 01]

Mclean in for Buddy, Sinclair for Hickey, Rowbottom for Melican, also try Blakey down back and I would give Logan Mcdonald one more chance in a forward line without Buddy. His game yesterday was absolutely terrible.

[Nico]

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.

Didn't say that. Didn't bag the coach either. Merely commented on what could have been done.

[Mark26]

He was ok. Is it a coincidence that when he plays our forward pressure is appalling? They waltzed out of our forward line. They could have walked it out holding hands and we would have let them.

I have to disagree with you Nico. What other forward (besides Buddy) scored what Hayward did? He took a few grabs as well. The most pleasing thing for me was Hayward showed some intensity and form after being dropped from our senior team.

I don't think the attribution of blame should be directed at a forward when GWS moved the ball easily out of our forward line. There are six forwards who should be held accountable at any given time.

What else would be reasonable to expect from Hayward without demanding the same from the other forwards? In comparison, I think McDonald and Wicks had quiet games, but I'm not about to dismiss them as players.

[Ralph Dawg]

I've got a simple solution. Let's move all home games to any other ground other than the SCG. It use to be our fortress but now we do seem to struggle there more often than not.

[barry]

I've got a simple solution. Let's move all home games to any other ground other than the SCG. It use to be our fortress but now we do seem to struggle there more often than not.

Great idea. The grand old lady is just down the road, waiting, patiently.

[AB Swannie]

At the game it just felt like we never got any rhythm or flow. Without watching the replay, I don’t know if that was because of us or because of GWS. I kept thinking we’d break the shackles at any moment and get out to a 30+ point lead but it just never happened. Ultimately, we got beaten around the ball by their bulls. Tom Green is going to be some player.

I thought Warner and Gulden were not bad and showed glimpses but below their best. Campbell and McDonald looked a step back. Wicks was almost unsighted. It’s not to be unexpected though - any players under 10 games are more likely to be in your bottom 6 than your top.

I was happy for Hayward. He cops a hiding here - even when he kicks 3 goals, people find a way to blame him. It really seemed like it was him, Buddy or bust last night. GWS must’ve done a much better job clogging gals and manning up because we just couldn’t get the marks inside 50 that we have been able to in previous games.

Overall, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. We are 4-1 and take on a ruck-less Gold Coast next week.

[MarshallG]

When it mattered we went soft and scared, played the boundary and forgot what won us the starting rounds.
GWS went hard, went hungry.
They deserved the win, kudos to them.

Our youngsters are like all youngsters, consistency is a problems, round on round fitness will be a problem.

A night for our old blokes, a great night too. Go Bud, Go Reid, Go Hayward.

Their return to prominence is a major plus for me, we ain't 'just a young gun team'.

Hickey is the man, always seems to be where he is needed and does the job.
What an acquistion.

Methinks Hickey's injury, coupled with Reid's head knock, that point in time when both were off, created some bad voodoo for structures.

Falling over was inevitable.
What matters is how quick we get up, what we do about it.

[Roadrunner]

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.

Spot on Nico. We played disjointed footy. They made us look silly at times and our pressure was not there at all. Yes, we’re a young ream but let’s not make excuses and call it what it is- listless!
Hope our coaches let them know that this is not on. I can count only about 6 players who deserved to play for the Bloods, and the best was our oldest in Buddy, with special mention to Joey who tried his heart out.

GWS killed us everywhere bar the scoreboard.

Learn the lesson, Swannies!

[SwanSand]

Spot on Nico. We played disjointed footy. They made us look silly at times and our pressure was not there at all. Yes, we’re a young ream but let’s not make excuses and call it what it is- listless!
Hope our coaches let them know that this is not on. I can count only about 6 players who deserved to play for the Bloods, and the best was our oldest in Buddy, with special mention to Joey who tried his heart out.

GWS killed us everywhere bar the scoreboard.

Learn the lesson, Swannies!

The game is about to play our style while preventing the other team to play their style. We showed our cards in the first 3 rounds and it was scintillating. Then comes correction, with opposition tactics, pressure, structure and playing close rather than giving space. The going gets tough, the cream rises quickly, others take time.

Last 2 weeks was correction and we need to now have a plan B approach, and the seniors will have to lead. Losing Rampe in the backline is the biggest loss. He is absolutely the general and gets us playing and defending in a certain style. We need him back ASAP.

[Aprilbr]

I think the last 2 weeks has seen the opposition really stop our quick ball movement and hence scoring power. Our points for have halved. With a slower game our younger players have struggled to adjust. We have really come back to the pack. Some of the pundits who praised us just a week or two ago are now saying that we may struggle to hang on for a finals spot.

I think this loss may prove to be a good educational lesson for our youngsters going forward. If we had just hung on then we may have glossed over our deficiencies on display. Our lack of positioning at critical times and drop in work rate in the last quarter were clear.

We were lucky to win last week and unlucky to lose this week. Injuries to key players have really hurt us, especially last night. The loss of Hickey probably changed the game. Lets hope his pcl knee problem is not too bad.

It looks like we are not going to have Heeney, Rampe and Hickey back for several weeks so others will have to step up. We had a lot of quiet players last night who need to lift. I don't expect to see wholesale changes but some poor performers will definitely come under heavy scrutiny.

[TheBloods]

Pretty poor to drop this one. GWS had a lot of outs. We lost Hickey late but didnt change much.

Can melican never play again ??