Swans v Suns: Round 6.

[Markwebbos]

Amazing how such a promising start to the season has turned around so quickly in 2 weeks.

Injuries have really hobbled us, in particular Hickey. The man was everywhere for us, disposing of the ball so cleanly and even kicking goals. His absence has hurt us not only at the stoppages and the middle of the ground but at both ends where he seem to be just when needed.

But the biggest issue has been our inability to execute under pressure. We were given a free run by the opposition in the first 3 rounds. But now the opposition is marking up on us much more tightly and are also aware of the short kicks and movement into the corridor. Essendon effectively provided the blue print to stop us, GWS executed it better and GC really took us to the sword.

The next few weeks are going to be a challenge. They will effectively determine if we are legitimate top 8 material or whether the first 3 weeks were a flash in the pan.

Interesting post. Let’s see who gets picked and how they play against the Cats next week?

[MattW]

I was at the game and he seemed to aimlessly walk around the forward line. Has a very small tank and had hands on hips a lot of the time. Not AFL standard and I am aghast at why they signed Melican for another 3 years. The disposal by the following was appalling: Melican, Florent, Dawson, Lloyd. Dawson puzzles me why he chips and pulls his kicks and misses targets consistently. Why in the heck doesn't he roost it most on the time.

The big plus for me was Chad Warner. He worked hard all game and most of the time was clean with his disposal. Has a massive tank.

I watched the last 3 quarters of the 2's and if Joel Amartey isn't promoted to the seniors next week then the club is not serious. He was very good, is a big unit, clean with the footy, takes a good grab and very mobile. Has to replace McLean. Stephens had a top last quarter so should come in. When he lifted the team lifted.

Our best player in the reserves; Paddy McCartin. Read the play very well and is a very good and composed kick. Lets hope we can pick him up in the mid season draft.

Agree re Warner. One of the few to look himself. I thought Kennedy and Parker tried hard.

Really surprised they picked Heeney this week - you’d think they’d have learned not to pick injured players.

We were well beaten at both ends of the ground. Neither of our tall defenders are up to the standard. Hopefully McCartin is back in, and I think it’s time to pull the trigger on Gould. Stephens too. I don’t mind McLean as an offset of an agile/dynamic big, but he was too lumbering in the set up we had today. Open to Amartey.

[stevoswan]

I will get in trouble for this and accused of being a heretic and having an agenda .. but i dont see what rowbottom offers us. He had mates today but he is a full time mid now , no excuses for the kind of ineffective game he played today.
Fail to see how we cant fit Dylan stephens into this team. Dont have anyone who can run and break lines right now and we are always tired by 3qt. Stephens endurance beast. Play him.

RB is coming back from injury and will be better for the run. Your failure to acknowledge that does point to an agenda of seeing only the negative in him. It is frankly confusing.

I do however agree with you on Stephens and I think he'll be picked next week.

[Bay View]

Hands up who thought Hickey was going to be a dud? Wow. What a difference without him.

[Bangalore Swans]

Unfortunately this is the Swans season:

Johnny Hates Jazz - Shattered Dreams (UK Version) - YouTube

Shattered dreams.

I saw my sons team ecounter a tough opponent and go down. I said to my son, don’t worry we’ll get home and broadcast the Swans on Kayo where we’ll do better. Unfortunately it was much the same.

I called for Dawson to be called Dawson DeChambeau. I think Bryson stands as his own brand now.


What the hell am I going to do with my sports viewing? My NFL legends Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson and not back in action until September. My cricket legends Steve Smith, Marnus and Pat Cummins and not back until October.

I was hoping the Swans would get me through to September. Now they don’t look like getting any further than September. Shattered dreams.

I might as well get excited about my second team the Melbourne Demons.

[TheBloods]

RB is coming back from injury and will be better for the run. Your failure to acknowledge that does point to an agenda of seeing only the negative in him. It is frankly confusing.

I do however agree with you on Stephens and I think he'll be picked next week.

Wasnt any different to most other games he's played

[TheBloods]

Media has had a lovefest with the veterans this year. Tex walker, Boak, Mundy .. you watch them totally ignore Kennedys 42 possession game ! Corrupt scum the lot of them. Led the team in disposals, contested possessions, tackles, pressure acts, clearances, inside 50s and score involvements. Complete Performance. Not up for debate anymore he is the gold standard for what a mid should be. Chad becoming an excellent protege. Have liked Parker's and Mills years but were not at their best on this occasion. Missed Hickey

[Auntie.Gerald]

I'm looking forward to how we respond.

5th vs 4th on the table.

Bring on the Cats.

[Ralph Dawg]

I'm looking forward to how we respond.

5th vs 4th on the table.

Bring on the Cats.

Our midfield will have to lift massively. If the cats can get quality inside 50s, Cameron and Hawkins will have a field day. It could become a real turkey shoot.

[MattW]

Our midfield will have to lift massively. If the cats can get quality inside 50s, Cameron and Hawkins will have a field day. It could become a real turkey shoot.

To me the telling stat of the day is efficiency inside 50.

They were 30 shots from 52 (whopping 58%); we were 13 shots from 53 (lowly 25%).

Also they has 21 tackles inside F50; we had 8.

Our defence leaked and was outworked, and our forward line bumbled (and delivery into it was terrible).

[The Runner]

We kind of new this was going to happen in the pre season. We have a lot to be excited about, but we aren't there yet. We're going to have patches of inconsistency, and burn out.
Don't look at the one isolated game - look at the progression of players within it, and the trajectory we are on.

Warner is a good example. Huge future prospect.
But, unfortunately, so are Hayward and Melican. Haywards last two weeks are the case against him - glimpses, but can't bring it together. And Melican, well, others have already said.

When you take out so many foundational players for a young team, this happens.

[Mark26]

We kind of new this was going to happen in the pre season. We have a lot to be excited about, but we aren't there yet. We're going to have patches of inconsistency, and burn out.
Don't look at the one isolated game - look at the progression of players within it, and the trajectory we are on.

Warner is a good example. Huge future prospect.
But, unfortunately, so are Hayward and Melican. Haywards last two weeks are the case against him - glimpses, but can't bring it together. And Melican, well, others have already said.

When you take out so many foundational players for a young team, this happens.

Fantastic post The Runner. A timely reminder that we need to be patient. We're still a developing side.

[crackedactor 01]

Just my take on yesterday's performance. Longmire was not too upset and almost expected to get beaten. He stressed we have many sore bodies in our forward line such as Blakey, Papley, Gulden, Rowbottom and Heeney not fully fit. He stresses Mcdonald needed a rest and only played half a game in reserves. I believe we will see a much better effort against Geelong next week and then we can assess were we good enough for finals.

[gloveski]

Bit of a reality check for our young Swans.

We were beat up around the ball even though our midfielders got a fair bit of the ball they were pressured heavily and lots of scrubbed kicks forward . I don’t think I’ve seen Parker get caught as many times as he did yesterday.

Delivery to the forward line even when clear (perceived pressure) was atrocious. I’m really surprised Paps really didn’t loose it .

We looked flat , tired and off the pace .

The ball fumbling really does my head in . Is it just me or does Sinclair always seems to fumble it

When Lloyd and Dawson couldn’t hit a barn door you know your in for a long day

Anyway we are a young building side so I’ll look at the positives

Warner really growing . Miller really torched us first qtr . But I thought he done a great job of matching him after the first qtr.

Mills like the idea of him starting mid and floating across half back if we are under the pump .

Kennedy just gets it done will go down as one of the all time greats

Next week’s selections are going to be interesting


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ralph Dawg]

I think the GC game is the reality check about where we are in terms of our rebuild. It's going to be a while before we can consistently impose our game plan and style, week in, week out. Injuries, fatigue and form drops are all going to be an issue and as a developing side, it will take time for us to have the depth to cover. One just had to look at the amazing depth Richmond has had over the course of their success as a marker of what is required to be a flag threat. It's no coincidence that they are struggling more this year given so many of their depth players have found new homes.