2021 Season Review

[Roadrunner]

Stop facing north, and talking out of your south facing orifice.
Seriously, go check the 2021 pre season expectations thread - there were actually quite a few RWOers predicting finals.
And yes, there was a small amount of amuseemnt - but not from anyone worth listening to.

We were coming off 5 wins Rucky, and playing pretty awful football. Sure, we had Buddy out for the year but there were no guarantees he would get through most of 2021.

We may have been hoping for finals, but the reality is that our game plan was flawed last year and without a plan B, if you recall. We stayed relatively injury free this year, our game plan changed, our youngsters all improved and confidence returned. And re: big Tom, most were sceptical about his value and who could have predicted the influence he was able to exert from the ruck?

Well done to those who predicted finals and 6th place or better. It would have been more on a hope and a prayer rather than careful analysis, I submit.

I’m giving this year an A.

[stevoswan]

Stop facing north, and talking out of your south facing orifice.
Seriously, go check the 2021 pre season expectations thread - there were actually quite a few RWOers predicting finals.
And yes, there was a small amount of amuseemnt - but not from anyone worth listening to.

So I'm talking out of my arse am I? Maybe I should have said 'some' rather than 'no one'. Would you rather I said we had a crap season that didn't meet 'expectations' and I rate it a C-?

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah but they were laughed at.

Thank you.

[stevoswan]

Bangalore did predict that we could win the premiership and was probably the most optimistic of all of us. He was also very close on his player predictions. Laughed at or not, he probably came closer than anyone else about how our season would pan out.

I think a lot of us thought we could make finals if things went well, and a lot of things did go well.

True but that is basically optimism over reality....most of us ardent fans have that quality in the pre season. It's just a bonus when that optimism actually delivers. It often doesn't....so I would say this season went better than 'most' of us expected. I believe that is an accurate assessment.

[KTigers]

Having no or very few injuries helps the most I think. There is continuity, the best players are out there and players 16-22 think they
are a chance to get dropped every week, and that keeps them on their toes (mostly). Doing well while we were on the road for two
months this year was a significant achievement. That experience could have gone badly. The single most important player for me this
year was Hickey. Having a mobile ruckman who can rack up possessions is like having an extra player. Hopefully he can stay healthy.
It would be good next year if we can get back to winning almost every game at the SCG. It was such a bonus for us back in the day.
Plus it makes the walk back to the car after the game more enjoyable.

[stevoswan]

Here's our clubs top distance per game runners according to this AFL article: Marathon men: Telstra Tracker reveals your club's running machines Look, a link! (which I always provide)

Top-five most distance covered per game in 2021

Callum Mills, 14.03km
Lewis Melican, 13.55km
Dane Rampe, 13.49km
Harry Cunningham, 13.45km
Errol Gulden, 13.38km

Top-five most distance covered in a game in 2021

Hayden McLean, R7 v Geel, 16.74km
Errol Gulden, R5 v GWS, 16.27km
Hayden McLean, R8 v Melb, 15.79km
Oliver Florent, R18 v GWS, 15.53km
Sam Wicks, R12 v StK, 15.37km

[Aprilbr]

Some surprising results there. Lewis Melican - who would of thought?

[TheBloods]

Some surprising results there. Lewis Melican - who would of thought?

He is a hard worker can never fault his effort , just lacks a footy brain

[sprite]

Some surprising results there. Lewis Melican - who would of thought?

Lewis was probably running around the carpark looking for his opponent...

[Faunac8]

Also interesting looking at the fastest players results Harry was our fastest but we were the team with the slowest top speed in the competition so maybe we are not quite as fast as we think.

Speed kings: Telstra Tracker reveals your club's fastest player in 2021

[Markwebbos]

Also interesting looking at the fastest players results Harry was our fastest but we were the team with the slowest top speed in the competition so maybe we are not quite as fast as we think.

Speed kings: Telstra Tracker reveals your club's fastest player in 2021

I was surprised Blakey wasn’t among our fastest

[liz]

The top speeds are single measurements in single matches. The quickest way to move the ball is by kicking it long and, ideally, accurately. To the extent that the Swans moved to becoming a quicker side this year, it was via a structure, mindset, vision and courage to move the ball forward by foot.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I was surprised Blakey wasn’t among our fastest

It’d depend.

Short burst speed vs sustained speed are very different things.

For example, Harry has a quick burst of speed and it’s part of what makes him a great small defender, but I reckon if you lined up a 50m sprint, Blakey would win.

There’s also power. For example, both Chad and Heeney have a great burst from the contest, which gives them time and space. Or Papley has a turn of pace in tight corners. But you wouldn’t say any of them has the speed over distance of a JMac.

And besides, Liz’s point is correct. You can only use your speed in context.

[Faunac8]

I get that we are a team that plays a fast moving game which is exciting and enjoyable to watch I was however surprised that some of the players generally considered “ fast “ in our squad didn’t feature.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Here's our clubs top distance per game runners according to this AFL article: Marathon men: Telstra Tracker reveals your club's running machines Look, a link! (which I always provide)

Top-five most distance covered per game in 2021

Callum Mills, 14.03km
Lewis Melican, 13.55km
Dane Rampe, 13.49km
Harry Cunningham, 13.45km
Errol Gulden, 13.38km

Top-five most distance covered in a game in 2021

Hayden McLean, R7 v Geel, 16.74km
Errol Gulden, R5 v GWS, 16.27km
Hayden McLean, R8 v Melb, 15.79km
Oliver Florent, R18 v GWS, 15.53km
Sam Wicks, R12 v StK, 15.37km

I wonder whether anyone else is looking at his soft tissue history and his km's travelled and wondering whetehr they are related?

I think I recall that both of McLean's games involved acting as a decoy forward to run the oppositions best intercept defender out of posiiton.

[dejavoodoo44]

It’d depend.

Short burst speed vs sustained speed are very different things.

For example, Harry has a quick burst of speed and it’s part of what makes him a great small defender, but I reckon if you lined up a 50m sprint, Blakey would win.

There’s also power. For example, both Chad and Heeney have a great burst from the contest, which gives them time and space. Or Papley has a turn of pace in tight corners. But you wouldn’t say any of them has the speed over distance of a JMac.

And besides, Liz’s point is correct. You can only use your speed in context.

Yes, the last time I remember reading an article about the different speeds of our players, over different distances, was about ten years ago. The results were: Goodes was fastest over 20m, Jetta was fastest at 50m and for the 100 it was Rohan. Surprisingly, bigger guys, who we don't really think of as being that quick, often record the fastest top speed. Their greater muscle mass enables a more powerful burst; but their higher weight, means that they're not able to sustain it.

And I think at that time, Hannebury was the 2km time trial king. Which might be the most relevant distance for Aussie Rules?