Round 21: GWS v Sydney Match Thread 5 Aug23

[Auntie.Gerald]

Wasn’t it amazing to see us playing with the same scoreboard pressure as we did in most games through 2023

It just leaves opposition teams with no answers

What was it one stage 13.2 …….. like a samurai sword chop !!!!!!!

But the best part for me and most surprising was to see McLean, Amartey, McDonald looking so likely with their leads, contest intensity, kicking at goal and above all their body language.

The three boys looked like they were owning their space and role.

[Dow]

Absolutely the 3 headed dragon

- - - Updated - - -

AG what are your thoughts around our total possession count we seem to always lose it, and if we aren’t efficient like early in the season we seem to lose games ? I am just concerned we can’t win enough possessions

[KTigers]

I think when one side kicks 12.0 there is a lack of pressure from the other side. I think I either 10 or 11 of the goals came
out of our defense. That is a lot. And once it started raining and it gets really scrappy a three or four goal lead is pretty
much always enough. Just got to keep winning now. You've got to think we're a decent shot to win the last three if we
keep turning up. GC and Adelaide are flakey, Melbourne will be tough, but the game is at home.
We finished the H & A really well last year. And these other teams (Collingwood, Port) are coming back to the pack now.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I think when one side kicks 12.0 there is a lack of pressure from the other side. I think I either 10 or 11 of the goals came
out of our defense. That is a lot. And once it started raining and it gets really scrappy a three or four goal lead is pretty
much always enough. Just got to keep winning now. You've got to think we're a decent shot to win the last three if we
keep turning up. GC and Adelaide are flakey, Melbourne will be tough, but the game is at home.
We finished the H & A really well last year. And these other teams (Collingwood, Port) are coming back to the pack now.

I still think we come up a game short on making the finals, plus Adelaide in Adelaide and then the Demons aren’t easy at all.

If we do keep winning, I suspect the game that leaves the door ajar for us is Carlton v GWS in the final round, with the loser at risk of sliding out of the eight.

[gloveski]

Wasn’t it amazing to see us playing with the same scoreboard pressure as we did in most games through 2023

It just leaves opposition teams with no answers

What was it one stage 13.2 …….. like a samurai sword chop !!!!!!!

But the best part for me and most surprising was to see McLean, Amartey, McDonald looking so likely with their leads, contest intensity, kicking at goal and above all their body language.

The three boys looked like they were owning their space and role.

And to think we have another likely forward tall, in form waiting in the wings in Buller .


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[gloveski]

Credit to Stephens his qtr was huge on the wing , this allowed Gulden to basically hunt the ball in the last quarter .
Still think he has a lot to offer if he can sort his disposal out as he has no troubles finding it .


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[liz]

The photo currently headlining the match on the Swans' website captures beautifully that somewhat odd celebration Errol and Chad had going after - I think - Chad's late goal. Not just the two of them doing their thing, but the amusement of onlookers Florent and McCartin.

[troyjones2525]

We have it all in front of us. We just need to win our remaining games, and the other results should take care of themselves as a number of the teams just above us play each other in the last 3 weeks.

It will be tough as we've left our run a bit late. However, we are starting to look more like the team of last year, and we all know how strong we finished then, barring the GF, of course.

Let's hope that the injury curse has passed us by now and that we can get ourselves in the 8 and give ourselves a chance at doing some damage!

Last year, though, the home finals played a big part in getting us there (the prelim specifically). This year, we are gonna need to do our best work away if we are any chance of pushing all the way to the GF!

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[Sandridge]

The photo currently headlining the match on the Swans' website captures beautifully that somewhat odd celebration Errol and Chad had going after - I think - Chad's late goal. Not just the two of them doing their thing, but the amusement of onlookers Florent and McCartin.

The video to the reaction of that goal - especially the wide shot view - is like a watered down version of the final Nick Malceski goal in the 2012 GF!

Clutch Warner provides the dagger in sizzling style

[Auntie.Gerald]

Absolutely the 3 headed dragon

- - - Updated - - -

AG what are your thoughts around our total possession count we seem to always lose it, and if we aren’t efficient like early in the season we seem to lose games ? I am just concerned we can’t win enough possessions

Mate I think there are so many layers to take into account Re “enough possessions” and where that stat ranks? Ie where does it rank vs other stats that are super important to the bloods? Where does it ran on what we are trying achieve against a certain opposition to best set up a win.

The Bloods game appears go based around forcing turnovers through pressure around the ball. Now this isn’t a unique concept in the current AFL landscape – it’s what pretty much all teams attempt to do. Yet our counter punch the other is arguably as lethal as any team in the comp when have all on deck and don’t have to compromise on match ups to often.

For me it was our method in 2022 which was better than most, and what leaves teams with next to no margin for error with their ball movement. Which we saw last night how well we can absorb certain inside 50s and how good we are at shaping and influencing the opposition inside 50s to what we want.…….ie minimising the non penetrating one on one kicks or the non short sharp angled kicks. We forced GWS to rush and were found guilty of way too many dumb kicks.

Some I have heard call our game call it a two-layer system which is almost identical to soccer.

The first layer – the most important one – is around the ball. This is the one which you’ll see most on TV when the ball is either in dispute or after the opposition has just taken possession, and what rightfully gets most of the plaudits.

When the opposition gains possession in the back half of the ground, the bloods layer around the ball tends to have three aims. In order of importance:

1: Force a turnover immediately
2: If a turnover can’t be forced, push the ball back and into a ‘corner’ for a stoppage
3: If there is no turnover or stoppage, make the opposition kick long and high

This part is very similar to what we have done in the past and still to this day. It is what the Tigers copied from us in my humble opinion - but they were different in that they also liked to forward press with swarming forwards more so than us.

I think all teams have layers to their method both in attack and defence but we are clearly an “absorb and counter attack team” and we truly have a lethal backline rotation that splits a lot of teams when we are a full strength

I mean last Blakey pretty much played on one leg and didn’t miss much of a beat with no Rampe, no Buddy, no Jamc etc

It was impressive !!!

[barry]

I still think we come up a game short on making the finals, plus Adelaide in Adelaide and then the Demons aren’t easy at all.

If we do keep winning, I suspect the game that leaves the door ajar for us is Carlton v GWS in the final round, with the loser at risk of sliding out of the eight.

If we are going to the trouble of making finals we should be able to beat Adelaide in Adelaide (who should be out of contention by then) and fellow finalist, Melbourne at home.
If we can't beat those then our September will be short.

[wolftone57]

Mate I think there are so many layers to take into account Re “enough possessions” and where that stat ranks? Ie where does it rank vs other stats that are super important to the bloods? Where does it ran on what we are trying achieve against a certain opposition to best set up a win.

The Bloods game appears go based around forcing turnovers through pressure around the ball. Now this isn’t a unique concept in the current AFL landscape – it’s what pretty much all teams attempt to do. Yet our counter punch the other is arguably as lethal as any team in the comp when have all on deck and don’t have to compromise on match ups to often.

For me it was our method in 2022 which was better than most, and what leaves teams with next to no margin for error with their ball movement. Which we saw last night how well we can absorb certain inside 50s and how good we are at shaping and influencing the opposition inside 50s to what we want.…….ie minimising the non penetrating one on one kicks or the non short sharp angled kicks. We forced GWS to rush and were found guilty of way too many dumb kicks.

Some I have heard call our game call it a two-layer system which is almost identical to soccer.

The first layer – the most important one – is around the ball. This is the one which you’ll see most on TV when the ball is either in dispute or after the opposition has just taken possession, and what rightfully gets most of the plaudits.

When the opposition gains possession in the back half of the ground, the bloods layer around the ball tends to have three aims. In order of importance:

1: Force a turnover immediately
2: If a turnover can’t be forced, push the ball back and into a ‘corner’ for a stoppage
3: If there is no turnover or stoppage, make the opposition kick long and high

This part is very similar to what we have done in the past and still to this day. It is what the Tigers copied from us in my humble opinion - but they were different in that they also liked to forward press with swarming forwards more so than us.

I think all teams have layers to their method both in attack and defence but we are clearly an “absorb and counter attack team” and we truly have a lethal backline rotation that splits a lot of teams when we are a full strength

I mean last Blakey pretty much played on one leg and didn’t miss much of a beat with no Rampe, no Buddy, no Jamc etc

It was impressive !!!

Disposals come in many forms and many situations. For instance if there are no options teams will kick the ball around to find options and open the play. But if they can't get that short pass to the centre of the ground they eventually go long. This expands the disposal date. They are junk kicks in a way, unless their goal is achieved, getting that short kick to centre and beyond. Some teams, like Essendon & Hawthorn prefer to run the ball and therefore have many more handball stats.

So, having less disposals may just mean you are more efficient.

Other stats are more worrying, like allowing 40 inside 50 in a half of footy and 70 for a full match.

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[Nico]

The centre clearance count was 15/13 against. How they come to that figure is beyond me. Time and time again we were a no contest as GWS just strolled out of the middle. When Papley goes in the he usually gets a clean clearance. Hickey won his own clearances a few times. Hawthorns dominant clean clearances really rattled Collingwood. Apparently Mitchell gave his midfielders a massive sprang after their previous game.

Our first 11 goals came from defensive moves. So for once we were quick and clean going forward. Then again straight kicking helps.

I noticed that GWS went short after half time to try to break up our defensive structure. Coach Kingsley looked very frustrated on the bench.

The kicking of Callum Mills is a worry. Both he and Hayward again missed from dead in front from 30 metres.

[royboy42]

I'm sorry, but a player who blindsides the opposition in the back, elbows his opponent in the throat and consistently whinges is NOT the new face of AFL in Sydney...Sorry Toby fans

Yep, I agree.
It's really a silly thing to say.
And do we need a "Face for Sydney"?
It's as much BS as the Battle of the Bridge.
Or the Ruck Round.
Or Bounce, or First Crack.
Stop me. I'm on a roll.

[wolftone57]

The centre clearance count was 15/13 against. How they come to that figure is beyond me. Time and time again we were a no contest as GWS just strolled out of the middle. When Papley goes in the he usually gets a clean clearance. Hickey won his own clearances a few times. Hawthorns dominant clean clearances really rattled Collingwood. Apparently Mitchell gave his midfielders a massive sprang after their previous game.

I think the clearances were about right. Both teams were attacking from defence.

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