Match thread: Swans v Magpies.

[Kafka's Ghost]

You're right about it being a good thing that we could be underrated. It's often suited us over the years. 2005 and 2012 are the best examples.

I remember a game against the Dogs in 2012, we were annihilating them, and Bruce asked Dennis did he think the Swans were a chance at the Premiership. The reply was a qualified yes, but in his (Dennis’) opinion our midfield was “too similar.” Not to really be compared to the Hawks or Crows.


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[Blood Fever]

That’s fine we can skip through the season being underrated

Perfect start to the season, this is the strongest list on paper we’ve had for a long time.

You're right about it being a good thing that we could be underrated. It's often suited us over the years. 2005 and 2012 are the best examples.

[Kafka's Ghost]

That’s fine we can skip through the season being underrated

Perfect start to the season, this is the strongest list on paper we’ve had for a long time.

Agree that flying under the radar is not a bad thing.


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[caj23]

That’s fine we can skip through the season being underrated

Perfect start to the season, this is the strongest list on paper we’ve had for a long time.

[Blood Fever]

Admit I’m somewhat peeved that in our two wins the AFL’s own site has barely mentioned the Swans. It’s all been about the opposition; last week Melbourne’s poor forward work, this week the absence of Nathan Murphy for the Pies. Really highlights the Vic-centric mindset of most footy journalists.




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Nothing changes. Had similar thoughts when I went on AFL site. I often skip through all footy articles here in Melbourne now. Same old stuff. Very predictable.

[Kafka's Ghost]

Admit I’m somewhat peeved that in our two wins the AFL’s own site has barely mentioned the Swans. It’s all been about the opposition; last week Melbourne’s poor forward work, this week the absence of Nathan Murphy for the Pies. Really highlights the Vic-centric mindset of most footy journalists.


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[barry]

Best game we have played for a long time. Look really nicely balanced

[Captain]

In relation to who goes out when the 3 return, it’s very hard (and also unlikely as others will undoubtedly get injured) but my changes would be:

Hayward out for Parker
Jordan or Lloyd out for Mills (either very unlucky)
Adams to be sub

[Scottee]

I was blown away by the form of Isaac and Chad as well as Erol. Any one of the 3 could be said to be in Brownlow winning form. Unfortunately they are going to take votes from each other, so they will have to make do with winning the flag.

I was also very impressed with Roberts disposal and composure. I didn't know he was dual sided.

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[liz]

McInerney released his arms from a tackle to handball several times on Friday night. It was impressive.

It seems to be something they've worked on across the squad.

Lots of players (in both games) have tried to break tackles. But they've also been able to dispose of the ball (legally) when they've not been able to complete bust through. Chad has always had a penchant for tackle busting but several times already he's been able to get off a pretty effective handball or kick while his dacks are being pulled down.

Blakey's managed to dispose while being tackled.

Isaac has done it.

Papley disposed effectively while on his backside.

I think it partly shows an intent, but has been an effective technique because of the wave of runners providing options for an effective disposal.


I do want to wait a bit longer before anointing it a tactical masterstroke because it might just reflect that the Pies were awful at tackling. We need to see how well it works against other teams, especially ones that have planned for Sydney trying to do this.

[MattW]

Great post with really good insights on the value of Jordon, Roberts and Melican. I haven’t looked at the numbers, but I also reckon Jordon’s one percenters or pressure acts would be close to best in class. The coverage seemed to show him constantly getting a hand in there, a shepherd there . . . lots of persistent effort that disrupted the opposition.

The other one doing a lot right is McInerney. He seems to be mixing between half forward, wing and on ball, and at one point the other night looked like he was doing a light tag on Crisp. Plus, he’s so physical for a slight build. Hard as a cat’s head. Its great to have him back to his best.

As for the missing three, it’s a long season when lots of niggles set in and opposition teams have time to adjust to our style of play. So these things sort themselves out. But what all three will need is time to get their running power up to what’s currently on show.

McInerney released his arms from a tackle to handball several times on Friday night. It was impressive.

[i'm-uninformed2]

100% agree. The only like-for-like player for Adams (and possibly Parker) is Rowbottom, and if he carries on the way he's going he is first selected every week. Jordon is impressive and plays a bit more outside, so bringing either in for him slows us down. More upside to Jordon than to Adams. if Chad is emerging as Dusty v2.0, Jordon is looking like Hanners v2.0.

I think that the mix of eight or nine mids rotating through—Rowbottom, Chad, Heaney, Paps, Errol, McInernery (who was at a couple of centre bounces towards the end of the game), Jordon and possibly Campbell—is brilliant: fast, skilled, great kicks, strong and running out games superbly. Grundy's presence is important: his big body, stamina and skills makes space and adds the element of bull/grunt we've been missing. I can't see how Parker or Adams add to the mix. No room up front either. Wicks has been great, and we already have Papley and Heany 'resting' up front, while the underrated but sometimes exasperating Hayward (not, as the commentators seem to think, Haywood) provides great shape/structure.

I think that Mills is more of a chance of getting a game of HB, but Florent is doing a fantastic job, almost mirroring Hayward's structural role up front: floating between lines, providing a connection, and always making the right spaces. Fox is absolutely showing his value, so it's not him who makes way.

Which brings us to Lloyd and Roberts. Lloyd started on a wing against Melbourne, and was playing quite tight as first release man. He is smart and excelled in the role before moving into the playmaking back 6 role he's played for the past five or six seasons. But I like the look of Roberts. He is big, seemed really composed, and a useful kick.


But Mills in for Lloyd feels like a seismic shift.


Finally—it is great to see Melican finding form. The synergy between him, Rampe and McCartin is great to watch. Roberts seems to fit in really well, and the net result is significant pressure coming off Blakey. It wasn't a night for Blakey against the Pies—he was relatively quiet—and I wonder whether the set up with Ramps, McCartin, Melican and Edwards, plus Campbell and Florent, saw us use precise kicking to work up the ground, rather than looking for line-breaking runs? I would be interested in analysis of who tends to handball off to Blakey to generate his runs? Lloyd?


Reid is only one injury to a tall away from a game.

Great post with really good insights on the value of Jordon, Roberts and Melican. I haven’t looked at the numbers, but I also reckon Jordon’s one percenters or pressure acts would be close to best in class. The coverage seemed to show him constantly getting a hand in there, a shepherd there . . . lots of persistent effort that disrupted the opposition.

The other one doing a lot right is McInerney. He seems to be mixing between half forward, wing and on ball, and at one point the other night looked like he was doing a light tag on Crisp. Plus, he’s so physical for a slight build. Hard as a cat’s head. Its great to have him back to his best.

As for the missing three, it’s a long season when lots of niggles set in and opposition teams have time to adjust to our style of play. So these things sort themselves out. But what all three will need is time to get their running power up to what’s currently on show.

[The Big Cat]

Wicks is a long way behind the three similar sized players who are still out. And I think that Robbo has taken Lloyd's spot in the backline. Roberts is a much better kick and decision maker. Harry would have to be the next in line to be replaced.

[707]

Before Adams went off injured in the trial game, I seem to recall he'd had the most clearances?

Certainly a nice problem to have. May our relatively light injury list continue, gives the ability to rest players in the lead up to finals ala Geelong 2022

[The Great One]

When Parker comes back.i wonder if he comes back as the sub.
More versatile than Wicks in the sense he could play in the mids or in the forwards.
Mills to half back seems the best idea for the moment.
Adams could only replace JJ.
Hope they all have a game in Reggie’s to get match fitness.