Match thread: Swans v Magpies.

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  • The Big Cat
    On the veteran's list
    • Apr 2006
    • 2355

    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.
    Those who have the greatest power to hurt us are those we love.

    Comment

    • i'm-uninformed2
      Reefer Madness
      • Oct 2003
      • 4653

      Originally posted by O'Reilly Boy
      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.
      'Delicious' is a fun word to say

      Comment

      • MattW
        Veterans List
        • May 2011
        • 4211

        Originally posted by i'm-uninformed2
        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.

        Comment

        • liz
          Veteran
          Site Admin
          • Jan 2003
          • 16758

          Originally posted by MattW
          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.

          Comment

          • Scottee
            Senior Player
            • Aug 2003
            • 1585

            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.

            Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk
            We have them where we want them, everything is going according to plan!

            Comment

            • Captain
              Captain of the Side
              • Feb 2004
              • 3602

              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

              Comment

              • barry
                Veterans List
                • Jan 2003
                • 8499

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

                Comment

                • Kafka's Ghost
                  Regular in the Side
                  • Sep 2017
                  • 899

                  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.


                  Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

                  Comment

                  • Blood Fever
                    Veterans List
                    • Apr 2007
                    • 4043

                    Originally posted by 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.




                    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
                    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.

                    Comment

                    • caj23
                      Senior Player
                      • Aug 2003
                      • 2462

                      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.

                      Comment

                      • Kafka's Ghost
                        Regular in the Side
                        • Sep 2017
                        • 899

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


                        Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

                        Comment

                        • Blood Fever
                          Veterans List
                          • Apr 2007
                          • 4043

                          Originally posted by 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.
                          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.

                          Comment

                          • Kafka's Ghost
                            Regular in the Side
                            • Sep 2017
                            • 899

                            Originally posted by Blood Fever
                            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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                            Comment

                            • dejavoodoo44
                              Veterans List
                              • Apr 2015
                              • 8578

                              Originally posted by Kafka's Ghost
                              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.


                              Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk
                              I do miss Dennis Cometti though and I sometimes wonder if he would still be able to return to the commentary box. If not, perhaps he could take over the post-game interviews from Taylor? I can't help thinking, that Divergent Dennis would be far more entertaining than Roaming Brian. At least you'd largely have people who wanted to be interviewed.

                              Comment

                              • BRS328
                                Warming the Bench
                                • Feb 2018
                                • 355

                                Cannot see either Haywood or Jordan being dropped. Jordan did a fantastic job on Sidebottom last Friday night. Going to have to look elsewhere for mine.
                                Depth is a great thing, but as you say injuries do occur. As Longmire quoted in the presser afterwards these problems generally take care of themselves when asked the same question

                                Comment

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