2014 Non Eagles Discussions Thread

[lmach]

I'm not sure how you could have tipped this result. Sydney just look shell shocked and Hawthorn haven't let up.

I did, and I was surprised so many people tipped the Swans. Hawthorn have been a better side all year.

 

[Keys]

Hawthorn were outstanding. Their pressure and aggression were brilliant

Hopefully Simpson took lots of notes before he left

 

[wing it]

i was stunned by today's events. So much for getting a close one.

 

[erbenz]

Hodge > Judd ?

Certainly finishing his career a lot better

I'd argue it has a lot to do with the talent of the coaches they've played under. Worsfold and Ratten ran Judd into the ground. Malthouse has used him a lot smarter this year.

Ever since Hodge's interrupted 2011 (or 2012, I forget) Clarko's used him perfectly. Half-Back, and then in the big games, midfield with a big dose of wherever the **** he needs to be when the game is on the line. In this case it was his lips on Buddy's cheeks today

 

[Truckosaurus]

Yeah money may buy you th' influence/
Of Lance Franklin, footy star/
Money may buy you Kurt Tippett/
But you won't get very far/
And you won't think it's so/
Funny, Buddy/
When money can't buy the cup/

Can't buy the cuuuuuuuuup/
The cuuuuuuuuuup/
Can't buy the cuuuuuuuuup

 

[Avalor]

Spangher has a premiership medallion

So rapt for him. I always liked him when he was with us ... not enough patience by us maybe. The hawk supporters love him ... bit of a cult figure there now.
Good on him

 

[Eastern Rangers]

So rapt for him. I always liked him when he was with us ... not enough patience by us maybe. The hawk supporters love him ... bit of a cult figure there now.
Good on him

His kicking is less of a problem given the skills of his team mates. We have had kicking problems and he was one of the worst in that regard.

 

[Hairy Lager]

So rapt for him. I always liked him when he was with us ... not enough patience by us maybe. The hawk supporters love him ... bit of a cult figure there now.
Good on him

This board is harsh on its players, quite a few need to learn some patience. Well done Spanger!!

 

[Keys]

I love that Spangher got to earn himself a premiership medal and it's a fine reward for his perseverance over the years. He was also a solid contributor on the day

That said the club was right to move him on when we did. Let's not forget that Sydney did the same.

He's a great depth player and at hawthorn he was depth in area they didn't have much in so he got games and was able to prove his worth. If he was at west coast now he would still struggle to get a game

 

[kane249]

Didn't realize Spangher has only played 51 games in his career

 

[Adzam]

26 of them with us, 6 with Sydney and the rest with the hawks. Interesting he scored most of his goals with Sydney although I think they may of played him forward 100% of the time

 

[The Passenger]

It'll be interesting to see the repercussions for the Swans.

Personally I don't think they need to change much - Just write it off as a bad day. It just happened to be on the biggest day of the year which makes it hard to take away the emotion and pain of the exposure. I don't think it was a case of Sydney not turning up because for half a quarter they were in it, but the Hawks got a bit of momentum midway through the first and the Swans weren't able to stop it. A few things different early on - such as Keiran Jack not butchering a goal from the square and who knows how that would have changed the swing of the game.

It was pretty unusual in two respects - 1) In finals footy it is very rare for a team to not have one period of play where they are on top. Usually the tide changes at some point but at no point yesterday did the Swans get on top. They had 5-10 minute passages here and there were they were breaking even with the Hawks but that was about it. 2) The Swans are the best team in the competition (or maybe second behind Fremantle) at minimizing the damage an opposition does on the scoreboard when they are under the pump. They just could not stem the bleeding yesterday.

The two guys that will have real questions marks of their place and roles in the team are Lewis Jetta and Sam Reid. Jetta got physically smashed yesterday and just couldn't get back into the game, but overall I think most people can see he is a quality player and he has played well in past finals. Any time someone has 4 disposals in a grand final it's a concerning performance but not one that will raise big alarm bells at Swans HQ I wouldn't think... Reid is a different question mark - He can play, but I don't think he knows what his role in the team is now that Tippett and Buddy have landed. For quite a while now he has sort meandered along, and it then got magnified even more on the big stage.

For mine I think they have to see if they can mould Reid into a key defender. One thing the Swans haven't had is that big defender like Lake, Rutten, MacKenzie et al. Ted Richards, Heath Grundy and Marty Mattner (when he was there) have done very well over the years, but they have been massively helped by a very good coaching structure, and some outstanding midfield pressure. I think they could really do with another bigger bodied guy down there. As admirably as the Swans key defenders have done you kinda get the feeling they have been hanging on for dear life for the past 4 or so years.

The Hawks were ruthless and I hope our coaches were taking note, and I hope Simpson brings a lot of that game plan over here. They physically assaulted the Swans, and then made them pay on the scoreboard. Just as the Swans are (normally) brilliant at minimizing the scoreboard damage, the Hawks are the best team in a long long time at capitalizing when they are on top. This is something we are not particularly good at, and IMO it's one of the most important aspects of footy. There are no stats for it, and it's not an individual thing, but an intangible team quality - When you have the run of play, you have to hit the scoreboard. Aside from the fact there are going to (normally) be passages in a game when the opposition gets on top, it's also mentally draining for a team to be on top and not see reward on the scoreboard, it also mentally buoys the team that is under the pump. It cost Port a grand final spot, it's cost Ross Lyon teams GF's, and it's hurt us many times over the previous few years.

 

[ep2018]

Just realised we're not the most successful team in the AFL anymore.

 

[SpaceClef]

Just realised we're not the most successful team in the AFL anymore.

We're on track for approx one premiership in around 25 years, so it's no surprise really...

Lack of forward line and questionable player management meant we didn't capitalise on our last premiership window. Could have had a threepeat in 05-07 if we had our current KPP and if Cousins stayed sane and Judd wasn't run into the ground. All very hypothetical of course

 

[kane249]

 

[eagles rule]

Sydney were flirting with their form when Richmond rolled them in the last game before the finals unlike Hawks who steamrolled Collingwood in a game they could have backed off and coasted .
Lesson learned the hard way ,embarrassing really I didn't even bother paying attention after half/time.

 

[Small Moves]

Sydney were flirting with their form when Richmond rolled them in the last game before the finals unlike Hawks who steamrolled Collingwood in a game they could have backed off and coasted .
Lesson learned the hard way ,embarrassing really I didn't even bother paying attention after half/time.

Even if Sydney did win that game against Richmond, we would have won the grand final after that anyway so it doesn't matter.

 

[Eagle87]

Bluey has been sacked

 

[Biggie]

Bring Bluey home

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Bring Bluey home

No, I'd prefer Simpson to be able to do his job without the constant threat of Bluey taking over hanging over him.

 

[Natho]

I'd prefer Simpson to build his own panel of coaches. Sick of that boys club mentality we seemed to have. Hard luck for Bluey, but footy is a cruel game.

 

[Biggie]

Leave Bluey out

 

[Patron]

I would love Bluey as an assistant. But would want Simpsons role secure.

 

[ChampRevesby]

 

[Bluey_McKenna]

Dat Essendon board. Talk about a civil war...