Analysis Bloods' Performance Discussion 2022

[Kapers]

Gonna assume you meant Fox as one of the bolded, in which case I very much agree. Those three have changed the face of our defence. They link the back six with the midfield group. It sounds so simple in theory - that is the job of half-backs after all. But I don't think there's a better group in the AFL at the moment at linking the defensive marks and spoils of the Paddy/Tom/Rampe types with the rebounding run and gun of our mids. And whilst we were so worried about what losing Dawson would do to our defensive transitions, we've just amassed so many who can take the game on and run it out.

I think if anyone has paid the price for this development, it's McInerney. But it's undeniably made the team so much more dangerous.

hahahaha, yes I definitely made an error on that one but not the one you think. I meant to say Florent, Florent, and Florent.

 

[Nuggetz]

I reckon what Fox & Florent have done for our defence (absolutely humming) is what Amartey & Clarke have done for our forward line. They're unlikely to get big numbers or have eye catching highlights but they provide enough with their skill set (pressure, mobility, tagging etc) which allows for better functionality of the forward line.

 

[RubbaDuck]

Ladhams does have fast hands. Just watch him in close.

Regardless of who is performing first ruck duties, I've been very impressed with Reid's role as our 2nd ruck. Against Tim English he was superb, outgunned but determined to gain an advantage through repeated efforts. He times his jumps perfectly to make up for a lack of height. Around the ground I can't count the number of times Reid has been buried under a pack after wading into the contest, but those long arms of his are still competing, whether it's firing out a low dart handball or cleverly tapping the ball clear to a fellow Swans. Reid was always competitive but this year he's taken it to another level. His reach makes him near impossible to get past and he thinks fast, if that makes any sense. There's no hesitation, his footy IQ is high, which I guess we'd expect in a more mature player. Reid's developing into a hard-to-match-up-with hybrid ruck-utility, able to play key forward, intercepting mark in defence or ruck/on-baller, like a taller version of LRT.

 

[rustycrate]

Regardless of who is performing first ruck duties, I've been very impressed with Reid's role as our 2nd ruck. Against Tim English he was superb, outgunned but determined to gain an advantage through repeated efforts. He times his jumps perfectly to make up for a lack of height. Around the ground I can't count the number of times Reid has been buried under a pack after wading into the contest, but those long arms of his are still competing, whether it's firing out a low dart handball or cleverly tapping the ball clear to a fellow Swans. Reid was always competitive but this year he's taken it to another level. His reach makes him near impossible to get past and he thinks fast, if that makes any sense. There's no hesitation, his footy IQ is high, which I guess we'd expect in a more mature player. Reid's developing into a hard-to-match-up-with hybrid ruck-utility, able to play key forward, intercepting mark in defence or ruck/on-baller, like a taller version of LRT.

I would say that everything you said is what I would think too. I like Reid in his current reincarnation. Love him.
I would on form go with Reid as a ruck over Ladhams. On current output. Not in dispute.
Ladhams does have fast hands though in close. That was my point. Not saying he is the complete package also.

 

[RubbaDuck]

2021 (Melbourne) Last Loss: Round 19 (lost by 20 to the Dogs)
2020 (Richmond) Last Loss: Qualifying Final (lost by 15 to the Lions) (last H&A loss was Round 11)
2019 (Richmond) Last Loss: Round 13 (lost by 33 to the Crows)
2018 (West Coast) Last Loss: Round 22 (lost by 17 to the Demons)
2017 (Richmond) Last Loss: Round 22 (lost by 14 to Geelong)
2016 (*) Last Loss: Round 23 (lost by 20 to Fremantle)
2015 (Hawthorn) Last Loss: Qualifying Final (lost by 32 to the Eagles)
2014 (Hawthorn) Last Loss: Round 21 (lost by 19 to Fremantle)
2013 (Hawthorn) Last Loss: Round 19 (lost by 41 to Richmond)
2012 (Sydney) Last Loss: Round 23 (lost by 34 to Geelong)

So only Richmond in 2019 went on a massive winning streak to end the season. Richmond 2020 is worth thinking about as well, given they had a big H&A winning streak going into finals and then lost a QF.

Carlton in 1995 won 15 straight wins to take the premiership, with just two losses over the whole season coming in consecutive weeks. Their first loss was to the reigning wooden spooners The Swans 132-60 and the next week to the almost as lowly Saints 80-24.

11 marks and 8 goals from Lockett, a vintage Kelly performance, 4 goals from Magic Mickey O and a stupendous 34 disposals and 15 marks from Paul Roos in defence (he even snuck forward for a rare goal) saw The Swans led by a whopping 16 goals up (18 v. 4) at 3/4 time, at which point they put the cue in the rack and coasted to the win. I remember drinking a lot of beers with die hard Swans supporters who were all pleasantly shocked.

My apologies, I digress.

For the Blues in 1995, those two losses were their mental reset, followed by 15 wins including the premiership
Brisbane in 2001 made it 16 in a row to the premiership. In 2002 they lost one of their last 10, losing rd 22
Port in 2004 has only one loss of their last 14, losing in rd18
Cats in 2007 lost only one of their last 18 in RD21
Pies in 2010 lost only one of their last 12 in Rd22, ignoring the GF draw with Saints.
Cats in 2011 won all of their last 10 except a Rd23 loss to Swans

I guess the conclusion from the past 26 years is that teams can usually drop one or two coming into the ened of the H&A. Players might be rested to get them in top order for the finals while an opponent may be giving their all just to scrape into the finals or a lowly team wants to end a poor season on a high. All that matters is we grab the double chance.

 

[willym]

Not 100% sure this is the right thread for this. But wondering if anyone else reckons over the past two years our general fitness, overall injury volume + injury recovery time has improved significantly. It feels to me as though there's been a noticable difference across all three of those things since the start of last year. Our tiny injury list and fast player recoveries this year, in particular, have been elite.

In the 2020 offseason we hired Rob Inness and Daman Raper. There's good piece on them here: The other secret weapon behind the Swans’ stunning start to the year

Tell me if I'm overthinking this, but I feel like they've made a massive impact. Or have just joined at the right time and in the right roles so that it looks like they're doing an amazing job, but actually fluked it and got lucky ://

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Not 100% sure this is the right thread for this. But wondering if anyone else reckons over the past two years our general fitness, overall injury volume + injury recovery time has improved significantly. It feels to me as though there's been a noticable difference across all three of those things since the start of last year. Our tiny injury list and fast player recoveries this year, in particular, have been elite.

In the 2020 offseason we hired Rob Inness and Daman Raper. There's good piece on them here: The other secret weapon behind the Swans’ stunning start to the year

Tell me if I'm overthinking this, but I feel like they've made a massive impact. Or have just joined at the right time and in the right roles so that it looks like they're doing an amazing job, but actually fluked it and got lucky ://

I think you're right. Prior to them joining there was a long stretch of years where we had huge injury lists, and players often experiencing recurrent injuries. I'm almost certain personnel had something to do with it, if not being the primary driver.

 

[BloodySwan]

Not 100% sure this is the right thread for this. But wondering if anyone else reckons over the past two years our general fitness, overall injury volume + injury recovery time has improved significantly. It feels to me as though there's been a noticable difference across all three of those things since the start of last year. Our tiny injury list and fast player recoveries this year, in particular, have been elite.

In the 2020 offseason we hired Rob Inness and Daman Raper. There's good piece on them here: The other secret weapon behind the Swans’ stunning start to the year

Tell me if I'm overthinking this, but I feel like they've made a massive impact. Or have just joined at the right time and in the right roles so that it looks like they're doing an amazing job, but actually fluked it and got lucky ://

It's not a coincidence, absolutely a part for our good form.

We've done a lot of heavy work to improve our back office in Pyke, Inness and Dalrymple. These are all as important as the head coach and players we bring in which I think most fans and media overlook.

 

[caesar88]

Have loved some of the fancy footwork we have seen this year and it was well and truly on display against the Giants.

Remember when our players weren't allowed to play with flair?

 

[Kiama Chris]

Have loved some of the fancy footwork we have seen this year and it was well and truly on display against the Giants.

Remember when our players weren't allowed to play with flair?

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Mate I just love your clips. Thanks.

 

[BloodySwan]

Have loved some of the fancy footwork we have seen this year and it was well and truly on display against the Giants.

Remember when our players weren't allowed to play with flair?

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That first one from JMac is something else. To do that in your defensive 50 with such confidence and ease, I wasn't sure I even saw that correctly when it happened

 

[caesar88]

That first one from JMac is something else. To do that in your defensive 50 with such confidence and ease, I wasn't sure I even saw that correctly when it happened

I remember thinking my TV had glitched at the time. He had already begun his side-step before the GWS player had even attempted his smother. Just great smarts to anticipate the play before it had even happened.

 

[RubbaDuck]

Have loved some of the fancy footwork we have seen this year and it was well and truly on display against the Giants.

Remember when our players weren't allowed to play with flair?

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Try watching them all at the same time and you get an idea of what the Giants' players and coaching staff were experiencing.

 

[caesar88]

Try watching them all at the same time and you get an idea of what the Giants' players and coaching staff were experiencing.

 

[caesar88]

But seriously, RubbaDuck you make a good point. There were multiple times during the broadcast where Brereton said "They have so many similar types..." and I was thinking he was referring to the Swans, but then he'd say, "...the Giants, all the same pace."

And I was thinking to myself... do GWS have so many players who are all slow, or do we just have so many players who play fast? All over the field we just have guys who want to take the game on, they attack contests at full pace, they break away from contests at full pace. And they have so many different ways of getting out of trouble, be it spinning, twisting, freeing the arms, sprinting away, side stepping... you're spot on, it's a nightmare to try and combat when they're on.

 

[RubbaDuck]

It's not a coincidence, absolutely a part for our good form.

We've done a lot of heavy work to improve our back office in Pyke, Inness and Dalrymple. These are all as important as the head coach and players we bring in which I think most fans and media overlook.

Buddy and Reid have been both seen benefits but the overall health of our list speaks volumes for how the players are managed and prepared. Papley's moving better than ever, Kennedy looks is great physical shape.

There's no denying the impact a healthy list can have at the pointy end of the year. In years gone by we often limped into the finals, as did a few other teams. Our depth is solid in most areas with plenty of pressure on spots in the 22. What's more, we can rest key players knowing someone can step in and fill a role exactly as the coach wants them to.

A reputation for good player fitness management has another big advantage in that it makes our club an attractive destination, especially to stars who may have had a bad run with injuries. We might be prepared to take on a player with a less than solid injury record, in the knowledge that both our club and the player will benefit by getting them fit and strong.

We must never forget that our team is more than just the playing group. The Swans are an exceptionally well run club these days.

 

[RubbaDuck]

But seriously, RubbaDuck you make a good point. There were multiple times during the broadcast where Brereton said "They have so many similar types..." and I was thinking he was referring to the Swans, but then he'd say, "...the Giants, all the same pace."

And I was thinking to myself... do GWS have so many players who are all slow, or do we just have so many players who play fast? All over the field we just have guys who want to take the game on, they attack contests at full pace, they break away from contests at full pace. And they have so many different ways of getting out of trouble, be it spinning, twisting, freeing the arms, sprinting away, side stepping... you're spot on, it's a nightmare to try and combat when they're on.

I think it's less about individual speed and more the speed we move at as a team. Sometimes we have a dasher like Blakey running the ball off a halfback flank, selling candy and streaming to forward 50 before offloading a huge goal or, more often, picking off a forward inside 50.

Most times we surge forward as a team in a swarm or a wave. With so many hard running players there's always someone to hand over to. No better example than the play where RowBottom got picked off with a cheap hit off the ball. Chad was surging the ball forward out of a chain of runners, Rowbottom was just one of a wave of teammates running on all sides of him. We surge the ball forward. The ball carrier is always the one moving flat out but it's more a relay that appears as a single wave. The ball passes to the next runner, players drop off behind even as others join in ahead, so we maintain our shape as the play moves forward. To the eyes of the opposition we appear as a tsunami of red and white.

It's hard to defend against or even to go with your man.

This play has become a core feature of our game plan, but I'm still amazed each time. We harrass in packs when we don't have possession,but as soon as we do the surge starts. Obviously the corridor is our preferred avenue because it allows players to join in from or spread out to both sides.

 

[caesar88]

I think it's less about individual speed and more the speed we move at as a team. Sometimes we have a dasher like Blakey running the ball off a halfback flank, selling candy and streaming to forward 50 before offloading a huge goal or, more often, picking off a forward inside 50.

Most times we surge forward as a team in a swarm or a wave. With so many hard running players there's always someone to hand over to. No better example than the play where RowBottom got picked off with a cheap hit off the ball. Chad was surging the ball forward out of a chain of runners, Rowbottom was just one of a wave of teammates running on all sides of him. We surge the ball forward. The ball carrier is always the one moving flat out but it's more a relay that appears as a single wave. The ball passes to the next runner, players drop off behind even as others join in ahead, so we maintain our shape as the play moves forward. To the eyes of the opposition we appear as a tsunami of red and white.

It's hard to defend against or even to go with your man.

This play has become a core feature of our game plan, but I'm still amazed each time. We harrass in packs when we don't have possession,but as soon as we do the surge starts. Obviously the corridor is our preferred avenue because it allows players to join in from or spread out to both sides.

So true, but weirdly it's been largely missing for the last two years. Our link up by hands and run & carry from the last month has almost come out of nowhere. Most teams need a whole pre-season or two to refine this aspect of the game, and we've seemingly done it on the fly throughout the season. Massive testament to the players and coaches.

Our sixth goal on the weekend and the build-up involved doesn't happen in the first two thirds of the season. Someone either stuffs up the handball or chooses to handball to the wrong target or there isn't the runner ahead to continue the chain. Yet passages like that have been a staple of our last month. Great to see.

 

[Ticky009]

But seriously, RubbaDuck you make a good point. There were multiple times during the broadcast where Brereton said "They have so many similar types..." and I was thinking he was referring to the Swans, but then he'd say, "...the Giants, all the same pace."

And I was thinking to myself... do GWS have so many players who are all slow, or do we just have so many players who play fast? All over the field we just have guys who want to take the game on, they attack contests at full pace, they break away from contests at full pace. And they have so many different ways of getting out of trouble, be it spinning, twisting, freeing the arms, sprinting away, side stepping... you're spot on, it's a nightmare to try and combat when they're on.

I think we have a greater than average players that run both ways. They work really hard for each other up and down the ground. I recall Stephens saying recently he was putting a lot of work into his two way efforts.

 

[RubbaDuck]

So true, but weirdly it's been largely missing for the last two years. Our link up by hands and run & carry from the last month has almost come out of nowhere. Most teams need a whole pre-season or two to refine this aspect of the game, and we've seemingly done it on the fly throughout the season. Massive testament to the players and coaches.

Our sixth goal on the weekend and the build-up involved doesn't happen in the first two thirds of the season. Someone either stuffs up the handball or chooses to handball to the wrong target or there isn't the runner ahead to continue the chain. Yet passages like that have been a staple of our last month. Great to see.

We haven't stayed still in refining our game plan, constantly adapting since late 2020 when we saw the first glimpses of a new game plan. Clearly adding Pyke was a masterstroke as it helped Horse to fast-track the process. Recruiting has also focused on players with speed and kicking skills.

Statistically, the biggest change has been our forward pressure. We're 1st for forward 50 tackles, 3rd for goal assists, 3rd for total goals but only 7th for inside 50s. Which suggests our scores are coming from forward pressure, locking the ball inside our forward 50.

For many years we were one of the worst centre clearance teams but the top rebound 50 team as we started our attack from defence. After improved centre clearance numbers in 2021 (6th), we've gone way down again (15th). We're 10th overall for clearances, which probably reflects the development of a young midfield group. Kennedy and Parker have long been our clearance specialists.

If we're not winning clearances and we're no longer the strong rebound 50 team we were (now 15th), it doesn't seem to have hurt us. Perhaps, as the number 2 tackling team, we're more often winning the ball back between the arcs as opposed to rebounding from defence.

Perhaps the stats don't show a picture of our game style as well as they once did. Clearly we no longer have a one-size-fits-all game plan, as was ably demonstrated against a red hot Fremantle. The flexibility of this playing group, from individuals playing roles such as Sam Reid's superb job to nullify the influence of Tim English, and Ryan Clarke's numerous defensive forward roles, down to the entire team flipping their game plan over in the second half against Freo, to the utter bamboozlement of Justin Longmuir and his playing group.

I think most of us would confess to being both surprised and delighted at what this talented group has shown it can do. I look forward to more surprises as this group gains confidence

 

[momentbymoment]

I think you're right. Prior to them joining there was a long stretch of years where we had huge injury lists, and players often experiencing recurrent injuries. I'm almost certain personnel had something to do with it, if not being the primary driver.

The Swan‘s refurbishment program that eliminated all chain fences in a 5km radius from the SCG, also has to be factored in.

 

[caesar88]

We haven't stayed still in refining our game plan, constantly adapting since late 2020 when we saw the first glimpses of a new game plan. Clearly adding Pyke was a masterstroke as it helped Horse to fast-track the process. Recruiting has also focused on players with speed and kicking skills.

Statistically, the biggest change has been our forward pressure. We're 1st for forward 50 tackles, 3rd for goal assists, 3rd for total goals but only 7th for inside 50s. Which suggests our scores are coming from forward pressure, locking the ball inside our forward 50.

For many years we were one of the worst centre clearance teams but the top rebound 50 team as we started our attack from defence. After improved centre clearance numbers in 2021 (6th), we've gone way down again (15th). We're 10th overall for clearances, which probably reflects the development of a young midfield group. Kennedy and Parker have long been our clearance specialists.

If we're not winning clearances and we're no longer the strong rebound 50 team we were (now 15th), it doesn't seem to have hurt us. Perhaps, as the number 2 tackling team, we're more often winning the ball back between the arcs as opposed to rebounding from defence.

Perhaps the stats don't show a picture of our game style as well as they once did. Clearly we no longer have a one-size-fits-all game plan, as was ably demonstrated against a red hot Fremantle. The flexibility of this playing group, from individuals playing roles such as Sam Reid's superb job to nullify the influence of Tim English, and Ryan Clarke's numerous defensive forward roles, down to the entire team flipping their game plan over in the second half against Freo, to the utter bamboozlement of Justin Longmuir and his playing group.

I think most of us would confess to being both surprised and delighted at what this talented group has shown it can do. I look forward to more surprises as this group gains confidence

I think our numbers in all areas aren't reflective of what we truly are as a team, because they've been skewed by our wild inconsistency over the course of the season. I suspect we fair significantly better in rebound 50s, centre clearances and inside 50s over the last month, when the game plan has come together a lot more.

And, as always, it goes back to quality over quantity. If we're not winning every centre clearance, the ones we are winning are damaging, with speed and precision rather than hack kicks off one step. If we're not amassing a heap of rebound 50s, when we are rebounding, we're going coast to coast a lot more with effective transition rather than gaining rebound 50s by conceding repeat entries to the opposition. And if we're not dominating in inside 50s, when we are going inside 50 it's with long, deep entries to create forward stoppages and then lock it in with our forward pressure (not to mention keeping our kicks lower to nullify the opposition's intercept defenders.)

Quite simply the team is humming along beautifully and performing well across every line. It's been such an important month as each new layer we've added to our game is basically one more layer the opposition have to combat.

 

[Joycerama]

Feel that Papley needs to be higher in those rankings in regard to importance & impact.

1: Mills
2: Papley
3: Reid
4: Rowbottom
5: McCartin x2

Good to see that our reliance on buddy has truly waned

 

[Joycerama]

What a game that was, Goodesy was on an absolute tear that day.

Cometh the man, cometh the Morton!

Melbourne is better then us, but we are reeling them in

 

[Kiama Chris]

But seriously, RubbaDuck you make a good point. There were multiple times during the broadcast where Brereton said "They have so many similar types..." and I was thinking he was referring to the Swans, but then he'd say, "...the Giants, all the same pace."

And I was thinking to myself... do GWS have so many players who are all slow, or do we just have so many players who play fast? All over the field we just have guys who want to take the game on, they attack contests at full pace, they break away from contests at full pace. And they have so many different ways of getting out of trouble, be it spinning, twisting, freeing the arms, sprinting away, side stepping... you're spot on, it's a nightmare to try and combat when they're on.

I went back to these clips for a bit of a giggle and thought about our game vs the Crows.
In those clips the GWS players look like witches hats because they're flat-footed, reaching with their arms or just standing. The Warner clip is probably the best example. The GWS player literally just stands there. No wonder McVeigh went off!
In the last 3 quarters the Crows applied the same kind of pressure to us as we had to them and turned it into a real arm wrestle. Gave the coaches and themselves something to work with.
So out they come and smash the Blues. Use our tactics on Saad, body up big time and lay on the pressure.
Really interesting to put those three games side by side.