How did we manage to lose??

[TheGoatBaron]

Na PR, I'll pm you with the new link. The Metal Archives website updated and I hadn't bothered changing my sig.

 

[bungee]

we simply do not kick enough goals to be a top 4 side. Our forward line has been dysfunctional for most of the year. We win heaps of contested footy, tackle well most of the time, have a pretty competitive backline. Where we lack is our uncontested ball (ie spread, outside mids and run off half-back) and our goals per inside 50. Whether its bad kicking for goal, poor service or poor forward play - we seem to suffer from all 3 although against the dogs and the bombers it was mostly just bad finishing.

Some good points. These are some of my observations

Goal kicking seems to be some kind of collective team YIP. A few times this year we have been dead-eyed-dicks and then the whole team goes goal crazy. Before Saturday I thought if we could be with the Dons at 3/4 time we'd easily overrun them in the last given a) we were fresher and b) they are notorious for Q4 fades. Well we did smash them in the last quarter as expected but then the goal YIPS, which had threatened all day, hit the team and we were punished by quick rebound footy.

In regard to spreading, it often surprises me how many Swans jump into the contest like it's a melee. When we win the contested ball there are none but opposition players waiting off to receive. It would seem to me our tactic to lock the ball to force a stoppage has priority over taking advantage of a quick release from congested play. This may favour us if we consistently win the clearances from stoppages but can penalise us if the ball manages to spill clear. When the ball is in our hands we see too many players flat-footed as if unprepared to run off their man in case of a turnover. Is this an unnecessarily defensive mindset ?

We seem to have lost much of the rebound defence made famous several years back. Early on in the game we saw some spirited attempts to break the Essendon lines with run and carry then, for some reason, the tactic seemed to change to "boot it long to a tall". At one stage Johnson kicked it to Mumford in a 2 on 1 and even 3 on 1 several times running. Each time resulting in a turnover. Malceski seems to have lost much of his run, Tadgh also. Grundy runs and carries but is often let down by his disposal. Smith will usually carry to the boundary before sending it up the line. Only Shaw seems capable of carrying the ball into the centre corridor and launching a true counter-attack and even then his disposal can be questionable. Do we need to rethink our defence ? Could Rohan and/or Jetta be better used to link up with our defenders and inject line breaking pace ?

 

[nicky]

Hmmm Nicky ... where were we at about round 10 this season ?

I repeat .... should be top 4 but we just threw some very winnable games away since then.

Bad goal kicking = bad footy.

You're contradicting yourself in the one post. Bad kicking most certainly does equate to bad football and our form against top 4 sides show that we're no where near it.

To say that we should be in the top four is just delusional.

 

[PaulRoos]

Great post bungee ..

Ya got most of it about right ... am no expert but we do need to rethink our structure, the current one isn't working for much of the game, we need skilled players to deliver. A bit of pace is needed outta defence now as you say. Slow just doesn't cut it.

 

[PaulRoos]

You're contradicting yourself in the one post. Bad kicking most certainly does equate to bad football and our form against top 4 sides show that we're no where near it.

To say that we should be in the top four is just delusional.

Oh dear, dunno why ya havin' a go at me ...

We should be in the FOUR after last year finishing FIFTH and starting this season like we were Champs.

Am sorry if you think otherwise or want to pick holes in my posts, it is not my intension to argue, defend myself or make you happy.

Suck it up sweatheart ... I have an opinion, you have too, mine is as worthy as yours.

Have a great day and enjoy your forum.

BYE !

 

[nicky]

Oh dear, dunno why ya havin' a go at me ...

We should be in the FOUR after last year finishing FIFTH and starting this season like we were Champs.

Am sorry if you think otherwise or want to pick holes in my posts, it is not my intension to argue, defend myself or make you happy.

Suck it up sweatheart ... I have an opinion, you have too, mine is as worthy as yours.

Have a great day and enjoy your forum.

BYE !

I'll leave you alone as it's quite clear that you are one fragile cat.

On current form I don't think we're anywhere near top 4 and will scrape into the 8. Nothing to do with umpiring decisions or goal kicking. I just think our skill level is below top 4 material.

Not having a go at you as such, just expressing my opinion on the swans current form.

(jesus)

 

[PaulRoos]

Typical soccer fan ...

Miss "legend"

lmao !

 

[bungee]

OK, watch the personal stuff as it gets you a red card and, after all, we're all Swans fans right ?

To some extent I agree we COULD have been expected to be top four this year but the fact is we simply aren't good enough yet. In the midst of a rebuild we lost two key components of that rebuild in our best forward and best defender from the outset but we've done well to uncover a number of future stars so there is some consolation. Still, as good as Sam Reid is he's not yet a Bradshaw and as good as Johnson is he's not yet Craig Bolton. What is encouraging is how quickly players like Johnson & Reid have come on. 2011 has forced us to play a large group of youngsters together which bodes well for the future should this group manage to reach their full potential.

More rebound (perhaps Rohan as a sweeper - as previously suggested by some), better goal-kicking (mostly confidence), better field disposal (confidence ?) and a slicker transition from defence to attack.

Oh yes, and some luck.

 

[nicky]

OK, watch the personal stuff as it gets you a red card and, after all, we're all Swans fans right ?

To some extent I agree we COULD have been expected to be top four this year but the fact is we simply aren't good enough yet. In the midst of a rebuild we lost two key components of that rebuild in our best forward and best defender from the outset but we've done well to uncover a number of future stars so there is some consolation. Still, as good as Sam Reid is he's not yet a Bradshaw and as good as Johnson is he's not yet Craig Bolton. What is encouraging is how quickly players like Johnson & Reid have come on. 2011 has forced us to play a large group of youngsters together which bodes well for the future should this group manage to reach their full potential.

More rebound (perhaps Rohan as a sweeper - as previously suggested by some), better goal-kicking (mostly confidence), better field disposal (confidence ?) and a slicker transition from defence to attack.

Oh yes, and some luck.

"Coulda, woulda and buts" are excuses for not being good enough.

Completely agree with your post though

 

[dopesayo]

jettas handball was the turning point in the game for essendon, turned it over, kick forward with a massive goal to davey. gave them all the momentum.

 

[J_Moore]

It wasn't a good handball, but one of many mistakes made by players across the park. Not good to focus too much on a single incident like that. I'd rather look at his game as a whole, which was good in patches, poor in others.

I don't think his lack of possessions is an issue, because, as everyone's pointed out, he's never going to be picking up possessions around packs as we work the ball out. I'm happy with 10-15 possessions from him a game, provided he uses the ball well, which he only does intermittently at the moment.

Was a good goal, but.

 

[Dangas]

Mattner turnover where Zaharakis kicks goal outside 50, Jetta wasn't the only one, I think it is time we look to this weeks match against the Tigers, yeah we lost, but Sam Reid, Hanners and Goodesy's performance were all positive to note, carry that for the rest of the season and we'll finish the season off strong

 

[TheGoatBaron]

Grundys disposals were shocking early in the game.

 

[Skystyler]

Mattner turnover where Zaharakis kicks goal outside 50, Jetta wasn't the only one, I think it is time we look to this weeks match against the Tigers, yeah we lost, but Sam Reid, Hanners and Goodesy's performance were all positive to note, carry that for the rest of the season and we'll finish the season off strong

Mattner also gave away a couple of clumsy frees to Riemers, including the bomber's 1st goal.

Grundys disposals were shocking early in the game.

He got away with the "pigeon scatterer", but he cost us their 2nd goal when he kicked it to a wide open AJ's feet after Myers kicked it OOF in our back pocket. Turnover, Hille mark and goal.

 

[nicky]

Grundys disposals were shocking early in the game.

Weren't they just. He most certainly improved but his first quarter was dreadful.

 

[Skystyler]

in Grundy's defense, his defense was superb. Firstly on Hurley (who couldn't get near it when Grundy was on him) and then on Hille (towelled him up in a few 1:1s while giving away a heap of height and weight). His positional play and use of the body is as good as any defender in the competition. If he can just get his disposal right...

 

[BarneyBent]

Anyone noticed that Grundy's poor disposal only occurs in the first quarter? He's pretty much perfect after quarter time, but he's one of the worst kicks in the AFL in the first quarter.

 

[SM]

in Grundy's defense, his defense was superb. Firstly on Hurley (who couldn't get near it when Grundy was on him) and then on Hille (towelled him up in a few 1:1s while giving away a heap of height and weight). His positional play and use of the body is as good as any defender in the competition. If he can just get his disposal right...

I've never been a critic of his defensive work (look back over the course of the debate if you don't believe me) but his disposal constantly lets him down.

 

[nicky]

Anyone noticed that Grundy's poor disposal only occurs in the first quarter? He's pretty much perfect after quarter time, but he's one of the worst kicks in the AFL in the first quarter.

I have not noticed this. Will look out for it.

In the first quarter I said "grundy's" name more than anyone elses (unfortunately it was in disgust). I couldn't believe that towards the end of the game I mentioned to the people I was with that I thought he had a great game.

 

[Tedeski]

"You have to admire the Sydney Swans. They are always competitive & are always in the game"!

Who's sick & tired of hearing this from football commentators?

The problem with this is that the opposition, no matter how crap they are, are always in the game. We just keep them in the game with poor skills!
We do some amazingly brilliant & courageous stuff, but have it all unfolded with unskillfull football & dumb errors.

Can anyone tell me the last time we beat Essendon in Melbourne? More importantly, the last time we beat them here in a really important game!

Richmond this week. Should we win, it won't be by much & it will be a struggle all day & we'll be watching the clock at the end of every Q with 3 minutes to go.
Watch how often we are scored against in the last 3 minutes of a Q.

 

[TheGoatBaron]

2005 was the last time we beat Essendon in Melbourne, previously, it was 1989 I think.

 

[nicky]

"You have to admire the Sydney Swans. They are always competitive & are always in the game"!.

Who's sick & tired of hearing this from football commentators?

... and oppostion supporters. Every week someone comes up to me who barracks for the team we're playing that weekend and gives me this condescending crap about how competitive the swans are and how we are never thrashed.

"


The problem with this is that the opposition, no matter how crap they are, are always in the game. We just keep them in the game with poor skills!
We do some amazingly brilliant & courageous stuff, but have it all unfolded with unskillfull football & dumb errors.

Can anyone tell me the last time we beat Essendon in Melbourne? More importantly, the last time we beat them here in a really important game!

Richmond this week. Should we win, it won't be by much & it will be a struggle all day & we'll be watching the clock at the end of every Q with 3 minutes to go.
Watch how often we are scored against in the last 3 minutes of a Q.

I will look out for this too.

 

[nicky]

2005 was the last time we beat Essendon in Melbourne, previously, it was 1989 I think.

Before Saturday we hadn't played them in melbourne since 2007.

We could have beaten them down here in one of the between years, for sure.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

"You have to admire the Sydney Swans. They are always competitive & are always in the game"!

Who's sick & tired of hearing this from football commentators?

The problem with this is that the opposition, no matter how crap they are, are always in the game. We just keep them in the game with poor skills!
We do some amazingly brilliant & courageous stuff, but have it all unfolded with unskillfull football & dumb errors.

Can anyone tell me the last time we beat Essendon in Melbourne? More importantly, the last time we beat them here in a really important game!

Richmond this week. Should we win, it won't be by much & it will be a struggle all day & we'll be watching the clock at the end of every Q with 3 minutes to go.
Watch how often we are scored against in the last 3 minutes of a Q.

as nicky has so rightly pointed out, we have played you on your turf every year for the last 5 years. It's ridiculous. I agree you would definitely have smited us on a few occasions had it not been so (although weirdly, Sydney is the one interstate venue we have been ok at).

Even the dumbass commentators didn't realise, I noticed on the replay. One of them said Essendon have owned the Swans at this venue for years. O rly? What in, little league??

 

[nicky]

as nicky has so rightly pointed out, we have played you on your turf every year for the last 5 years. It's ridiculous. I agree you would definitely have smited us on a few occasions had it not been so (although weirdly, Sydney is the one interstate venue we have been ok at).

Even the dumbass commentators didn't realise, I noticed on the replay. One of them said Essendon have owned the Swans at this venue for years. O rly? What in, little league??

lol, the commentators take wild stabs in the dark when it comes to the swans, whether it be stats or players names. They don't have much of a clue.

We should definitely play you guys in melbourne atleast 2 times every 3 years.