Scape Goat Sack Cox

[Wheresbuddy]

While I think the style we're playing right now stands up to pressure at the contest a lot better than our marking game of 2024 did, there will definitely be challenges to it as the game evolves. I think both Sam Mitchell and Adam Kingsley have exposed a few things already.

Mitchell showed by putting extra numbers behind the ball it really cramps up that area between the centre square and our 50 metre arc that we love to set up attacks from.

Will be interesting to see how we evolve.

GWS really troubled us by lowering the eyes and entering our D50 with shorter entries. If they had their kicking boots on, could've been a different result. And they were misding Cadman, Hogan and Daniels.

 

[The King!]

I think he is showing a greater willingness to make telling moves and put a mark on the game .

Heeney went back half last night, seeing back to the wing the Jmac into Gulden role - well that's not an in match move.

He has also clearly told some players like Blakey , Bice, Wicks that I want you to attack the game and go every time and I don't care if it it doesn't pay off every time, it will more often than not.

 

[Punts]

I think he is showing a greater willingness to make telling moves and put a mark on the game .

Heeney went back half last night, seeing back to the wing the Jmac into Gulden role - well that's not an in match move.

He has also clearly told some players like Blakey , Bice, Wicks that I want you to attack the game and go every time and I don't care if it it doesn't pay off every time, it will more often than not.

Just gotta make sure we still defend , 24 looked fancy to

Defence wins the big dance imo anyway

 

[The King!]

Just gotta make sure we still defend , 24 looked fancy to

Defence wins the big dance imo anyway

I agree and that why he wasn't excited last night for sure, the defensive pressure and attention to detail were hit and miss.

Include the dumb 50s and that Hamling effort before he ran off yuck

 

[Millky95]

Defence wins the big dance imo anyway

Only if you match the midfield battle. Lose that and it doesn't matter

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

I cant remember anymore was this thread created after the Adelaide loss? given its 2025 and not 2024 (Port)

 

[Wheresbuddy]

I cant remember anymore was this thread created after the Adelaide loss? given its 2025 and not 2024 (Port)

Thread created 31/5, same day we had our colours lowered badly by Adelaide and Milera described us as a rabble.

 

[swanssince2002]

Still vividly remember that massacre against Adelaide at the SCG. Crowd booing, a day to forget for sure.

Come a long long way since then lol

 

[ashep]

Our start to 2026 is reminding me of 2024. That season though started to unravel once the opposition started to defend the corridor better and bash us at the contest.

Cox's challenge will be to evolve the game style as new challenges, including injury, present themselves. However, I do feel we are better placed to do this in 2026 as we seem a more hardened team with more variety in playing style and better depth.

I'll respectfully disagree. We're better in the contest this year and are a more balanced attack.

We won games in '24 because our mids went berserk for 20 minutes at a time.

I do agree that we need to see the proverbial "plan B" at some point, but I think we're already playing a more robust style.

 

[McGowan3]

I'll respectfully disagree. We're better in the contest this year and are a more balanced attack.

We won games in '24 because our mids went berserk for 20 minutes at a time.

I do agree that we need to see the proverbial "plan B" at some point, but I think we're already playing a more robust style.

!3 and 4 in his last 17 games.

 

[MF]

GWS really troubled us by lowering the eyes and entering our D50 with shorter entries. If they had their kicking boots on, could've been a different result. And they were misding Cadman, Hogan and Daniels.

Yeah we've been really good at pushing teams to the boundary for their shots at goal and this is often why it seems like we've been lucky that teams are inaccurate against us. The Giants legitimately were inaccurate though.

They had a lot of shots from about 40 out directly in front by lowering the eyes and hitting good options. We seemed a bit too concerned with getting back to defend that danger spot 10 to 20 out from goal and left that area a bit further out open.

 

[Troystenvic]

Another win and he has been too successful. Sack him before we get our hopes up.

Been awesome to see his stamp on the side, hopefully an exciting year ahead

 

[Callipygian]

I'm giving the credit for our excellent form to the rejuvenated coaching group (as well as to the players) more than to Cox individually. Just as Pyke and Spike deserve credit for getting us to the '22 GF, the arrival of Goodwin, and return of a further developed Laidler, have been really beneficial. And also the whole coaching group has learned from '22 and '24. Which is to take nothing away from Cox and the way he has grown into the senior role and is doing a fine job of steering the ship and deciding which input to go with and which to discard, and then selling same to the playing group.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I'm giving the credit for our excellent form to the rejuvenated coaching group (as well as to the players) more than to Cox individually. Just as Pyke and Spike deserve credit for getting us to the '22 GF, the arrival of Goodwin, and return of a further developed Laidler, have been really beneficial. And also the whole coaching group has learned from '22 and '24. Which is to take nothing away from Cox and the way he has grown into the senior role and is doing a fine job of steering the ship and deciding which input to go with and which to discard, and then selling same to the playing group.

There definitely seems to be good buy in from the players (which implies also the coaches) and a good level of togetherness and support as well. When GWS started some biff we stood up without losing our nana. Good to see.
We will have learnt from the Hawthorn game so it will be interesting to see next time we need to apply those learnings.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Maybe we already sacked him and Goodwin is the REAL coach.

 

[Swans007]

He has won me over!

 

[melbournehammer]

I'll respectfully disagree. We're better in the contest this year and are a more balanced attack.

We won games in '24 because our mids went berserk for 20 minutes at a time.

I do agree that we need to see the proverbial "plan B" at some point, but I think we're already playing a more robust style.

hmmm.

helter skelter handball the ball forward and make sure we have enough players getting to the drop is great but it does also involve us missing targets and dropping the ball and going with the voice.

if we miss the target there are a lot of players in front of the ball.

i think its great in terms of attacking anywhere and at high speed but it is susceptible to have a bad ten minutes and conceding 3-4 goals

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

hmmm.

helter skelter handball the ball forward and make sure we have enough players getting to the drop is great but it does also involve us missing targets and dropping the ball and going with the voice.

if we miss the target there are a lot of players in front of the ball.

i think its great in terms of attacking anywhere and at high speed but it is susceptible to have a bad ten minutes and conceding 3-4 goals

Its more what we do when the opposition deny us that style.

I think by now everyside knows what our strengths are and what we will attempt to do its weither the opposition can create enough pressure to stifle our movement and defend well.

Soon as we start going long and wide opposition is well on top see Hawthorn game.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Surely this thread should be closed for 2026 ?

Just wait when Errol’s back !

 

[Jewelsbon]

There's some funny, funny melts reading this thread from page one! Amazing how things look so different 11 months down the track.

Being serious sacking a new coach mid year would just be further evidence we are a rabble

You can have a painful year. But this off-season we have to be ruthless , and decide where the list is at honestly

My man HRH nailed it very early on.

 

[Kbroome]

Surely this thread should be closed for 2026 ?

Just wait when Errol’s back !

Genuinely who would get dropped for Errol to come back in.

Under the assumption that Cootee is out for Heeney?

Is Cunners the unlucky one?

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Genuinely who would get dropped for Errol to come back in.

Under the assumption that Cootee is out for Heeney?

Is Cunners the unlucky one?

Lloyd maybe

 

[The King!]

Can't we just have a Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

44

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

thread?


The Swans clearly are only going to show the best of in the behind the scenes videos but I just like the way he goes about it in those.

Seems clear on what he wants

 

[The King!]

There's some funny, funny melts reading this thread from page one! Amazing how things look so different 11 months down the track.



My man HRH nailed it very early on.

Well he was pretty ruthless

 

[Jewelsbon]

Well he was pretty ruthless

He obviously reads BF and took your advice!