Autopsy Some promising signs but Hawks too good

[LukeParkerno1]

He's trying to draw opponents some times

Sure but 99 times out of 100 your first instinct is the right one. There was a really good team goal (think it was Hayward that kicked the goal), and it started by Blakey actually kicking it 30m to a guy running (think it was Chad). Blakey gets in trouble when he overthinks and then half makes a decision

 

[NinjaSwan]

Florent I think needs to move to the wing/HF, was good in the month he played there last season I'm not sure why he's back in defence, probably something like:

Hamling/Francis in, Florent>Wing/HF, Campbell/Adams/Co. Warner out.

The shorter defence was ok today given Hawthorn played against a forward line but I don't think Rampe/Blakey 2nd/3rd talls works against bigger sides.

Florent is a bad 1-on-1 defender and is the 3rd choice distributor behind Blakey/Roberts, not sure what he offers back there.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Why oh why did we let Will Day run around freely for the entire first half?

By half-time he had 20 disposals, 3 goals and was the main reason they were 20 points up.

It took the half time break for Cox to send JJ to him. It helped swing the game in the 3rd before the bloody rain came.

Not yet Sack Cox-worthy (and he has made some shrewd moves), but I saw it as his first strategic blunder.

 

[NinjaSwan]

Sheldrick having a bad game is fine he's young it happens, but he really needs to work on his kicking if he's going to be a best 22 player, technique more than decision making - every kick he does is floated so high and turns into a 50/50 contest.

 

[Bloods86]

Would be more interested to hear what you saw and what went wrong/right iyo

Yeah it's been a bit scattered.

Best - Chad had a fairly consistent game which was very pleasing (as someone who has lamented this), with key moments. Broke tackle attempts well. Couple of head scratching moments where he got caught in 2 minds, that high short kick streaming through the middle and a shot / delivery (?) from F50 to the right point post, but seemed to be when he thought of "team first" options instead of only going for it himself, so hard to get upset. Wicks (wow, a masterstroke so far). Lewis "dozen spoils" Melican (one of our most important players now, couple of blunders aside). Jordon (Mr Consistent). Amartey competed well, made contests on the ground, even when wet. Obviously our most prolific forward and oppo defenders panic a bit now, which bodes well.

Tale of 2 halves for McInerney, Paton and Corey W. They were poor or quiet (Corey), but then got going and turned things around.

Corey W looked so clean in particular, 2nd half. I certainly wouldn't be dropping him and hope he carries on into next week.

Hanily competed and put his body on the line. He's looked likely for me since he came to us in the MSD. Would be happy for him to play a full game next week.

Grundy won hitouts but just didn't look right. I suspect we'll keep playing him, though hopefully Ladhams has a big one tomorrow after being unwell last week / not rucking as much as I'd hoped.

Rowy tried, but an off night for him in terms of sticking tackles. Did use the ball nicely going forward a few times and an important goal.

McCartin competed well, but it's costing us down back.

Campbell, here we go, did some good defensive stuff, particularly thwarting a few Hawk attacks. Would obviously have liked him to get among the goals, but handballing / bounce deviation ruined his best chance. Pass to Amartey was how we need to do it, hopefully he can do that a few times a game in future. It wasn't a good game, but I won't write off his career like a few (not you 2011).

Blakey needs to be freed from being a KPD. Sure, he'll need to spoil at times, but can we use him to get the most out of his intercepting and rebound?

Not Florent, Rampe, Adams, and obviously Sheldrick's best games. Hayward was very quiet, but so seemed Sicily when Will went to him.

Roberts was solid, Papley buzzed around a bit, I think he had the sublime no look handball over his head in the middle, but hopefully builds on that. Lloyd also solid, couple of big defensive moments at half forward/wing and an early adventurous pass into the middle to set up an early goal.

Heeney seemed impacted by the forced headbutt for a while, got involved later. Reset and hopefully has a big one against the Lions.

One positive is that we've had a game to get some rust out, a few players turned things around after horrible starts. The Lions will be fronting up for their first and hopefully we take advantage.

Looks like Adams might miss. I'd consider Ladhams if he does well tomorrow. McLean (2 goals last week) or Buller (4) might make a case too. If none do, to push McCartin back, I'd consider Hamling in to help Melican and relieve Blakey of KPD duties, and given his VFL form, can swing forward if needed.

Early changes before VFL:

Out: Adams, Grundy
In: Hamling, Ladhams

Maybe switch Hanily into the 22 for Gus, but depends on whether we think we can get some added mid rotations from others.

 

[Nuggetz]

The hayward performance was poo brown...if you're going to dish it then back it up through actions.

 

[strauchanie59]

Surprise surprise, an underdone/injured Grundy looks absolutely putrid.

And McInerney was woeful, too! Got sidestepped and missed tackles more than he touched the ball. Hanily looked good in the last quarter, too! Just chased and chased, which a couple more of our senior forwards could do more often...

 

[Bloods86]

The hayward performance was poo brown...if you're going to dish it then back it up through actions.

I didn't really notice it a lot on TV, but commentators said he'd moved onto Sicily, who went quiet for a while.

 

[Bloods86]

Surprise surprise, an underdone/injured Grundy looks absolutely putrid.

And McInerney was woeful, too! Got sidestepped and missed tackles more than he touched the ball. Hanily looked good in the last quarter, too! Just chased and chased, which a couple more of our senior forwards could do more often...

McInerney earlier sure, but thought he got better as the game went on.

 

[strauchanie59]

McInerney earlier sure, but thought he got better as the game went on.

Offensively, yes, but defensively he was grim.

 

[Jeffers]

Just as I feared, Meek absolutely bullied and destroyed Grundy. The signs of Grundy looking cooked started to appear late last season and it hasn’t started well for him. Im
Hoping he builds his way into it or we’re well and truly ****ed.

Florent, don’t get me started. Needs to be attacking where his constant fumbles don’t cost us or not in the team at all. ATM im thinking the latter. Just doesn’t step up for someone near 200 games.

Wicks has found his new home. Trounced that lil prick and at least we didn’t have to see those stupid wizard hats around making leaving the ground more tolerable.

I’m sure the blowtorch will be on the team this week so I’ll be curious on how they respond against the team that completely embarrassed them in the most important game last year.

 

[Bloods86]

Offensively, yes, but defensively he was grim.

While I'd like all our players to get some basics right, I don't generally expect big defensive games from McInerney, Blakey, Lloyd, Papley, Roberts (to some degree) given their roles and strengths.

 

[melbournehammer]

Paley's ankle is proppy af btw

I was pretty sure he was limping in the first q

 

[The King!]

I was pretty sure he was limping in the first q

Paps has 0 interest in tackling , think he is protecting himself a bit

 

[strauchanie59]

Paps has 0 interest in tackling , think he is protecting himself a bit

This describes most of our team, to be fair.

 

[Dubsforsam1]

Get rid of Longmire as he is the problem.
Only play two talls up front as three balls doesn't work.
Play Sheldrick to win clearances.

I guess the blame for last year may have to change.

It's unfortunate that Logan/McLean, Mills/Gulden/Clearances, Fox/Cunningham weren't available and some players were put in positions that maybe don't suit them but f*ck me does that stop them tackling and winning clearances?

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Campbell is definitely concerning, good kick when he gets it but he's been tried in almost every position now and no matter where he plays he's a low possession player, consistently doesn't get involved enough.

I swear the Covid draft is cursed! So many looking like they’re not going to make it or simply average players!

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Hawks got the jump, the Swans being the class team they are made their move in the 3rd qtr.

4qtr the games was still anyone’s! Given it was Cox’s first game as coach, a really solid game.

Pretty sure both teams will make it to finals.

Let’s hope injury’s are kind to us all.

 

[Jack2Jack]

We're 1-2 goals down with 5 odd minutes left, we get the ball in the back pocket then we kick it straight to an unmarked opposition player close to goal for the sealer goal. Why does it feel like I've seen that movie so many times before? Such a dumb way to lose but feels like we do it almost bi-annually. I think even my favourite and usual close game hero, the great JPK, did it once.

I don't ever recall us winning a close game in the reverse of this scenario.

 

[RubbaDuck]

I'd rather a tough start and be forced to find some resilience before building into the second half of the year. I'd rather we have the attitude of nothing to lose rather than having everything to lose like last year. Brisbane were in a gnarly spot last year but ultimately found their identity.

Postive is we responded once we lost the arm wrestle, with an undergunned team. I actually think we would've cantered home if the heavens didn't open up.

Exactly right. The way to toughen nuts is to squeeze them in a vice*


*Kids, don't try this without supervision. Agree a safeword beforehand.

 

[RubbaDuck]

We're 1-2 goals down with 5 odd minutes left, we get the ball in the back pocket then we kick it straight to an unmarked opposition player close to goal for the sealer goal. Why does it feel like I've seen that movie so many times before? Such a dumb way to lose but feels like we do it almost bi-annually. I think even my favourite and usual close game hero, the great JPK, did it once.

I don't ever recall us winning a close game in the reverse of this scenario.

Shit happens. Sometimes we're on the doing end and sometimes the receiving.

 

[RubbaDuck]

Also if we played almost anyone else other than Florent we probably win that game. It was the worst game I have ever seen him play.

Everyone has the odd bad game. Let's hope it's out of his system.

I got the feeling the Hawks were better prepared, which is not surprising when they had a bit more preseason. It's not often that Grand Finalists start well.

 

[Superstar swan]

Drop next week and we are in deep shit. 2 home games wasted

 

[RubbaDuck]

I haven't seen the full game yet so I don't know how much rain affected the last quarter. Was there any sense in moving McCartin down back to shore up defence and/or provide a solid marking option for kickout?

It sounds like we really missed having a Get-Out marking option. Reid always gave us that (when he was playing) but we haven't had much of an option in last two years. I'd hoped big Hayden or big Pete might give us that this year. McDonald might cover one side as a Half-forward flank pushing back to the defensive wing.

It must be difficult for Cox to cover Gulden's multi-faceted role. He can't just slot someone in. That's like replacing a super-car with wheels and suspension fof a Camry on the body of a Golf with the engine from a drag car , a set of blinkers from an Audi and mirrors off a bus. Then expecting this Frankenwagen to impress on a wet Nurburgring

 

[RubbaDuck]

Drop next week and we are in deep shit. 2 home games wasted

Disappointed to see all the empty seats in the final quarter.

"It's raining, we're losing. Let's go for another team."

Fickle. I remember the fans at the 2005 SF v. Geelong. We were losing but we were still screaming in the rain for Nick Davis (or anyone) to save us.

Seems to be easier to sell tickets than dedication. Must have been disheartening for the players