Preview Swans vs Crows @ SCG, Saturday Night 7.35pm AEST

[Donza]

Again, take three of the top five out of a single unit in any team and it seriously struggles. Christ, look at the Hawks (who multiple members of this board seem to hold as a gold standard for some reason) when they lose just Day. Look at the pies last year when they had an injury list approaching ours without Pendles and Sidebottom having career years in their mid-to-late thirties.

To add to that point.
IMO the difference between the 4th side and the 14th side is a bees dick if both sides play to their potential.

 

[Donza]

Of course I was talking about the fans. And of course he wouldn't care or even know what fans think. But I like milestones because they're a time to just put the opinions to the side and be happy for the player for the achievement, and deadset about 50% of discourse I've seen about McInerney's 100th have been accompanied by things like, "Hope he doesn't get suspended" and "Will he hit a target this week", etc.

Maybe I live in a bubble or ignore all that BS.

 

[Neverwas]

Don’t disagree.

I would just point out that Cleary, Gus & Corey need to be more than depth.

They need to be best XXIII.

Because by the time you’re 4-5 years on the list, if you ain’t best XXIII, you’re becoming a list clogger.

I think Cleary and Sheldrick are best XXIII.

I think the jury is still out on Corey.

On Corey, it seems to me that every week or 2 he learns a new trick and finds a bit more confidence. Seems confident with shimmies and also seems to have more confidence in his speed and acceleration to get out of congestion. Also he is dynamite for a set shot from the right hand forward pocket on the boundary. Going missing for periods is his biggest problem I think.

 

[caesar88]

Maybe I live in a bubble or ignore all that BS.

Very wise I'd say!

 

[Donza]

Very wise I'd say!

I reckon if you went to the SCG tomorrow night and asked every one of the 40,000 there. Most would have no idea or opinion re.

 

[.Shotties.]

To add to that point.
IMO the difference between the 4th side and the 14th side is a bees dick if both sides play to their potential.

There's a comment from a former Swan (I want to say Nick Smith, but I've forgotten) who made a comment at some kind of supporter QA session that the difference between the top and bottom teams in the AFL is about five percent and it only takes one team to be slightly off for an upset or blowout to occur. Just one players (perhaps inaccurate) opinion, but it has rung true for me.

 

[Neverwas]

Ive been at the hawthorn, north melbourne, essendon, GWS and melbourne games. I've seen a fair bit of the season. The team hasnt had any idea how to stop momentum since the second half of the GWS game when it rained last year.

Cox is trying to address the issues and is having about as much luck as horse did but with a signfiicantly worse team

He tried to move Mccartin forward to address some of the forward line issues. It failed as much because we then couldnt defend as he was struggling forward of the ball.

Weve had our best small forward out since round 2 ? Our best winger and top ten player in the comp all season. We have had a succession of problems with our tall defenders either being out or getting suspended.

As far as the argument that lets bring buller in I'm completely OK with because i dont think having ladhams and hamling and mclean does anything for the team other than providing three statues once the ball hits the ground - and thats not for lack of effort its just that they are not the most fleet footed of players running around. but I guess at least theyre tall is the answer to that. Maybe the answer is to play chaos ball. have a small forward line - kick it low and hard and look always for the short option. i dont think we are currently skilled enough to do that - our ball use is suspect and our small forwards are basically 2nd string midfielders. so i dont know where that leaves you.

But as to the other points...

This idea that blakey cant run off because hes playing on taller guys is nonsense. Him playing on taller guys HELPS him running off because he isnt going to be caught by georgiades etc. The problem is that every other team is well aware of who he is and they shut him down up the field and hes got no one to kick it to. which is why the dinky kicks are routinely being used.

Heeney is helped - everyone seems to be blocking for him so he can get the ball - but he does run past it and slips a lot when his opponents run at different angles - and even the best players dont win the ball everytime. He is literally our only player capable of taking a contested mark - our only one - and so the team want him to win the ball in the midfield and then run forward to be the key target from kickouts and the key target inside forward 50 especially when he gets goal side of the defender. Hes being asked to do too much - and thats because adams has been injured and gulden has been injured and maybe also its only been now that theyve decided sheldrick can play.

I am pessimistic naturally but this team is a patched up mess currently where the midfield is gettign beaten and our forward line is a shambles because we are missing key personnel

Tom Mc Cartin says hello.

 

[Donza]

There's a comment from a former Swan (I want to say Nick Smith, but I've forgotten) who made a comment at some kind of supporter QA session that the difference between the top and bottom teams in the AFL is about five percent and it only takes one team to be slightly off for an upset or blowout to occur. Just one players (perhaps inaccurate) opinion, but it has rung true for me.

Yeah I was going to write 5% and find the quote from a Ex swans player.
However I couldn't find it.

 

[SwansLifer]

Again, take three of the top five out of a single unit in any team and it seriously struggles. Christ, look at the Hawks (who multiple members of this board seem to hold as a gold standard for some reason) when they lose just Day. Look at the pies last year when they had an injury list approaching ours without Pendles and Sidebottom having career years in their mid-to-late thirties.

Yep. Subjective of course, but take what the Swans have lost out of Geelong and they would be at the bottom of the ladder.

 

[Bloods86]

There's a comment from a former Swan (I want to say Nick Smith, but I've forgotten) who made a comment at some kind of supporter QA session that the difference between the top and bottom teams in the AFL is about five percent and it only takes one team to be slightly off for an upset or blowout to occur. Just one players (perhaps inaccurate) opinion, but it has rung true for me.

Brisbane drew with North recently, but even with the assumption that we regain some form and players, apparently we're still no chance against them later in the year according to some.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Yeah I was going to write 5% and find the quote from a Ex swans player.
However I couldn't find it.

You can be equal as the other side and lose the game with umpiring etc lots of factors

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Again, take three of the top five out of a single unit in any team and it seriously struggles. Christ, look at the Hawks (who multiple members of this board seem to hold as a gold standard for some reason) when they lose just Day. Look at the pies last year when they had an injury list approaching ours without Pendles and Sidebottom having career years in their mid-to-late thirties.

I’d argue we haven’t lost our top 5 apart from Gulden.

But more to the point - even bloody Essendon (who have worse injury problems than us & less top-end talent) have managed to bring in passable AFL players from their VFL ranks & thereby not fall off a cliff.

We are entering Carlton territory - terrific top end talent, but bugger all depth & overly vulnerable if that top end talent is either injured or not dominating.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

I’d argue we haven’t lost our top 5 apart from Gulden.

But more to the point - even bloody Essendon (who have worse injury problems than us & less top-end talent) have managed to bring in passable AFL players from their VFL ranks & thereby not fall off a cliff.

We are entering Carlton territory - terrific top end talent, but bugger all depth & overly vulnerable if that top end talent is either injured or not dominating.

There is no excuse for most performances this season no matter how much mental Gymastics you try to apply.

 

[caesar88]

We need to be careful with James Peatling. He's embarrassing the way he tries to milk frees and if his name was Ginnivan or Watson he'd be copping it massively.

 

[LikeAVersion]

c cleary to the starting D6

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

We need to be careful with James Peatling. He's embarrassing the way he tries to milk frees and if his name was Ginnivan or Watson he'd be copping it massively.

So we can look forward to him being payed every "high" then

 

[.Shotties.]

I’d argue we haven’t lost our top 5 apart from Gulden.

I was discussing the forward line.

There is no excuse for most performances this season no matter how much mental Gymastics you try to apply.

You don't need any mental gymnastics. Look at what happens to the vast majority of teams in this situation.
We're looking at Essendon as an example. Two wins ahead but 83% behind us. Not in the 8 or looking particularly threatening either.

 

[TheMase]

I have heard that Ollie has taken it on the chin, wasn’t unexpected, fully accepts he needs to do more in certain areas and is aware specifically what they are.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

I was discussing the forward line.


You don't need any mental gymnastics. Look at what happens to the vast majority of teams in this situation.
We're looking at Essendon as an example. Two wins ahead but 83% behind us. Not in the 8 or looking particularly threatening either.

Against top 4 is understandable losses but not against teams on the same wins Melbourne have arguably had the most diabolical off-season in the last 12 months.

Like i said that is nothing Errol and Logan are fixing, our standard in performance should be around the GWS/Carlton game i have a feeling tomorrow night we will produce that.

 

[RampeRobe]

I have heard that Ollie has taken it on the chin, wasn’t unexpected, fully accepts he needs to do more in certain areas and is aware specifically what they are.

Doesn’t strike as the type to throw the toys out of the cot.. look forward to seeing him back up next week full of confidence - hopefully in an attacking mid/half forward role..

 

[.Shotties.]

Against top 4 is understandable losses but not against teams on the same wins Melbourne have arguably had the most diabolical off-season in the last 12 months.

How did Melbourne do the week before?

Like i said that is nothing Errol and Logan are fixing, our standard in performance should be around the GWS/Carlton game i have a feeling tomorrow night we will produce that.

No, but maybe having Gulden, McDonald, Amarty, Melican, Cunningham, Mills, Papley, Fox, and Taylor available for the majority of the season fixes, at the very least, our depth if not having a decent structure and experience in the first grade team.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

So there was a presser with Cox this morning, but no video

Key Quotes: Dean Cox, Round 12

Sydney senior coach Dean Cox spoke to the media on Friday.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

I blame our bad form on those ridiculous milestone match photo shoots. Could not make the players look worse if you tried.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

If they're not capable then it is what it is - you don't scrap a list because of that. Build for the future sure, but you can't push shit up hill for now. One of the hallmarks of a great coach is being able to get the best out of his current group - not every team has to win the same way as others. And i'd disagree that being better at the contest is the only thing that can win us a premiership, this group has shown they can play some scintillating footy that can put any team to bed.

Cox should be well aware of the groups deficiencies over the years. For this team to be successful he has back his weapons and play relentless attacking footy. Contested slog fests are tiring, Carlton were at the top of the tree in that aspect and couldn't do anything with it, Melbourne and WB also couldn't maintain their success with it. And teams are winning it with a more dynamic, fast method.

I'd be happy for him to want a harder edge out of the playing group to become more well rounded like say collingwood - but to pidgeon hole attacking assets in Ollie and Blakey into a 1v1 defence whilst pushing a more conservative player in Lloyd up to the wing is not it. Ollie and Blakey missing in the slingshot overlap is one of the biggest discrepancies in our play between last year and now. Now we have most of our defensive plays ending in a Roberts dump kick with a slow semi effective Lloyd maybe at the end of it.

I do feel a bit for Florent. I reckon he could play Lloyd’s role or Co. Warner’s role better than his current role.

I also don’t see Corey or Lloyd remaining best 22 in the medium term, as much as I admire Corey’s endeavour.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I have heard that Ollie has taken it on the chin, wasn’t unexpected, fully accepts he needs to do more in certain areas and is aware specifically what they are.

Good. Sounds like it was well managed and a mature response. Here's hoping he's back soon in good form.

 

[bedford]

I reckon if you went to the SCG tomorrow night and asked every one of the 40,000 there. Most would have no idea or opinion re.

Bet there's not 40,000