The Game Plan?

[RUNVS]

Does anyone else think that the Swans game plan needs a serious rethink?

I ask because while the top teams have moved into using zones and the forward press we are essentially using the same style of play we were using 3 or 4 years ago. I don't have the stats but i think we are one of the worst teams at the zone in the AFL as unlike other teams it almost seems easy to get the ball out of our forward line especially from the kickouts.

Our uncontested possessions is also a problem as we are number 1 at contested possessions but are one of the bottom teams in uncontested. Some commentators may paint this as a positive but to me it means our players are not working hard enough to find space. Contested possessions is fine but when you have nothing but contested possessions it starts to become a worry.

Then there is our forward line which has to be one of the weakest forward lines in the AFL. We just can't hope to kick winning scores when our two best goal scorers are LRT and McGlynn. Our forward line is completely makeshift and our forward 50 enteries are beyond a joke. It makes me appreciate how good we had it with both Hall and O'Loughlin there.

 

[Rhino5]

Does anyone else think that the Swans game plan needs a serious rethink?

I ask because while the top teams have moved into using zones and the forward press we are essentially using the same style of play we were using 3 or 4 years ago. I don't have the stats but i think we are one of the worst teams at the zone in the AFL as unlike other teams it almost seems easy to get the ball out of our forward line especially from the kickouts.

Our uncontested possessions is also a problem as we are number 1 at contested possessions but are one of the bottom teams in uncontested. Some commentators may paint this as a positive but to me it means our players are not working hard enough to find space. Contested possessions is fine but when you have nothing but contested possessions it starts to become a worry.

Then there is our forward line which has to be one of the weakest forward lines in the AFL. We just can't hope to kick winning scores when our two best goal scorers are LRT and McGlynn. Our forward line is completely makeshift and our forward 50 enteries are beyond a joke. It makes me appreciate how good we had it with both Hall and O'Loughlin there.

This second paragraph is very true and often overlooked. We need to open the game up more. One thing I noticed when watching the Pies-Blues game was that the Blues, even though they were outplayed, were playing on at every single opportunity and really moving the ball. They didn't do it as well as Collingwood but the intent was there and it makes them dangerous. You might say that we don't have the class to do that, but I think at this stage we have worked a fair bit of talent into the side and we should be taking the game on more, spreading and running.

The forward line is the biggest issue - there just isn't anything to kick to. We have good ball winners but no targets. Unfortunately that isn't going to change overnight. You're right - when LRT and McGlynn are your most dangerous forwards, you aren't going great. Thats' why I'm keen for LJ to get another shot up forward, along with TDL. No one is leading into space or really threatening, outside of Reid. It's far too easy for a number one defender to sit on Reid and get help from other defenders in that matchup because we have no one else dangerous up there. I've lost count of the amount of times we bomb it in to Reid (not to his advantage) and he is blanketed by two guys.

 

[Dangas]

We play in patches far too often, maybe tempo football would still be the best idea, or how about we get the ball in quick so opposition defender can't cut it off, who knows?

 

[bedford]

its the coach, too much of the`same thing, we are so predictable

 

[MF]

I don't necessarily love our current gameplan but it's definitely not the same one we were using 4-5 years ago.

Longmire seems to have a preference for faster ball movement and long kicking. The stats reflect this, and I even noticed Roos commenting several times yesterday that we should have been looking to pinpoint shorter passes when going forward. Something which many swans fans on this board were critical of Roos for when he was coach.

I think our gameplan would look a lot more effective with an extra marking target up forward.

 

[B Diddy]

I definitely agree with you guys that our strategy needs a serious re-think. Looking at the stats and even watching the game live, generally it's really puzzling as to why we can't compete with the better teams and are struggling to knock off teams below us as easily as we used to. We seem to be always in the match and competing, and as you said RUNVS our contested possessions look good on paper.

But I think that's where the problem lies. Our game plan often seems to be kick quick and long at every chance and as a result we are basically kicking from contest to contest, so even if we win 3/4 contests the fact that it probably takes at least four contests to move the ball from the backline into scoring position means that the majority of the time we'll turn it over before generating a shot on goal. Our stats will look good because we're winning a lot of contested possession but if we lose the crucial contest at half forward or inside the 50 all that effort won't generate a shot.

When you compare that to the (sometimes frustrating) strategy we had under Roosy where guys like Tadhg and Leo would run in circles to hang onto the ball at all costs to find an open man, clearly there has been a shift. And unfortunately that's not working.
We're not utilising the shift in play nearly as much as we used to and not spotting players up on short leads. I dunno about everyone else but I would prefer we tried to hang onto the ball a bit longer and work harder at creating space for people to lead into 30-40 metres ahead of the ball carrier rather than doing an O'Keefe and just bombing forward at every possible opportunity.

 

[Corpuscles]

Derrrr-efinitely!

The long standing and current focus on in tight one on one with emphasis on tackling and creating stoppage is :

EXHAUSTING. As the season and each game progresses they are too tired to burst and change up the tempo
CLUTTERING. Too many 2 metre handpasses placing pressure on disposal meaning inprecise unpredicable( by our forwards) delivery to the forwardline.
RESTRICTS NEW TALENT. Swans have added pace Jetta Rohan and clever forwards Reid, McGlyn, TDL, L Johnson. Currently there is no room in the 'gameplan' for genuine outside receivers or classy forwards it is all grunt , punt and hope for the best
LOW SCORING. Even shit teams can make an up-tempo break on Swans and pile on 3-4 quick goals. Under Longmire that takes Swans 1 -2 quarters to catch.

Swans have quality ruckmen... so take a chance on quick clearances with outside runners

Swans have decent KP backmen.... Grundy and Ted with mature experienced support Malceski Mattner etc...SO let them licence to read the play. Bring back the running quick rebound.

Swans have inside grunt in the midfield Kennedy etc... SO release someone into theold role Gablett played at geelong... feed a quick outsider. eg Hanners has too much class to be having to crunch tackle.

Swans have some emerging class in forward line BUT quality DELIVERY is the only way to benefit from that. That means more space/time to make choices and execute a quality pass...QUICKLY!

I could rant on.... ONE MORE chance YEAR for Longmire! He either catches on and catches up ....or bye-bye

 

[SM]

Has anyone noticed our lack of playing on from a mark? We rarely, if ever play on from a mark unless it's to run into an open goal. There were several occasions on the weekend I noticed a player, Richards, O'Keefe and Grundy were the biggest culprits, who would mark with no player directly in front of them but would just stop and let Freo man the mark. If they played on and tried to keep Freo on the back foot, it would add pressure to the game and give us a better chance of breaking forward.

 

[S120]

The only game they did it consistently was against the Pies. And look what happened. Dunno why they refuse to do it really.

The only reason I can possibly think of is the clogged up nature of the SCG not allowing for the same space to come about...

 

[SM]

Thought Freo did it quite a bit in the third and look what happened there. And then we started doing it in the last and again look what happened there.

 

[Swanee]

'The Game Plan', what is that?

 

[Tarzan]

I read somewhere here but cant find it now someone complaining about our handballs.. I thought our handballing was awesome against freo it really stood out to me, the little short gives got us out of trouble many times and created, I thought it was the best Ive seen especially considering the wet conditions.

 

[bedford]

And we won the game did we, awesome handball. I give up.
Wheres Jane ?

 

[Tarzan]

And we won the game did we, awesome handball. I give up.
Wheres Jane ?

I just thought it was short sharp and very clean considering the conditions also got us out of trouble more than once it just stood out to me

 

[disgruntled goat]

I just thought it was short sharp and very clean considering the conditions also got us out of trouble more than once it just stood out to me

You're riht to a point, I noticed some very good stuff in close, in traffic, but you're probably suffering selective memory recall. The good stuff was outweighed (once again) by the dreadful, fumbly shite ... which has largely characterised our season. McGlynn, ROK, Goodes, Mattner, Reid and McVeigh were all guilty of it at crucial times.

Bird, Kennedy and Hannebery fumbled as a bit well, but made amends too. The best example in Hannebery's case was setting up Jack's late goal.

 

[SM]

I read somewhere here but cant find it now someone complaining about our handballs.. I thought our handballing was awesome against freo it really stood out to me, the little short gives got us out of trouble many times and created, I thought it was the best Ive seen especially considering the wet conditions.

Saw far too many handballs, yet again, to the feet of our players. Honestly, its not that hard to hit a target by hand or by foot, and yet our players make a meal of it. When in doubt bang it long! Especially in the wet.

 

[Swanee]

Saw far too many handballs, yet again, to the feet of our players. Honestly, its not that hard to hit a target by hand or by foot, and yet our players make a meal of it. When in doubt bang it long! Especially in the wet.

Agreed! I get tired of our players also handballing to a contest, thats crazy. Often the player they are handballing to is in a worse position than they are. If you are going to handball to a contest, may as well kick it to a contest, and least that way the ball is 40 metres or so closer to our goal and a kick further from theirs.

 

[barry fu]

I haven't bothered trawelling through the historical documents and self flagellation. That no doubt will have followed from Freo and friends flaying us in all manner of way, last Bloody Sunday.

My main concern, is the way we play our home ground - namely the SCG. In Reid The Regal we have a Bentley, yet use him as a barrow. At times he has two or three opponents holding his hands at CHF, yet still look to him (for good reason). Which can then only serve to help our opposition - in their evil endeavours.
If a McBabe or B1:diamond:, are not at his feet to lock the ball into our area, from the likely ensuing spill. The transfer is quick and quite often to bad effect on such short surrounds.

For example, take the last quarter. Roughly halfway through the term, Reid roamed further afield, towing McPharlin and mates along. Thus causing CHF to be circumnavigated - bish bash bosch, BLOODS back in business!

Cop that Razor Ray you Rodent!

For this reason Reid must play FF at the SCG and take two for the team if our opponents so decide, with McBabe playing sucker to his feet, whilst keeping our foes fretting. Let the opposition decide if they can afford two or more at FB - give Reid respite. Lets use Jude:diamond: and ROK as relief CHF's - both brilliant overhead with physicality and presence to their game. The answer is within.

Lets get our house in order, starting this Saturday you slobs and remind Baz - how BLOODY good it used to be!

 

[bedford]

Once my interpreter sorted this post out i could see a footy brain somewhere up there Fu

 

[SM]

Maybe Horse should spend more time thinking of a proper Game Plan than calling all members to encourage them to come this Saturday.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Maybe Horse should spend more time thinking of a proper Game Plan than calling all members to encourage them to come this Saturday.

6 Lols

 

[barry fu]

Once my interpreter sorted this post out i could see a footy brain somewhere up there Fu

I liked that forward setup Bedford. Reid seemed to roost mostly at FF. Thus causing circumventing of CHF - which is the SCG secret!
This then allows clever types like Bird The Byword, to bob up into open space for the greater good.
Go BLOODSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[S120]

The forward line yesterday looked much better I thought. Would still like TDL up there but I was happy with it.

Excluding Bird who normally won't be playing forward, it looked like this for quite a bit of the game:

F: Parker LRT Goodes
HF: McGlynn Reid Jetta

Goodes obviously floated into the midfield, as did LRT into the ruck so Reid played quite a bit at FF and was isolated often with Parker. I thought Parker did OK even without getting much of the ball. Tackled hard and chased his tail off. McGlynn was back into good form though also went into the middle on Cooney for parts of the game and I thought Jetta looked quite good yesterday too.

Having TDL permanently in the forward line would be nice, but I wouldn't be changing anything after this week. This forward line deserves another chance to gel together.

 

[barry fu]

Agent S120, I really like Parker. A combative chap with a touch of class.
As a whole we should be very happy with the recruiting of recent times.
Reid The Regal, Johnners, Hanners, Rohan The Roller and add to this the capture of Kennedy, Mummy The Swanheart mixed in with midget MacGlynn. Magnificent!!