Opinion The Way Forward

[Kbroome]

Too many 'silky' half black flankers who don't like contact/can't defend.

More hard nuts please.

Lloyd, Roberts, McInerney, Blakey, Florent all in the same team when we need about 2 of them to do the role that they are doing. Especially on GF day

 

[Kiama Chris]

I really like this team & your reasoning too. All makes sense & adds a better balance with speed & grunt.

My version is something like:

FB: Cunningham McCartin Fox
HB: Blakey Mclean Mills

C: Juzzy Adams Gulden

HF: Florent Hayward Jordon
FF: Papley Mclean Cleary

Fol: Grundy Heeney Rowbottom

Int: Warner, Roberts, Campbell, McDonald, Sheldrick

I think this team gives us

• genuine defensive players in defence
• speed/gut running & skills on the wing
• speed & strong defensive pressure in the forwards
• hardness in the mids

I think we have the pieces but we need the right combination, we can't be all skills or all grunt. We need the players to compliment each other.

Exactly. We need to be thinking about where we need to improve and how. There's a lot that can only be in the hands of the coaches but trying different combinations during preseason will be a good start as will bringing in some (not too much!) fresh blood.

 

[Kiama Chris]

haha, melican. it's been a long few days

Bloody autocorrect

 

[sataris]

Lloyd, Roberts, McInerney, Blakey, Florent all in the same team when we need about 2 of them to do the role that they are doing. Especially on GF day

I'd just play Blakey and McInerney, and the others can be depth.

Lloyd's almost finished and I'd prefer Roberts to Florent (sexy as he is..)

 

[Kbroome]

I'd just play Blakey and McInerney, and the others can be depth.

Lloyd's almost finished and I'd prefer Roberts to Florent (sexy as he is..)

Honestly i added McInerney in there but we need to play him just solely as a winger. Then you can have a back 7 of 3 talls, Blakey, Mills, Roberts, Cunningham.
3 wingers of Gulden McInerney Campbell

Gives much more height in the backline and 2 spare spots on the bench for on ballers etc

 

[Nuggetz]

They played like they've never been at the MCG before. Schedule extra mcg training sessions during our melb games, get to melb on the Tuesday during GF week. Treat it like a GF rather than another game.

Marks Tackles
155 v 88 64 v 45 - 2024
124 v 62 56 v 65 - 2022
73 v 91 92 v 101 - 2016
105 v 67 57 v 63 - 2014
56 v 69 84 v 110 - 2012

In the 2 GFs where we out marked the opponent it led to a premiership & a close game. Both games also had elite tackle pressure. How do the coaches not see this trend? Out mark Sydney & the premiership is yours.

I think we may need to change the zone defence to go more 1v1. It doesn't work in a GF unless you've got extreme work rate & pressure which we've lacked.

1v1 defence would also make players a bit more accountable & simplify their thinking during high pressure periods of play.

 

[caesar88]

Early bones of what I'd like our best team to look like next year:

FB - Mills | McCartin | Cunningham
HB - Roberts | Melican | Blakey
C - Gulden | Sheldrick | McInerney
HF - Hayward | McDonald | Warner
FF - Papley | McLean | Cleary
Foll - Grundy | Heeney | Rowbottom

IC - Florent, Campbell, Jordon, Amartey

Sub - Lloyd

Obviously we have no idea what the list will look like by then, but I just wanted to look at potential changes we could, and should, make. This period right here is, after all, the time of the year when the coaches start to look at game plan and structural changes for the season ahead.

Clearly we have some veterans that are closer to the ends than the peaks of their careers, so I think we can phase them out whilst also steering the team in the direction of things we need more of - more pressure and hardness.

Mills would hopefully be fit and we can finally get a full season out of him as he takes over from Rampe as the sort of third/fourth tall and general of the back-line. Sir Dane is still capable of very elite footy, but not as consistently and reliably (and there is no shame in that!) so probably needs to be in the 'back up' category by now.

Our main midfield trio of Grundy, Heeney & Rowbottom to remain as is, but I'm giving them some support in the form of an actual midfielder with actual midfield craft in Sheldrick, and playing Warner the natural half forward at half forward. This move gives us two of the things we really need - more hardness in the midfield, and more speed in the forward line.

I'm keeping the three talls in, because I haven't seen any evidence that having three talls won't win you a flag, but I'm surrounding them with smaller, quicker players who can chase and tackle and close space and win ground balls inside 50 with genuine pressure - already mentioned Warner, but Florent and Campbell too, and I'm adding Cleary in to expand on the form he showed when given a chance late this season. Let this quartet of fleet-footed guys buzz around and cause chaos inside 50 to counter the stagnant but important structure the three talls can provide.

Lloyd, who was exceptional late in the season and looks further from being finished than our other veterans, still has a role to play but I think we need to have the attitude that if you can't bring pressure or hardness then you don't have a guaranteed spot. Having a mature veteran and an elite runner come on and be able to play a full quarter just makes sense for a sub anyway.

 

[Nuggetz]

I'd like teams not to beat us in the kick/mark style. The biggest change I'd make is transitioning from a zone to a 1v1 defence, so there's more accountability on everyone in the team competing with their direct opponent. It would also put pressure on the coaches to pick good defensive minded players in the team.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

The more I reflect the angrier I get.

Where is the Brett Kirk

Brett Kirk

Age

49

Ht

184cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.5

5star

K

8.9

3star

HB

9.6

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

5.3

5star

CL

2.4

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.8

4star

K

13.0

5star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.2

4star

of the club ?
Where is the Jude Bolton

Jude Bolton

Age

45

Ht

181cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.9

4star

K

9.6

4star

HB

8.4

5star

M

3.1

3star

T

4.6

5star

CL

3.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.8

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

4.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.6

4star

of the club ?

Basically, we are soft. We don’t crack in and throw the body on the line. Where is the swarming tackling pressure as soon as oppo receives it ? Who’s ever at the bottom of a pack ?

Kirky and Jude whilst limited in natural ability made up for it in spades through physical effort.

I’m with Punts in seeking a hard bodied midfielder in the vein of Jude and Kirk, Matt Kennedy and Clayton Oliver

13

Clayton Oliver

Age

28

Ht

189cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.8

5star

K

9.5

4star

HB

18.4

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

6.3

5star

CL

6.3

5star

D

25.1

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

19.2

5star

K

4.6

2star

HB

14.6

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

CL

3.8

5star

worth a look, don’t care about the corporate image.

Footys changed a lot but hard contested football is what wins you flags.

Oh and Longmire, after Clarko had schooled him for multiple years by playing kick-mark, he continues with a zone defence in a grand final.
Thank you for your service, we are grateful but it’s time for a cleanout.

Ignore all I’ve said if you’re happy with making finals but not winning them.

 

[KingV23]

The more I reflect the angrier I get.

Where is the Brett Kirk of the club ?
Where is the Jude Bolton of the club ?

Basically, we are soft. We don’t crack in and throw the body on the line. Where is the swarming tackling pressure as soon as oppo receives it ? Who’s ever at the bottom of a pack ?

Kirky and Jude whilst limited in natural ability made up for it in spades through physical effort.

Didn't you hear Rampe, mate? The universe wasn't on our side.

 

[sataris]

Didn't you hear Rampe, mate? The universe wasn't on our side.

The universe rewards hard work

 

[KingV23]

The universe rewards hard work

The universe does **** all, mate.

 

[kickthething]

Two words I would love to see in big red and white text in the locker rooms:

• Ruthless
• Relentless

I would like 60-120 so they can look at that untill they reverse lit.

 

[Swans22]

Looks like most people are united that we need a forward line that applies more pressure unlike anything we saw in the GF. For me there are only a couple of tweaks required
- only select 2 KPFs and add Cleary into the mix. I was concerned by our lack of speed heading into finals and we were exposed.
-add a genuine hard nut midfielder in Sheldrick with genuine craft. Would be the perfect complement to our current set up.
-Mills permanent defender with a full pre season could be all Australian level. Need a leader down there cause Rampe won’t last much longer

 

[Swans22]

The more I reflect the angrier I get.

Where is the Brett Kirk of the club ?
Where is the Jude Bolton of the club ?

Basically, we are soft. We don’t crack in and throw the body on the line. Where is the swarming tackling pressure as soon as oppo receives it ? Who’s ever at the bottom of a pack ?

Kirky and Jude whilst limited in natural ability made up for it in spades through physical effort.

I’m with Punts in seeking a hard bodied midfielder in the vein of Jude and Kirk, Matt Kennedy and Clayton Oliver worth a look, don’t care about the corporate image.

Footys changed a lot but hard contested football is what wins you flags.

Oh and Longmire, after Clarko had schooled him for multiple years by playing kick-mark, he continues with a zone defence in a grand final.
Thank you for your service, we are grateful but it’s time for a cleanout.

Ignore all I’ve said if you’re happy with making finals but not winning them.

I hear you. We prob only need one more but someone with a bit more class than Kennedy, someone who can extract and create like a Lachie Neals but unfortunately they don’t grow on trees. I’ll back Sheldrick to become our in and under player.
Clayton Oliver is the right profile but the totally wrong fit for the club. We could ask if George Hewett wants to return lol

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

I hear you. We prob only need one more but someone with a bit more class than Kennedy, someone who can extract and create like a Lachie Neals but unfortunately they don’t grow on trees. I’ll back Sheldrick to become our in and under player.
Clayton Oliver is the right profile but the totally wrong fit for the club. We could ask if George Hewett wants to return lol

Caleb Serong in a trade lol

 

[The King!]

Great reflections little john - thank you.

If Longmire was an EPL coach, he would be seen as indisputably one of the best of his generation, if not the best (I honestly don’t know the minor premiership records of other teams).

Which isn’t to absolve him of responsibility for GF fails, as whether we like it or not, the minor premiership is almost worthless as an end in itself in the AFL. In fact, you are probably better coming in second so you still get two home finals but you don’t get the noose around your neck if you fail to take out the premiership.

Longmire isn't an EPL coach and his stubborn pursuit of top spot etc is one of his big weaknesses imo

 

[Adnico26Parker]

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach urges former club to ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster​

Former Sydney coach Paul Roos has called for his old side to be bold during this off-season and consider trading a star player, as the Swans are left to rue yet another grand final embarrassment.

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach demands Swans ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach demands Swans ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach urges former club to ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster​

Former Sydney coach Paul Roos has called for his old side to be bold during this off-season and consider trading a star player, as the Swans are left to rue yet another grand final embarrassment.

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach demands Swans ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach demands Swans ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster

www.foxsports.com.au

Right on the money. Choose Roos 2 campaign again ?

 

[Theprofessional]

Players who I think will be part of the next swans flag

1. Gulden

That's it. That's the list.

Is this done purely based on age and unlikely to leave?

I thought Gulden stock went down almost the furthest on Saturday. Consistently praised as a future captain of the club.
He was several times completely lazy defensively and at fault for several goals. For a guy who is a winger/endurance gun/wants to play 100% TOG would be great for him to show some defence and workrate. Really really disappointing from a player who I rate very highly.

 

[The King!]

Players who I think will be part of the next swans flag

1. Gulden

That's it. That's the list.

He will to get all that bathwater pumped from his stomach

 

[wills2g]

I think we need to move on one of blakey, florent, roberts out of the backline

They only provide offence

Cant have 3 defenders not interested in defending but at least blakey can mark

Dawson leaving actually left a massive hole at chb for both intercept marks and attack

We were all hoping blakey could replace him but still not there

I think we also need to move on parker fox one of the talls for 2 genuine smalls with speed and leaving a spot for one of chad/heeney going to chf

We need to make room for a midfielder that will hunt the ball

 

[Swans22]

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach urges former club to ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster​

Former Sydney coach Paul Roos has called for his old side to be bold during this off-season and consider trading a star player, as the Swans are left to rue yet another grand final embarrassment.

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach demands Swans ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster

‘Can’t rely on talent’: Ex-coach demands Swans ‘put good players on the market’ after GF disaster

www.foxsports.com.au

Nailed it. Great example is a goal that Lohman kicked on Florent in the second quarter. They showed the footage on access all areas - pretty concerning

 

[Swans22]

I think we need to move on one of blakey, florent, roberts out of the backline

They only provide offence

Cant have 3 defenders not interested in defending but at least blakey can mark

Dawson leaving actually left a massive hole at chb for both intercept marks and attack

We were all hoping blakey could replace him but still not there

I think we also need to move on parker fox one of the talls for 2 genuine smalls with speed and leaving a spot for one of chad/heeney going to chf

We need to make room for a midfielder that will hunt the ball

Agree with most
Would keep Fox - Sat case in point
Sheldrick can be that guy if he gets this body right

 

[Troystenvic]

I think we need to move on one of blakey, florent, roberts out of the backline

They only provide offence

Cant have 3 defenders not interested in defending but at least blakey can mark

Dawson leaving actually left a massive hole at chb for both intercept marks and attack

We were all hoping blakey could replace him but still not there

I think we also need to move on parker fox one of the talls for 2 genuine smalls with speed and leaving a spot for one of chad/heeney going to chf

We need to make room for a midfielder that will hunt the ball

The question is who are we bringing in though? Oliver?