We may not make finals.

[Tedeski]

My fear is that there's a deeper malaise, and maybe missing finals is a stretch but there's something wrong. Richards and Shaw are really starting to look like they're in trouble (although, again, the disgraceful criticism, bordering on abuse, of Richards in one of the other threads on this board deserves the utmost condemnation), Rampe, Smith and Laidler are doing what they can and Grundy has emerged as our most reliable key back. But where is the next generation? Alex Johnson seems in no man's land with his injuries ... then we get to our rucks, and the ongoing and growing dilemma of Tippett.
My thoughts on the Franklin deal are well enough known, even though Franklin himself is a star and I love watching him in red and white.

Anyway, we'll see how things pan out, and yes, if we win a couple of games we'll surely play finals ... not sure for how long ... but that's another issue ...

You know DG, you have pretty much nailed my thoughts on those players. I watch Grundy & Smith & I see two bloke that are desperately trying to cover for their out of form mates & unfortunately, this often comes at the expense of the job their doing on their direct opponents.

After we were given the trade ban, I had this feeling that the reason Goodesy & Shaw played on was because we had to use up the minimum amount of the salay cap. We otherwise would have had to bring in any second rate player & give it to them. I have no doubt, that money was destined for one & perhaps two 'big name' players to fill our deficiencies in the ruck & defence. Hence why Pyke was not signed until the last minute.

The AFL f . . . d us over big time because they knew the rest of the comp (big Vic clubs) would torch them if we pulled it off. Never mind the fact that it was all legitmate with the retirements of ROK but they somehow used the CoLA as the reason.

Unfortunately for the rest of the comp, we will eventually free up plenty money once Tippett's contract is up.
He'll sign on for much less in the next one. It's not his fault that we paid up to get him to our club.
So when you say something is wrong at the club, you are 100% right.
It has been manufactured by the AFL, compliments of McChin, Newbold & Gordon.

So with the best part of the season still to come, we have to have faith that the foundations laid by the new Bloods in Kelly, Maxfield & Kirk will take effect over the next 3 months & if we fail this year & next, then it will hold us in good stead to stick it to these A holes after that.

But our club knows how to get back to the top...........not that I've given up on this year yet.
Hopefully we can have a happy chat after we beat West Coast this week.

 

[Banyo Bloods]

We are being dismissed by the media and the majority of other supporters the loss was that bad. And a lot of Swans supporters seem to be accepting of this "we are done" feel. There is massive upside and whilst we are no longer considered a top four side well fact is it is not going to be easy for any other team to take. If our injured players return at the right time and there are no further hiccups then we are going to give some teams headaches come finals time. Backs to the wall this week and that isn't the worst thing. I believe that some supporters are towing the line when in reality they still believe in the Swans. Keep the belief we are one hell of a team still. They will respond.

 

[Leg End]

You know DG, you have pretty much nailed my thoughts on those players. I watch Grundy & Smith & I see two bloke that are desperately trying to cover for their out of form mates & unfortunately, this often comes at the expense of the job their doing on their direct opponents.

After we were given the trade ban, I had this feeling that the reason Goodesy & Shaw played on was because we had to use up the minimum amount of the salay cap. We otherwise would have had to bring in any second rate player & give it to them. I have no doubt, that money was destined for one & perhaps two 'big name' players to fill our deficiencies in the ruck & defence. Hence why Pyke was not signed until the last minute.

The AFL f . . . d us over big time because they knew the rest of the comp (big Vic clubs) would torch them if we pulled it off. Never mind the fact that it was all legitmate with the retirements of ROK but they somehow used the CoLA as the reason.

Unfortunately for the rest of the comp, we will eventually free up plenty money once Tippett's contract is up.
He'll sign on for much less in the next one. It's not his fault that we paid up to get him to our club.
So when you say something is wrong at the club, you are 100% right.
It has been manufactured by the AFL, compliments of McChin, Newbold & Gordon.

So with the best part of the season still to come, we have to have faith that the foundations laid by the new Bloods in Kelly, Maxfield & Kirk will take effect over the next 3 months & if we fail this year & next, then it will hold us in good stead to stick it to these A holes after that.

But our club knows how to get back to the top...........not that I've given up on this year yet.
Hopefully we can have a happy chat after we beat West Coast this week.

Tedeski

Agree 100%. I also think the loss of Alex Johnson hit us hard at a bad time.

 

[Leg End]

My fear is that there's a deeper malaise, and maybe missing finals is a stretch but there's something wrong. Richards and Shaw are really starting to look like they're in trouble (although, again, the disgraceful criticism, bordering on abuse, of Richards in one of the other threads on this board deserves the utmost condemnation), Rampe, Smith and Laidler are doing what they can and Grundy has emerged as our most reliable key back. But where is the next generation? Alex Johnson seems in no man's land with his injuries ... then we get to our rucks, and the ongoing and growing dilemma of Tippett.
My thoughts on the Franklin deal are well enough known, even though Franklin himself is a star and I love watching him in red and white.

Anyway, we'll see how things pan out, and yes, if we win a couple of games we'll surely play finals ... not sure for how long ... but that's another issue ...

DG

I think it's not quite as dire as you and SS are saying.
Our problem is that our midfield, even runon from backline, is creating opportunities - but our skill level in creating shots on goal has been ordinary.
Big difference on Saturday was that Hawthorn created the opportunities and profited - we didn't. at one point, 18-6 to 6-14. 24 kicks to 20 - but it's 114 points to 50.

A 3-4 goal difference against Hawthorn creates hope. Once at 50, it spirals downhill quickly - remember us crushing Geelong last year.

Lloyd misses in front. Seemingly every snap missed. Buddy's goal called 'touched" by Stevic. How many times did we kick over the head of a lead in our 50?
This is bad - but it can be fixed.

I still think we'll bounce back. Hawthorn were incredibly efficient.

 

[MaryClayton]

Must be good when you can recruit who you want and can access whatever you want when you want it. Also knowing that a certain umpire will award you the 50/50s must be such a good thing.

No wonder the hawks are brimming with so much over confidence, the opposition can come to the contest and then in the space of 2 mins a certain umpire can crush that surge and destroy the oppositions confidence.

Plus the majority of the time the hawks play bruise free footy wheres we play a taxing game, in fact maybe thats why we terrible at present, horse has modified the game plan as to not to tire out our bodies? I cant imagine playing so much hard intense football for a long time what it would do to a players body.

Would the hawks be this dominate if they had to play the contest hard like the rest of the comp and that they have to recruit from scraps and work that much harder? What if they wernt gifted a KPP every year?

I dont think so. Small variables that go a long long way.

I think its time to call a spade a spade rather than fawning over the hawks. They are a top side but come on sans a lot of what i mentioned they would be right back amongst the rest of the comp. Lets not kid ourselves here.

We might have had the COLA but have they had a lot of assistance which has been ignored by the viccnetric media.

 

[Punts]

Would the hawks be this dominate if they had to play the contest hard like the rest of the comp

Good game plan imo , seeing though they are back to back premiers and probably gonna play in a 4GF in a row.

Maybe Horse and rest of the comp should take a leaf out of Clarkos book because atm Horse has no idea how to combat the Hawks , he is in wonderland when coming up against them.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

People are overreacting. It was a shocking performance last week, easily the worst of our season, but lets be honest for a second, Hawthorn played the perfect game...in July. Makes diddly squat difference in September. I would rather play poorly in round 15 or whatever it was than in the finals. We get Heeney, McGlynn, Pyke (without injuries) back and that is a fair difference. Hawks were basically full strength aside from Frawley.

 

[bungwahl]

Would the hawks be this dominate if they had to play the contest hard like the rest of the comp

Good game plan imo , seeing though they are back to back premiers and probably gonna play in a 4GF in a row.

Maybe Horse and rest of the comp should take a leaf out of Clarkos book because atm Horse has no idea how to combat the Hawks , he is in wonderland when coming up against them.

It's an interesting idea. A mate of mine - Blues fan - has said for a while now that Sydney overcommit to contests and other teams often benefit by leaving a man standing off.

Pretty hard game plan to coach though. Last thing we want is guys standing off and looking at each other trying to work out who should be committing.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

It's an interesting idea. A mate of mine - Blues fan - has said for a while now that Sydney overcommit to contests and other teams often benefit by leaving a man standing off.

Pretty hard game plan to coach though. Last thing we want is guys standing off and looking at each other trying to work out who should be committing.

Lets see how we are once McGlynna and Heeney are back in and around the forward line. The amount of times we have let teams waltz it out of defence down the other end is driving me nuts. These two will help.

 

[bungwahl]

Lets see how we are once McGlynna and Heeney are back in and around the forward line. The amount of times we have let teams waltz it out of defence down the other end is driving me nuts. These two will help.

Yeah admittedly if we could fix up the I50's and convert our chances we'd probably all be buzzing by this time of year. Or back to complaining about Stevic.

 

[Punts]

Sick of hearing about heeney this heeney thAt , the kid is 19 in his first year and were relying on him lol and Benny who is 30 with soft tissue injuries and can't even get on the park

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah admittedly if we could fix up the I50's and convert our chances we'd probably all be buzzing by this time of year. Or back to complaining about Stevic.

It was no surprise our best games were when those two played. Defensive pressure was zilch on Saturday. These two add that plus they both have good disposal.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Sick of hearing about heeney this heeney thAt , the kid is 19 in his first year and were relying on him lol and Benny who is 30 with soft tissue injuries and can't even get on the park

Heeney gives us something our whole side lacks- the ability to kick. Plus he knows how to take the right decision, and that is something you can't coach. I know he is 19, I know it is sad that we need a 19 year old kid...but it is what it is.

 

[bungwahl]

It was no surprise our best games were when those two played. Defensive pressure was zilch on Saturday. These two add that plus they both have good disposal.

Then throw Rohan back in the mix and things look rosy again!

 

[Punts]

Heeney gives us something our whole side lacks- the ability to kick. Plus he knows how to take the right decision, and that is something you can't coach. I know he is 19, I know it is sad that we need a 19 year old kid...but it is what it is.

Give it a rest

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Then throw Rohan back in the mix and things look rosy again!

Knew I was forgetting someone, always seem to forget him for some reason. I hope he is back in 2 weeks or so. Need his run.

 

[MaryClayton]

Would the hawks be this dominate if they had to play the contest hard like the rest of the comp

Good game plan imo , seeing though they are back to back premiers and probably gonna play in a 4GF in a row.

Maybe Horse and rest of the comp should take a leaf out of Clarkos book because atm Horse has no idea how to combat the Hawks , he is in wonderland when coming up against them.

Apply a little bit of pressure for 4 quarters and the hawks break. They play bruise free footy and employ deliberate clumsy tactics to stifle opposition.

Its not a genius game plan, far from it. To beat the hawks you have to play 4 hard quarters of intense tackling, we have done it before and won a flag. The problem with such intensity, its taxing on players.


All that needs to be done is put a few players on their outside ball winners and pressure their ball carriers, so simple but that idiot dew for some reason has failed to do it. I dont know why Horse doesnt see this.

Maybe dew is working for the hawks and the AFL and is deliberately fudging it all up?

 

[swansfan51]

Then throw Rohan back in the mix and things look rosy again!

Could cut the margin back to the 63 of the Grand Final when they all played!

 

[MaryClayton]

You two should replace horse and dew, since you have all the answers.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Could cut the margin back to the 63 of the Grand Final when they all played!

I just have a feeling we will get them in the finals and win, just have had a feeling all week. In a way getting pummelled last week is the best thing, it won't sugar coat the way we played.

 

[MaryClayton]

Sick of hearing about heeney this heeney thAt , the kid is 19 in his first year and were relying on him lol and Benny who is 30 with soft tissue injuries and can't even get on the park

Maybe we should talk about Mitchell then and his amazing skills?

Heeney is our future.

 

[Punts]

Apply a little bit of pressure for 4 quarters and the hawks break. They play bruise free footy and employ deliberate clumsy tactics to stifle opposition.

Its not a genius game plan, far from it. To beat the hawks you have to play 4 hard quarters of intense tackling, we have done it before and won a flag. The problem with such intensity, its taxing on players.


All that needs to be done is put a few players on their outside ball winners and pressure their ball carriers, so simple but that idiot dew for some reason has failed to do it. I dont know why Horse doesnt see this.

Maybe dew is working for the hawks and the AFL and is deliberately fudging it all up?

If it was only that easy for the coach of the year , there game plan stands up in finals so it must tough footy

 

[MaryClayton]

If it was only that easy for the coach of the year , there game plan stands up in finals so it must tough footy

Yeah clarkson should have won it for the last 5 years, since the hawks are the bestest side i have ever seen play any code, they are just amazing. Barca, Real Madrid and Man U dont even come close to the hawks at all and the all blacks are amateurs compared to the hawks.

sigh.

 

[Punts]

Maybe we should talk about Mitchell then and his amazing skills?

Heeney is our future.

Of course he is a gun but relying on him is ridiculous

 

[MaryClayton]

Of course he is a gun but relying on him is ridiculous

Just like Mitchell.