Yet another frustrating loss... however, it was a quality team

[uncleswannies]

Well, round 1 is over, and quite honestly I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.

Primarily, it was yet another one of those games where we've had more scoring shots that the other side, and still lost by a comfortable margin. This is a problem that has carried on for last season and is extremely frustrating. Both Barry Hall and Michael O'Laughlin were shaky in front of goal at crucial stages of the match and this really hurt us.... not to lay the blame solely on them of course, but we just kicked way too many behinds, and these two were the main offenders.

With that being said, yes, we did lose to the former Preimiership side, however, we play 4 quarters of footy (instead of 1 and 1/2 if you're lucky) and we BEAT the former priemiers and start the season on an excellent note.

If we can improve out kicking in front of goal, and when some of our key defenders come back (Dunks, Seymour, Warfey) I truly believe we can be a force this season.

I personally was impressed with the play of Fosdike (who I've been critical of) and Ricky Mott, who could very well be more effective than Stephen Doyle. He's a big kid whos not afraid to have a go and is a massive kick. (His experience as a full forward at South Fremantle will also, no doubt, prove to be invaluable.)

Anyways, theres my ramblings.... A tad negative, but what can I say - ITS FRUSTRATING TO BE A SWANS SUPPORTER, but I'll always bleed the Red and the White.

Thoughts on the game peoples?

Go Swannies!

 

[Desredandwhite]

Well, Fossie was constantly in it, but I still think his disposal needs plenty of work. We're panicking way too much in the backline, and not thinking at all when delivering it forward.

Positives... Stuie Maxfield should be sealed up in a glass case and held up as an example to his teammates. Quick off the mark, sure with his skills and always, ALWAYS delivers the ball long and accurate. Ricky Mott was a revelation, and he will surprise some of his more experienced fellow ruckmen this year. Gerrarrd Bennett is being asked to do too much of what he is NOT suited for, but battled on admirably anyway.

We are good enough to win a LOT of games if we wake up.

 

[soph_swannie24]

WARNING: IGNORE THIS SPACE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR MY COMPLAINTS!!

As it always happens at the beginning of the season, I get the feeling the Swans are a changed side and that things will be great this year for the club.
Round 1 comes and I'm bitterly dissappointed. I don't wish to be negative because the last thing a club needs is supporters who aren't positive, although I can't get over how annoyed I am. Yesterday the team looked just the same as always. The same as last season and the season before...as usual...we were sloppy and showed poor skills. I think some serious changes need to be made. Rocket should be brave and try something new. I'm sure the side could be a lot better with just a few changes. For one thing I'm sick of seeing so much of Fosdike on the bench.

Come on boys, don't let down. What's the problem?? Be confident, do something different. Don't you want it bad enough??

Ahhh...sorry to be such a whinger...deepest apoligies to those that bothered to read and endure this post.

 

[soph_swannie24]

Okay I feel terrible for all my negative comments. I just want to say I'm not another lousy supporter who ditches the team when they disappoint you. Not all was hopeless yesterday. Mott I thought was great. It is inspiring to watch him as he has all of a sudden been pushed out into focus and has a tough job. He was looking very tired towards the end of the match and yet he still kept at it hard. Good work Ricky!!!

Oh and bring on Scotty Stevens!!! Can't wait to see more of him.

 

[Desredandwhite]

Soph, don't worry - I think your comments are very valid. We need to do something about our fade-outs, lapses in concentration etc.

because as you are well aware - we HAVE the talent in the team to win the flag.

WAKE UP, BOYS!!!

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

new season, same sh*t from the Red and Whites

We are good enough to beat anybody - only we are still too stupid to realize it yet.

Again we prove ourselves to have neither the brains or the guts to successfully defend a 4 and a half goal lead.

The way we played in the 2nd quarter was as good as anything I've seen from this team in the last few years - we were very VERY good.

But it was all an illusion, the wayward kicking for goal just gets worse and worse, as soon as Hall missed a shot then it spread like wildfire, O'Loughlin, Mac Pherson, Nicks, Hall again all missed easy set shots. Goodes spilled several uncontested marks - then BINGO ! all our confidence went out tyhe window, another totally limp wristed, soft co(ked display from what hast to easily be the STOOPIDIST club in the whole of the AFL.

Other teams can kick goals when it matters - why can't we ?

O'Loughlins miss in time-on which could have still pinched the game for us was, yet again - TOTALLY UNFORGIVABLE< TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND JUST PLAIN CRAP.

I'm sick to death of watching Michael O'Loughlin miss easy shot after easy shot at goal. The guys goal kicking has now totally degenerated to the point where its crule to name him in the forwards anymore - He's just totally and completely LOST IT.

Apparently we have been practising goal kicking 'in a most scientific manner' fore the last 5 months - our score on Sunday was 12.15

yeah - real scientific guys - sure, whatever

Sick to death of Rodney Eade continually preparing good solid competeitive well balanced team who are disciplined - BUT STUPID

Footy is a game of brains - and only teams that are truly STUPID and truly DUMB throw away a lead that was 29 points at one stage.

Why are the Swans soooooooo dumb ?

Why can't we defend a lead ? (any lead)

After playing great footy to graft out a 4 goal lead - why do we then throw it away ? Why can't we kick on and finish off teams like a ruthless efficient outfit that we should be ?

Dunno the answer to those questions - but more disturbingly, nobody at the Swans seems to know either.

Gets back to what I've been saying for years now - we are just plain dumb, and beacuse we are dumb, we don't know what we are doing, so we don't know how to win games, even when we play better than the opposition.

4 straight behinds to start the 3rd quarter - when the Lions were rubbish, were reeling and floundering, when they were there all dressed up on a plate ready for the picking, when they werebroken and ready to throw in the towel. Truly good sides use this ooportunity to pit the opposition to the sword - not us ! In these situations we quite simply lose it - we quite literally don't know what to do - more stupidity, more rank folllishness.

I was screaming at them to 'finish it off" as was everyone else. The fanms know what to do - why don't the team ?

But no, its all fumbles, non cahalant misses, non chalant spilled marks, non chalant clangers and direct turnovers.

Oh and hey the players all put on funny faces when they weren't looking at the turf or standing around with hands on hips - yeah lovely day for it boys huh ?

we kicked 4 straight behinds then let them in for 2 soft co(k easy as piss goals - nice one Swannies, how charitable, thanks very much for another 4 premiership points.

cheers

 

[TheMase]

Yes. Frustrating indeed.

But hey, Its only Round One!

I think there are a few positives to come out of Round One, and a lot of room for improvement.

I thought Mott was great, always making a contest, and will certainly be our number one ruckman this year.
Cresswell seemed to be back towards what we expect from him, getting plenty of the ball.
I thought Crouch was quite good aswell at times.

Gerard Bennett I thought held himself up pretty well, taking a few good grabs, which is good to see.
Tadgh didn't get much of the ball, but did a 'few' good things.

We still do have a few players out, and important players to.
Dunkley, Seymour, Schwass (?), and Ball, all out injured.

I think we are in for a great season, but we just have to remain focused for the WHOLE match, rather than just a couple of quarters.

Remember, the match isn't over until the final hooter, I only know that too well (I lost a GF )

 

[barry]

The bears beat us fair and square. It could have been closer, but I think they played above us.

They have a team where they can swap full forward for full back and its actually works. Leppich is a bad match for schauble.
I dont think schauble is full back material, and without dunkley next year, we will need to recuit well to cover that spot.

Fosdike is still disappointing. I dont think we can have the luxury of having him and bolton in the midfield as both's disposal is poor.

If we had our full list against brisbanes full list, we probably would have won. We didnt, so we lost.

Ricky Mott was good. Stafford was also good for richmond, but I still think it was a good move to get rid of him.

As I said in a another thread, we would have pencilled this one is as a loss at the start of the season. so next week is the big test.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Originally posted by barry
The bears beat us fair and square. It could have been closer, but I think they played above us.

Yes, an outstanding performance in the second half by the Roys.