I don't have the energy to read back through all the post-game posts after a very disappointing loss. But I went for a long walk today and started viewing the game from the other side. I presume the Suns players (and Carlton!) are paid the same as the Swans? Yesterday they played some very good footy and earned it. If you go with the tired cliche of the Sun's 2018 Grand Final, playing their coach's old team at its home ground would be it.
Stewie Dew is a clever coach and he knows the shortcomings of every Swans player and weaknesses in our game plan. He used that all very well yesterday. The long repelling punches when the ball came into our forward line was used over and over and worked well, for example. They also seemed to catch Swans players out of position a lot. I remember a conversation with Adam Goodes around 2005/6 when I expressed frustration with an ugly part of the Swans game. He replied "we know it doesn't look good but don't expect us to stop doing it because statistically it wins us more games than it loses". So the Swans' game plan (like all the others) plays the odds and Dew exploited each one of those of those very well yesterday. As inexperienced Swans team helped - and some some very wayward passing - but if there was a game we should have seen as a danger game this was it.
It had me thinking. I wonder if Hardwick coached the Suns against the Tigers whether he'd manage to get a win? I suspect that he might.
On the walk home from the SCG after the Cats game a few weeks ago I called my wife to say I was on my way. She asked how upset I was and I replied that I was disappointed but not upset. On average you should expect your team to lose every second week. I'm guessing that'd be about right for the Tigers, too (Ninthmond suggests about equal win/loss.) In 17 years of following the Swans closely I think I've seen a lot more wins than losses. But that's the rational part of my brain - I still hate bloody losses like yesterday.
I admire your optimism that players who haven’t really played in the midfield yet will fix our problems.
Jones might be better served bursting out of packs and kicking inside 50 rather than from our backline.
I think I’ve underestimated the seriousness of the loss of form of Jack and above all Hanners for our midfield. They’ve left a huge hole.
Have been sitting in the O'Reilly stand for most SCG games over last 25 years and yesterday against the Suns included some of the worst quarters by the Swans that I have seen.
The stagnant and indecisive play by the Swans at too many times was frustrating in the extreme. Poor handballs and poor kicks added to the frustration. The kicking backwards or long crossfield kicking seems to get us into trouble rather than maintaining possession.
The teams currently playing well, especially Richmond, have good skills with long accurate handpasses and accurate kicks and fluid movement and running waves of players supporting each other from one end to the other. Wish the Swans would adopt this style rather than stagnant attempts to maintain possession.
After reading this thread there obviously something must be wrong with my computer. It is saying that Sydney is fifth (equal fourth) on the ladder!
Those who have the greatest power to hurt us are those we love.
Spot on, Ralph Dawg. Our midfield has been losing for most of the year, due to a mix of injury and form, with our attacks starting from half-back. Stuart Dew adjusted for this half-back attacking style after quarter time, and the Suns started making the most of their chances. Likewise, our half-back line has changed personnel dramatically over the year, as further injuries have also hit. Mills’ intercept marks have been a big loss.
The 4 players that I mentioned are all midfielders:
- Hannebery is an AA. Let's hope he can get over what ails him and is back to his old self next year.
- Mills was always a midfielder so just returns to his normal position. I think he will become the centerpiece of our midfield, similar to what Pendlebury is for Collingwood.
- Jones often plays midfield. He won't be needed next year in the back 6 now that O'Riordan is in the team. Ling or Stoddart and even Rohan (who did play halfback in the reserves yesterday) are all candidates for running defenders.
- The way Dawson has played in the NEAFL makes me a very confident that he's going to be a very good player. Hopefully we will get to see him in the senior team this week.
Yes, I suppose I am optimistic about next year and beyond. Every team can look bad when the injury list mounts.
It's true, once in a while you just get an absolutely unfathomable loss. Happens to most teams.
Miserable day out yesterday but all credit to the Suns who got a sniff, started to believe they could win it and carried it through.
Saw the boys at recovery down at Coogee this morning. Seemed relaxed, but maybe a touch subdued. Probably not looking forward to the Monday meeting.
I reckon they lost the game between the ears in the hours after the miraculous win over North (which could have gone either way) .
If we can do that , they mused, we will bury the Suns by panels of fencing , we just have to get out of bed .
Dewie had the Suns primed for the Swans weekend off attitude to the game and they played outstanding footy for him.
Good on em, they are enjoying it together with their supporter group of two at the ground who waved their two flags after every goal.
However, Some Swans supporters around me in the Brewongle were clapping their winning ways as well , assuming I suppose the Swans would flick a switch and put the Suns back in their box but the Suns didn’t follow the script at all.
Some people are still trying to get into the ground after some traffic officer decided to close Moore Park for our game. Unfathomable. So I missed the first quarter and saw the worst 3 quarters of footy the Swans have played since 1788.
It all seemed such a wasted arvo.
And thank you Giants - coz you’ve beaten PORT today we are back in the top 4 on percentage!!!
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