Me too - but I think what will ultimately do him in is his basic skills are just not quite good enough at AFL level. When your a fringe player at this level (Brandon Jack is another one in this boat) you have to take your chances when you have them and make use of them - especially as a small forward in front of goal. To do that your skills need to be at a certainl level. Like BJ, just think Bell's going to fall short.
Still a damn good effort to make it to this point from where he started, and would love him to prove me wrong. But sense he is a holding piece in the jigsaw puzzle until someone comes along and scoots right on past.
"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."
You did watch the game....and see the non paid frees, the varying interpretations depending on jumper colour, the instant whistle on Blues frees and the reluctant eventual whistle for Swans frees (especially in the first half)?
You don't think the umpires see the free kick count at half time? 'Oops, better be a bit fairer this half'....but by then, the damage is done. Sure we weren't at our best in the first half but it's not 'umpire whinging', it's seeing what is in front of us....and the umpires sucked.
Last edited by stevoswan; 21st May 2022 at 12:23 AM.
Yes. Too true. We did win 2nd half clearances and inside 50 by a significant margin, however. Carlton were choking (once again) but we failed to nail them. Basically, too much damage in Q2. Also forward entries were once again bombing to the top of the square. Boring & predictable.
The work Rowbottom does to break up opposition ball movement, especially at centre bounces, goes unnoticed by many. We really missed him today in the 2nd quarter. Warner gives up on his defensive play too soon. Rowbottom is relentless in his chasing.
The defensive side of midfielding (sic) is something I look for, and is why I've called for dropping Kennedy from the side, despite him being one of the all time great midfielders. I'm so pleased he got his records last week. He's been a champion, and all class.
I haven't read any comments crying out for Bell to play in the midfield. I wonder why?
I would prefer to go with a Hickey or Ladhams + Amartey as our ruck/forward duo. Amartey does more around the ground and as a forward than Ladhams. He's been playing well in the VFL and should be given a run in the seniors so we can compare our options for that role, along with Ladhams and McLean.
We have a few other options who could come into the side, including Clarke, Ronke, Stephens, Roberts and Gould. JMac looks tired and can use a week off. We need to get better, and getting better will involve taking some chances with selection.
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