Match thread: Swans v Giants.

[UUaswan]

Yeah, we definitely need to sack Cox. FFS, he's in his first year as a senior coach. I don't think we need to go down this negative path.....might be wise to cool the jets and give him a chance to learn and get better, which I'm confident he will.

Cox isn't on the block but big crosses this year we're-
Tom Mc fwd

Trying to explain how tall Blakey is and using him as a tall defender, killing his run

Mclean as a 2nd Ruck

Francis and Hamling, should have only be played as break glass

Playing Defensive full fwds, don't think it will catch on

Not playing enough talls fwd, therefore no bail outdown the line, making us look for targets that arent there in the middle of the ground

Too focused on shutting down the opposition instead of backing in your team to go head to head

Playing kids from the 2s and not letting them play, Horse style, may as well leave them there.

Was obviously hampered with injuries but we could have won alot more of those early games with smarter match committee moves and selection.

Grade is a B-, like Horse, Heeney saved his ass on more than 1 occasion

[UUaswan]

To be honest he hasn’t shown anything that suggest he has that in him.

Best kick in the team, line breaking speed, Top Rated Mid of his draft..... 0 Games as a mid, give him the licence Warner had when he got caught holding the ball 5x a game as a young Mid, seemed to workout OK, wasn't even highly rated

We don't play enough tall fwds for our smalls to be anything fwd if centre, no point bringing Datoli or Hannily in if they have to take contested marks

They are crumbers and we don't play enough Fwd Targets

[Dow]

or maybe Braeden gets to play as a ball chasing mid instead of playing in 5 minds like he is asked to atm

To be honest he hasn’t shown anything that suggest he has that in him.

[Thunder Shaker]

Season's done. We really needed to win every game to have a chance. While it is still mathematically possible, mathematics has a concept of events that are possible but have a probability of zero. (Example: choosing a real number at random and that number being rational.)

The Essendon game is an opportunity to play some players who are showing promise in the VFL team. Up to three forced changes are needed after this game. Some players may need a rest. Give Datolli, Snell and Green their first game and recall Ladhams. Three rucks are not strictly needed but Ladhams and Green will make a decent forward line.

[stevoswan]

This season was always a bit of a write off with the injuries we've had but it was good to see we could still play some fine footy once we had some talent back....however we've never once been at full strength this year.

II agree we need to mix up selection a bit for the remainder of the season, be wise in the off season with recruitment and definitely look into why we had so many injuries (I'm tipping a maybe too brutal pre season had something to do with it) but overall, I don't think everything is as 'doom and gloom' as some on here are declaring.

A bad loss can be hard for some fans to bear and it seems scapegoats need to be found.....but I'll bet on the calmer heads at the club to get things right.

[MattW]

On Dattoli, while watching him in the VFL, I'm increasingly confident when the ball goes in his direction. He seems to win almost all of his contests. So, I'm also keen to see how he goes in the AFL. And I've always been keen on Cleary as an inside mid.

Cleary seemed to lose confidence in the firsts. He looks to be building it up week on week in the reserves.

[stevoswan]

Maybe the coach is also a ? mark. Twice this year we have succumed to a second half breakdown. What happens at half time, we have looked the goods against the Suns and the giants yeaterday until half time.

Yeah, we definitely need to sack Cox. FFS, he's in his first year as a senior coach. I don't think we need to go down this negative path.....might be wise to cool the jets and give him a chance to learn and get better, which I'm confident he will.

[UUaswan]

Get a fitness base beyond him, I think they give him a run now for experience, his ability to win his own ball while be creative is something we need. Dattoli would be a good upgrade on Braeden Campbell (next season) who gives us very little at the moment

I would move Cleary in for Sheldrick and see what that looks like

or maybe Braeden gets to play as a ball chasing mid instead of playing in 5 minds like he is asked to atm

[Dow]

On Dattoli, while watching him in the VFL, I'm increasingly confident when the ball goes in his direction. He seems to win almost all of his contests. So, I'm also keen to see how he goes in the AFL. And I've always been keen on Cleary as an inside mid.

Get a fitness base into him, I think they give him a run now for experience, his ability to win his own ball while be creative is something we need. Dattoli would be a good upgrade on Braeden Campbell (next season) who gives us very little at the moment

I would move Cleary in for Sheldrick and see what that looks like

[dejavoodoo44]

In many ways it's good the finals nonsense is finally dead. Now to use the rest of the year as the start of the 2026 season. Drifting down the ladder would be good for the upcoming drafts.

If players need to go for surgeries, get them done.

Time to give Cleary a good run as an inside mid, it's what he is and ressie watchers say he's firing. Dattoli needs to come in to see what he's got at senior level. The Essendon game this week against a heap of young players is an ideal time for them to come in.

All thinking on 2026 please.

On Dattoli, while watching him in the VFL, I'm increasingly confident when the ball goes in his direction. He seems to win almost all of his contests. So, I'm also keen to see how he goes in the AFL. And I've always been keen on Cleary as an inside mid.

[BFG]

In many ways it's good the finals nonsense is finally dead. Now to use the rest of the year as the start of the 2026 season. Drifting down the ladder would be good for the upcoming drafts.

If players need to go for surgeries, get them done.

Time to give Cleary a good run as an inside mid, it's what he is and ressie watchers say he's firing. Dattoli needs to come in to see what he's got at senior level. The Essendon game this week against a heap of young players is an ideal time for them to come in.

All thinking on 2026 please.

[UUaswan]

Rowy has collected above 25 disposals 3x in 135 games.... might be time to change his role too

I dont think its beyond him to be a good mid he just isnt being allowed to chase it

[MattW]

Disappointing end to the season, aspirationally.

Really, a terrible year for injuries, particularly hitting our talls. We're a different team if Amartey, McDonald and McCartin are fit. Even losing McLean and Hamling last night, who have both been going ok as understudies in big roles. I noticed in the coverage last night that Papley has only kicked 4 goals total for the year. Mills needs a huge preseason.

It'll be interesting to see how the year plays out, selection wise. I'd like to see Dattoli get some games. Also, Fox being reintegrated back into the team, and maybe a couple of late games for Logan. I also wouldn't mind seeing Cleary get another run at it, with some pressure off, after hitting some form in the reserves.

Pretty flat that the season has slipped. There isn't a team I wouldn't support in a grand final against the Giants.

[UUaswan]

How the plan at the start of the year, after 3 months of pre season and gathering of great football minds, was to play Tom MC fwd is still staggering.

Kind of scary to think what these guys could come up with at the trade table or over next pre season.

Football manager or BoD or someone needs to drag them into a room and give them all a spray for putting Gulden back on the ground with 5 mins to go and a strapped knee

[UUaswan]

The need to access the fwd line is more about how he wants to operate it, might be worth moving guys on if they are surplus.

I'd happily play, Mclean, Amartey and Logan alongside each other, im not sure Cox wants to play 3 talls. Plus we have Green and Ladhams.

Our best footy in the last 3 yrs has been with 3 tall fwds.

Hayward is polarising for some as he is seen as all or nothing. Reality is, when he plays good he is beating guys he shouldn't have to as we dont have the support around him.

He should be marking on a lead or crumbing, not having to wrestle multiple defenders bigger than him