Match thread: Swans v Lions.

[Nico]

Sheldrick had only 59% TOG yet had 28 possessions. Maybe he should have had a lot more TOG.

[UUaswan]

Our reality check came many weeks ago. It's not a secret to anyone. Just listen to the press conferences ober the past month or so from Cox and players. We know that we need to change the game plan, because, as many pundits predicted, we would be found out and our corridor game would be stopped.

Im not sure we have actively sort to change our game plan, that Blakey handball to a crowd, when he was on the run says we are still playing the same game plan.

Warner looks great because most of the time he kicks it long and deep into the fwd line

The handball game is ok to an extent but if Blakey, Gulden, Warner and Heeney are getting a handball then it has to be long and deep into the 50, quick.

None of them should be looking to handball

[Nico]

Do we know if the Will Edwards 3 week annual leave has been approved?

[Ocker]

No holiday for Will.

Chad is $3,750 poorer for a tripmon Charlie Cameron.

[UUaswan]

No holiday for Will.

Chad is $3,750 poorer for a tripmon Charlie Cameron.

AFLPA need to step up if that is the cost of Sanctions

$6250

[Nico]

No holiday for Will.

Chad is $3,750 poorer for a tripmon Charlie Cameron.

Head office refused his leave. Great news.

[imuninformedtwo]

Our reality check came many weeks ago. It's not a secret to anyone. Just listen to the press conferences ober the past month or so from Cox and players. We know that we need to change the game plan, because, as many pundits predicted, we would be found out and our corridor game would be stopped.

The only solution is the one that Brisbane came up with to stop their slump. It's the only plan that works and can succeed in finals. That's pressure. We used to be a team that blew out other teams in the 1st quarter with our intense pressure. Now we are ones being blown out. Now one has to be told this. Everyone knows it. We just can't execute it.

If we don't regain our high pressure game, our season is as good as over. It doesn't matter where we stand on the ladder now, we can't beat the better teams.

Agree that Bice, Rosas, Cleary, Amartey and Ladhams have to go. Perhaps replaced by Rampe, Papley, Roberts, Mclean, plus Kyle or Datoli.

To a great extent, it's more about how we play than who we play. We just have to wait and see if we can do it. Surprise me, Swans. .

Great post, on personnel and pressure.

Bice’s kicking gets attention but he runs past the contest too often, and fails to stick to his man at defensive stoppages. He’s simply not disciplined and hard enough. I’d rather take the punt on Kyle than him.

We’ve also now tried the extra tall in either a fourth tall forward or ruck, and each time we’ve been deficient. It doesn’t work. It’s hard when Paps is out and we are gap filling but we need to get back to buzz and swarm and pressure inside 50.

As for Edwards dumping Neale, good on him. He neither pinned the arm or drove through the tackle with his shoulder. But it was one of the few times one of our blokes got physical, when the Lions were all night. Great stuff.

[UUaswan]

We’ve also now tried the extra tall in either a fourth tall forward or ruck, and each time we’ve been deficient. It doesn’t work. It’s hard when Paps is out and we are gap filling but we need to get back to buzz and swarm and pressure inside 50.

It worked fine when Logan was running up the ground and getting 20 possessions. Had to have been told to stay in the 50 because that was the complete opposite of his previous 3 weeks

[MattW]

Great post, on personnel and pressure.

Bice’s kicking gets attention but he runs past the contest too often, and fails to stick to his man at defensive stoppages. He’s simply not disciplined and hard enough. I’d rather take the punt on Kyle than him.

We’ve also now tried the extra tall in either a fourth tall forward or ruck, and each time we’ve been deficient. It doesn’t work. It’s hard when Paps is out and we are gap filling but we need to get back to buzz and swarm and pressure inside 50.

As for Edwards dumping Neale, good on him. He neither pinned the arm or drove through the tackle with his shoulder. But it was one of the few times one of our blokes got physical, when the Lions were all night. Great stuff.

I would rather take a punt on Kyle too, giving him a run of games before finals. Cox pointedly mentioned Rampe and Kyle are playing VFL today, and I suspect they may be in line to come in for Cunningham and Bice. Agree with McLean for Ladhams and Roberts for Cleary as the other changes.

[UUaswan]

Hopefully Rampe and Melican coming back steadies our defence.

I'd like to see Kyle ahead of Bice and if we do play Bice it is up the ground. Get him away from opposition goals.

I did like Mills going thru the middle, we need a bull in there at times.

Confused by Sheldricks minutes. Hasnt played above 70% all year and never 75% in his career, thats not a coincidence that is Coaching.

[imuninformedtwo]

Sounds like Amartey's going to be out for a bit at least. TBD determined on the timeline. So Hayden back in, and will be interesting to then see if they give Ladhams another go.

[imuninformedtwo]

Update: 10 weeks. Which is effectively the season. Which is also why we're wise to resist giving him a ton of salary cap space, because he never plays a full season.

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2057642/injury-update-joel-amartey

[UUaswan]

Update: 10 weeks. Which is effectively the season. Which is also why we're wise to resist giving him a ton of salary cap space, because he never plays a full season.

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/...e-joel-amartey

So true, very costly game for him

His agent must be a special kind if stupid given his history, the length of the deal in front if him and prone underperformance

[UUaswan]

Update: 10 weeks. Which is effectively the season. Which is also why we're wise to resist giving him a ton of salary cap space, because he never plays a full season.

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/...e-joel-amartey

Just read that

Season over, he isnt getting risked for a final with a partial tear

[dejavoodoo44]

Coaches votes for the game. Slightly odd that Chad didn't get the full 10.

9 Chad Warner (SYD)
8 Will Ashcroft (BL)
5 Conor McKenna (BL)
4 Zac Bailey (BL)
2 Josh Dunkley (BL)
2 Levi Ashcroft (BL)