Last night's loss in perspective

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

I thought we'd get flogged by the Saints, so a 2 point loss was a win in my books.
Considering how much the saints flooded in the 1st q.

I love the way the dhead guy behhind us (who gave a running commentary of the St Kilda game ALL night), started complaining when sydney were chipping the ball around, looking for options. But could'nt see that every Saints player was in, or very close to being in, there D50. What a knob.

There was this typically mouthy Sainter tool abusing us after the game telling us to "@@@@@@ off with your bull@@@@ defensive tactics that are destroying footy". I simply yelled "Win a @@@@@@ing flag & come back to me dickwit!" The security guards behind me started laughing as the guy got so shirty!

I hope he enjoys his seasons under Ross Lyon this season. Who said there was a water shortage at Moorrabin this winter?

JF

[R-1]

Bird was given number 14? Did I read that correctly? I've been in Spain since September, I am out of the loop.

[SimonH]

Maybe it's just me, but I thought Grundy's game was probably the best since his debut. Got to contests. Made good position. Seemed to know what to do with the pill when he got it. Didn't look worryingly slow.

For all the talk of Marty Mattner being a hard-running HBF in the Malceski/Kennelly mould, so far as I could tell on last night's showing he's barely qualified to tie Tadhg's bootlaces. He looked about as dynamic as Luke Brennan. Which isn't very.

I had been concerned that Moore's salad days with the club were way, way back in 2005 and he was now on the outer. Well, the good news from last night is that he's back. And, injury permitting, going all the way. He's a natural footballer; a steal at draft pick #31. Presumably he only fell that far because his build is not that of a natural athlete. But his athletic ability now seems to be well and truly up to par required for an AFL midfielder.

Amazing how fast things can change. For years talk of our midfield has been all 'drab 4, honest but untalented slow scraggers, no talent coming through when they retire'. In a matter of a night, you've got Moore, McVeigh taking a step up, Jack showing that he wasn't a one-season wonder, and Bird demonstrating some potential, and the future looks a whole lot brighter.

PS Not giving Ed Barlow a game was absolute freaking insanity unless it was some kind of disciplinary thing. It's blokes like him, who win games like that.

[ernie koala]

i dont think grundy is much to look forward to until he is played in the correct position.

I don't think he's much to look forward to...fullstop.
On the otherhand;
Jack looks an excellent prospect, hard at it, skillful and quick.
Moore looks like he'll get better and better, if given plenty of gametime, as he gains confidence.
Bird also looks good, well balanced, strong for his age.
Mattner looked lively and should be a good inclusion.
Why Barlow wasn't playing last night is beyond me.
So at least there were some possitives from a crap game.

[Melbournehammer]

Honestly there are some ridiculous views here about our team. I have no diificulty taking the view that we are a dull side to watch and that we are not a patch on geelong. but neither are 15 other sides and we are competitive with every other team because of our game plan.

The reality is that a side which has 5 short defenders who cant chop arms or use their hand to push players under the ball will never be able to beat other sides unless the midfield makes the delivery of the ball always contested. realistically player for player how many of our team make a combined side bolton, kennelly goodes, o keefe ? you would choose riewoldt over hall, kosy over micky o, hayes over bolton, del santo over ablett, hudgton over barry, king over jolly, montagna over mattner, ball over monty, etc etc. We should accept that this style keeps us in many games and makes the best of a largely committed but unskilled side - a side epitomised by brett kirk frankly.

what i actually have problems with is that we dont execute using our style as well as we used to. this is partly because we lack enough players who can kick a goal from outside 50. this means other teams can create a much tighter zone. so we simply have no-one who can kick the goal which drags defeners out of the space to lead into. its partly because umpires sweat on our dinky little passes to say not 15, and partly because until we get a giansiracusa who can kick 60 m accurately we offer no threat from outside 50.

actually i could say so much more but all i really want to say is that we have to accept that the side massively achieved for two years and that the side needs a complete overhaul relying on about 10 draft picks. so if you are prepared to wait 10 years before we are competiutive again thenaccept it. but i wont because i still reckonm this side can win 13-14 games and then anybody on its day.

[Grant]

i dont think grundy is much to look forward to until he is played in the correct position.

in 3 years time who will kick our goals, no ones kicking them now i guess maybe we dont worry about that.

At least Grundy knew how to kick a goal up the swans cheer squad end,he was the only one in the whole match to do so......

[goswannie14]

I actually heard Malcolm Blight on Channel 10 last night describing St Kilda's tactics as flooding.
I was dumbfounded - aren't we the only team to 'flood' while other clubs 'get numbers behind the ball'?

We had this discussion with a few of us at the game. I think it finally sank in to a few of the StKilda thickheads around us.

[573v30]

I actually heard Malcolm Blight on Channel 10 last night describing St Kilda's tactics as flooding.
I was dumbfounded - aren't we the only team to 'flood' while other clubs 'get numbers behind the ball'?

Blighty must've watched the Saints vs. Hawks match last year and realised what a floodfest that game was and has now recognised it's not just the Swans who employ this tactic every now-and-then. Wallsy on the other hand doesn't have a clue and is probably anticipating for a Carlton premiership this year.

[BeeEmmAre]

I actually heard Malcolm Blight on Channel 10 last night describing St Kilda's tactics as flooding.
I was dumbfounded - aren't we the only team to 'flood' while other clubs 'get numbers behind the ball'?

[swansrule100]

i dont think grundy is much to look forward to until he is played in the correct position.

in 3 years time who will kick our goals, no ones kicking them now i guess maybe we dont worry about that.

[melbloods78]

In perspective, we may not be as successful this year but we have a lot to look forward to. Jack, Moore, Mattner, LRT, Grundy ect

[2005]

I have made the psychological adjustment to enjoy watching losses by taking pleasure from the development of our next generation. I don't care if we lose this season as long as they continue to restructure and rebuild and the players on the field give 100%. I think they did last night.

I'd much rather that than Roos and Longmire fall into last year's trap of thinking the 2005 cohort have another premiership in them. They don't. Our next window will be in 3 - 5 years. Start preparing.

Pretty much what I want as well !!
We play some pretty crap footy sometimes and in the past have played it better than others, its just other teams now have mastered what we do.
StKilda were up by 20 points after 7 minutes and we looked like getting smashed, though we went to what we normally do and bought StKilda to our level and got the game on our terms , which like most of us I just hate watching.Though at least last night we had kids running around and sure we done some dumb things but StKilda were just as dumb as well.
We can produce pretty good footy when we get things going on or terms (Eg Hawthorn RD 22 last year ) , we dictated and ran and dominated the game on our terms. Though we seem to get jumped in most of our games and than go to what we did last night, which keeps us in most games.
Like Legs said as long as we are having a go with the kids I can just tolerate watching that crap we played last night because we are always in games.
Just take a look at the Bulldogs / Adelaide game today , just wish we were involved in more of those

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I have made the psychological adjustment to enjoy watching losses by taking pleasure from the development of our next generation. I don't care if we lose this season as long as they continue to restructure and rebuild and the players on the field give 100%. I think they did last night.

I'd much rather that than Roos and Longmire fall into last year's trap of thinking the 2005 cohort have another premiership in them. They don't. Our next window will be in 3 - 5 years. Start preparing.

Very good post!

[Legs Akimbo]

I have made the psychological adjustment to enjoy watching losses by taking pleasure from the development of our next generation. I don't care if we lose this season as long as they continue to restructure and rebuild and the players on the field give 100%. I think they did last night.

I'd much rather that than Roos and Longmire fall into last year's trap of thinking the 2005 cohort have another premiership in them. They don't. Our next window will be in 3 - 5 years. Start preparing.

[elroy67]

IS there anywhere you can find out which of our players is injured, when they will be back?

Don't rely on the Dome scoreboard. Apparently Luke Ablett will be back in 3 weeks......