Team V Cats: No change

[Real Commando]

We are certainly going to do our bit. And remember that there are a few lads coming back on line very soon. That might lift the guys too.

RC

[Big Al]

Sorry Primms I thought we had a fair go with the Umps last night. They made some curious decisions but it went both ways so no complaints from me.

[Primmy]

Am I the only one to think that Mumms was monstered at least 5 times?

He was on the receiving end of being buried in the mud at least 5 times by 3 plus cats with head high contact. Why! How did they get away with it? Poor umping I would say but I didn't think the cats were dirty players, but I was wrong.

We had 4 kids who were born in 1991 on the ground. Experience is the issue. It will get better. No flag this year, but I can see good cohesiveness as a group (I am not counting the 4th). Its there, we need Bulldog back to steer the ship (yep, I do believe in his ability to read play way ahead of the action) and Pyke to work with Mumms; they are both capable of playing up forward very well indeed, it could be a major tag team if the PTB are game enough to try.

[chalbilto]

We are definately not a wet weather team. Contary to what the ill informed so called south of the border media experts repeatedly tell us "the Swans play a tight congetsted football with plenty of stopages blah, blah, blah......" the rain does not suit the Swans.

As soon as I saw the heavens open up my hopes nose dived especially as we were playing one of the top teams of the last 4 years. I honestly can't remember when we won in very wet conditions, I would rather prefer a dry track.

Tonight we were out classed by a better team. No excuses, and given a fair go by the umpires.
With regards team selection, I think that Pyke, Moore, Kennelly & (subject to fitness) Roberts-Thompson should come back into the team. A couple of players could do with a stint with the reserves.

With the bye coming up hopefully the coaching staff and Real Commando can freshen up the boys and defeat Carlton.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Working hard isn't enough.

[Bleed Red Blood]

most disappointing how the backline played again, Reg I think needs a spell in ressies. shaw the same his kicking is pathetic.

You've got to be joking, Reg is one of the most reliable in the side. Ultra consistent, both as a rebounder and good attacking weapon (chooses the right option) and shutting down his opponent. Agree on Shaw, should not be in the side I would give Sumner a go early in the season, by the end of the season he will have learnt how to find the ball as much as Shaw does and exceed him in decision making and delivering to targets.

Can't wait for LRTS return, we need the big guy as a target for our kick-ins. We we're going to Mummy with the long kick, but the guy was out-teamed each time.

[mcs]

A disappointing evening all things considered. We looked good in the 1st quarter but it was downhill from there. Our poor skills were again shown up and it really hurt us. Too many kicks to none and too many times we wasted chances to get clean possession. We simply need to be far more clean and polished in possession and we need to work much harder when we don't have the ball and when we are trying to get ourselves out of trouble.
While shaw got a lot of ball, his disposal was absolutely woeful. Mcveigh needs to realise he is captaining the 1sts not the reserves- he was poor again.

[Auntie.Gerald]

very strange game plan

ie win the clearances and tackle count but just kick forward and hope...............our guys are good enough to go backwards or sideways before just kicking downfield

i liked our midfield intensity and we looked very good in the midfield for large parts of the game but it became obvious to everyone we were kicking immediately forward from the contest and Scarlett just sat in the hole all night

I didnt like Goodes not being a target up front for half of the game as per recent weeks - I know it was wet conditions but at the end of the days the Pod worked as a very good target

I do feel a little cheated that 3 of their goals came from 70m over the back of everyone

overall exciting potential and a full season for Reid, AJ and a fair few others will have us at a totally different level of experience

PS - I was happy Hannes played tight tonight and not open for disposals as his decision making last few weeks has sucked a bit like Rok's

PSS -McGlynn and Jack playing more open has looked great IMHO

PSSS - they are a class side with an exceptionally classy backline

Still our skills are below our best and maybe that has to do with such high focus on the contest and our defence which is the right foundation for the season anyway

[giant]

Too good, too tough, too poised, too polished. Basically all the reasons we beat Dons & Eagles were the same reasons Cats beat us tonite. No need for kneejerk changes, take the break and move on to the Blues. As Mick Malthouse said, who wants to be playing your best footy in May?

[Nico]

What Geelong do well is run fast forward when a player gets possession on the wing. Our blokes got found so many times on this, best being Chapman who just runs hard to the HFF.

[Swans500]

...No excuses from me this week. They had Geelong confused in the 1st qtr, also did attempt some attacking footy. Just no ****ing good reason to turn it around like they did.

Agree....why did Everett not go forward????....Seems little coaching effort was made to rectify things while we were still "in the game"....

[happy]

just disappointing all round ...

...less said the better

[Nico]

most disappointing how the backline played again, Reg I think needs a spell in ressies. shaw the same his kicking is pathetic. Bevan went missin after the first qrt, and Jesse also, Why were the cats defenders by themselves so much. Jesse also needs a spell he is not bringing the ball to the ground. Also Bird iwas pathetic tonight and a spell in the ressies will do him no harm also. All in all very disappointing I can mention some others who were not there tonight . Okeefe, Goodes had no chance . Coach needs to reassess things.

Bit harsh on the backline as they only kicked 11 goals. I thought Shaw was someone who played well all night. That errant kick to Varcoe was a howler but gee I thought he was in our better players.

You really wonder why no one gets back into our forward line. It is probably because we try to get so many players to a contest, however there were a few times where the perceived pressure got to our blokes and they just didn't look where they were kicking and found those loose Geelong players.

[Nico]

Would love to see McNeil in for bird next week, you would think he's earned a call up after the start he's had in the ressies this year.

On a day like that Bird's kicking is really found out. I suspect his stats though will be way better than Hanners. Bird seemed to give away a number of frees for sloppy head high tackles.

[Nico]

Plenty of our blokes are clearly not wet trackers. So many passengers none more than Hanners with 3 stats.

It seemed to me after quarter time that they took the attitude that we just can't beat this mob.
It was mentioned Scarlett just roamed the backline; true but when the ball went to a contest on our forward line Geelong always had someone who dropped behind the pack.
Our forward line pressure was lamentable after quarter time.
Small forwards contesting pack marks instead of dropping behind or in front of the pack. It just allowed an easy clearance by Geelong. This is basic stuff taught at Auskick.
My best: Richards, Jack, Kennedy, Shaw, Mumford.
Disappointments: Hanners, White, McVeigh (had a snooze in the 3rd Q)Everitt (mistake turned the game) Jetta (his turn as sub), ROK.
It is difficult watching on tele but why did we stop going through the corridor? Did Geelong pack the corridor? We seemed to go wide regardless of the situation.
What happened to Everitt to the forward line?
I think Rohan should now start every week. Sure he had a big hand in us beating WCE but it seems a waste of talent having getting cold on the bench.
We were beaten by a better team, our poor disposal and the inability of our forwards to make any space or even get on a clean lead after quarter time.
Did the road trip to Perth have an affect?