Match Day Rnd.4 West Coast V Sydney. Domain Stadium 20.10 pm.

[Markwebbos]

This what Im dreaming off

FF Haywood Reid Papley
HF Rohan Franklin Heeney

Hmm yes please.

Cheers

Waz

You might have to give up Heeney to the midfield and take Jack in his place

[Wazza]

Great to hear a few players due back but these guys apart from Tippet have no game time at all and will need 1 -2 games at least to find touch, fitness, gell with team mates etc. They have to play against GWS if ready but how effective will they be, hopefully they get through the game and no more injuries. I think the 4 weeks after GWS are critical we must win all 4 games to setup the 2nd half of this season.

This what Im dreaming off

FF Haywood Reid Papley
HF Rohan Franklin Heeney

Hmm yes please.

Cheers

Waz

[MattW]

Good to see Papley back but I think it was a mistake playing him. Horse basically said we were playing him as we needed to get some game time into him and there was no NEAFL this weekend. AFL is not where you play players to just get them match fit. He would have benefited more from the hard training planned for those who did not get to Perth. Sinclair was good in the first quarter but if you look at the hitout stats he eventually was well beaten by Giles and Vardy. He does not have the tank at present to ruck solo for a full game. He got a chop out from Reid but this left our forward line without a tall which hurt badly as Franklin was nobbled in the first quarter hit from Hurn. We elevated Melican probably only for the week as either he or Fox will return to the rookie list with Rohan now due back. He should have played as he is tall, fast and a good kick on either side. Would have given us a tall target when Reid went into ruck and could have relieved Aliir and Grundy in defence who needed help. OK he would have been on debut and has not played as a forward but he showed enough in the three JLT games to be given a go and at least he is fit as far as I know though his tank might be suspect over four quarters at Subiaco. He would at least have given the team flexibility which we badly lacked.

I note that our expectation of free kicks is now so low that when we lose them 23-16 it seems like we have had a very good deal from the umpires.

Longmire's comment was that there may be 4-5 coming into the team after a spell next week, and playing Papley this week would mean one fewer (and increase our chances of beating WCE). Made sense to me. We'll be better v GWS for Papley having played on Thursday night.

[dejavoodoo44]

If we are going to rise from the ashes, Tom will be an essential part of the picture. He is exactly the kind of forward we have lacked and I enjoy his intensity, skill, sense of position and willingness to back himself.

Yes, I'm also looking forward to seeing what Papley can do this year. I think having both him and Hayward up forward, should provide an increasing number of highlights as the season progresses. Especially if both of them can develop a big fish/little fish type of combination with Reid and Buddy.

[rb4x]

Good to see Papley back but I think it was a mistake playing him. Horse basically said we were playing him as we needed to get some game time into him and there was no NEAFL this weekend. AFL is not where you play players to just get them match fit. He would have benefited more from the hard training planned for those who did not get to Perth. Sinclair was good in the first quarter but if you look at the hitout stats he eventually was well beaten by Giles and Vardy. He does not have the tank at present to ruck solo for a full game. He got a chop out from Reid but this left our forward line without a tall which hurt badly as Franklin was nobbled in the first quarter hit from Hurn. We elevated Melican probably only for the week as either he or Fox will return to the rookie list with Rohan now due back. He should have played as he is tall, fast and a good kick on either side. Would have given us a tall target when Reid went into ruck and could have relieved Aliir and Grundy in defence who needed help. OK he would have been on debut and has not played as a forward but he showed enough in the three JLT games to be given a go and at least he is fit as far as I know though his tank might be suspect over four quarters at Subiaco. He would at least have given the team flexibility which we badly lacked.

I note that our expectation of free kicks is now so low that when we lose them 23-16 it seems like we have had a very good deal from the umpires.

[dimelb]

QUOTE:"I immediately renewed my bromance with Papley. I love his fire and energy. He will be great when he gets up and going properly." QUOTE.

Tom reminds me so much of Amon Buchanan. Even looks a little like him.

If we are going to rise from the ashes, Tom will be an essential part of the picture. He is exactly the kind of forward we have lacked and I enjoy his intensity, skill, sense of position and willingness to back himself.

[YvonneH]

QUOTE:"I immediately renewed my bromance with Papley. I love his fire and energy. He will be great when he gets up and going properly." QUOTE.

Tom reminds me so much of Amon Buchanan. Even looks a little like him.

[bloodspirit]

I am posting without reading the thread except for the part pre-match and some on this page.

Overall, I'm not too disappointed even though we are 0-4 with every chance of being 0-5 and even though this is surprising considering we were grand finalists last year. It does seem a bit odd. My thoughts about the causes are:

* senior players' performances sub-par
* injuries
* maybe we over-performed a bit last year? There were 5 teams at the top at the end of last year and another 2 worthy contenders (one of whom won the comp). We were not really better than any of them, just in the mix and we were defying gravity a little to do so given the amount of experience we lost. That was down to the exceptional performances of all our senior core.

Anyway, the reasons I'm feeling relatively positive despite the losses are and horrible errors and turnovers are that I think we have unearthed some good talent, especially Hayward who I thought had a fabulous game, and we are getting some games into them which is great for the future because they are the future. The best of them may hold their places even after others return to the side. Some of our middle and lower tier players are stepping up - take a bow Lloyd and Hewett. By the bye, I thought Callum Sinclair did ok, especially early, and did not let us down, even though his disposal was poor. Finally, even though he didn't have a great game, I immediately renewed my bromance with Papley. I love his fire and energy. He will be great when he gets up and going properly.

[AB Swannie]

I'm lucky to be in Hawaii at the moment so didn't get to see the game. I've only seen highlights. However, it looks like Reg had a shocker and contributed to a number of Weagles goals. He has been a fine servant and is allowed an off game.

This seems to be symptomatic of our "if only" year we are having. In all four games we have been close enough if good enough but have had a crucial error here, a 50-50 call there, a chain rope here, a glandular fever there. When it clicks, look out.

I reckon we'll likely lose again next week against the GWScum and be the first team to start a season 0-5 to make the finals. North Melbourne made it last year after having two streaks of 5 losses. I think we can finish with a 13-9 record and place 7th or 8th. It'll be fun to watch anyway.

[jcroz29]

I

We are in an interesting phase of the club's evolution, one that we haven't experienced in quite a while. We're not winning, but I can feel something good brewing with the rewards just over the horizon. It can be a great time for us Swans fans, filled with hope and anticipation.

Let's enjoy the ride.

While my neighbours who hear me yelling at the TV may not believe me - I'm with you on this Ludwig

[Meg]

I think Reg has been great over a long period of time, but his kicking has been awful this year and his turnovers have lead to many goal.

This is something I don't understand about footy each year. Why do some players drop their form in a matter of a few months?

Many of us thought Reg was unlucky not to get selected as an All-Australian last year and he was one of our best in the GF. He had a lovely relaxed holiday off-season (judging from Instagram), came back for an injury-free (as far as we know) preseason training period - and now within his good defending we see too many stuff- ups. Very puzzling.

[Meg]

It doesn't help that our vice-captains - Parker and Hanners - are both struggling for form. They are possibly a little too engrossed in trying to get their own games going to direct others as much as they should.

I totally agree that this doesn't help and is probably part of the problem.

[Ludwig]

I realise you like to throw out some different ideas but this is nuts. Reg is the only thing holding the makeshift backline together. Who is going to lead them if he isn't there? Smooch or are you getting rid of him too!
We have already introduced enough newbies over the last two years. Time to consolidate what we have instead of even more changes. For mine, I think Laidler should have played, sure he isn't the greatest defender going around but he would help out Grundy with experience and determination.

I think Reg has been great over a long period of time, but his kicking has been awful this year and his turnovers have lead to many goals. He's never been quick, but reads the play well and is a an excellent mark. But I think it is time to introduce Melican to the side. He's quick and a good kick on both sides. I've said in previous posts that I thought we could play 3 talls in the side if 2 of them, meaning Aliir and Melican, were quick. I take the view that this will be Grundy's last year as a starter. I know there is some pain involved in these transitions, but time stops for no one.

We have to address the issue of poor ball movement coming out of defense, a need for better kicking and more speed. I see the back line at year end or the start of next year being Aliir, Melican, Rampe, Smith, Newman and probably Marsh, with perhaps Jones as a run and carry 7th defender.

Smith is not having a great start to the year, but I have never suggested that he be dropped from the side. I also think highly of Laidler, but it seems Marsh offers more now and still has some upside, while Laidler had probably reached his peak.

[liz]

I agree Josh leads by example but with so many newbies I do think it is possible more direction is needed on the ground. And for that I also agree that McVeigh will be very welcome when he returns.

The comparison I make is after Adam Goodes relinquished (joint) captaincy you could still see him giving lots of direction and encouragement on the field (but not in a way that usurped McVeigh & Jack). I have wondered (with no reason than casual observation) if part of Jetta's lack of form/confidence since he moved west has been caused by no longer playing with Goodes. I know that is very speculative.

Ps: in the past there have been many occasions when new players have said how much help they have received from the experienced players telling then where to run etc. I'm not sure that's happening at the moment - and perhaps the critical ratio of experienced to unexperienced has dropped too low for that to happen.

It doesn't help that our vice-captains - Parker and Hanners - are both struggling for form. They are possibly a little too engrossed in trying to get their own games going to direct others as much as they should. But still, we have a strong group of experienced players so there should be enough voices out there.

Yesterday was a step forward. I think the contested ball was a lot better. It was just those awful turnovers that cost us. Some had an element of bad luck - the bounce, or a richochet into the legs of another player - but all teams face the wrong bounce of the ball at times.

[Meg]

Match Day Rnd.4 West Coast V Sydney. Domain Stadium 20.10 pm.

I think Josh is the best captain we can find atm. He leads by example, which is a good thing but more insight is needed. Perhaps McVeigh can provide that element when he's back in.

And Reg and Smithy had some awful moments last night; I expect they can only improve.

I agree Josh leads by example but with so many newbies I do think it is possible more direction is needed on the ground. And for that I also agree that McVeigh will be very welcome when he returns.

The comparison I make is after Adam Goodes relinquished (joint) captaincy you could still see him giving lots of direction and encouragement on the field (but not in a way that usurped McVeigh & Jack). I have wondered (with no reason than casual observation) if part of Jetta's lack of form/confidence since he moved west has been caused by no longer playing with Goodes. I know that is very speculative.

Ps: in the past there have been many occasions when new players have said how much help they have received from the experienced players telling then where to run etc. I'm not sure that's happening at the moment - and perhaps the critical ratio of experienced to unexperienced has dropped too low for that to happen.