Preview Match Preview: Sydney Swans v Hawthorn Hawks - Qualifying Final 1 - Friday September 6 @ 19:50, MCG

[stevierayswan]

You guys looked a little flat in the last quarter but i am sure you will bounce back, just one of those games. Sydney are the best team in the comp imo, lacking Goodes atm, he would make all the difference. Good luck with the rest of the finals.

we looked a hell of alot more than a little flat. A belting from a good team has been on the cards for a couple of months now sadly

 

[Us against the rest]

Appreciate the kind message mate but this has been coming for more than a month.

Well let's hope you got that game out of your system and you bring your best in the next one.

 

[stevoswan]

[quote="PaulRoos, post: 30015379, member: 37235" Does Jude look a tad outta place ? Would never knock the champ but I did see signs last week and again tonight.[/quote] Alas, he looks shot, plus now injured. It's all over for Jude, and that's almost enough to make me shed a tear. He's been one of the best ever, but it's over .....

 

[Us against the rest]

we looked a hell of alot more than a little flat. A belting from a good team has been on the cards for a couple of months now sadly

Where is Goodes at injury wise, to me when he's playing Sydney have so much more punch.

 

[swannyfan]

Not sure what you mean, but if you think that right now we are on equal footing with the Hawks you're kidding yourself. They have raised their level and we have gone backwards. Some of it on our side is injuries, but that doesn't change the reality.

That second half was brutal to watch, and it was disappointing to see how easily they scored and moved the ball. I'm just saying that it isn't always about effort - is there a drop in intensity? Sure, but that can happen when you are down and the other team has momentum and is putting you to sword. Yes, it was embarrassing to lose like that, but I think it's easy to say a bad loss is due to a "pathetic effort", rather than acknowledging that the other team had a lot to do with it.

Correct, which is why you need to unravel their kicking skills through continual applied pressure (real and perceived) and which can be further helped by us minimising elementary skill errors/turnovers. This is exactly what Geelong does to them with their pressure. Watch all their recent games. From the very first bounce, even before Cats have had a chance to do anything with the ball, you can see Hawks are very shaky and nervous, missed targets, basic skills errors, turnovers etc etc. None of this confidence that allows them quick, precision ball movement they do to other teams. That's the type of intensity and pressure we need to bring back.

 

[Sanecow]

I'm 99% sure we tanked that last quarter on Friday.

Unless we are playing a very long game, I have lost a bit of confidence in this theory.

 

[Jack2Jack]

With the bombing to Tippett/Pyke thing, it's not great but atm there aren't really other options. They're our only goal kicking players in form. McGylnn and Bolton couldn't get near it tonight. Our mids really haven't been hitting the scoreboard either so it does come down to certain players form a fair bit as well. Even last week we were bombing it long to Pyke/Mumford/White, the difference was our Mids got to the right spots.

The forward line really hasn't had any synergy this year. Tippett missed the first half of the year, Reid hasn't played second half. Rohan has only just come in, Jetta has missed most the second half of year. Lamb in and out. White has really only played second half of the year as well.
You'd hope after another pre-season and hopefully some more consistency in available players they'll gel better. More importantly hopefully the midfield and forward line can link up better, certainly an area that needs to let looked at pre-season. There's plenty to work to do but there is to with, going into 2014.

This year isn't done of course and the players won't want to throw in a chance at a prelim. They might need to try something a bit different though, throw a bit of caution to the wind and see what happens.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Hahaha Horse " we just didn't play well tonight "

 

[TheWhiteRhino]

Pretty simple really, you need a lot to go right to win a flag and the Swans have not had a lot go right this year.

It seemed, more so than any other time this year, that our injuries have caught up with us. Hannebery laboured, Jetta looked underdone and Rohan and Mitchell looked tired. Most of all, we just don't have a Plan B tonight. The Hawks have obviously learnt a lot from last season and, whilst he were able to hold them in the first half, we looked out matched and out coached in the second half.

Very disappointing overall - particularly the way we surrendered a big lead so quickly.

But, I 'm not giving up just yet. We're backs against the wall and expectations are low, but I know this club will fight on and, hopefully, defy the odds.

As for next week, we need to make the tough call and drop a big. I'm not quite sure who that will be, but it needs to be one of them. We had no answer for the Hawks when the ball hit the ground in our forward 50 and really missed the creative input of someone like Lamb when we went forward.

Don't lose faith guys, we've defied the critics all season and anything can happen in the finals.

 

[melbournehammer]

With the bombing to Tippett/Pyke thing, it's not great but atm there aren't really other options. They're our only goal kicking players in form. McGylnn and Bolton couldn't get near it tonight. Our mids really haven't been hitting the scoreboard either so it does come down to certain players form a fair bit as well. Even last week we were bombing it long to Pyke/Mumford/White, the difference was our Mids got to the right spots.

The forward line really hasn't had any synergy this year. Tippett missed the first half of the year, Reid hasn't played second half. Rohan has only just come in, Jetta has missed most the second half of year. Lamb in and out. White has really only played second half of the year as well.
You'd hope after another pre-season and hopefully some more consistency in available players they'll gel better. More importantly hopefully the midfield and forward line can link up better, certainly an area that needs to let looked at pre-season. There's plenty to work to do but there is to with, going into 2014.

This year isn't done of course and the players won't want to throw in a chance at a prelim. They might need to try something a bit different though, throw a bit of caution to the wind and see what happens.

The forward line has been a problem since Tippett came in. But that is partly because our midfield has been destroyed repeatedly. Prior to Tippett we actually looked for targets, and the run and carry enabled us to kick to more players. Now we are so pressured that we only have the get out of jail option. But the talls we have on the forward line just lead to uncontested footy from the hawks. We can't man up and we can't keep the ball in.

 

[The King!]

Pretty simple really, you need a lot to go right to win a flag and the Swans have not had a lot go right this year.

It seemed, more so than any other time this year, that our injuries have caught up with us. Hannebery laboured, Jetta looked underdone and Rohan and Mitchell looked tired. Most of all, we just don't have a Plan B tonight. The Hawks have obviously learnt a lot from last season and, whilst he were able to hold them in the first half, we looked out matched and out coached in the second half.

Very disappointing overall - particularly the way we surrendered a big lead so quickly.

But, I 'm not giving up just yet. We're backs against the wall and expectations are low, but I know this club will fight on and, hopefully, defy the odds.

As for next week, we need to make the tough call and drop a big. I'm not quite sure who that will be, but it needs to be one of them. We had no answer for the Hawks when the ball hit the ground in our forward 50 and really missed the creative input of someone like Lamb when we went forward.

Don't lose faith guys, we've defied the critics all season and anything can happen in the finals.

I expect to make the prelim.

My thinking was tonight was likely to go their way unless we lifted big time, but i expected not to be pissed all over

I still think we should be able to beat richmond or carlton in sydney

Then you get to the prelim and you never know, but thinking of the cats at the mcg...... They are better than hawthorn

 

[melbournehammer]

Hahaha Horse " we just didn't play well tonight "

I think horse has been in denial in his press conferences since the coolingwood game. It would be interesting whether he has been saying similar things privately, or whether he has taken a harsher line.

 

[The King!]

Tonight would be easier to wear if it were a one off

Its just the same story v the top 2 this year and its a continuation of the form for the last 5 weeks.

 

[TheWhiteRhino]

I expect to make the prelim.

My thinking was tonight was likely to go their way unless we lifted big time, but i expected not to be pissed all over

I still think we should be able to beat richmond or carlton in sydney

Then you get to the prelim and you never know, but thinking of the cats at the mcg...... They are better than hawthorn

At least we avoid the Pies!!

 

[Sanecow]

I think horse has been in denial in his press conferences since the coolingwood game. It would be interesting whether he has been saying similar things privately, or whether he has taken a harsher line.

From seeing him in the box, I think he is just playing the media with a straight bat.

 

[TheWhiteRhino]

I think horse has been in denial in his press conferences since the coolingwood game. It would be interesting whether he has been saying similar things privately, or whether he has taken a harsher line.

How is he in denial? We played shit, he said as much.

 

[stevierayswan]

Where is Goodes at injury wise, to me when he's playing Sydney have so much more punch.

Goodsey to be honest, is not going to be fully fit until 2014. Even as a champ he is, he'll be underdone, and he has traditionally taken a few weeks to get going after a break.

 

[Bloods_33]

I think horse has been in denial in his press conferences since the coolingwood game. It would be interesting whether he has been saying similar things privately, or whether he has taken a harsher line.

Yep I'm disappointed that he refuses to admit that this tall forward line structure is just not working, I think tonite he finally realised this when he put Tippett as loose man in defence. Due to the fact that we could not keep up with their mids, we put a loose man behind the ball, that was the end as hawthorn kicked their way through us with ease
Lets pray Carlton win next week.

 

[stevierayswan]

From seeing him in the box, I think he is just playing the media with a straight bat.

from seeing him in the box, I think his dog just died.

 

[The King!]

Yep I'm disappointed that he refuses to admit that this tall forward line structure is just not working, I think tonite he finally realised this when he put Tippett as loose man in defence. Due to the fact that we could not keep up with their mids, we put a loose man behind the ball, that was the end as hawthorn kicked their way through us with ease
Lets pray Carlton win next week.

I thought tippett just got run down the ground by lake

I dont know re the talls, if its the structure or they just played poorly snd the delivery was poor.

The plan wont work unless they spread properly and delivery hits them on the lead

Bombing high allows for the spare man to spoil every time.

If we cut on who comes in? Morton? Lamb?

 

[stevoswan]

I just spent a bit of time on the "10 Greatest Finals Moments" thread, and feel a lot better now. You should try it, it works! As for this year, we're still in the hunt, and although it may not last 'til the last Saturday, we have a lot to look forward to next year!! We can be the new Geelong, and win it every second year......

 

[Bloods_33]

Honestly I don't blame the midfield they busted their guts, but I feel because of our tall forward line , we have less rotations and less players running through our midfield, horse takes the blame for this he got Tippett in and after half a year our forward line is still not functioning

 

[melbournehammer]

How is he in denial? We played shit, he said as much.

Because instead of saying that we are in ground hog day where we are just going, he has kept saying we will be right, we know the processes etc.

The reality is that we have struggled for weeks - even against st Kilda who were absolutely terrible and rested Hayes. I'd be interested in whether he has said privately our performances are not those of a team with flag aspirations.

 

[Bloods_33]

I thought tippett just got run down the ground by lake

I dont know re the talls, if its the structure or they just played poorly snd the delivery was poor.

The plan wont work unless they spread properly and delivery hits them on the lead

Bombing high allows for the spare man to spoil every time.

If we cut on who comes in? Morton? Lamb?

Rather lamb, Biggs any player who can run for four quarters, I was at the ground he spent at least ten minutes next to ted as a loose man in defence. I understand about delivery into the forward line but in finals that's often not possible, which means bring the ball to ground and hold the ball in the forward half, with pacy fit players who can chase

 

[The King!]

Rather lamb, Biggs any player who can run for four quarters, I was at the ground he spent at least ten minutes next to ted as a loose man in defence. I understand about delivery into the forward line but in finals that's often not possible, which means bring the ball to ground and hold the ball in the forward half, with pacy fit players who can chase

Thats odd then, sorry thought he just got caught in transition down there