Preview Round 23, 2017: Sydney Swans vs the Carlton percentage boosters

[caesar88]

The finals would be so much more exciting if only the teams that actually could win the flag played in them. Alas there are five teams who aren't as good as us, and two teams who we're as good as. Whether we finish 4th, 5th or 6th, we have no excuses come finals time.

The only thing that can stop us are ourselves and the men in green.

 

[momentbymoment]

I don't wish to be the fly in the ointment, and let me stress I'm exultant with how the boys are playing for each other now, but the question does have to be asked (preferably some weeks after we raise the cup!), why DIDN'T the boys back up Mills in that match? Watching that unravel at the time it was clear as mud that our esprit de corps was completely shot.

I'm more than a little troubled that the proud Bloods even allowed things to deteriorate to that degree.

I'm happy to see it appears to have been eradicated, but again I scratch my head and ask myself, quite apart from the Bloods culture (which should have been, by the stage of playing senior footy, like a second skin to these guys), are highly-paid professional sportspeople really that dumb? Just viewed on purely mercenary grounds, you're paid pooloads of money to function as part of a team. And being part of a team means supporting your teammates at all times. All discussion of culture and heritage aside, it's not rocket science.

I fervently hope we've seen the last of that spinelessness. Rant over.

I will give you one thought.

Longmire was almost happy after our pathetic start to the season. From round 7 onwards, he knew he no longer had to motivate the team. They had only 2 options - play with finals pressure or bow down to mediocrity.

The team - including the young kids - got the message that it was up to them to make this happen and we have been winning games ever since.

So ...
Yes - it may be true that we did not stand up during the Carlton game. But it is also true that we have been standing tall ever since.

Rant response over.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

So selection is today for the game v the Filth.

In: Allir, Newman
Out: Sinkers (omitted), Towers (illness*)




* chronic spuditis and allergies to leather

 

[Mick Oxlong]

Bangladesh in a ODI, 185n.o

That's not bullying, a guy by the name of Jason Gillespie once made a 200no against them in a Test match...he was a bowler!

 

[bungwahl]

So selection is today for the game v the Filth.

In: Allir, Newman
Out: Sinkers (omitted), Towers (illness*)




* chronic spuditis and allergies to leather

I quite like those selections but I can't quite see it happening.

 

[Sketi]

So selection is today for the game v the Filth.

In: Allir, Newman
Out: Sinkers (omitted), Towers (illness*)




* chronic spuditis and allergies to leather

If they want to try Aliir in a new role this season, this game is the very last chance you would think. Can't see it honestly but would be pleasantly surprised.

 

[BruceFromBalnarring]

I don't wish to be the fly in the ointment, and let me stress I'm exultant with how the boys are playing for each other now, but the question does have to be asked (preferably some weeks after we raise the cup!), why DIDN'T the boys back up Mills in that match? Watching that unravel at the time it was clear as mud that our esprit de corps was completely shot.

I'm more than a little troubled that the proud Bloods even allowed things to deteriorate to that degree.

I'm happy to see it appears to have been eradicated, but again I scratch my head and ask myself, quite apart from the Bloods culture (which should have been, by the stage of playing senior footy, like a second skin to these guys), are highly-paid professional sportspeople really that dumb? Just viewed on purely mercenary grounds, you're paid pooloads of money to function as part of a team. And being part of a team means supporting your teammates at all times. All discussion of culture and heritage aside, it's not rocket science.

I fervently hope we've seen the last of that spinelessness. Rant over.

I don't think it was as bad as the few seconds on TV portrayed it. I just think it was an absence of alertness. Players looking at the ground instead of what was around them. There was a player, Laidler I think, getting involved at the time late but it was a shitty day, a shitty performance by a bunch of players in a shitty mood. It happens at all clubs. And it's a credit that our club turned it around.

I'm still at a loss though as to how an opposition player is allowed by umpires to hold a player on the ground for 8 seconds and scream in his ear like Brave Brycie Gibbs was.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I don't think it was as bad as the few seconds on TV portrayed it. I just think it was an absence of alertness. Players looking at the ground instead of what was around them. There was a player, Laidler I think, getting involved at the time late but it was a shitty day, a shitty performance by a bunch of players in a shitty mood. It happens at all clubs. And it's a credit that our club turned it around.

I'm still at a loss though as to how an opposition player is allowed by umpires to hold a player on the ground for 8 seconds and scream in his ear like Brave Brycie Gibbs was.

I went to the match and it continued the whole game. The absence of support exemplified how we played. It was a shameful episode.

 

[BruceFromBalnarring]

I went to the match and it continued the whole game. The absence of support exemplified how we played. It was a shameful episode.

Oh sure. And I was there too. But I bet if you asked each player individually they would answer honestly that they weren't really aware of it at the time. It was a dispirited performance all round and highlights the difference between being "on your game" and slightly "off".

I don't think there was a conscious "I can't be stuffed getting involved" thought about it.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Oh sure. And I was there too. But I bet if you asked each player individually they would answer honestly that they weren't really aware of it at the time. It was a dispirited performance all round and highlights the difference between being "on your game" and slightly "off".

I don't think there was a conscious "I can't be stuffed getting involved" thought about it.

The players could not possibly have missed it - nor could our coaches box. They just stuck with their opponent or worse stared vacantly from their zone. Mills apparently rousted on his team mates after the game and we have not had the problem since.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

That's not bullying, a guy by the name of Jason Gillespie once made a 200no against them in a Test match...he was a bowler!

Dizzy would be our 2nd best bat now!

 

[Punts]

I like bolts

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

All Bolts are likeable, not least our two.

 

[grimlock]

Talia in? #trainingcolours

 

[Mick Oxlong]

Talia in? #trainingcolours

Would be a good opportunity for him!

 

[S120]

Talia in? #trainingcolours

The colours only seem to mean anything when they're actually doing opposed works, rather than drills with the coaches.

 

[SilentHunter_]

I hope that CarLOLton try that unsociable shit on Mills again. I'm sure the team is up for it this time. The blues are definitely going to havr blue bodiesafter this encounter.

 

[bungee]

My two cents worth...

Changes

In Naismith, Newman
Out Sinclair, Hayward

I think Hayward showed last week that he's not yet up to finals pressure. Was pushed around like a rag doll by bigger hungrier bodies in a finals paced game. Great year for him but I think it ends here. We should have learned by now that inexperienced players are not to be relied on come finals. Plenty of opportunities for him to go again next year, bigger and more confident.

If Naismith is fit he should come in for Sinclair as we need a pure ruck against Kreuzer. Sinkers struggled last week as a ruck and (usually) doesn't do much up forward. Kurt needs to continue his lift towards finals. He'll be hungry to make amends this year and, importantly, is injury free and building confidence with every game.

Aliir ? I don't see a place in the team for him at present. Keep him learning his trade in NEAFL for now.

The only other possible change I see is Cunningham in for Towers. While Towers has played better in the back half of the season I would trust Cunningham to get the job done come finals. His record may not be great but he showed a different man out there pre-injury. Swans will need to make a call this week as I can't see changes after the bye.

Of course injuries could change everything.

 

[Number37]

My two cents worth...

Changes

In Naismith, Newman
Out Sinclair, Hayward

I think Hayward showed last week that he's not yet up to finals pressure. Was pushed around like a rag doll by bigger hungrier bodies in a finals paced game. Great year for him but I think it ends here. We should have learned by now that inexperienced players are not to be relied on come finals. Plenty of opportunities for him to go again next year, bigger and more confident.

If Naismith is fit he should come in for Sinclair as we need a pure ruck against Kreuzer. Sinkers struggled last week as a ruck and (usually) doesn't do much up forward. Kurt needs to continue his lift towards finals. He'll be hungry to make amends this year and, importantly, is injury free and building confidence with every game.

Aliir ? I don't see a place in the team for him at present. Keep him learning his trade in NEAFL for now.

The only other possible change I see is Cunningham in for Towers. While Towers has played better in the back half of the season I would trust Cunningham to get the job done come finals. His record may not be great but he showed a different man out there pre-injury. Swans will need to make a call this week as I can't see changes after the bye.

Of course injuries could change everything.

Hayward had a shocker last week but it wasn't because he was out-muscled.
He was just uncharacteristically fumbly.
Looks to me like he was trying to do something with the footy before he actually had it in his hands.. i.e. Just a mental thing.
Hopefully the lesson for Will was that he just needs to do what he has done all year, the basics very well. It is finals and all that but the basics are what wins finals games.

 

[grimlock]

Hayward had a shocker last week but it wasn't because he was out-muscled.
He was just uncharacteristically fumbly.
Looks to me like he was trying to do something with the footy before he actually had it is in hands.. i.e. Just a mental thing.
Hopefully the lesson for Will was that he just needs to do what he has done all year, the basics very well. It is finals and all that but the basics are what wins finals games.

Agree. It's such an easy conclusion to jump to when in fact you only had to go back a couple weeks to see he has his best game against Geelong in what would have been similarly tough circumstances and environment.

 

[TheWhiteRhino]

If Towers survives this week, I give up on the selection commitee.

 

[SwansProudly]

outs Hanners (hip) & Paps (knee)
In Newman Cunningham
Jordan Foote, Jeremy Laidler and Dan Robinson have been named as emergencies.
http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2017-08-24/team-dan-down

 

[S120]

In: Newman, Cunningham
Out: Papley, Hannebery

 

[Cadsky]

In: Newman, Cunningham
Out: Papley, Hannebery

Good changes. Freshen them up before the finals and get game time into cunners.

 

[Tedeski]

I like bolts

I don't mind them on gates & fences but they look a bit rough to me on the human body.