Autopsy Swans beat Dockers by 3 points

[SwansProudly]

 

[Olian]

That was a really good win after being held goal less in the first quarter.

Both midfields nullified each other to an extent.

Didn’t take all of our chances but a win is a win.

 

[RubbaDuck]

Will be interesting, Amartey does some lazy shit not sold he should play ahead of mclean

Define lazy shit?

As for 'competition' for forward spots, it's early days for McLean with his one game. Amartey's already ahead of his first three games of 2024, a year when he kicked an average of 1.7/game for 43 goals in total, ahead of any other Swan. McLean kicked a goal/game for 27 total, but he spent a bit of time in ruck and around the ground.

I just don't see McLean as a stay at home forward. He has a bit more reach and a bigger tank but Amartey is faster. Joel Amartey is bigger and meaner this year. He could kick 45 or even 60+ this year.

The harder question is probably where McDonald fits in.

 

[Kiama Chris]

We still have skill error and decision-making issues but no lack of effort or courage. The "lesser lights" are making decent contributions and a few (Wicks, Bice and Warner) look like they'll be very hard to shift no matter who comes back. Hanily looks very handy and hopefully will start to make a bigger impact. Hamling has done his job and will provide Cox with options. McLean reminded us that he is a very useful player. We have covered the loss of our two first choice wingers.
There's plenty of improvement in this team

 

[Kiama Chris]

Will be interesting, Amartey does some lazy shit not sold he should play ahead of mclean

So far this season Amartey has had play on him 4 of the best KPDs in the comp: Sam Collins, Tom Barrass, Harris Andrews and now Alex Pearce. As our spearhead, that's what he gets every week. Whatever Joel is it isn't lazy.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Campbell was solid just want to see those 6-7 more touches a game but some of his work in tight was nice

Big difference to earlier times is that he's attacking the ball and the man.

 

[superfluous swan]

Hello, first time poster here. Anyone willing to shed some light on something that’s been bothering me for a while?

Campbell is an elite kick. But he’s always seemed to be a player that is lacking in confidence. As a result, I’ve often wondered why his coaches/teammates don’t instruct/look to get the ball in his hands as often as possible. Surely they know from training with the guy that his left foot is lethal.

Yes, he’s going to make mistakes as he’s building his self-belief. But I’m constantly perplexed as to why he is ignored so often. In today’s game Amartey had the opportunity to pass to a free Campbell on the run. He would have had a shot from 50m on the run. He has the talent to nail that 9 times out of 10.

He had a similar opportunity on the run from approx 50m which he blundered/turned over because he seemed to be in two minds about taking a shot or passing the ball off. In that situation, surely he should take the responsibility of having the shot. And surely his coaches and teammates should encourage him to do so. Instead, Hayward turned around and gave him a spray for not pinpointing him on a short lead. The directive should be to take the god damn shot! We believe in you!

In summary, his game today was pleasing, and he seems to be building in confidence. But I still can’t help but feel they are wasting so much of his talent.

 

[SGBeach]

Am i imagining things or was there a coach that publicly said we trend a fine line with the short kicks?

a complete guess... but was that the f***wit collingwood coach? Hes always whinging. When they lose its always someone else's fault

 

[Jack Lord]

No one here will really care of course but imagine supporting Freo? Such a frustrating team stuck in nowhereville. I’d actually like to see them come good. Much rather see a dockers flag than a Melbourne club.

 

[SGBeach]

Great win.. truckloads of injuries, terribly inaccurate at goal, and they ground it out to get the 4 points

Grundy still hampered by the knee injury he got which nearly kept him out of opening round. Paps still hampered by his pre-season injury and Heeney not moving across the ground like he should (still will be in the best for clearances, contested possessions, tackles). The week off should help all three

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

I just don't see McLean as a stay at home forward. He has a bit more reach and a bigger tank but Amartey is faster. Joel Amartey is bigger and meaner this year. He could kick 45 or even 60+ this year.

The harder question is probably where McDonald fits in.

I was really impressed with how easily Amartey outmuscled his opponent to get the mark for the winning goal. Suspect they’re really prioritising building his strength.

 

[GreyGooseGuy88]

People saying Grundy had a poor game are just salt s**ts that need a slap in the face. 38 RC for Grundy compared to 30 for Ladhams and Grundy had 16 more HOs and 9 more hit outs to advantage.

Grundy was getting us a HOTA every 3.45 ruck contests whereas Ladhams was around the every 15 ruck contests.

Lets even account for clearance differential between Grundy and Ladhams, its still 3.45 compared to 6 (surprised Grundy didn't have a clearance tbh).


Grundy has shown time and again he is the #1 ruck

He played a better game yesterday Grundy and seemed to contribute more around the ground taking some nice contested marks. Is this because of Ladhams, he was fresher and wasn't expected to run out the whole game. The combo seemed to work for the most part but we do feel a bit tall at times. It was pleasing to see us winning clearances for a while.

 

[GreyGooseGuy88]

Something is not right with Grundy. He might be crook. It might be mental. He looked like he was going to chuck early in the game but he battled on. I just hope the bye helps. He's better than we're seeing ATM.

He got a nasty poke in the eye from friendly fire earlier in the game. I think this was really troubling him for the remainder of the game.

 

[Ballarat Bob]

No one here will really care of course but imagine supporting Freo? Such a frustrating team stuck in nowhereville. I’d actually like to see them come good. Much rather see a dockers flag than a Melbourne club.

They have a decent list this year....not sure if it's coaching ? or they are just finding their way with the new players. Should be a solid chance at finishing bottom half of the eight. But they look very pedestrian at times.

 

[kickthething]

That was bloody close.

Did mCCartin hear the siren?

 

[TheGoatBaron]

Thank god the Dockers have the graveyard timeslot! Imagine volunteering watching them on a weekly basis?

 

[momentbymoment]

I'm OK if we need to win a close game. If we reach a point where defending can't get us the win we should move our best swingman forward, ie, when the swing can help get us a win but at the risk of a slightly worse loss.

Cox was a teammate of the notorious Eagles swingman Adam Hunter (RIP), so he knows the value of a defender who can swing forward when the game needs to be won. Worsfold swung Hunter forward to win many close games against us. His two goals late got WC over us in the '05 QF. Luckily his two against us in the '05 GF weren't quite enough and we hung on by four points. But in the '06 GF, Hunter again swung forward late and kicked the decider to beat us by one point.

Impressive.
You have a better memory than mine.

All I remember is a dark feeling of dread whenever he was near the ball.

 

[Cadsky]

Hamling was fantastic. Nothing flashy but just good. McCartin did some nice things with intercepts but got a few kicked on him too. I’m worried that it could be Ramps who is the odd man out. A back 7 of Melican, McCartin, Hamling, Blakey, Wicks, Roberts, and Bice sounds good to me

Perhaps Roberts gets pushed up the ground, Florent goes to sub and Gus out maybe?

 

[Cadsky]

Did mCCartin hear the siren?

You'd hope so. Should have played for the spoil regardless just in case

 

[liz]

Hamling was fantastic. Nothing flashy but just good. McCartin did some nice things with intercepts but got a few kicked on him too. I’m worried that it could be Ramps who is the odd man out. A back 7 of Melican, McCartin, Hamling, Blakey, Wicks, Roberts, and Bice sounds good to me

I think there is a risk of Rampe finding himself out of the the side, but surely it won’t be based on that game. He did a pretty good job of ensuring Amiss was largely missing.

I hope the team spends large chunks of their bye week practising how to play the last two minutes of a game when they’re a few points ahead. That effort yesterday was awful (the last two mins). We were, quite literally, saved by the bell.

 

[Kbroome]

He played a better game yesterday Grundy and seemed to contribute more around the ground taking some nice contested marks. Is this because of Ladhams, he was fresher and wasn't expected to run out the whole game. The combo seemed to work for the most part but we do feel a bit tall at times. It was pleasing to see us winning clearances for a while.

Yep when you have a McLean or Ladhams in the side he is rucking like 20% less or so and it makes a big difference. He rucked 67% ruck contests compared to 89% in the Hawthorn loss and 67% in the Brisbane game

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Ew. Yanking your son off is never appropriate

I think that you can construe my comment like that and then reveal the inner workings of your mind publically is a bit Ew.

 

[McRobie]

Ladhams remembered to pack his brain and use it!

The thing that made me think he’s plying smarter, an opportunity was there to absolutely smash Luke Jackson and probably give away a dangerous tackle, but he kind of eased him to the ground so he didn’t away the free kick.

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Whatever is wrong with Grundy wont be fixed with a bye its his 3rd game back after 6 month layoff..

Its possible he just had a very good patch of 15 games when the team was on fire and this is more of what we can expect with him?

Grundy seems to be getting better incrementally. He was definitely more competitive at stoppage with his ruck work and second efforts. Also bobbed up around the park and took a few marks. Jackson was dominating around the park but to be fair, if he's having a good game, there's not too many rucks that can go with him. He's so mobile and really like an extra mid. If I was Freo, I'd trade Darcy, use the picks on someone like Chad and ruck Jackson full time.

 

[Swan_Lifer]

Good team win. We won the clearances, and the defense pressure was much better.

Lot of it was down to coaching. Right team selections, right subs.
Played both Ladhams and McLean, and got contributions out of both. Subbed Grundy off for Sheldrick in the last Q.
Seems to have laid down the law - you run two ways, and you tackle. The penny might be dropping.

And you could see, they're playing for the coach.

Kicking 9.14, could be better.

 

[McRobie]

Also Florent has had way too many opportunities in this team and really needs to be shelved.
Hes a liability defensively and now can’t even find the ball, when he does eventually find the ball his decision making is sub par.