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Cant question the effort but as BC said the disconnect between the mids and forwards is still obvious. The killer was Edwards huge last qtr, we had no one who could go with him, he is a gun when he's on. Shame Gus was on an enforced holiday as he might have been able to go with him. Clarke with 60+ hitouts should have been decisive, but our mids failed to capitalise on his absolute dominance. Swans mids would have easily won the clearances, they were much harder at the ball and the man than we were and had marking targets up forward which we didn't have. They moved the ball quickly, occasionally over used it but they took the game on, something we didn't do until the last 10 mins of the 3rd and some of the last. Swans can rightly feel miffed by the umpiring, I think they missed several howlers for them and we clearly had the better of the frees. Maybe to do with Swans very physical approach? the only umpiring whinge for me was they let O'donohue get away with murder against Sok, the holding scragging etc was well outside the rules but they only picked him up once, but good on him as he kept Sok quiet. The failure for us was that the other forwards did not get in O'donohues face enough or block for Sok.

Perth next week, so we better get our shite together as another performance like yesterday might lead to an embarrassing result. Some changes are definitely needed. If Gus is back next week, lets look outside the box, why not try Savigni at CHF, he's an elite mark, very mobile and a decent size, Mayo was really no where to be seen at CHF, move him to FF and let Sok of the lead as a roaming half forward type, Borchet needs a rest or a couple in the ressies as he doesn't look 100%. Locks took himself off in the last qtr of the ressies so hopefully nothing sinister happening there.

Nice summary SS. Savigni is a natural defender, imo, but why not give it a try. I spoke to lockyer and he said he'd done a hammy. That's a shame. 

Mayo is not bad up the ground but I think they are worried about his knee and keeping him out of trouble a bit.  That's just my guess. Sokal needs some relief down there, for sure. In the midfield, things have gone south since Alone got injured. That may be coincidence, not sure. 

Agree about Alone JL, this season will be ok as we are likely to make finals with winnable games against Perth, WCER and Souths to come, which not everyone expected. Losing Hayden pre-season was a major setback, Locks looks done for the season as is Alone, if all 3 can get a solid pre-season under their belts the team will be looking much stronger in '24 especially in the mids. We need another key forward if Borch cant get back into fitness and form. Sok for mine is not a key position player as such but has been good enough to get away with it, similar to how Dela managed to get away as a ruckman while really an elite tall mid. The backlines still solid, hopefully Heal, Locks and Gus go around again and with Rohde, Savigni, McGowan, Stains, Henderson & Berenger, there's plenty of quality.

I agree with JLs previous comment on Eaton in for Borchet who is clearly struggling. Eaton can also give Clarke a chop out in the ruck and could be quite difficult to match up on in the forward line with his prodigious leap. Given he's only 22, there's plenty of upside and should get a good run at it.

I believe Eaton has been playing at CHB in the ressies and seems to have found his spot with the footy in front of him, but yes worth a try at CHF where we have been struggling. Shame young Breman decided to leave as he was shaping up nicely as a key forward. Jack is struggling a bit at the moment, gotta remember it's his fist season back after a couple of knee recons, so shouldn't expect to be a world beater straight up. Another pre-season under his belt and we should see more consistent performances. When he's on he's hard to contain.

Then again we could try and get Edwards over from Swans, now there's a class act 

Not sure about Eaton SS but I see he's kicked 3 goals in the last 3 ressies matches so if he's doing that from CHB, get him in the seniors quick smart.

Well I have been known to be wrong on occasions