TOPIC:

Johnny Leonard wrote:

I hope this is the grand final and swans can get their stuff together a bit more.  The crowd was entertaining in itself.

The problem is JL that East Perth have Jones, Claremont have Eastland, Peel have Reidy and Swans have Blakely who works his guts out every match but he is way out of his weight division. It is an issue that Swans have had all year and it is now costing us in the finals series, particularly with 2 of our best midfielders out. I am hoping for the best but it may be a bridge too far to get to the Grand Final

Thought EP would feed us to the wolves in the second half.
Looks like they where happy to hold their ht lead.And cruize into the GF
So if Claremont win its a Prelim at Bassendean.If Peel /Freo win its back down to Mandurah.
I would take Claremont at home.As tough as that game would be.

mikeh wrote:

Johnny Leonard wrote:

I hope this is the grand final and swans can get their stuff together a bit more.  The crowd was entertaining in itself.

The problem is JL that East Perth have Jones, Claremont have Eastland, Peel have Reidy and Swans have Blakely who works his guts out every match but he is way out of his weight division. It is an issue that Swans have had all year and it is now costing us in the finals series, particularly with 2 of our best midfielders out. I am hoping for the best but it may be a bridge too far to get to the Grand Final

Yep 82 taps and over 20 touches for jones today remarkable

gtrxuone wrote:

Thought EP would feed us to the wolves in the second half.
Looks like they where happy to hold their ht lead.And cruize into the GF
So if Claremont win its a Prelim at Bassendean.If Peel /Freo win its back down to Mandurah.
I would take Claremont at home.As tough as that game would be.

Game is at Bassendean next week regardless of who wins tomorrow

Thanks Mike 
Still take Claremont, imo
Peel can get dirty when they start losing.Cant afford any more injuries if we limped to the GF.

Taking a glass half full outlook I think tidying up some of the skill errors (I counted minimum 3 turnovers that led directly to royals goals) and being better with I50 hit ups and we would have been in this contest. East Perth couldn’t have played any better so credit to them however if we play them at Optus in a fortnight’s time which isn’t a mud heap I feel is really gettable game for us. FWIW after the win against Peel this is all great experience for a young group going forward

The loss of Glass Mccasker before the game was significant I thought Juke King. That threw our team balance out somewhat and put too much pressure on Doc. Hopefully he can return next week as well as Edwards and we will be better for the experience as you say
By the way welcome to the forum! Good to have another Swans supporter on deck.

First thing’s first….. selection - Erceg, I get he’s the captain, I get he’s a stalwart and a fantastic person but his selection yesterday, the way he was used and then his input showed that he simply hasn’t played enough footy or even that because of his ailments the game at the level has may have gone past him. It looked as though he started as a defensive fwd on Macreadie and then I was gobsmacked to see him give a chop out in the ruck, embarrassing really. I sure as hell hope G-M was injured because that was as poor a selection choice as you will ever see and even then Kaporn would’ve been a better choice as he is a goal kicker. I get that both Germs and Blakely can’t play in the same team so that wasn’t an option. The other change to bring Chipper in, while he had the one of his better games, just didn’t provide us with enough zing that we lost during the week. 

The Game - Swans battled hard all day and never gave in but there was a clear difference in size, strength and speed. The game was done at halftime and while Swans tried a few things the Royals were never really tested. Far too many handballs (30 less kicks) which's invited pressure and didn’t take us anywhere, only 5 players had more than 10 kicks and we just couldn’t get the ball to the outside to take territory and or get enough open looks in space i50.

Next Week - I really hope we don’t play Peel as that could get quite ugly, on and off field. 

I think we need to take some big risks at selection! Blakely - rest him and play Germs. This is twofold, Doc is cooked and was laboring early in the 3rd term. If we scrape through to the GF we need him fresh and the week off will do him wonders. Germs can match Eastland/Reidy at cb and stoppage (where the game will be won) and yes we will lose some impact in general play but we need to be brave. 
Turner - He can’t play until at least the GF. Medials are very sore and he looked very sore yesterday. He will have one game in him at best and even then the 3 weeks probably won’t be enough. 
Glass-Mcasker - Has to play! Brake him if we have to but we need that serious back up option and his presence deep fwd. 
Cartwright - We need more avenues to goal and a more dangerous ground ball options with speed on the outside from high half fwd and in between goals. 
Erceg - Doesn’t play. He’s not in our best 6/7 back rotation so no point in carrying him. 
Noble - Hasn’t impacted since his return which is understandable due to the lack of conditioning. We can’t play him in the same fwd line as G-M, Kohlman and Edwards.
Edwards - Fine to play, he’s ready to go. 

In - G-M, Edwards, Germs, Cartwright

Out - Blakey, Chipper, Noble, Erceg

My understanding JGM is touch and go for next week. Edwards back next week will add a proven match winner to our forward line. The issue for mine with Germs playing is that he goes against the grain with regards to swans style of play. We already concede ground contest with him and it’s no guarantee he gets on top in cb against either reidy/eastland. If Erceg does play it has to be down back, he seemed to have some impact for mine in the backline when stationed there in the second half. Pains me to say as he’s been a great servant of the club but they seem to have unlocked something in his absence re playing with a smaller more mobile back 6. All in all it highlights some recruiting priorities for the footy department this off season, adding depth with mids and another fwd/ruck

Hit the nail on the head Danger.Watched the whole game and as has been mentioned the game was lost in the 15 minutes before half time when your skill errors allowed EP in and establish the gap that SD never recovered from.Tried valiantly in the second half but couldn’t make up the deficit.Still lots to play for but those changes you mentioned are a must.The EP motivator in the first half was Schumacher and I’m pretty sure O’donohue went to him at one stage but not when he was doing all the damage.A little late I thought.Still a good chance next week.