RalphiusMaximus

We've been crying out for quality ball-users in the forward half.  Now we have two.  Rotate them forward and up the ground and we'll look a lot more dangerous. 

ANOTHER GINGER!!?!?!?!?!

Honestly, I find it strange that he's still on the list at this point.  Surely this was the time to move him on if the club considers him to be a lost cause? 

19 hours ago, P-man said:

Swans are my smokey to bounce back in a big way next year. Got better as the year progressed and will add a generational key forward into the mix.

Who?  Did I miss a trade or is it a new recruit? 

Surely the side we want most to dislodge is Geelong?  I would be thrilled if they miss finals entirely. 

As always, they need to stop trying to legislate how the game is played and let the teams work it out for themselves.  Tactics evolve.  If you want higher-scoring, more free-flowing games all you need to do is wait for a team to win a flag playing that way and other sides will start copying them and/or working on ways to counter them.  Tactics are constantly evolving. 

On 11/12/2020 at 8:05 PM, Lucifer's Hero said:

Players Traded Out:  Hannan, Preuss

Players Traded In:  Brown

Draft picks:

2020:  '@ Start:  23, 47, 62, 63, 89

            '@ End:   18, 19, 28, 50, 89

2021:  '@ Start:  1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th

            '@ End:  2nd (Tied to Brisbane), 3rd (Tied to WBD), 4th (Tied to North).  I wouldn't be surprised to see the WBD slide and North to not improve much so these two picks might be an upgrade on what would have been our 'natural' 2021 picks.

Overall Position:

• Covered a tall fwd need.
• Improved list by trading two 'depth' players
• Dramatically improved 2020 draft position. 
• Only gave up 2021 1st rnd pick.  Upgraded later 2021 picks

I would rate that A++.

Its good to be on the plus side of the ledger on individual trades and pick swaps.  Shows that having a reputation for getting deals done pays off. 

Getting in early for Lions pick 18 and 19 stops other teams doing same altho GWS have a fistful of 1st round picks:  10, 13, 15, 20.  And Ess have:  6, 7, 8.  So plenty of scope for more deals to be done.

I'm guessing we will take only 1 or 2 picks to the draft so more pick swaps to come.  Would be surprised if we don't use pick #89 to upgrade Lockhart to the seniors list.  Wouldn't mind swapping picks 28 and 50 for more future picks.  Collingwood's 2021 1st perhaps?

On paper it looks like a great trade period.  My only reservation is that we've sacrificed next year's first round pick for more picks in the most compromised draft in history.  How much are those end of first round picks really going to be worth this year? 

Surely he'd have to think twice about signing on with Fremantle?  He must have some sense of self-preservation... 

Just a random thought.  Jade Rawlings is no longer with the Roos as they continue to flail wildly looking for someone to blame.  He's a  Hell of a good coach.  Wonder if we can get him back to look after Casey again (assuming the spot hasn't been filled yet?  I wouldn't know)? 

Brilliant move by the club.  Not only in building the culture of the club and showing respect for a long-serving former captain, but also in setting up a PR bonanza when they trot him out for his 300th next year.  Assuming we're allowed at games by then, the members will come out of the woodwork to cheer him on.  Plus it will be a solid coaching internship for him. 

I guess he plays some ok football, but he's absolutely killing it in the WAG stakes. 

15 hours ago, ChaserJ said:

He had an inconsistent year, and still would be incredibly difficult to replace. There are similar types, but few as valuable, and fewer of those that would be available:

https://www.afl.com.au/news/517468/going-to-war-why-a-wantaway-don-is-the-most-valuable-player-up-for-trade

Interesting that Melbourne have three of the top ten on that rating. 

I saw a very interesting interview with Oliver either early this year or last year.  He talked a lot about how he doesn't like changing things and how settled he is at the club.  He has his routine, he comes in on his days off and works out in his gym on his machines etc.  The overriding impression I got was of someone who doesn't like changing things and had pretty much grown roots where he was.  I really don't see him wanting to leave. 

5 minutes ago, CYB said:

Is #FreeKickHawthorn officially retired?

Just in isolation for COVID.  It'll be back soon.

So for once the MFC is setting the example for the rest of the sides? 

1 hour ago, layzie said:

Wow fox sports had the headline "Dees saved by joke of a free kick decision" for its main story on the game. Wow, literally wow. Never fail to disappoint.

That's hilarious given the number of frees they failed to pay to us, not to mention a clear mark that they called touched then paid two identical marks to the bombers in the next couple of minutes. 

For my two cents' worth:

I think Brown was up for it today to show his old side what they had lost and it was great to see.  A huge game from him. 

Fritta needs to be put in the hands of a seriously good kicking coach to sort out his set shots.  He should have had five today.  Also a good gym program.  If he can put on a little muscle and improve his fitness he'll be a great player.

Baker is starting to look like he fits at this level.  Has great pace and neat disposal.  If he can improve his positioning to get more of the ball we're on to a good thing. 

I agree that Smith is not worth a spot in the side right now.  He is a physical beast, but nothing much else. 

Overall, we basically played one quarter and trod water for a half and still won the game.  You can say that we were ok or that the bombers were terrible.  Possibly both. 

6 hours ago, Swooper1987 said:

Yes for this with an honourable mention to Brown.  How anyone has left Gawn out of the votes today defies any reasonable assessment of the game.

4 hours ago, dee-tox said:

More to the point is the number of people that left Salem out of their votes! 

More to the point is the number of people leaving Brown out of their votes!  20 disposals and 13 marks as a high half forward/CHF.  He had a huge game. 

Well, Pert was talking about playing a recognisable brand of footy...  This is ours right here.  We dominate the play but don't put the opposition away, then have a five to ten minute lapse where the opposition score heavily to snatch the lead off us. 

WTF was that?  Seriously.  Against a side like that, we played the most defensive set-up we've seen all year and concede the entire back half of the ground to them so they can chip it around and rack up the uncontested stats.  IF ever there was an occasion to attack the game, today was it.  That was just tactically backwards from Goodwin.  Horrible tactics, horrible skills, terrible game all around.  There were only a few who actually put an effort in. 

Bring on the Yze.  He's highly rated, he's had a long apprenticeship under Clarkson and he was an exceptional kick.  Just what we need. 

1 minute ago, P-man said:

. Smith looked out of place and out of his depth yet again
 

One big wrap for Smith.  He took on three or four opponents for a ground ball and managed to force a ball-up.  It was his one shining moment, but it was something the rest of the team lacked for most of the day.  If he had the skills and football smarts to match his power and athleticism he'd win a Brownlow. 

7 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

They were still our best 2 players by a country mile and you know it.

I just have a really hard time accepting those missed shots.  Unprofessional, horrible basic skills, choking under pressure...  Good sides don't do that. 

2 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

We desperately need a CHF. With the removal of Hogan & the demise of TMac our forward line is all over the shop. We've gone from too many smalls to too many talls and everything in between making it harder for the likes of Fritsch, Hannan & to some extent Pickett to play their positions.

Not helped by Melksham shirking contests & trying to be clever rather than rolling his sleeves up and getting stuck in. He has given me the Con Britts all season

Can we get Jack Watts back? 

6 minutes ago, rjay said:

He worked his a... off all night covering for his teammates who didn't show.

The 3rd Q it looked like the Swans v Langdon, the kid tried to get us back in the game but had to carry way too many.

 

He worked hard, he got lots of ball and lots of ground, but in terms of the scoreboard, his contribution is basically the winning margin for the Swans.  His man kicked two goals (from uncontested marks) and set up two others.  Langdon missed two set shots, one of which resulted in a goal to the swans, and had no assists.  He's not alone in that by any means.  Jones cost us two goals and plenty of other people missed easy shots, but I do factor it into my assessment of his game.

The problem is he's now seen as our most dangerous forward.  Coaches are putting extra time and effort into stopping him, which means he's getting a lot of extra attention from defenders who are significantly bigger and stronger than him.  To make matters worse, for a period there Goodwin was sending him up a creek without a paddle by clearing out the forward 50 and making him play as the sole FF against multiple opponents because we didn't have any other in-form forwards.  Basically, he's been asked to shoulder too much of the forward-line's load and needs the other, bigger forwards to step up and occupy the defence so he can get on his bike and play his game.