Demon Dynasty

The bolded is spot on from 58. It's time for Max (and all the boys) to give zip, nada, zilch away to the media & oppo. Also at the end of 2020 SG spoke about the club and players (as a whole) becoming more ruthless. That took place in 2021 and we witnessed the results. It was full committment, 100% team focus, taking no prisoners. For whatever reason, since Rnd 10 2022 (or thereabouts) we have gradually taken our eye off this relentless ruthless attack on ball and ball carrier (with some exceptions.... Viney, May, Max, Clarry, ANB and albeit not necessarily his role... Kozzy as well). Tracc also but can go missing for extended passages at times defensively imv. This slide away (also from looking out for one another and flying the flag when required) happened around the time we lost T-Mac to iniury and the infamous Entrecote debacle. I'm not sure if there's any causational links here or is it just a result of the natural ageing process with some key hardened premiership players copping the usual old man's injuries and gradually (or more dramatically in some cases) dropping off the pace. And/or partially a list / game style and skills issues. We also need to see alot more of the delivery we witnessed with the last kick inside 50 by McVee last night of we're to start fixing our forward connection woes The lead from Fritta was superbly timed and the kick beautifully weighted (finesse!). Stop over using the handball. Team rules need to be followed. Two to three (or less) to get the ball in the hands of outside run & class. If no options then a quick low raking kick to the fat (advantage) side of one of the talls or mediums who MUST be constantly on the move and presenting. No options laterally or under a stack of heat, look to chip the ball or handball backwards to a player behind the ball OR take the tackle if you've had little time to react. Any designated leading targets showing lethargy or unable to butter up with multilple leads (doubling back included) ... you're out till you can demonstrate otherwise. Mids who consistently ignore the quick give to lateral targets or lower their vision attempting to hit forwards on the move with deft kicks to their advantage (out in front, fat side or out the back)... you're also out. Now im not saying the above is / should be the play book or anything to that effect. My knowledge of the modern game is very basic and no doubt archaic. But what i am saying is this current team seems to lack the structure, team disciplines, execution, desire and defensive 2nd/3rd efforts at the contest to the level we witnessed (and with the ruthlessness that came with it) in 2021. Since about mid 2022 many are playing too much as individuals for my liking. A classic example last night was Fritta immediately playing on after a mark about 30 meters out instead of taking his full alloted time in order to put the team first and in the best position to defend if he missed. Kozzy is also guilty of this last example on occasions. Sparrow's silly 50 in the Semi last season another. This is by no means a 'panic stations' knee jerker either. Too early for that but what we witnessed last night was unacceptable and a comtinuation of more of the same from 22/23 Simon needs to grab this group by the scruff of the neck and have a serious open "lay down the law' discussion (soonish) imv if we're to get back to anywhere near the team first ruthless ethos and application we witnessed in 2021. There's no g'tees this will result in finals or PF appearance etc, but we can't afford to lose sight of the above or we (and Simon) will have lost what it is we stand for on the field and be quickly back in the pack of mediocrity (or worse!).

I'm not sure whether that'a a compliment or a sledge loges

The finals campaign should have been reviewed. Especially the selection side for the Pies match as you've ponted out. Along with the inexplicable non-use of the sub. Goodwin said himself at the start of this season he's ripped off the rear view mirror. Well i hope he at least used the 2023 side mirrors to take a good look behind prior to pulling out into 2024 traffic. The next 5 - 6 weeks will tell us whether he did or didnt and if we're about to get into 4th - 5th gear OR be hit by a rampaging 22/23 B-Double.

I agree with this. McVee needs to come into the middle for Salem now that Bowey's out for a stint imv. Salem just doesn't have the burst speed to play anything but a small cameo (if needed) with minor minutes in the middle. Mind you the burst speed appeared to be missing from pretty much everyone bar McVee & Windsor tonight. Looked like most had concrete boots on whereas a fair percentage of Swans were the opposite out of congestion. Lets not sugar coat it. That was a worrying performance. Apart from the lack of speed out of congestion, the fumbles, losing the ground ball geta, only 3 comtested marks (i think!?) and the forward woes.... it was also the ease with which they broke away from comgestion and the ease with which they broke us in the last that really worried me. We alao had no one that was capable of going with Blakey off HB and he's been their 1 wood and doing this for 2 seasons now. How that was not covered in the pre-match prep / selection table is mind boggling!!??? We made sure it didn't the last few times we played them. Was last night's performance a true reflection of where this list is at or does this team just comtinue to suck in any sort of wet/greasy conditions ie; most night games! and a number of winter day games?? I guess we'll know in about 5 to 6 weeks.

Max can't get off the ground to leap over them so the tactic of running into his line at the ball, turning your body at the last minute and effectively blocking any run he has will be the way forward with most big bodied rucks from here. And we have no back up. So unless we're coming up against a smaller bodied ruck or ruck duo, Max is going to struggle against anyone who's large/solid, mobile and who's willing to do what Grundy did tonight. Given Shack's height he shouldv'e been able to get over the top of Grundy alot last night but he continues to feign the physical and was useless in both roles imv.

Nothing has changed in 2 seasons plus a pre-season now. We are terrible in wet or greasy conditions and have no idea how to play a wet weather style game in these conditions. Also the Sydney ground if shorter than most. Don't play the wings too often. Keep going through the corridor or close to it as often as possible and go as long as you can once you're roughly a kick or so out from kicking it to the 40 or further. Playing wide at Sydney for serious minutes is a death trap. The extra width means you are taking the long way around, bogging yourself down and allowing the oppo to get back and set up nicely in defence. SG would not have witnessed any of these strategic problems as he coached from the bench all night. Were these issues passed on to him at half time from the brains trust in the box? Didn't appear so.

Ben Brown in for the Shack but how far off is he if at all? Jvr a bit of a rucking role and play him a bit higher up the ground

Rivers into the middle ...too little too late

Bro says he's seen enough of Chin, Spargo & Laurie. Time to move on

Where's the Grippo boys? Fumble city

Classic example there. Sparrow gathers... then fumbles. Then Clarry over runs the ball.

No skills by hand. No enough instinctive tap ons. No forwards have stood up other than a few sneaky opportunist goals from Fritta. Open players everywhere when we turn the ball over. Where's the close checking hard nosed pressure and defense in general play?

Haven't found players by foot most of the night. Too many panic up and under kicks. No run & carry. Too many dropped marks and fumbles. Sydney has ruled the ground ball and more sure by hand when they get hold of it

Where's the highly rated mid field tomight? Woeful

He chose the outside 5 option. The best option for any kick from the boundary when its OOTF. But was then ordered to stand 10 meters away instead of 5.... go figure. Umps making the rules up on the run. And as per usual its mostly us getting the rough end of the pineapple.

Lizard the only one giving them any run and overlap off HB. Shut him down FCS. Rivers? McVee?

another dropping / inccorect disposal.....had all the time in the world...GET STUFFED Rivers bah

Haha that was A THROW ...get stuffed!

Finally a comtribution from CP5

Drag Spargo FCS....just cost us the lead

How was it not incorrect disposal just before the PITB to Jack?

Rivers & ANB also very quiet so far

Worst game from Tracc for a while?

Spargo & Chin .. my god. Juddy a bit of class at last

The biggest worry is no run or connection by hand. Mostly up & under kicks and the mid field looks to be right off the pace. That's aside from the usual forward woes.