Earl Hood

Short answer is no but not sure of your point. My analogy refers to our game plan, it’s aggressive, simple but predictable and the better teams and coaching panels have been able to counter it so far. Also our game style works well on narrower grounds it seems, our record at the MCG is ordinary this season. An interesting observation at training this season is that when we do the full length ground ball movement drill at Gosches Paddock we practice moving the ball by foot, switching play, looking for the loose man but we do this drill on only 2/3rds of the ground width! So we practice moving the ball in a limited corridor, much narrower than the Gee. The Swans used the full width of the ground to up holes in our defensive zone and in the last quarter to retain possession and use up time.

I am coming to the conclusion that the coaching department is lacking in the game plan department, let alone game day strategy. Watching the replay yet again of last week’s game to compliment being there and seeing the disaster unfold before me I keep coming back to the game plan and it’s limitations. To use a boxing analogy we are the classic slugger/brawler who lacks speed, balance and finesse, we just keep moving forward, hunting the opponent, throwing haymakers, hoping that if we throw enough punches we will overwhelm the opposition. It works against mugs but not against your classic boxers. We are predictable and slow but potentially dangerous. We are the Rocky Balboa of the AFL. Our opponent on Sunday was your classic boxer, think M Ali, fast on his feet, determined to keep his distance and just counter punch and move away, using the full area of the ring to set up angles of attack that negate your attack and maximise his counter punching. And this is what the Swans did, they used the full width of the Gee to work their way forward by foot to then get a shot on goal, often from 40 or 50 m but it worked. Meantime we bombed high forward hoping for a big mark or loose ball inside a 30m arc patrolled by Allir and later Cheney and got nothing. As a footy team we are so predictable in attack but also dangerous because we win so much contested footy and manufacture so many inside 50’s and have some good big forwards to mark the ball coming in. So on paper the game plan makes some sense. However it is not working. Against the best sides we have got close but usually our conversion rate has failed us. On Sunday it reached a new level of ineptitude that was inexplicable! 7 missed set shots from inside 40 metres while the Swans nailed every shot from 50m set shot or on the run.

Saw this at the time and wondered why there wasn’t a response from our guys. But maybe that is because they are gun shy. Any retaliation would end in a free goal kick to the opposition.

Where were we getting the high draft pick from to trade?

Agreed Jnr but my point is our game plan lacks smarts, it is all about us, not about playing for the situation. We are attack at all costs and depend perhaps inordinately on an average conversion rate in front of goal. We have all the deficiencies you mentioned and more but hope to cover them through total attack and scoring pressure. This is Goodwin’s blueprint I think. It has been demonstrated to work against inferior sides but......

Interesting first sentence Praha. After being there and seeing the disaster unfold I then later viewed the first 2 quarters on replay today. At the time I said that our inaccuracy at goal in the first two quarters will do us in. We missed 7 set shots, 6 of which were within the 35 meter and near enough to be in front! We could usually expect 5 goals 2, instead we got zero of 7. We had a similar number of snaps for goal often from within 30 meters and no angle and again got zero 7 ( I am not including the goals that were kicked). We could usually expect 2 or 3 goals from those shots. My point is our game plan is not sophisticated, it is about attack at all cost, kick or handball the ball forward, there is no tempo football, no holding possession at all costs. Just pump it forward. That very simple game plan comes from the coach. With zero sophistication in our play then we must score goals when the opportunity arises to stay in front and so we must score when we mark inside 40m and dead in front. On 6 occasions in the first half we marked inside that arc and should have enjoyed the 36 point increase, instead we got 6 points in total in reward. And the 6 or 7 snaps at goal from inside 30 metres that missed are an anomaly, I would expect at least 2 of those to go through but not this week. Inaccuracy cost us big time on the weekend. We could easily expect an extra 7 or 8 goals in that match and then we win. And yes that win would have been full of turnovers and missed passes, handballs and tackles but we still win despite our ineptitude. But yes will get caught out in finals but that is where we are at.

Now it is Heath Shaw down! Unbelievable.

And if they had lost the 2 games won after the siren against us they would be well out contention!

I have been worried for a while that the Dorks could snatch another flag this year if they get into the Eight, especially if they get top 4. Their team is not what it was but they just keep playing consistent, smart football and many of the other contenders are copping injuries or suspensions. Only the Tigers and perhaps an improving GWS are playing better footy. I hope we don’t have to meet them early if we make the Eight. We more than match them on paper but we get outplayed and outcoached just about every time we play them.

Could kick a goal from anywhere, amazing.

Our set shot accuracy worries me of late. Last week we should have kicked at least 4 extra goals from set shots all inside 50 and within 30 degrees either side of centre. Tommy has suddenly become iffy in front of goal. Not sure why. In the run to the finals this inaccuracy could come back to hurt.

He walked a few laps and jogged a few laps.

Melk and Hibbo were training separately from the main group. I saw them doing leading and kicking drills with Crossy. Both looked to be moving well, no sign of problems but they never joined the main group and left early so looks like another week or so.

Some on SEN today likening this image to the iconic photo of Ronald Dale kicking a goal back in the 50’s.

I have had a couple of implants over the years at about 3 to 5k each. Not cheap but not $100K I think. Just for the record.

Gee the kid has played about 10 games had his shoulder busted in his first game by a 6 foot 5 iconic forward who should feel ashamed of himself, came back briefly that season then did a knee injury flying for a screamer at Sandringham and works his way back to gain a regular spot this season and now this! The football gods are not fair.

6 Oliver 5 Brayshaw 4 Salem 3 Hogan 2 Harmes 1 Jones

Weagleskinghit I think!

Strewth that has to be 6 weeks or the AFL is compromised massively.

The game is looking very good at the moment, hard running, open footy, close finishes by less than a goal, not sure there is a problem Gil!

These SA showdowns nearly always are great games Uncle but we never see them here on free to air! We are more likely to get Carlton vs St Kilda.

If we go by today’s training I would say barring injury, Kent is not in as he left the track early. Hunt hasn’t played a game yet after his return from injury so needs time surely? Of the extended bench maybe Pedo is still in running for a position. He was still training hard with the other backs and forwards toward the end. Let’s wait and see. My bet is one change.

KB did all right on the footy field. But never drank!

The timing of this announcement is a bit bizarre for me. I thought I saw him at training today? I remember watching him at training preseason and he was often gasping for air, obviously physically underdone early but then of recent times he has looked very comfortable at training, moves well and executes well. Is playing well with Casey and has a finals campaign ahead, why pull the pin this early? Where is the grind in VFL/AFL once you have worked up your fitness to acceptable levels as he has done? Us mere mortals will never understand.

I thought he could also be the reason for the cheers but I noted that he finished training early with Bugg and co as well.