I have high hopes of improvement for this season Jump a place and we play finals But I expect it to be a gradual build, as players get to understand and work with one another under the 'real' pressure of an AFL game.
We really don't know a lot about our side, and how they'll gel. Practice games are only as good an indicator as the effort that's actually put in by both sides This is the test. I reckon 3-4 goals will be acceptable, as long as the effort is there. Swans were a superior side to us in 2025. They had a bad start to last year and suffered some significant injuries, but finished the season with 8 wins out of the last 11 games They are on their home ground. Talking them down and raising expectations is actually the kind of thing that brings pressure on a coach if we fail to beat this "mediocre" side.
A win is not out of the question and much will depend on how the side comes together with a number of new players. 3-4 goals (with effort) will be a reasonable first up result. It will be the manner of the result that will lead to pressure on players and coach. What we don't want, and can't afford is a blowout, or a lapse where they pile on the goals after we make a good start.
I'm struggling to see some of the logic in peoples opinions on this match.
For months i've heard we won't miss charlie and the incomings will cover the loss of the outgoings. I've heard we expect to jump a position. Which all makes sense.
Until you look into that with.... 1. The incomings and outgoings mirror sydney. That is Charlie, Florent and Hayward swapped. Our incoming, covers the outgoing. Which suggests the opposite for them. 2. We finished 11th last year, Sydney finished 10th. THEY are the position we expect to jump up into 3. We are relatively fit, with most of our injuries to fringe players. Jagga back is an upgrade on anything we have out.
So why do the people who have been saying these things, things a 3-4 goal loss is 'about right' ?
If we won't miss the players that left and the team is improved with the players coming in and we expect to improve on last year, then why doesn't that translate into a win against Sydney??
Meanwhile, there's panic buying at service stations and I expect that there'll be a run on dunny rolls
I've been hiding under a rock the past few days due to a family emergency....and not sure when all this actually kicked off.
However, the first thing i saw on my phone was an article telling everyone to go and stock up on fuel because of the war with Iran will limit supply and increase costs.
Can't remember where the article was from, but clearly i wasn't the only person to see it as i've had 4 other people talk about that very issue today.
Yep Despite being optimistic for the season ahead I'd be very surprised if we were to win this game.
The Swans in Sydney are always a tough assignment. We really haven't seen our opening round team in it's entirety through the pre-season so it may take a few weeks to settle down and gel once we get closer to regular players in positions.
I'm the opposite.
We are a big unknown right now. We don't know how we will line up and how we will play.....how the hell do the opposition scout that?
We have the ability to come out of the blocks early and get the jump on them before they get a chance to react. On the other hand, we have 2 ex-sydney players who would be well aware of their gameplan. The only difference with them is who they kick to in the 50 now.
Later in the year when we've shown our hand it will be harder to get wins IMO. Early on, anything is possible.
Similarly, we could get done by 100 points if we haven't got our $h!t together.....but more chance of a win than that happened IMO.
They interviewed weiters before the game and asked him how many broken ribs he ended up having. His response, i'm not going to say. Don't want to give Sydney too much amunition......or words to that effect.
This shows 2 things. 1. He thinks he will be playing against sydney 2. What he got and what was reported, are different things. If it was just 1, he would've said just one. The club indicated it was 1, he had nothing to gain by not admitting to that. His refusal to answer the question is a worry.
Either way.....i'd prefer we DONT play him against Sydney.....or against anyone really...until he is 100% right. We have very little to gain by risking him. But (re)cracking a rib means we have a lot to lose. So why risk it?
Weiters reckons he's going to be good to play and is looking forward to matching up against his mate Charlie. I saw an interview with Charlie a while back where he spoke about playing against Weiters.
If we can fit Derksen in the 23 with Weiters back, I'd start him on Charlie with Dean primed to leap over Charlie at every opportunity.
Obviously Weiters knows Charlie's game as well as he knows his own but his value is in intercepting and setting up transition from defence. Derksen is more of an old-fashioned close-checking defender and I think he'd do OK on Charlie ... with some help.
They interviewed weiters before the game and asked him how many broken ribs he ended up having. His response, i'm not going to say. Don't want to give Sydney too much amunition......or words to that effect.
This shows 2 things. 1. He thinks he will be playing against sydney 2. What he got and what was reported, are different things. If it was just 1, he would've said just one. The club indicated it was 1, he had nothing to gain by not admitting to that. His refusal to answer the question is a worry.
Either way.....i'd prefer we DONT play him against Sydney.....or against anyone really...until he is 100% right. We have very little to gain by risking him. But (re)cracking a rib means we have a lot to lose. So why risk it?
I believe that the AFL has conceded that the free kick against Pitto was wrong.
....and the other 2 against reidy i think where he had a foot on/over the line as he jumped?
If the umpire wants to influence the game, just throw the ball to one side and penalise the ruck for going over the line to get access to it. Its bollocks.
I think Lord has continue to be underwelming as well.....but in Cerras absence, probably plays.
EDIT: Lord had 13 tackles, easy to miss some of them....even outtackled Atkins who had a mere 9. Hewett had 30 touches and 8 clearances.....so wasn't bad, but i don't think he was quite as influential as the other 3.
Yep I'm guessing you've got a bit of a set against Lord. A bit like Wilson.
You need to watch them a bit more closely. Lord was good last week and even better this week. His tackling was elite...not just in number but in quality.
Nothing against lord, just is easier to see players with the ball than without. With the ball, or simply getting the ball, he has not been doing anything noteworthy. Similar to binns last year....both do 'ok' but nothing that makes you go 'wow'. At least lord has a defensive game though.
Wilson obviously didnt play, but it's the same with him....what about him and his play is elite? Shifter sheahan always said you need to be elite at something at afl level. I dont see what that is. Throw in chesser... Theres plenty on the list. Nothing personal, just calling it as I see it.
Doesnt mean they are useless to us, just means they are replaceable.
Given we are trying to play more free flowing, fast moving, good ball movement style, lord stood out as someone not performing as well in that area. As mentioned, great at tackling.... but so was fogarty last year, and that didn't really translate into goals.
Our B+F winner from last year is our 4th best midfielder tonight....and you could argue that daylight should actually be 4th.
Walsh Jagga Cripps
Dominating tonight.
Walsh kicked a goal that Huddo said probably shaded Andersons goal of the year last year and despite copping a knock early, looks strong, fresh and fit. If it wasn't for the other 2 i mentioned above, he'd be a sneaky brownlow chance if he keeps playing like that.
Jagga 37 touches, all class, composed and good vision. Looks like Walsh in his first year.....just belongs.
Cripps looks fit.....or at least fitter than he did for most of last year. Not brownlow medal form, but exactly what we need from him. Not trying to do too much which has been my biggest criticism of him over the journey. Thanks to the others....including Hewitt helping out with the workload.
Hayward and Fogarty were good early, don't think they played after half time. Byrne and Chesser i think were the 2 that have played after half time.....with both kicking a goal.
From this side, i don't think Young and McGovern get a game. Derksen and Dean to start. Possibly not Fogarty, Byrne and Chesser either....too many better types already playing. I think Lord has continue to be underwelming as well.....but in Cerras absence, probably plays.
EDIT: Lord had 13 tackles, easy to miss some of them....even outtackled Atkins who had a mere 9. Hewett had 30 touches and 8 clearances.....so wasn't bad, but i don't think he was quite as influential as the other 3.
Harry started to hold his marks and look dangerous. Hit the post with 1. Pitto hit the post with a grab from the ruck. A breath of fresh air the other way and its 2 goals.
Ollie Hollands hasn't stopped running. Is a lock for a wing. Jagga is playing every game this year and finishing top 10 in the B+F. Cripps is looking fit. Saad still looking proppy, streching out before half time. Old legs not getting younger.
Reidy is a big boy, but isn't doing a whole lot yet. Pittonet is looking as fit as he's been for a while. Walsh has recovered from whatever injury he has and back to his best.
Tom Hawkins suggested we shouldn't play 2 rucks as they are both the same type.
Yes, agree with Tommy.
Yep, looking that way.
Thats why we need HOK instead of Reidy. He's much more agile and can play forward.......more like TDK.....just not as good
