Skip to main content
Recent Posts
63
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Baggers -
I sat behind the goals at ground level so btw that and the goons in front us standing up all the time, it was to “see” the game. My comments are
As follows:
- we controlled the game quite well in the first half
- we transitioned the ball very well in the first half.
- at about the 10 min mark of the 3rd, we looked out of petrol and fatigued. The mistakes started at that point.
 I thought it was going to be a tough assignment  but a 12 goal to 4 3rd was as bad as I have seen from us. I dont know what we do at the 1/2 time break in the rooms with food and drink but its been a while that we come out in the 3rd looking they need a sleep because their bellies are full.
Not a good start to 2027


You know, you raise an interesting point GTC old son. I also lift an eyebrow or two when I see the massive sugar and carb hits at half time. Seems to be a dietician playbook from decades ago.

The folks I know through my work rely on quality electrolytes during sustained exertion... high in magnesium, potassium and sodium - no sugar! As for white bread carbs... p1ss off! And some folks are okay on fruit, others not at all. And definitely no caffeine tablets - great way to dehydrate!!
64
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by PaulP -
Paul im as change averse as anyone, but sometimes you have to acknowledge when your coach just doesnt have us on the right trajectory.

Leave aside supporter analysis for the minute. As far as the club is concerned, they need to :
a. correctly identify where the problems lie
b. make correct decisions based on correct analysis.

If it turns out that Voss is the or a problem, then fine. But I very much doubt it. The club (however abstractly or concretely you may wish to define that entity) has IMO, simply forgotten how to win. This is self evident and has played out across a variety of regimes, coaches, list managers, etc., and apart from some progress here and there, is still struggling to be like Hawthorn, Geelong etc. You can have all sorts of arguments about what comes first (winning or winning culture), you can have all sorts of arguments about coaches, players, list managers that you either  love or hate etc., but until the club has that breakthrough moment, there will always be that element of doubt in the minds of players, coaches etc. That mental space is hard to pinpoint and hard to define, but very real IMO.
66
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 1 2026 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Richmond
Last post by crashlander -
What can we do for next week?

[1] Plan to take Nankervis out of the picture. He isn't a jumper, so he won't be able to jump all over Pitto and Reidy, but he was the difference last year. We squash him and we go forwards.

[2] Saad goes out with injury. Hopefully, Cowan is fit enough to replace him. Otherwise, Billy Wilson, who has the pace and run we lacked.
As for Cowan, he might be able to do a negating job on one of Richmond's mids. If so, we will be improved by it.

[3] Zac Williams: he had 5 clearances in the first quarter last night, but lacked impact thereafter. I wouldn't have him in defence: small forward with turns in the middle.

[4] Fog goes out. Have Ainsworth, Flynn Young or Byrne do his job. All have more pace and are much faster. All can kick a goal from more than 10 m out, something that Fog doesn't do.

[5] Move McGovern forward or out. As a defender, he is too loose. He has brain fades. Moir to the bench or the VFL.

[6] L. Young: do we need him as a defender against Richmond's forwards? Derkson deserves a chance. It will be interesting to see what forwards Richmond present us with.
67
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Baggers -
One thing i noticed last night is that Swans had 3 AFL coaches on game day. Cox, Goodwin and Cameron.

Where is the support for Voss? He has been set up to fail.

Mr Simpson is there...I'm sure he'll have some feedback ;)

Simmo has made it clear that's really not his game day role, plus, he's only there once a week.
69
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Baggers -
I don't get the doom and gloom. Too many 'throwing out the baby with bathwater' comments here at the mo.

Yes, a horrible 3rd qtr and yes, we didn't capitalize on our first half dominance.

This was the first game in real heat for our 'new' group, coaches included. Need to see the bigger picture and a perspective over weeks, not one game. The bottom line, we're a work in progress after so many changes - whereas the Fluffy Ducks are ready to challenge for a top 4 spot.

Vossy's first words in his media conference were that our intensity dropped in the 3rd and they dialled up their pressure. That's about mental toughness and discipline... issues that still remain. Our new coaches saw, first hand, that vulnerability - get to work, fellas.

The game plan is good, however last night we were a few blokes short on executing it well - Fogarty and Young in particular. An aging Saad has lost his effectiveness. Reidy aint ready for senior footy. They were our bottom four on the night.

Moir needs a breakout game - he's teasingly close. A concern.

We lacked a 'spark' player last night -- the Fluffy Ducks had Papley -- to capitalize on forward entries and bring serious emotion to the forward line - we were a flat forward bunch last night. For mine, our spark players are Frankie Evans and Talor Byrne. These two can also create something out of nothing. Ainsworth is an excellent addition. Kempy fumbled the fck out of the aggot at critical moments but will find his feet and confidence in time  - there were enough promising signs.

Personally, I'd have H as the 2nd ruck, it brings him into the game and will raise his confidence. And Pitto has shown he's no slouch around goals.

And what the fck does going forward with humility, mean... (which I've heard us say)? What a crock of crap. There are wonderful and important places for humility... however going forward in a gladiatorial sport aint one of them. Humility can undermine boldness and even confidence. Be humble in victory, but not in game. Be bold, disciplined, focussed and ruthless in game.





70
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney
Last post by Lods -
Yes, more coach churn is definitely the answer.

Paul im as change averse as anyone, but sometimes you have to acknowledge when your coach just doesnt have us on the right trajectory.

Quote
The Swans rammed home 12 goals to four, with the 75 points scored making it the equal third-greatest quarter in terms of points since 1999. It was the AFL's highest-scoring quarter since round six, 2011.

We have had a fairly solid upheaval, but we were without an answer to that and its just not good enough for even the worst side in the AFL.

He has time to fix it, but if you had 10 factors to weigh up when making considerations of Voss future this is one of them.

Like MBB says, lose to Richmond and Voss is well and truly in the gun.

One of the things that is really hurting him is these ridiculous runs other sides get on, often when we've fought hard to get to a comfortable lead.
Sitting back as supporters we get four or five goals in front but it's become almost an expectation that the other side will get a run on and swamp us.
The problem is it's not a new problem and even changing a third of the side has had no effect in overcoming it.