Searching for answers
Where to now for John Longmire and the Sydney Swans?
After slumping to 0-6 following Saturday’s loss to Carlton, the Sydney Swans are in unchartered territory or, at least, in a position completely unfamiliar to the current crop of players.
Not since 1993 have the Swans lost their first six matches of the season. That year they lost the first 11 – let’s hope it doesn’t get to that.
Longmire urged his players, at Wednesday’s press conference, to rediscover that “trademark football” the Sydney Swans have been known for over the journey.
He’s confident they can against Brisbane on Sunday, it’s just a matter for his players to finally flick the switch and turn it around.
Who needs to fire?
There is plenty of commentary, as there always is when a team is out of form, around certain individuals who need to step up and help turn it all around.
John Longmire didn’t hold back in his post-match press conference, labelling the brand of football his entire playing group is putting out on the park as “unacceptable”.
The following afternoon he narrowed his focus by putting the onus on the midfield, saying their lack of hunger at the contest is putting immense pressure on their defence and not creating enough chances further afield.
That group, boasting Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery, are probably victims of their own lofty standards in a way. In previous years they’ve been ultra-consistent and if one is down on form, another can always be counted on to pick up the slack.
That’s not happening at the moment and despite better signs last week, such as Parker’s 28 disposals against Carlton, that on-ball division will be under the spotlight going into Sunday’s clash with the Lions.
Dan Hannebery feels the strain after last weekend's loss to Carlton.
Beams sidelined
Brisbane’s skipper Dayne Beams has been sidelined with a quad injury, a big blow for the Lions ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Beams has been influential this season, averaging 29 disposals in his six matches, a huge step in the right direction for the 27-year-old who missed all but two games last season due to ongoing injuries.
While his absence will be felt by the visitors on the weekend, they have no shortage of talented players to step up. Tom Rockliff and Dayne Zorko will be leading the charge, while Stefan Martin is in strong form in the ruck and will be aiming to give his ball users first use.
With this in mind we feel all eyes will be on that midfield battle at the SCG on Sunday given both units are incredibly important to each side’s success.
We’re not Lion…
…but the Sydney Swans are aiming for their 10th-straight win against Brisbane on Sunday.
It will be the Club’s biggest streak against any opposition club since South Melbourne’s run against St Kilda between 1950-56.
Will that run put the Swans in the box seat? Or, do recent games count for nothing?
This run started in Round 6, 2010, when (ironically) premiership Lion Daniel Bradshaw ran rampant with six goals to propel his new side to a 20-point win at the SCG.
Brisbane sit 16th on the ladder, with one win and five losses, so they’ll be just as raring for a win.
Rest on their laurels, or in this case, bank on recent results and the Swans may fall into the opposition’s hands. Rest and reload, rediscover their best, and the home side should get the job done.
Daniel Bradshaw is swamped by his new teammates after kicking six against his old side.
Jarrad McVeigh – seniors or reserves?
On face value, the thought of Jarrad McVeigh playing in the NEAFL would be crazy talk. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find the last time he's played at the lower level, probably 2005, before his breakout season in 2006.
The 287-gamer, dual Bob Skilton Medallist and premiership captain has the runs on the board (you’d think – when fit and ready – to be an automatic AFL selection). He has done that very thing for the past 11 seasons.
The problem facing the coaches is not whether McVeigh could have an impact in his first game of any sort since last year’s Grand Final, but whether the former co-captain’s hamstrings and calves can withstand the sudden lift in intensity.
Longmire has declared McVeigh ready to go following a solid training block. What the coaches need to weigh up is if the veteran would benefit from playing at the lower level, to get some game time into his 32-year-old legs and adapt to match intensity, or throw him straight into the main game.
His experience, leadership, polished ball use and general on-field presence would benefit the current playing group greatly, there’s no doubting that, but can the coaches be assured his body can stand up to the rigors.
John Longmire will have a tough day at match committee.
Who else comes in?
The Sydney Swans’ final training session on Friday will be used to either underline and strike a line through Kurt Tippett (hip) and Harry Marsh (hamstring) ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Lions.
Marsh was replaced in last week’s senior side after tweaking his hamstring during in the side’s last training session before the flight to Melbourne, while Tippett was a late withdrawal after hurting his hip in similar circumstances.
Longmire will give the pair every opportunity to prove their fitness ahead of the Round 7 encounter at the SCG.
He didn’t pinpoint anyone but the coach has been impressed with a number of youngsters at NEAFL level and will continue to back his young players if need be, despite the side’s need for experienced heads.
Gary Rohan, cleared of any serious damage after landing awkwardly in a marking contest against Carlton, was ruled out, as was Kieren Jack who’ll nurse his hip concern for at least another week.
Kurt Tippett is fighting to be fit for Sunday's clash.
