Ugly, but Swans can rebound
SYDNEY coach John Longmire blames his team — not only a few stars — for under-performing this season.
Plenty of pundits have put a line through the Swans’ finals prospects after losing their first five games, their worst start in 24 years.
“It’s not a write-off as far as we’re concerned, but we need to make sure we get it back on track,” Longmire said.
“We can only do that by playing the brand of footy that we know we can and we need to do it this week.”
Much of the criticism of the Swans has centred on the reduction in numbers and form of All-Australian on-ball trio, captain Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery.
But Longmire does not believe it is only some of his stars who are not performing.
“I think all of our team is,” he said.
“You look at our numbers, you look at our performances and it’s hard to shy way from any of that factor.
“We haven’t had many good players in that first five weeks, that’s why we are where we are, but we’ve got confidence that those players, in particular, can turn it around.
“They need to be playing well, they know that, but also their teammates around them need to be playing well.
“Josh’s season probably up until last week has been pretty solid.
“Luke Parker the week before against West Coast was pretty good, Dan Hannebery the week before (that) against Collingwood was pretty good, we just haven’t put it together as a collective.”
He said there was a variety of reasons why players were not performing well.
“Some have been down a bit on confidence, some physically have suffered, like Kieren (Jack), but you need to find a way, and we’re confident they will find a way, but obviously we need to get going,” he said.
Longmire was adamant none of the four players brought back into the team over the past two weeks would suffer the same fate as an underdone Jack.
The former co-captain was rushed back to bolster an inexperienced side for Round 1 before he had recovered from a hip injury, which will sideline him for at least two weeks.