Swans' season not a write-off: Longmire
Apr 27, 2017 - 3:26 AM Sydney coach John Longmire blames his entire team - not just a few stars - for underperforming this AFL season.Plenty of pundits have already 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 doesn't believe it's only some of his stars who aren't performing.
"I think all of our team is," Longmire 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 of the season, that's why we are where we are, but we've got confidence that those players (the onballers) in particular can turn it around.
"We know them at their best is pretty formidable and 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 weren't performing well.
"Some have been down a bit on confidence, some physically have suffered like Kieren (Jack), but in the end you need to find a way, and we're confident they will find a way, but obviously after five weeks we need to get going."
Longmire was adamant none of the four players who had been 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 one before he had fully recovered from a hip injury, which will now sideline him for at least two weeks.
He said the four players brought back over the past two weeks had all pulled up well.
Source: AAP
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