"Pathetic players, it's never been worse": Ox slams lack of skill

The Swans may have claimed bragging rights over the Suns at Gather Round this weekend but Charlie Curnow had a moment to forget in front of goal and it’s exposed an element of the game David Schwarz has slammed as “pathetic”.

In the third quarter against the Gold Coast, Curnow had a real “you can’t miss from there” moment as he kicked from the goal square from his non-preferred left foot.

The Commentator’s Curse played a role as the 29-year-old missed.

Not long after, his Swans teammate Joel Amartey did something similar and the apparent inability for big names to perform on their non-preferred side has Schwarz fuming.

“Can I just say this about some players; has anyone noticed how pathetic players are on their opposite side of the body? It’s never been worse,” he said on SEN.

“It’s never been worse than right now. Jye Amiss from Freo, I think he only has half a body I don’t think his right-side works. Some players out there - especially left footers - but some players are so poor on their non-preferred.

“They look like they’re putting all their efforts into getting fit and getting their body right rather than getting their skill right. They’re half the players they need to be.

“Sam Mitchell was a good player right, but he became great because of the other side of his body. We saw it with Steven King, we see it with a lot of others, players that are good but become super because they have both sides.

“Then there’s the odd player that doesn’t have both sides but are just sublimely good; Marcus Bontempelli is great on both sides but James Hird didn’t go on his left, Scott Lucas didn’t go on his right but they could get away with it.

“I’ve never seen a bunch of plyers less equipped on their non preferred than I’m seeing right now.

“Did you see Charlie Curnow snapping yesterday and Amartey? They were pathetic. Charlie kicked form 12 metres, Amartey from 15 metres; they’re two steps off the square and they’re trying to bend them and banana them.”