What really cost us

[sharp9]

The thing which frustrated me the most today (yes, even more than the umpiring) was not our lack of clearances per se, but the fact that we COULD NOT TAKE CLEAN POSSESSION OF THE FOOTY WHEN IT WAS OURS TO DO SO.

This has happened several times this year (most notably the first Adelaide game) over and over players did not GET THE BLOODY FOOTY when thay were the first to touch it. I don't know if it was that they are thinking ahead to what they are going to do with it or what (that was definitely the case a few times when even the commentators noticed that the player had already looked to where he was gonna deliver it before it took possession, and consequently fumbled).

Williams, Mathews, Fosdike, Cresswell, Maxi, Stevens - over and over they fumbled it. There were also a few times when they had a crow on their tail as they ran for the bouncing ball and tried to do fancy things as they ran to the ball (to ensure that they would beat the man after taking possession). What happened???? They didn't focus on getting the ball (which may well have ended in tackles and ball ups) and instead fumbled allowing the second player up (a crow, ineveitably) to gather and, on a few occassions, go on to set up goals.

On the other hand Kirk, Schneider, C. Bolton and Davis were fantastic. I really love it when those three are on the ball. Davis, in particular, had some quite spectacularly skillful, quick clearances. Silky, silky, beautiful thing.

Though, Schneider gave up a goal (indirectly) when he paddled instead of taking possession (on the wing with Burns I think).

Simple, simple, simple stuff - or should be. I reckon there were four goals right there, just from not taking enough care.

[penga]

on the other hand, i thought our handballing was extremely slick yesterday!!!

[liz]

There were a few fumbles, and a couple of them costly, but all teams make mistakes and you could probably point to similar incidents where the Crows wasted possessions. Having watched the game again (don't normally do this with a loss) I came to the following conclusions (neither of them particularly astute)

In the first half we simply didn't get enough of the ball. However, when we did get it, some of the rapid transference of the ball was breathtakingly good and its part of the reason we were still just about in the game at half time.

In the second half we got far more of the ball but suddenly weren't using it well, particularly into the forward 50. For the degree of our dominance in the 3rd quarter we should have kicked 7 or 8 goals.

[Bear]

This is the problem with Mathews. Good link player when in the clear, but rarely takes a clean pack-style contested possession and this is a criticcal aspect of football.

[TheHood]

Yeah couldn't agree more Lizz.

We may have rushed a few things, spent it before we had it but that is the make up of this team and thats why we are enjoying watching the boys so much this year.

Something else that caught my attention was that although I thought Demott was willing us home, he was very liberal in his praise of our performance.

During that game he was genuinely warning against manning up on our kick-ins because we are deadly in our transferance! True.

As for Goodesy and that last kick too, I just wished he had recognised his limitations and just tried to kick it toward the square, a second chance would have resulted and instead he tried to kick the cover off it.

[penga]

Originally posted by TheHood
As for Goodesy and that last kick too, I just wished he had recognised his limitations and just tried to kick it toward the square, a second chance would have resulted and instead he tried to kick the cover off it.

i wish davis was running past him!

[skilts stilts]

Cannot be too critical as they have signalled their arrival as a legitimate finals prospect. The match appeared to be lost in the second quarter by allowing them to kick 5 into the wind. Schauble and Saddington were very disappointing. What irked me more than the Carey goal and Breretons mindless dribble was Russells barracking and the number of Adelaide guys throwing the ball without penalty. The ladhams throw to clarke in the last quarter after Bolton spilled the mark was the least obvious. Their captains charge on Goodes after he had contested a ruck contest may have been legitimate but it was hardly courageous.

[sharpie]

Has anyone else noticed that in the last 2 weeks the Swans have really over-used the handball, often handballing to a guy who is under extreme pressure. I think this is resulting in a lot of these fumbles that people are talking about.

[sharp9]

Originally posted by sharpie
Has anyone else noticed that in the last 2 weeks the Swans have really over-used the handball, often handballing to a guy who is under extreme pressure. I think this is resulting in a lot of these fumbles that people are talking about.

yeah, a few...but the ones that really get me are at stoppages - we seem (except Kirk and Davis) to snatch quickly at the ball when a little less ahste would make for more speed