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Not really a match report per se (I find it difficult to get a perspective on the game when I'm at ground level - normally watch at an elevation). But here are some observations on players:
BBBH
Should have had 6 goals by quarter time. Not sure if he actually had an opponent - if he did it must have been Sheedy providing another of his kids a baptism by fire. Was presenting himself well and marking strongly. Kicking for goal less good. Didn't play after half time.
McVeigh
Played after half time and did diddly squat. Looked a bit overawed by it all. Looks very skinny.
Mathews
Solid without really doing anything of note.
O'Keefe
Came on towards the end of the second quarter and played for most of the rest of the game. Took a while to get into things but lifted intensity in second half. OK without being special.
C Bolton
OK - nothing special. Took a couple of nice defensive marks.
Cresswell
Played the first half. Played like he normally does - got a decent amount of the ball, wasted some but set up a fair amount of play, especially early on. Didn't play after half time.
Fixter
Came on after half time. Threw himself into the action straight away. Was hard at the ball without being brilliant.
Williams
Took a little while to work his way into the game but was excellent from midway through the first quarter to near to the end of the second (which was when the whole team was dominant). Signs that we can reasonably expect another year from Willo like the last. Didn't play after half time.
Maxfield
Came out firing from the start and was pretty effective. Scored a very nice goal, atypical of most of his. Looks pretty fit and strong. Don't think the captaincy will "weigh him down" based on this brief siting. Didn't play after half time.
Fozzie
Played for most of first 3 quarters. Busy, mostly out on the wing. Used the ball decently for the most part. Good without being great.
McPherson
Came on after half time. Looked to be a player with a point to prove. Did some very nice things, including snaring a somewhat flukey long goal that bounced past several players in the goal square. Was one of the reasons the Swans held on for victory.
Stevens
Marked very very well. And in the third quarter when he was the main target up forward (with Hall off) presented himself very well. Kicking for goal was ordinary. Not sure how many behinds he kicked - at least 3, I reckon, probably more and most were gettable. Less impressed with his chasing off the ball.
Kennelly
Started very well. Was heavily involved in setting up the first two kicks on goal - which unfortunately were misses, but that wasn't his fault. Faded after that, although he did hit Bazza on the chest a couple more times. Would like to have seem him do more.
Ablett
Only played after half time. Should have taken a leaf out of Frosty's book. Didn't look to be putting his hand up for a spot in next week's team. A couple of nice things but nowhere near enough.
Nicks
Good without being great. Started in defence but then moved forward in second quarter. Didn't play after half time (I think).
Bolton
Pretty good actually. Didn't dominate but was definitely one of the Swans better players. Kicked a few beautiful long, well directed kicks into the forward line. One looked like a pass forward but went through for a goal. Involved in a lot of play, was physical at man and ball but looked to have more purpose about it than most of last season. Good at diving into packs but all in actually getting the ball out to a team mate.
Schauble
Played on Lloyd for part of the game and was caught behind a few times. Probably just shaded down back but didn't disgrace himself.
Dempster
I think he just played the final quarter - he certainly wasn't on before half time. Didn't see much of the ball but took one nice mark about 40m out from goal and kicked the possibly the straightest roost on goal I've ever seen.
Powell
V interesting to see Powell out there. Got the most game time of the yet-to-debut players by far. Started the game as the second defender, alongside Schauble. Still looks like a stick. Made a couple of blues (one of which resulted directly in an Essendon goal) but was very very impressed with his attitude. Never let his head drop and kept on with his job. Took a couple of excellent overhead marks under some pressure and almost took a beauty in the third quarter. Recovered from not quite holding on to it to make sure the ball was wrapped up. His build means I wonder whether he'll ever make it but certainly today's effort was enough to give us some hope.
Kirk
Came on midway through the second quarter and took some time to get involved. Worked his way into the game well in the third quarter. Some of his disposals were very good, especially by hand. Pretty creative at times. Was one of the few senior players to play in the final quarter and his experience and class showed compared to the rookies he was playing along side. A major reason why the Swans just managed to hold on.
Warfe
Didn't seem to get much game time - or at least I didn't notice him much. Was on at the death and it may have been him who kicked the goal that got the Swans back in front near the end. Couldn't see very well because it was over the other side of the ground. If it was him it was the straightest kick I've ever seen him do!
Schneider
On at the start but struggled a bit. Got a bit of the ball early on but didn't use it very well. Kept on trying but this performance was nothing to get too excited about.
Goodes
One of Sydney's best. Held his own in the ruck, as he usually does. Occasionally wasteful with disposals but was involved in a lot of the play for first 3 quarters. Seems confident. Pretty vocal out there on the ground.
Thewlis
Played for most (maybe all) of the second half and was pretty impressive. Certainly didn't dominate but did some nice things. Looks a strong mark, kicked a beautiful goal from the boundary and effected a fantastic spoil right in front of where I was standing. It may have been him rather than Warfe that kicked the goal to get the boys back in front (similar hair!!). Tallish, strongly built and moves well. Seems confident. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him debut this year.
McGlone
Played second half. Still very slight. Didn't seem to do much.
Malceski
Played second half. In opening minutes of 3rd quarter made a very nice interception straight in front of goal but missed his shot badly. Still, worked hard for rest of game and got a bit of the ball.
Meiklejohn
ALong with Thewlis was probably the most impressive of the new kids. Is a decent build already and took over from Goodes in the ruck at the end of each quarter, plus played the whole of the final quarter in the ruck. Provided a decent contest at centre bounces. Worked hard to get to contests around the ground. Certainly didn't dominate but nor was he obviously outplayed. Still has a way to go if he is going to become an AFL player BUT if worst comes to worst and we lose Ball and Doyle for long parts of the season and need another body to provide Goodes with some help (ala Brockman last year) he could probably do the job.
Bevan
Saw him running around the ground in the final quarter but didn't see him get the ball more than a couple of times.
Roos
Pretty impressed on two counts. Firstly, for 3 quarters the Swans were the better team out there, despite looking much much smaller than the Bombers. Even allowing for the fact we were missing Saddo, Doyle and Ball, the Swans look like a pretty skinny team. But he had them backing themselves and playing attacking, mostly direct football. Skillwise they were easily a match for the Bombers except in their kicking for goal. They were also the more aggressive, focussed team for most of the game.
Secondly, in the final quarter it looked like we were going to get overrun, which would have been an injustice given we were the better team for 3 quarters by a sizeable degree. But what most of the crowd (who were getting pissed off) didn't get was that our 15 players out there for the whole of that quarter included Thewlis, Meiklejohn, McGlone, Dempster, McVeigh, Bevan, Ablett, Schneider, Malceski, with only Frosty, O'Keefe, Kirk and Warfe providing real senior experience. (Can't remember if Fixter was out there as well, but don't think so). Most of the really senior players were back in the dressing room by then, but he had Fozzie, Bolton (x2), Goodes, Tiger and a few others all sitting on the bench. But he didn't bring them on. He let the kids keep going, and gave them a chance to see what they could do. And I'm not exactly sure where they found it from, but in the last 5 minutes they dug deep and found enough not only to stem the Essendon flow, but to kick two goals themselves. They should be pretty pleased with their collective efforts at the death there.
Overall, some pleasing things to come out of the afternoon, even though it is only an early season practice game. Certainly we don't seem destined to prop up the wrong end of the ladder if that performance is anything to go by.
BBBH
Should have had 6 goals by quarter time. Not sure if he actually had an opponent - if he did it must have been Sheedy providing another of his kids a baptism by fire. Was presenting himself well and marking strongly. Kicking for goal less good. Didn't play after half time.
McVeigh
Played after half time and did diddly squat. Looked a bit overawed by it all. Looks very skinny.
Mathews
Solid without really doing anything of note.
O'Keefe
Came on towards the end of the second quarter and played for most of the rest of the game. Took a while to get into things but lifted intensity in second half. OK without being special.
C Bolton
OK - nothing special. Took a couple of nice defensive marks.
Cresswell
Played the first half. Played like he normally does - got a decent amount of the ball, wasted some but set up a fair amount of play, especially early on. Didn't play after half time.
Fixter
Came on after half time. Threw himself into the action straight away. Was hard at the ball without being brilliant.
Williams
Took a little while to work his way into the game but was excellent from midway through the first quarter to near to the end of the second (which was when the whole team was dominant). Signs that we can reasonably expect another year from Willo like the last. Didn't play after half time.
Maxfield
Came out firing from the start and was pretty effective. Scored a very nice goal, atypical of most of his. Looks pretty fit and strong. Don't think the captaincy will "weigh him down" based on this brief siting. Didn't play after half time.
Fozzie
Played for most of first 3 quarters. Busy, mostly out on the wing. Used the ball decently for the most part. Good without being great.
McPherson
Came on after half time. Looked to be a player with a point to prove. Did some very nice things, including snaring a somewhat flukey long goal that bounced past several players in the goal square. Was one of the reasons the Swans held on for victory.
Stevens
Marked very very well. And in the third quarter when he was the main target up forward (with Hall off) presented himself very well. Kicking for goal was ordinary. Not sure how many behinds he kicked - at least 3, I reckon, probably more and most were gettable. Less impressed with his chasing off the ball.
Kennelly
Started very well. Was heavily involved in setting up the first two kicks on goal - which unfortunately were misses, but that wasn't his fault. Faded after that, although he did hit Bazza on the chest a couple more times. Would like to have seem him do more.
Ablett
Only played after half time. Should have taken a leaf out of Frosty's book. Didn't look to be putting his hand up for a spot in next week's team. A couple of nice things but nowhere near enough.
Nicks
Good without being great. Started in defence but then moved forward in second quarter. Didn't play after half time (I think).
Bolton
Pretty good actually. Didn't dominate but was definitely one of the Swans better players. Kicked a few beautiful long, well directed kicks into the forward line. One looked like a pass forward but went through for a goal. Involved in a lot of play, was physical at man and ball but looked to have more purpose about it than most of last season. Good at diving into packs but all in actually getting the ball out to a team mate.
Schauble
Played on Lloyd for part of the game and was caught behind a few times. Probably just shaded down back but didn't disgrace himself.
Dempster
I think he just played the final quarter - he certainly wasn't on before half time. Didn't see much of the ball but took one nice mark about 40m out from goal and kicked the possibly the straightest roost on goal I've ever seen.
Powell
V interesting to see Powell out there. Got the most game time of the yet-to-debut players by far. Started the game as the second defender, alongside Schauble. Still looks like a stick. Made a couple of blues (one of which resulted directly in an Essendon goal) but was very very impressed with his attitude. Never let his head drop and kept on with his job. Took a couple of excellent overhead marks under some pressure and almost took a beauty in the third quarter. Recovered from not quite holding on to it to make sure the ball was wrapped up. His build means I wonder whether he'll ever make it but certainly today's effort was enough to give us some hope.
Kirk
Came on midway through the second quarter and took some time to get involved. Worked his way into the game well in the third quarter. Some of his disposals were very good, especially by hand. Pretty creative at times. Was one of the few senior players to play in the final quarter and his experience and class showed compared to the rookies he was playing along side. A major reason why the Swans just managed to hold on.
Warfe
Didn't seem to get much game time - or at least I didn't notice him much. Was on at the death and it may have been him who kicked the goal that got the Swans back in front near the end. Couldn't see very well because it was over the other side of the ground. If it was him it was the straightest kick I've ever seen him do!
Schneider
On at the start but struggled a bit. Got a bit of the ball early on but didn't use it very well. Kept on trying but this performance was nothing to get too excited about.
Goodes
One of Sydney's best. Held his own in the ruck, as he usually does. Occasionally wasteful with disposals but was involved in a lot of the play for first 3 quarters. Seems confident. Pretty vocal out there on the ground.
Thewlis
Played for most (maybe all) of the second half and was pretty impressive. Certainly didn't dominate but did some nice things. Looks a strong mark, kicked a beautiful goal from the boundary and effected a fantastic spoil right in front of where I was standing. It may have been him rather than Warfe that kicked the goal to get the boys back in front (similar hair!!). Tallish, strongly built and moves well. Seems confident. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him debut this year.
McGlone
Played second half. Still very slight. Didn't seem to do much.
Malceski
Played second half. In opening minutes of 3rd quarter made a very nice interception straight in front of goal but missed his shot badly. Still, worked hard for rest of game and got a bit of the ball.
Meiklejohn
ALong with Thewlis was probably the most impressive of the new kids. Is a decent build already and took over from Goodes in the ruck at the end of each quarter, plus played the whole of the final quarter in the ruck. Provided a decent contest at centre bounces. Worked hard to get to contests around the ground. Certainly didn't dominate but nor was he obviously outplayed. Still has a way to go if he is going to become an AFL player BUT if worst comes to worst and we lose Ball and Doyle for long parts of the season and need another body to provide Goodes with some help (ala Brockman last year) he could probably do the job.
Bevan
Saw him running around the ground in the final quarter but didn't see him get the ball more than a couple of times.
Roos
Pretty impressed on two counts. Firstly, for 3 quarters the Swans were the better team out there, despite looking much much smaller than the Bombers. Even allowing for the fact we were missing Saddo, Doyle and Ball, the Swans look like a pretty skinny team. But he had them backing themselves and playing attacking, mostly direct football. Skillwise they were easily a match for the Bombers except in their kicking for goal. They were also the more aggressive, focussed team for most of the game.
Secondly, in the final quarter it looked like we were going to get overrun, which would have been an injustice given we were the better team for 3 quarters by a sizeable degree. But what most of the crowd (who were getting pissed off) didn't get was that our 15 players out there for the whole of that quarter included Thewlis, Meiklejohn, McGlone, Dempster, McVeigh, Bevan, Ablett, Schneider, Malceski, with only Frosty, O'Keefe, Kirk and Warfe providing real senior experience. (Can't remember if Fixter was out there as well, but don't think so). Most of the really senior players were back in the dressing room by then, but he had Fozzie, Bolton (x2), Goodes, Tiger and a few others all sitting on the bench. But he didn't bring them on. He let the kids keep going, and gave them a chance to see what they could do. And I'm not exactly sure where they found it from, but in the last 5 minutes they dug deep and found enough not only to stem the Essendon flow, but to kick two goals themselves. They should be pretty pleased with their collective efforts at the death there.
Overall, some pleasing things to come out of the afternoon, even though it is only an early season practice game. Certainly we don't seem destined to prop up the wrong end of the ladder if that performance is anything to go by.
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