Fairytales...

[Captain]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Thought Maxfield had a shocker - couldn't seem to get into it and the Lions players easily ran around him.

Interesting that Walls said early in the game that Saddington really needs to stand up this year. He has been around for a long time and needs to take the next step from a fringe player to a top-liner. Later in the game he commented how weak one of his efforts against Pike was. Saddington really didn't show much tonight - certainly didn't help out all his supporters on this board. Certainly needs to improve - hopefully he can next week.

Heath James played a good defensive effort, although he was a bit slow at ground level. Should never have let Aker get that goal in the 3rd qtr.

I think our midfield did pretty well tonight, which was rather pleasing. Fosdike, Williams and McVeigh were very good. Mathews obviously still a bit underdone. J Bolton seemed pretty ordinary tonight, and was nowhere near Voss (whom he seemed to be matching up against) although a really nice goal at the end.

Excellent summary and exactly what I was thinking.

Barry, Williams, Goodes and Davis and rippers. James looked strong down back and will be a hge pick up for us down there if he can stay fit.

Saddington is not the player some on this board think he is. Walls hit this on the head on several occassions, especially when Pike (a shorter opponent) easily outmarked Saddo.

[dimelb]

Disappointing for Ball, but there were others who missed when they could have scored - including a couple of my favourites: Hall, O'Keefe. If just one of the strays had landed there'd be a very different flavour about this thread. But better luck next time.

[dendol]

Originally posted by swan_17
Liz, I don't think that was the point schneidergirl was making, I agree with her.
j.ball had that opportunity to make his own, and he didn't... in other words 'practise what you preach'- not saying he didn't care - as he wouldn't be out there if he didn't....

Most expected us for him to kick that goal, but if you look at the scores, over 26 behinds were registered that game, not to mention the out-on-the-full's. Pressure or not, nobody is perfect. You cant blame Ball for that loss, not berate him for not practising what he preaches. He isnt the first person to miss a shot to win a game, nor will he be the last.

[Damien]

Originally posted by Jeffers1984
*Dreams of Sam Mitchell in a swans jumper*

Did anybody have any clearence stats?

I know of Sam Mitchell the Rising Star winner from Hawthorn....?? Does Brissie have a Sam Mitchell too??

Or am I misssing something here? it is late for me lol

[swan_17]

Originally posted by dendol
Most expected us for him to kick that goal, but if you look at the scores, over 26 behinds were registered that game, not to mention the out-on-the-full's. Pressure or not, nobody is perfect. You cant blame Ball for that loss, not berate him for not practising what he preaches. He isnt the first person to miss a shot to win a game, nor will he be the last.

You can't tell me your heart didn't sink when he missed that goal...You can't in reality blame him for the team perfomance but you can blame him for the miss that may have cost us the game.

[dendol]

Originally posted by Captain
Saddington is not the player some on this board think he is. Walls hit this on the head on several occassions, especially when Pike (a shorter opponent) easily outmarked Saddo. [/B]

I thought Saddo was done for strength. Pike was able to use his body and get into a better position on all the occasions he was outmarked. Pike is a top player though, and C Bolton was outmarked as well when he was on him briefly.

Disappointing for Saddo, because I think he can still turn it around if he can string a few good games together and get his confidence up.

[dendol]

Originally posted by swan_17
You can't tell me your heart didn't sink when he missed that goal...You can't in reality blame him for the team perfomance but you can blame him for the miss that may have cost us the game.

My heart did sink. I still dont agree that he solely cost us the game though; he could have won it, but attributing that much blame on one player isnt fair because the shot at goal wasnt a gimme. If he had missed it from 20 metres out, then thats a different story.

[Jeffers1984]

Originally posted by Damien
I know of Sam Mitchell the Rising Star winner from Hawthorn....?? Does Brissie have a Sam Mitchell too??

Or am I misssing something here? it is late for me lol

lol it was in relation to our clearences which were ok in the first half, but really let us down in the 2nd.

[Dpw]

Originally posted by swan_17
Liz, I don't think that was the point schneidergirl was making, I agree with her.
j.ball had that opportunity to make his own, and he didn't... in other words 'practise what you preach'- not saying he didn't care - as he wouldn't be out there if he didn't....

Most West Coast surpporters will tell u he was one of the worst set shots at goal apart from Sumich in there golden years.

[swan_song]

Disappointing loss when we were so close, but to use an overused term, there were lots of positives...Heath James did well and Jarred McVeigh showed a bit too. Leo was his usual gutsy self, Saint Nick was stupendous until his injury...A few of the others looked a little out of sorts, and I include Bazza, Stewie, and Magic in that. I've argued this so many times that Im blue in the face over it...The team really needs a strong fullback and CHB...none who have tried those positions so far this past year or so is the answer. Schaubs is good for the No 2 or 3 attacker, but is not a true fullback. Having said that, we sorely missed him tonight, and Tige's run off half back. And we definitely missed Schneider -- so many times, when the ball came into the forward line, all Swans in the area seemed to go up for the pack mark and Brizzie just swarmed behind and cleared the ball easily. A stay-down, crumming Schneider type may have jagged a couple.
I think it was a disappointing, yet creditable performance against what I consider to be the very best team I have seen in 40 years of football.

[swan_song]

[i]Disappointing for Saddo, because I think he can still turn it around if he can string a few good games together and get his confidence up. [/B]

Gee I hope so...he's a talented player and a good mark, but he's not a key position player and NOTHING on earth will ever convince me otherwise. Good mark or not, why he as a backman usually tries to mark rather than punch when in a pack has to be one of the great mysteries of football.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by dendol
I forgot to mention Brett Kirk in my earlier post. He seemed to get alot of the ball, so Im not sure if he was playing an exclusive tagging game, or allowed to go get the ball as well.

He was great in the packs. I think he was mainly tagging Lappin on our HFF.

On Bazza, I thought Michael had the better of him in the end. Not alot of his leads were honoured, and Brisbane managed to block up our forward 50 very quickly.

Michael killed him - beat him one-on-one and frustrated him no end, while Brisbane's flooding tactics (and people say we always do it) meant there was little space for him to lead.

Micky O looked like he was on song - showed flashes of his brilliance, and one would think he will get better with a few more games under his belt - as long as he doesnt get hurt.

He looked good, but lacked some space and missed a goal he should have kicked.

O'Keefe was ok as well. A few missed shots at goal, but presented himself very well and took a few good grabs on the lead.

One thing O'Keefe did quite well was take Johnson out of the game early. Made him play deep in the backline.

Im just left wondering how it would have been with Lynch and Brown playing. I suspect the score would have been drastically different, and our outlook for the season wouldnt be as rosy. Freo will be another test for us next week.

Yep - I think this is possibly quite true.

[Charlie]

Any reason why Goodes won't get the 3 Brownlow votes? He didn't do my back-to-back expectations any harm last night.

[Captain]

Originally posted by swan_song
I've argued this so many times that Im blue in the face over it...The team really needs a strong fullback and CHB...none who have tried those positions so far this past year or so is the answer.

Personally I think James did an excellent job at fullback last night and definately deserves another crack there. If he can maintain fitness and put on a few kilos he will become a very solid full back. With James and Schable talking the key defensive posts, and Bolton, Saddo, Leo and Kennelly taking the other defensive positions we look like having a quite good defensive unit.

[EMJ]

Thought Ablett did well - got some ungettable reaches for the ball. Powell looked better than I have seen him play.