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Welcome to the seventh instalment of the Troy Luff Medal countdown for 2004! Tonight, we look back upon two very important wins in the context of our season; the home victory against Collingwood in round 13, and the win at Optus Oval the week after, against a Carlton side emerging from their two year stint at the bottom of the ladder. The two games were hard-fought battles where the Swans further developed the close-checking style of play that defined the second half of the season.
Before we review the Collingwood match, a quick look back at our leaderboard after round twelve:
36 ? Barry Hall
23 ? Brett Kirk
22 ? Paul Williams
18 ? Leo Barry
9 ? Paul Bevan
8 ? Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes, Ben Mathews, Ryan O?Keefe
7 ? Jared Crouch
Looking at the list realistically, the Troy Luff Medal has become a four-player race.
The Swans played Collingwood ? who fell back to the lower reaches of the ladder in 2004 after two years as Brisbane?s bridesmaids ? in a stand-alone match for the weekend. As a result, the attention of the football world focussed on Stadium Australia. For Collingwood, the game was an absolute must-win; lose it, and any realistic hopes of making the finals would be gone. It was also crucial for the Swans, who needed to win to regain a positive win-loss ratio and tighten their grip on a finals spot.
In front of Sydney?s biggest home crowd of the season, the game was a seesawing encounter in which neither team could gain a clear break. Halfway through the last quarter, the Magpies led, but the class of Tadhg Kennelly and Michael O?Loughlin rose to the top, both kicking goals that would give the home team the match. O?Loughlin?s duel with James Clement was a highlight, with no clear winner and both players able to finish the match with their heads held high.
The votes:
5 ? Barry Hall
4 ? Ryan O?Keefe
3 ? Leo Barry
2 ? Michael O?Loughlin
1 ? Brett Kirk
Contenders Kirk and Barry both poll votes, but Barry Hall just keeps pushing ahead. Congratulations to all five players.
The next week, the Swans travelled to Melbourne to play Carlton, conveniently without Brendan Fevola present to make life difficult. The Blues were leaving the bad news of the past two years behind, and had won three on the trot before facing the Swans. For Swans fans, it got uncomfortably close to becoming four in a row, with Carlton three goals ahead in the last quarter. That was before Barry Hall stepped in and took the game into his own hands, single-handedly propelling the Swans to victory. The Swans kicked the last five goals, with Hall contributing three of them. Youngsters Luke Ablett and Paul Bevan also stood out.
The votes:
5 ? Barry Hall
4 ? Brett Kirk
3 ? Luke Ablett
2 ? Paul Bevan
1 ? Jared Crouch
1 ? Jude Bolton
Another tie this week, with Jude Bolton quickly making his way up the leader board. Congratulations to all, particularly Luke Ablett on his first ever TLM votes.
Before we finish for tonight, let?s look at the updated leader board:
46 ? Barry Hall
28 ? Brett Kirk
22 ? Paul Williams
21 ? Leo Barry
12 ? Ryan O?Keefe
11 ? Paul Bevan
9 ? Jude Bolton
8 ? Jared Crouch, Adam Goodes, Ben Mathews
Kirk and company can only watch as Barry Hall ? at that stage playing as well as anybody in the competition ? powers ahead to a massive 18 vote lead. Can anyone catch him? The next couple of weeks will be crucial. Check back tomorrow night, as we look at the painful to watch but relieving to see win over Adelaide, and disappointing loss to Geelong. Please feel free to post any thoughts in this thread.
Charlie
Before we review the Collingwood match, a quick look back at our leaderboard after round twelve:
36 ? Barry Hall
23 ? Brett Kirk
22 ? Paul Williams
18 ? Leo Barry
9 ? Paul Bevan
8 ? Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes, Ben Mathews, Ryan O?Keefe
7 ? Jared Crouch
Looking at the list realistically, the Troy Luff Medal has become a four-player race.
The Swans played Collingwood ? who fell back to the lower reaches of the ladder in 2004 after two years as Brisbane?s bridesmaids ? in a stand-alone match for the weekend. As a result, the attention of the football world focussed on Stadium Australia. For Collingwood, the game was an absolute must-win; lose it, and any realistic hopes of making the finals would be gone. It was also crucial for the Swans, who needed to win to regain a positive win-loss ratio and tighten their grip on a finals spot.
In front of Sydney?s biggest home crowd of the season, the game was a seesawing encounter in which neither team could gain a clear break. Halfway through the last quarter, the Magpies led, but the class of Tadhg Kennelly and Michael O?Loughlin rose to the top, both kicking goals that would give the home team the match. O?Loughlin?s duel with James Clement was a highlight, with no clear winner and both players able to finish the match with their heads held high.
The votes:
5 ? Barry Hall
4 ? Ryan O?Keefe
3 ? Leo Barry
2 ? Michael O?Loughlin
1 ? Brett Kirk
Contenders Kirk and Barry both poll votes, but Barry Hall just keeps pushing ahead. Congratulations to all five players.
The next week, the Swans travelled to Melbourne to play Carlton, conveniently without Brendan Fevola present to make life difficult. The Blues were leaving the bad news of the past two years behind, and had won three on the trot before facing the Swans. For Swans fans, it got uncomfortably close to becoming four in a row, with Carlton three goals ahead in the last quarter. That was before Barry Hall stepped in and took the game into his own hands, single-handedly propelling the Swans to victory. The Swans kicked the last five goals, with Hall contributing three of them. Youngsters Luke Ablett and Paul Bevan also stood out.
The votes:
5 ? Barry Hall
4 ? Brett Kirk
3 ? Luke Ablett
2 ? Paul Bevan
1 ? Jared Crouch
1 ? Jude Bolton
Another tie this week, with Jude Bolton quickly making his way up the leader board. Congratulations to all, particularly Luke Ablett on his first ever TLM votes.
Before we finish for tonight, let?s look at the updated leader board:
46 ? Barry Hall
28 ? Brett Kirk
22 ? Paul Williams
21 ? Leo Barry
12 ? Ryan O?Keefe
11 ? Paul Bevan
9 ? Jude Bolton
8 ? Jared Crouch, Adam Goodes, Ben Mathews
Kirk and company can only watch as Barry Hall ? at that stage playing as well as anybody in the competition ? powers ahead to a massive 18 vote lead. Can anyone catch him? The next couple of weeks will be crucial. Check back tomorrow night, as we look at the painful to watch but relieving to see win over Adelaide, and disappointing loss to Geelong. Please feel free to post any thoughts in this thread.
Charlie
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