Is it really true....

[sharp9]

That none of McVeigh, Malceski, Bevan or Moore can contribute more to a game than Ball-up Benny did (in a winning side!) on Saturday. (not to mention Fixter, Sunny, Willoughby and Schmidt who haven't even played this year)

I know it's been said before but he is possibly the worst player in the comp at delivering the ball to someone (anyone) when it's tight.

If he gets the ball in a metre of space it is a guaranteed ball-up (or cough - up) but the rest of our vaunted in and under midfield, particularly Bucky and Kirk don't seem to suffer from this problem. Benny picks the ball up and it's like the world goes into slow motion waiting for him to do something, but I honestly feel that he intends to settle for a tackle as a first option and only really has a go at getting rid of it if he is a chance to be pinged for prior opportunity!

Considering that we play a tight game on purpose I would have thought that Moore in particular, or Bevan would be better.

From memory it was 4 tackles and seven disposals...but then Monty had 3 and Magic four tackles playing in the bloody forward line all night...not to mentioin that they made a bit of a positive contribution as well.

Even Noggy has dramatically improved this facet of his game, he got away a lot of quick balls from the thick stuff, not always lace out, but always to a minimum 50/50...but 50 metres upfield.

IMHO it really is time to try out a Swans team without him in it...maybe we'll notice something missing and eat our hats.

Last of all, though if Maxi comes back in next week and it is at the expense odf Schneider, Dempster, Fosdike or Vogels (surely Bucky and NOG are safe) then I will truly be putrid.

BTW did you see how Fossy was sucking it in in the 4th Q on Saturday after playing half a game? Gold...considering his famed fitness base it really does go to show how much of a step up it is to AFL level...which BTW makes Schneider's slowinsh return from the 2s look better, I mean if Fosdike looks unfit....

But now Schneids looks a million bucks. Fossy for 20 touches this week.. as long as those in close feed it out quick!

[TheHood]

I still want to know if Benny had the job on Mark Johnson last week? If he did, then he did an ok job because he had little impact and low stats.

Ben's stats were woweful, but at least this goes some way to taking into account what he was doing all night.

There is no doubt though, his ball carrying ability is weak. His disposal takes too long a lot of the time and his decision making is too conservative when the game is HOT HOT HOT.

I still like him though...because he's accountable.

[DST]

I'm sorry sharp9 I can't agree with you in regards to your sentiments on Ben Matthews.

Sure his disposal is questionable at times but at this stage his ball winning ablities and his ability to be a defensive midfielder when needed to free up the likes of Ablett, J Bolton & Kirk means he is far away ahead of the likes of Moore, Schmidt, Bevan & McVeigh.

This is doubly so in finals when it gets much harder to get contested ball on a regular basis, something that the others mentioned above are well behind Matthews at present.

As for Saturday night, I did see Matthews running with Mark Johnson on a couple of occasions but can't be sure he was with him in the whole game. But Mark Johnson had nil effect on proceedings so I would assume whoever had him, had him for the whole game.

DST

[RogueSwan]

Originally posted by DST
But Mark Johnson had nil effect on proceedings so I would assume whoever had him, had him for the whole game.

DST

So Johnson and his man may as well have not played as they both negated each other. Okay if this is a young guy learning the ropes but not for a seasoned player who needs to have a net positive effect.
Anyone recall who played on Johnson(M)?

[NMWBloods]

I think Ablett was on Hird when in the midfield and Kirk was on J Johnson. Who was Crouch on?

[punter257]

i think crouch was on lovett

[cressakel]

Originally posted by TheHood
I still want to know if Benny had the job on Mark Johnson last week? If he did, then he did an ok job because he had little impact and low stats.

Ben's stats were woweful, but at least this goes some way to taking into account what he was doing all night.

There is no doubt though, his ball carrying ability is weak. His disposal takes too long a lot of the time and his decision making is too conservative when the game is HOT HOT HOT.

I still like him though...because he's accountable.

Ball-up Benny was actually on Brent Stanton for most of the game who, although the stats aren't a true reflection, took Matthews to the cleaners on many an occasion.

There was one instance mid-way through the third qtr when Matthews ran into the centre square from a bounce down, then stopped and ran backwards to try to cover Stanton. He was caught in no mans land and proved his inability to either confront the original ball-carrier and tackle him or stick to his opponent in Stanton. Anyway, because Matthews couldn't make a decision who to tackle or run with, Stanton got the handball from the original ball-carrier and delivered a perfect pass under no pressure to Lloyd lace out.

I turned to my old man and said "That is why I can't stand Matthews, no @@@@**g brains".....

[DST]

Originally posted by cressakel
Ball-up Benny was actually on Brent Stanton for most of the game who, although the stats aren't a true reflection, took Matthews to the cleaners on many an occasion.

There was one instance mid-way through the third qtr when Matthews ran into the centre square from a bounce down, then stopped and ran backwards to try to cover Stanton. He was caught in no mans land and proved his inability to either confront the original ball-carrier and tackle him or stick to his opponent in Stanton. Anyway, because Matthews couldn't make a decision who to tackle or run with, Stanton got the handball from the original ball-carrier and delivered a perfect pass under no pressure to Lloyd lace out.

I turned to my old man and said "That is why I can't stand Matthews, no @@@@**g brains".....

Are you sure, could have sworn J Bolton ran with Stanton for most of the game except when he went off to attend to his shoulder, maybe the confusion was at that point when Matthews went to Stanton to cover?

DST

[DST]

Originally posted by RogueSwan
So Johnson and his man may as well have not played as they both negated each other. Okay if this is a young guy learning the ropes but not for a seasoned player who needs to have a net positive effect.
Anyone recall who played on Johnson(M)?

Yes to an extent, but before the game you look at their list and only a couple of their onn ballers stand out as being good enough to hurt you when they get the ball and M Johnson is one of those.

So a nil all borefest between the two actually works in our favour.

DST

[cressakel]

Originally posted by DST
Are you sure, could have sworn J Bolton ran with Stanton for most of the game except when he went off to attend to his shoulder, maybe the confusion was at that point when Matthews went to Stanton to cover?

DST

Could've been just that bit of play that Ball-up Benny looked to have no idea although, it was hard to tell as I was dealing with Essendon ginks in the crowd at that stage.....Tough work that.....

[DST]

Originally posted by cressakel
Could've been just that bit of play that Ball-up Benny looked to have no idea although, it was hard to tell as I was dealing with Essendon ginks in the crowd at that stage.....Tough work that.....

Worst crowd going around, either seriously drunk young men or 15 year old girls screaming out for Llyod or Hird and wanting to argue about how much they know of the game.

Enough to do your head in.

DST

[Bleed Red Blood]

Originally posted by DST
Are you sure, could have sworn J Bolton ran with Stanton for most of the game except when he went off to attend to his shoulder, maybe the confusion was at that point when Matthews went to Stanton to cover?

DST

I thought that Mathews was indeed with Stanton. At least for the first quarter. I didn't really notice either after that.

[Plugger46]

Originally posted by DST
Sure his disposal is questionable at times but at this stage his ball winning ablities and his ability to be a defensive midfielder when needed to free up the likes of Ablett, J Bolton & Kirk means he is far away ahead of the likes of Moore, Schmidt, Bevan & McVeigh.

How do you know that? If the likes of Moore, Schmidt, Bevan & McVeigh actually play they are given limited time on the ground. Benny has the whole day or night to do something, which is generally nothing.

He is the worst player in the competition that receives a regular game.

[NMWBloods]

If Mathews was on Stanton then he did indeed have an absolute shocker.

Wouldn't surprise me if he was on M Johnson though - if nothing else, he's a decent defender.

[liz]

The match-ups seemed to change quite a lot throughout the game. Not sure that anyone was on the one player for the whole time (other than maybe Bolton v Lucas, O'Loughlin v Bradley and predominantly Barry vs Lloyd).