Match thread: Swans v Lions.

[mcs]

Apart from his first two disposals and his failure to close the door in the final quarter with a couple of missed shots, I think that was Sheldrick's best game. He doesn't have the straight line speed of, say, Warner, but his pace in his first couple of steps is pretty good, and he used it well to create enough space and time for himself when in traffic. Sure, there's still room for improvement in disposal efficiency but he had some really nice touches that did create scoring opportunities, or put a team mate into space. And the majority of his disposal are under pressure.

Buckley's comment - after Gus's first two disposals were a little wayward - that he was a player who just hadn't kicked on was made to look a bit silly as the game progressed. Because although I think this was his best game, it didn't come from nowhere. I think Buckley just made it clear he'd not actually seen Sheldrick play much in the last couple of months.

There was a moment early in the fourth quarter that I hope Buller gets shown on his review tape. He was in a one-on-one contest with Andrews, deep in our forward line. Andrews never took his eye off the ball and marked it cleanly on his chest. Buller watched Andrews. I don't think Andrews had pole position. He just watched the ball.

This was far from Florent's best game - a long way far - but it was still his best for a while. Better than last week, after which I thought he was in danger of losing his place again. I was happy for him. A dancing Florent who is enjoying his footy is a far better asset for us than the tentative player he's been for most of the season (even at VFL level).

Campbell was good, especially early. That continues on from last week, where his opening quarter was bit of a statement. But I think this needs to become the standard that we expect from Campbell, rather than something worth commenting on. He's a player who has the talent to elevate himself to be a true X-factor player in our forward half (and reduce the reliance on the ICEmen playing well).

Buckley has a bad habit of just making stuff up in the commentary box when he doesn't have anything informed to say. As he did with those comments about Sheldrick. I know he has a lot of progress still to make, but he has really come on with the extended run of time in the team this season. We don't need his disposals to be perfect, just to get to a Kirk/Bolton sort of level of decent quality more often than not.

I really like what Campbell did at times tonight - what he can do is hit a contest hard (Much harder than his small size should allow) and can actually get possession out of it and get it out the other side, at speed. He competes very well in the air for a player of his size as well. He is still inconsistent with how he uses the ball, but that's what we need him to be doing a lot more, more often.

[Thunder Shaker]

With that win, Sydney has now beaten every other team in the competition since the start of last season.

[imuninformedtwo]

Apparently McInerney PCL. We will miss his run against a side like Geelong that spreads and covers the ground.

[Hotpotato]

It was a v fine win v the Premiers. It will be a more mature
and talented side in 26.
Its high time the highly skilled Gulden learnt to
dance away left or tight from chasing opponents.
No way he should be run down these days.

[dejavoodoo44]

Nathan Buckley is a stone cold moron. I hope he coaches Melbourne as that guarantees one of 17 competitors goes nowhere. Paper clips have more charisma.
.

I'm surprised that many people seem to think that Buckley should be the Melbourne coach. Has never really given me impression that he's a deep thinker or a motivational leader, and surely there's plenty of current assistant coaches, who are smart, likeable and keen for a promotion.

[lwjoyner]

great team effort but both Chad and Errol made a few mistakes. Chad hand balling to ? team mates when they had no hope to get and Errols kicking the worst I have seen from him.

[KSAS]

Watched Cox's post match presser, who mentioned Grundy was up and about ok post match after being laid out late in the game, but will be going through HIA process to determine any concussion effects. Hope he is ok foremost and fingers crossed he'll be available against Geelong next week to further stake his AA claims.

Cox didn't sound positive though about McInerny's PCL injury and looks likely to miss the final 2 rounds. Hope he recovers strongly for good preseason.

It's been that sort of year with injuries, not escaping unscatched every week.

It would be nice to topple our GF nemeses in successive weeks!

Hope Dattoli gets to kick his first goal soon and get that monkey of his back. as i think it will help to free him up. Thought he was instrumental in a number of offensive passages. Hope Cox perseveres with him for the final 2 games.

Happy to see Florent have a better game and hope it's a confidence lifter. He certainly needed it.

[MattW]

Watched Cox's post match presser, who mentioned Grundy was up and about ok post match after being laid out late in the game, but will be going through HIA process to determine any concussion effects. Hope he is ok foremost and fingers crossed he'll be available against Geelong next week to further stake his AA claims.

Cox didn't sound positive though about McInerny's PCL injury and looks likely to miss the final 2 rounds. Hope he recovers strongly for good preseason.

It's been that sort of year with injuries, not escaping unscatched every week.

It would be nice to topple our GF nemeses in successive weeks!

Hope Dattoli gets to kick his first goal soon and get that monkey of his back. as i think it will help to free him up. Thought he was instrumental in a number of offensive passages. Hope Cox perseveres with him for the final 2 games.

Happy to see Florent have a better game and hope it's a confidence lifter. He certainly needed it.

Here's that press conference: https://www.afl.com.au/video/1384942...=1754732927001.

Again, I really like Cox. Firstly, he knows what he's doing. He's passionate, cares about the players, but is also firm and holds standards. He loves winning, but has copped loss and disappointment well.

[dejavoodoo44]

Hope Dattoli gets to kick his first goal soon and get that monkey of his back. as i think it will help to free him up. Thought he was instrumental in a number of offensive passages. Hope Cox perseveres with him for the final 2 games.

I'm a bit surprised that Dattoli hasn't kicked a handful of goals, so I'm very surprised that he hasn't kicked his first. He appears a touch nervous at AFL level, whereas in the VFL, he seemed very confident. And I became increasingly confident, that if he went near the ball, then good things would happen.

Yes, you can see his class, when he gets involved in possession chains. The decision making is pretty well instantaneous and the ball is delivered rapidly to advantage. It should be fun to watch, if him and Errol start to combine more often.

[Roadrunner]

Here's that press conference: https://www.afl.com.au/video/1384942...=1754732927001.

Again, I really like Cox. Firstly, he knows what he's doing. He's passionate, cares about the players, but is also firm and holds standards. He loves winning, but has copped loss and disappointment well.

This was a great win- make no mistake about that guys. And full credit to Cox! He’s still learning on the job but he’s showing that he has what it takes to be a successful coach. The players are responding and are following instructions and regaining confidence. Ollie is playing better as is the team and with a talent like Isaac Heeney bringing us joy week in week out, it is great to be a Swanny even when we’re all not playing finals.

[MattW]

I'm a bit surprised that Dattoli hasn't kicked a handful of goals, so I'm very surprised that he hasn't kicked his first. He appears a touch nervous at AFL level, whereas in the VFL, he seemed very confident. And I became increasingly confident, that if he went near the ball, then good things would happen.

Yes, you can see his class, when he gets involved in possession chains. The decision making is pretty well instantaneous and the ball is delivered rapidly to advantage. It should be fun to watch, if him and Errol start to combine more often.

That's a good observation about Dattoli's instinctive creativity in handball chains.

[Dow]

Nice to get the win, only downside is the PCL to JMAC hope it’s low grade and he just misses the rest of the season, he’s a crucial link up player for us. Hard to get excited, but lots of green shoots for next year

[Auntie.Gerald]

seriously

those two left goals (non preferred) by Heeney before half time

What tha !!!!!

Like I have said before..........if Heeney played for a Melb team.........the media would have gone absolutely bananas.....all week !!!!!!

They were absolute class and i cant think of any other player in the comp now or in the last 4 decades that could do that with such grace and execution !!!!!

Clinical and all time 4 qtr performance by Heeney !!!!

Rolls Royce !!!

[Auntie.Gerald]

ps what a game !!!!!

[KSAS]

seriously

those two left goals (non preferred) by Heeney before half time

What tha !!!!!

Like I have said before..........if Heeney played for a Melb team.........the media would have gone absolutely bananas.....all week !!!!!!

They were absolute class and i cant think of any other player in the comp now or in the last 4 decades that could do that with such grace and execution !!!!!

Clinical and all time 4 qtr performance by Heeney !!!!

Rolls Royce !!!

I agree Auntie. Maybe Dangerfield in his prime could match Heeney's feats but he doesn't have his grace in execution. That hangar he took yesterday was poetry in motion. Ben King's mark might take out mark of the week, but for mine Heeney's was much better to the eye.

NAS of St Kilda could be a Heeney in the making , as he has shown he could similar but time will tell.

I hope Heeney is in AA contention.

He has eally come on in the last few years, as he possiblely had been weighed down by injuries ans illness (glandular fever) eatly in his career.