Swans Vs Bulldogs Game Thread

[satchmopugdog]

Is it slitting wrists time?

[gossipcom]

I was impressed with some of the young Swans players, others though were totally outclassed. In particular, I have to say I wasn't too impressed with Laidlaw's effort on the backline - very impressed with White up front and Jack on Acker.

Here's hoping the injuries to Eski and Monty aren't too bad.

[is2SWaNz]

I hope the injuries aren't bad. But the Eski holding his knee doesn't look too good!!!

[satchmopugdog]

Originally posted by gossipcom
In particular, I have to say I wasn't too impressed with Laidlaw's effort on the backline .

Damn

[Swannette]

I agree about White, showed a lot of promise for the second week in a row. Also like the look of Johnathon Simkin, not just because I reckon he's Nick Davis's twin, but he's fast and showing a bit of poise and skill. Thought Brabazon did OK too.

[hammo]

Hmm I thought Brabazon was quite ordinary. He doesn't look up to it to me.

Equally poor was Paul Bevan, You wouldn't know that he was actually playing except he made a few of his trademark errors - out on the full etc.

Currie, Rowe, Jesse White were the new guys that were most impressive for me.

I thought Schmidt played well.

Of the experienced guys Kirk and Goodes dis well and of course Richards had a good game.

[liz]

Given we were all pretty much expecting them to get beaten, the result wasn't too bad. Although the combination of so many youngsters meant things broke down too often, I reckon there are a few who could probably individually slot into the senior team in round 1 if necessary.

White - pretty obvious - has the build, skills look good enough. Luke Vogels and Heath Grundy should be concerned, especially Vogels.

Simpkin - lively, intelligent - probably showing at least as much as Monty did at a similar stage, though he's got a huge development curve to climb if he wants to become as good as Amon.

Laidlaw - someone else said they were disappointed in him. I thought it was a mixed bag. He made a few mistakes but did some pretty good stuff too. Slotting into a backline with Bolton, Barry, Kennelly and Richards would be a lot easier than with an inexperienced group. I reckon he's probably ready if needed.

Schmidt - did some good stuff in the first half in the centre square, effecting some good clearances. Much quieter in the second half, but did take one very good mark. Could come in for Ablett in the early rounds if those hammies are still too sore.

Jack - maybe not quite ready but he was far from disgraced playing on Aker. Liked the fact that he didn't completely focus his efforts on tagging, and was prepared to grab the ball and do something with it when he got the chance.

Thornton seemed to struggle to get into the game.

Smith had a couple of nice touches but overall too light and inexperienced - still, looks like he has some potential.

Brabazon, Barlow, Faulks all probably way out of that class at the moment. Currie we know we won't see play seniors this year, but his build looks pretty decent and I reckon he's already taken more contested marks and two practice games than Erikson and Meiklejohn took - combined - in five years on the list.

On the Dogs, how good is Griffen going to be? His second half was quiet but I thought he was outstanding in the first half, and his size for a running midfielder is exceptional. He's probably not as silky as someone like Hird, but I reckon he could grow to have as much impact on games in the not too distant future.

And it was both nice and frustrating to see Malcolm Lynch look so promising. He's bigger than I thought he was, and looks like he can become a very useful player.

[Nico]

My quick summeary.

Davis - ok but couple of lairising turnovers
McVeigh - good last quarter. Sugest he will go to another level this year.
O'Keefe - star
Bolton - good, woeful mistake last Q
Malceski - very good, hopefully only a jar or strain
White - impressive, could be anything when he learns to play the game, but we only saw him at FF so who knows
Laidlaw - ok but rolls the ball over when he drops the ball onto his boot that lets his kicking down
Faulks - did a couple of good things- time
Richards - outstanding
Dempster - pretty good, clearly a ones starter, plenty of poise
Thornton - ok, gets to the footy, needs to be quicker on disposal
Simpkin - got a lot of the footy but stuffed up most of his passes, he genuinely looks a midfielder of some quality. Only needs to improve disposal and selection
Kirk - star
Buchanan - looked very good given he had a knee op off season. was sharp. Doubt his arm injury is much
Brabazon - now here is someone who could be a player. Got plenty of it as the game went on. As with Thornton they just need to cope with the pace of the ones.
Currie - raw and shows talent
Schmidt - his centre clearance work and reading the play of the ruck contest was very good. I reckon he is just about there. Thought he was close to our best. In the ones he could just go to the next level.
Goodes - star
Vogels - good at backing up but gets found out on the fast leads - spare parts man only.
Smith - showed a bit
Barlow - long way to go
Bevan - tried hard, but made too many errors and called for the footy in poor positions. Last Q fumble for a turn over goal sums him up.
Shaw - top effort. He might just make it. Nice rookie backup if the rucks fall over.
Rowe - has genuine talent, but will have to wait a while to get a chance
Jack - did a good job on Aker, but maybe a stopper is the best he will be.

Overall top effort. Could not question their endevour and showed we certainly have a bit of depth. If anyone has a replay, then check how many easy goals they got from our dumb disposal selections. If the Bulldogs are a top 6 side as many think then we were darn good.

Doubt the 2's will lose a game again.

[liz]

Originally posted by hammo
Of the experienced guys Kirk and Goodes dis well and of course Richards had a good game.

Goodes made things look very easy out there, without really breaking into a sweat.

Kirk was clearly a class above the rest of the midfield group - he looks a bit bigger than he did last year, or is that just my imagination.

O'Keefe was decent in the first half, but did he go missing or was he actually missing in the second half?

Davis, Buchanan and Bolton all looked either rusty or only semi-interested. But don't suppose there's anything to be concerned about there.

McVeigh was one who I was a little disappointed in. He seemed to play a large part of the game and tried hard but didn't really have much of an impact. He didn't seem able to find any space in traffic. Despite their improvement over the past couple of seasons, he and Malceski are still the obvious places from where further team improvement is likely to come.

[Jeffers1984]

hmmm. Scoreboard heavily flattered us. But there were some good signs from the youngins.

OK the Seniors.

C Bolts- Rusty as, looked pretty ordinary last pre season too so i expect him to deliver come round 1.

Bevan - Nope. Not only has his footballing ability gone backwards but so has his brain. Slow, Sloppy and Unskilled. Dunno with him anymore.

Mathews - They don't call him ball up benny for nothing. Careless handballs to players out of position and some really poor skills.

ROK - Looked sharp as always. Looks to take a bigger step this year which is saying something.

Richards - Like i said before, holds his ground well and with these new stricter interpretations, will greatly benefit from frees. Keep going Ted!

Mcveigh - Didn't make an impact like i thought he would. Should start to dominate games by now.

Youngins

White- My man Unit looked pretty good again. Makes a big presence in that forward line and can definately move well for a big man. Did i say he was a UNIT?!

Currie - The recruiting staff were certain he would go top 10 in this years draft if they didn't pick him and early signs say that they might be right. Sticky hands (picks the ball of the ground very well) and led a few nice outlet handballs to the midfield. Didn't get much of a go in the ruck until the end, but certainly has more tools than a standard robotic ruckman.

Simpkin - Gun. Runs the lines and shows some arrogance around the packs. Gets some penetration on his kicks too.

Jack - Much better from Keiren this week. Will become better in time i reckon.

Rowe - I still prefer him as a forward, great lead and should of kicked 2 had he taken that easy mark 30 metres out.

Laidlaw - very disappointing game. Looked pretty bad under pressure today.

Barlow - even worse than Laidlaw. Hopeless under pressure and some really bad decision making. Don't think he'll make it.

[liz]

Originally posted by Nico
Jack - did a good job on Aker, but maybe a stopper is the best he will be.

Not so sure about that. He played most of last season as a back pocket in the ressies and was pretty good dashing from defence and pumping the ball forward. Today was a huge task for him and you can't blame him for mostly sticking to the job he was asked to do.

But many others have started out as taggers before graduating into bigger roles and I think he has the raw attributes to become more of an all round player.

[Nico]

Gee Liz a bit tough on Brabazon. I thought he came into the game in the last Q and a bit. Looked lazy early but worked into it.

What I liked is we look to have some inexperienced players who could fill a place if we have a run of injuries, and be genuine contributors.

Schmidt could come straight into the midfield and equip himself very well.

The Bulldogs are very quick so it was good for the young footballers to cope with the pace of the game at the top level. Most of them did admirably.

[gossipcom]

Originally posted by liz
O'Keefe was decent in the first half, but did he go missing or was he actually missing in the second half?

McVeigh was one who I was a little disappointed in. He seemed to play a large part of the game and tried hard but didn't really have much of an impact. He didn't seem able to find any space in traffic.

That's who I forgot McVeigh - I agree with you on that he was always present, but the ball never actually went forward when he had it in his hands.

I saw RO'K in the first half and didn't spot him in the second - I missed about 10 mins in the 3rd Quarter, so was he used only for the one half? Because I know they were alternating the senior players around quite a bit.

[Jeffers1984]

Other summaries:

Malceski - looked on another level as always. I hope Colbert is right about his knee being a jar.
Bucky - Looked rusty but found it when he was on the field.
Schmidt - Will expect him to play a few more games in the seniors. Extracted the ball well which is something we need. I can definately see him replacing Kirk in a few years. Will make it.
Brabazon - i thought he was fairly ordinary. Needs to find it more.
Thornton - Looks skillful indeed but again like Braba, needs to find the ball more.
Faulks - I can see the potential in him as a future defender for us. He is quick off the mark and has good closing speed. Kicking was hot and cold though.
Nick Smith - Deserves a mention for that beautiful left foot kick that hit the UNIT on the chest.
Vogels - didn't see too much on him???
Big Earl - i was actually disappointed in him. Was okay in the ruck contests but i expected him to get his hand on it first a bit more. Needs a big year.

[TMSS]

why should vogels be concerned liz? he injured his hip before half time. Nothing serious though thankfully as I think he will be required round 1.