Swans v Lions - Game day thread

[Nico]

Just got back from the game.

I can't be as enthusiastic about the game as others have posted. We were lucky we ran over the top of them in the end as it seemed we were determined to lose it.

Appalling skills as times, poor decisions and missing targets.

Schmidt was OK but surely not worth all the praise he's getting. Some basic mistakes but his 2 goals were excellent.

Spida was ordinary today, as was Schneider. One good goal but some appalling fumbles and turnovers.

Fosdike clearly BOG - a phenomenal game.

Struggled through the midfield all day except that last quarter. Bolton, Kirk, McVeigh, Ablett just couldn't win enough ball.

In the end, we did enough to win the 4 points, some encouraging signs, but still very rusty.

Agree on Fosdike but what I liked about Schneider was his game fitness and he looks to be running into form. Sure he made some mistakes but the signs are good.

Agree on the midfield. We got smashed at centre breaks and they got few easy goals from clear, direct centre clearances.

I thought Ablett started to get his rythmn back in last Q, but nearly blew it when he had what looked like a clear centre clearance, but turned back into trouble in the last Q.

McVeigh's disposal is officially the worst in the side.

Disagree on Spida. In the first half when he was off they belted us on centre breaks. His desperation in ruck contests and on the ground in the last Q were terrific. Didn't have the shootin' boots on though.

[Chow-Chicker]

Takes a good side not playing their optimum to find a way to win. Thought Schmidt was terrific in the trenches and Fosdike was great all day. The roar after Leos goal was something spine tingling. No way were they going to get beat after that.

My thoughts also. Brisbane have been playing well up until now, so it is an encouraging win.

[TheHood]

How can you have too many complaints about today? This was a game Sydney would have lost in previous years because it didn't mean enough. Highlights were many:

Craig was really good on Brown. It was a 6 goal day for him. He got 3.
Leo showed courage and skill today, meaning he's up and running.
Fossy was excellent and Monty had some great moments.
Schmidty was in great touch. I mean a new bloke would miss what he kicked today, I was pleased.
And Mick. Well in his 250th, he kicked the first and last goals of the day, the last got me out of my seat.

Lastly, Goodesy was all over the park and Baz played like he had no knee injury. I mean who didnt gasp when he tripped over Merrett in identical fashion?

To me, Sydney are building their famous momentum and this time, they are doing it earlier than usual.

[liz]

My thoughts also. Brisbane have been playing well up until now, so it is an encouraging win.

They've not just been winning, they've made two teams look pretty stupid, two teams that have gone on the following week to record good wins.

So all up, that was a pretty decent effort by the Swans to grind out a win, without playing anything remotely resembling their best footy.

[hammo]

To me, Sydney are building their famous momentum and this time, they are doing it earlier than usual.

I hope not... 20 weeks too early

[Mogg0]

I think Benny Mathews deserves a bit of praise for his shut-down job on Luke Power.

Power had absolutely no impact all day. Likewise, Kirk did a fantastic job on Black, despite the fact it negated his own influence completely.

[TheHood]

I think Benny Mathews deserves a bit of praise for his shut-down job on Luke Power.

Power had absolutely no impact all day. Likewise, Kirk did a fantastic job on Black, despite the fact it negated his own influence completely.

Fair call and yes praise deserved. Black was hardly seen. It is an important balance. Kirk is not exactly a loss as a running midfielder, so if he can stop Black and feed a bit or nut out of the pack, job done for our running brigade.

[DST]

I know the game looks different on TV to being at the ground live, but to say we got smashed at the clearances and the ruck in the first half is totally wrong.

Up until half time Jolly was probably one of our best and the clearance statistics showed neither team dominating during the game.

Where we lacked a bit in the first 3 quarters was both Kirk & Mattnews were doing their jobs on Black & Power, but we missed the likes of Bolton, Goodes, Buchannen etc gettting their hands to the ball at the clearances and getting clean ball.

But overall a good effort against a team who are in form and turned up to play.

I reckon we are a fair way more advanced this year as opposed to previous years in that we are getting our hands to the ball, creating plenty of scoring opportunities but we are just not finishing that well at present but that will come based on previous years.

If we can knock off the Crows next week, we will be offically flying.

DST

[Old Royboy]

The only saving grace in the third quarter was that the pressure and intensity stayed up. Everything else - ballhandling, disposal skill, decision making etc was terrible. These were largely rectified in the last quarter, plus the Lion cubs could not sustain their intensity the full game. Nice to win whilst playing poorly, but nothing but the best will do next week against our bogy team.