Come into my parlour - RWO Match Report Swans vs Hawks

[liz]

This week it's ScottH's turn to bring us his account of a tense slog at the 'G on Saturday arvo.

We've no action pictures this week (though if anyone has some they'd like to share, please let me know) - but Scott captured some shiny faces at the post-match function and a couple of these just had to be shared.

And this week there's a special bonus, with Frog bringing us his take on a couple of key moments of the game in his Plays of the Day.

Read about it here

[satchmopugdog]

Bad news for Des....photos do not a great report make.

Even though I was there Scott's report clarified a few bits of play. Thank you.

[stellation]

I don't think Malceski was in our best on Saturday. Popularist drivel served up by the RWO admin crew.

[goswannie14]

I don't think Malceski was in our best on Saturday. Popularist drivel served up by the RWO admin crew.

Interesting thought about malceski, I agree with you Stella, but my dad thought he played very well, and he was only sitting 2 seats away from me, but then he did have a radio to his ear.

[NMWBloods]

I thought Malceski was good in patches, but made quite a few errors as well as I recall.

[Frog]

I thought Malceski was good in patches, but made quite a few errors as well as I recall.

If errors are minus points in SuperCoach scoring, then he can't have made too many more than most - He was the (match) leading Swans player (by 21 from Kirk) and 29 in front of the top Hawk. Perhaps I shouldn't read SuperCoach (or FanFooty) scores?

Having said that, I did not have him in my TLM votes

[liz]

Watching the game live I thought Malceski had been OK rather than one of the best but I changed my mind after watching a replay. He did make a few disposal errors but I think we tend to notice these because his disposal is usually impeccable. Whereas we think little of Kirk or Fosdike's ineffective disposals because we expect them.

Malceski got a lot of the ball, albeit a bit deeper than normal and pretty much controlled play once Sydney were in possession in their defensive half. His command of the situation and ability to read when a space has opened up continues to delight me. But so does his tackling and hard graft to get to contests he looks like he's out of (like a hard run to spoil the ball over the boundary when the Hawks had two around the ball and looked like launching something dangerous).

Not as influential as either Kirk (whose final term was superb) or Everitt but I'd have him in my top 5 Swans - and it was Scott who picked those best players, not me.

[NMWBloods]

Watching the game live I thought Malceski had been OK rather than one of the best but I changed my mind after watching a replay. He did make a few disposal errors but I think we tend to notice these because his disposal is usually impeccable. Whereas we think little of Kirk or Fosdike's ineffective disposals because we expect them.

I think that's a fair point.

It's the mirror image of how low we set the benchmark for certain other players (ie: if they do nothing amazingly stupid we say they've had a decent game!!).

[alison.z]

i love the photos!

[swantastic]

I thought Malceski was good in patches, but made quite a few errors as well as I recall.

What planet are you on,he was magnificent again.

[NMWBloods]

What planet are you on,he was magnificent again.

Obviously no drugs on my planet...

[liz]

i love the photos!

Scott's loaded up some more and I've added some extras to the report, and changed a couple around.

[alison.z]

omg both the boys look so cute in beanies!

[lovetheswannies]

i have to agree with liz about malceski
while i was watching the game, i didn't think malceski was doing enough. i think i've come to expect more of him, especially with kennelly being injured. i expected him to stand up and take charge of the defence, like leo barry did. i was a bit disappointed that he didn't do this as much as i have seen in the past. that, along with a few kicks missing their target, made me feel as though he didn't play well

then i watched the replay and realised that i was really harsh, he was definitely among the best. he worked hard and put pressure on the hawks when it mattered. his disposals are still great, though his decision making not as sound as it has been in the past. but this will only get better with time!

[SimonH]

Watching the game live I thought Malceski had been OK rather than one of the best but I changed my mind after watching a replay. He did make a few disposal errors but I think we tend to notice these because his disposal is usually impeccable. Whereas we think little of Kirk or Fosdike's ineffective disposals because we expect them.

I tend to look at it from the other way around. Most people view life through the prism of their preconceptions, which they only change when they have become totally indefensible.

Malceski had 2 or 3 capital-K Klangers on the weekend, any of which could have cost us a goal if Hawthorn had capitalised properly (I can't remember if any did). If Bevan or McVeigh had had the ball in exactly the same situation and done exactly the same thing, people would have been screaming, 'The guy is useless! He's a HACK! Anyone who claims he isn't, just look at those disposals-- a 10 year old could have done better', etcetera.

For whatever reason, Malceski has butchered more ball in the last 2 matches than he had in the previous 10. For a guy who is consistently among the 5 best and most important players for the Swans, that's a trend I'd like to not see continue.

PS Brett Kirk's clanger count (if you don't count inaccurate kicks for goal as 'clangers') would be among the lowest in the team. He's exceptionally good at understanding his limitations and picking an option that works within them.

PPS Doesn't Monty in that beanie look like someone's kid brother who's snuck in with a fake ID?