Reserves Scores

[Swannette]

My mate Locky Prior had a great game, kicked 2 goals and was there at the start of the argy bargy when #6 and #8 for the opposition started niggling big time. A few of the boys came to Locks defence and the runner came out and told him to get off. Tee hee. I only saw a couple of quarters but Laidlaw took a couple of beautiful grabs on the forward line and kicked truly. The other standouts in that time were Simpkin (v fast), Brabazon and Barlow. Simon Phillips was all over the place (he looks soo tiny) and poor Jesse couldn't take a grab to save himself (most under pressure though). Big Earl did well in the air a couple of times and LRT - well, he was not called upon to do an enormous amount, but he seemed to be about halfway there in terms of timing etc. Can see why he's not back in the ones. Good to see Doyley running around and Sean Dempster was outpointed a few times but I wasn;t paying too much attention I have to say. Another of the top up players was this slightly built dark haired almost affro young boy, who came on the ground with a limp, had it the whole time. Apparently one leg is a bit less developed than the other due to injury or illness or genetic condition, I don't know, but I thought it was pretty special that he was out there.

[ugg]

Yes Prior in #52 played well kicked 2 goals. But I think he was outdone by #50 Josh Keen who did not look out of place. Very quick, perhaps a bit overexuberant but I was quite impressed.

Dempster played in the midfield, was coming in as 3rd man up at some ruck contests. Did okay I guess without really impressing but I guess that's Dempster for you.

[satchmopugdog]

Lochie Prior has a Launceston connection. His Grandfather was in the same "Lodge" as my Dad....nudge,nudge.secret handshake and all.

[liz]

Yes Prior in #52 played well kicked 2 goals. But I think he was outdone by #50 Josh Keen who did not look out of place. Very quick, perhaps a bit overexuberant but I was quite impressed.

Dempster played in the midfield, was coming in as 3rd man up at some ruck contests. Did okay I guess without really impressing but I guess that's Dempster for you.

In a game where I thought it was pretty hard to pick many stand-out players - just a good, even performance all round - I had 50 and 52 as certainly amongst the best. I thought 52 had kicked three goals but one that I thought was him was credited to Smith.

Laidlaw, Barlow and Phillips all certainly did some very nice stuff. Simpkin flashed in and out with a bit of brilliance. And Jack was prominent throughout too.

I really like the way Jack uses his pace. He doesn't go at full pelt all the time, but knows when to put the burners on. He judges well when, to get to a contest, he'd probably put himself out of the subsequent play with too much momentum. So he backs off a little but remains in the play to keep the pressure on.

My highlight of the day was Rowe spoiling a marking contest where he looked out of position, recovering well to pick the ball off the ground before kicking into the path of a Jack running at absolute top speed. Slightly off balance, Jack stretched and gathered the ball in without breaking stride, kept going a while and then kicked a beauty across his body to find Laidlaw on a very well timed lead about 45m out from goal and a strong mark. Super play from all three players involved.

I don't recall seeing Doyle out there after half-time. He didn't injure himself again did he?

[nat]

Highlight - the fight in the last quarter. Haha, poor LRT!

[swans song]

next week good opportunity to blood 1 or 2 newbies
anymore details on yesterdays results?

[gloveski]

The fight got a small mention in todays Herald Sun

[ScottH]

The fight got a small mention in todays Herald Sun

Source

So, who won the fight?

[ugg]

Missing 3 goals but sportingpulse has been updated:

http://www.sportingpulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=21724627&c=1-1051-0-51449-0&pool=-1

Nice to see Keen get a mention.

[Nico]

You know, people bag the competition, but could it be we have an embarrassment of riches? We have a side that has played the last 2 AFL GF's and understandably it is hard for players to break into the team.

Yes we bay for the blood of some players and bemoan the lack of opportunity given others, but surely the coaching staff have a fair idea of the talent we have and clearly brownie points count for a lot while we are still up there. If blokes like Rowe, Barlow, Thornton, Laidlaw, Moore (still a year on contract) Brabazon etc who consistently are in the best with the listed players consistently named on the interchange (how many times was Dempster before he played a game) are likely to be asked to hang around, could it be a grand stategy for the next generation of Swans players.

I guess the end of season trading and delistings will tell the story, but I would be surprised if we lose too many.

[liz]

Missing 3 goals but sportingpulse has been updated:

http://www.sportingpulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=21724627&c=1-1051-0-51449-0&pool=-1

Nice to see Keen get a mention.

That list of scorers looks a little off. They've given Keen two but I thought it was the other impressive top-up that nailed a couple. One was 50 and one 52 - the other Prior? I think. Smith was credited with 3 goals elsewhere.

[liz]

You know, people bag the competition, but could it be we have an embarrassment of riches? We have a side that has played the last 2 AFL GF's and understandably it is hard for players to break into the team.

Yes we bay for the blood of some players and bemoan the lack of opportunity given others, but surely the coaching staff have a fair idea of the talent we have and clearly brownie points count for a lot while we are still up there. If blokes like Rowe, Barlow, Thornton, Laidlaw, Moore (still a year on contract) Brabazon etc who consistently are in the best with the listed players consistently named on the interchange (how many times was Dempster before he played a game) are likely to be asked to hang around, could it be a grand stategy for the next generation of Swans players.

I guess the end of season trading and delistings will tell the story, but I would be surprised if we lose too many.

I think you may be at least half right. And if we need to bring a whole raft in quickly, what they lack in experience and strength they will go some way to make up for in cohesion and well-drilledness. A couple are going to have to be cut at seasons' end - just the way the AFL system works - but I doubt there are many they'd want to say goodbye to.

The main sign, though, that the competition really is ordinary is the way so many of the top-ups come and in look really useful contributors. These are NSW u18 kids and most won't have even been picked for the u18 championships. So very few - if any - will be looking at an AFL career, even as a rookie. They really shouldn't be able to come in and play with such aplomb against bigger, more experienced bodies if those bodies were really much good.

What is a little puzzling is whether the competition has deterioated markedly over the past three seasons. As recently as 2004 I watched our reserves get pummelled by Queanbeyan down in Canberra one afternoon - and our team included the likes of Nicks, Schauble and Buchanan amongst others.

[ugg]

I had Keen with 2 and Prior with 2. Then again I only had Phillips with 4 and I am very sure Dempster kicked a monster goal from outside 50 yet he is not on the list.

[liz]

I had Keen with 2 and Prior with 2. Then again I only had Phillips with 4 and I am very sure Dempster kicked a monster goal from outside 50 yet he is not on the list.

I didn't notice Keen kick any, but I wasn't keeping score or even paying that close attention to who was scoring at times.

You're right about Dempster - he did kick a monster. And never had any intention of doing anything other than roosting it from 60m. And Phillips with 4 sounds about right - two pairs of goals in close succession IIRC.

[barry]

I honestly think too much is made of the resevres comp. Players step up and down between seniors and reserves just the same as at other clubs. It doesnt seem to hurt us much.

But, the one area it doesnt do us any favours is with defenders. We have to play most of our defenders (LRT, Grundy, etc) as forwards in the 2's, because they'd never see the ball if they played down back.

FWIW, I think Sydney should have 2 sides in the camberra comp with the swans resevres spread amongst them. One side could be loaded with swans defensive players, with top ups as forwards, and the other team vice versa.

Stagger the draw so they play in the same city at the same time, so the coaching staff can do both games.