Matty O...what you will and won't get.

[reigning premier]

didn't see the game due to work commitments,
how did the boy go, i notice that he only had a few touches was that due to reduced game time or was he not trying hard enough etc?

Didn't get a lot of touches early on but got involved later in the game. Missed an oppurtunity for a goal in the 3rd but laid a superb tackle on a Carlton defencer in the last to force the ball free which was picked up and snapped by Goodes (?).

Overall, not much of a contribution but neither was he a liability. Seemed a tad overawed by it all and a bit "off the pace" but will be much better for the run. I'd give him another run... Even if it was just for that tackle!

[ScottH]

There was also a superb pickup and handball (first touch I think) under pressure, to Jude, who ran straight into a tackle, and was pinged HTB.

He was outpointed in a couple of marking contests by his opponent.

But the tackle made on the Carlton defence was quite good.
However, whilst the ball was in the centre of the ground he waited near where the tackle occured in space just inside 50 directly in front, only to be ignored, or not noticed.

Not a game to write home about. Hope he gets another couple of goes, to find his feet.

[swantastic]

However, whilst the ball was in the centre of the ground he waited near where the tackle occured in space just inside 50 directly in front, only to be ignored, or not noticed.

Not a game to write home about. Hope he gets another couple of goes, to find his feet.

Yeh i noticed that too Scott they should of kicked it to him because he was dead in front.Overall not a bad first game but he will learn.

It seems as if we have a few youngsters who will make the grade.

Off topic where is the Cheese man?

[Lucky Knickers]

... but laid a superb tackle on a Carlton defencer in the last to force the ball free which was picked up and snapped by Goodes (?).

My immediate thought was good tackle Mattner. Was a good suprise to realised it was MOD.

[dimelb]

My immediate thought was good tackle Mattner. Was a good suprise to realised it was MOD.

Ditto.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I'm suprised at how harshly a player is judged after one game. It seems like it's fire on debut or piss off, according to some of you.

[pig@fullforward]

I agree i think that a player needs at least 3 games to get used to the pace and then try and showcase their talents at senior levels, Nick Smith is another example of a player that needs another few goes hopefully in a row to show us what he's got!

[bedford]

Will be a better player than Smith,looked a bit out of it but will come good with game time.

[TheMase]

I'm suprised at how harshly a player is judged after one game. It seems like it's fire on debut or piss off, according to some of you.

True. When I watch a debutant or newish player, I look for the subtle things. Positioning, defensive things, awareness.

That kind of thing.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

True. When I watch a debutant or newish player, I look for the subtle things. Positioning, defensive things, awareness.

That kind of thing.

Exactly. I'm guessing the coach looks for the same thing, that's all you can hope for at such an early stage.

[Lucky Knickers]

I hope that we don't write players off after a couple of sporadic games in the seniors and tough ones at that.
Smith has played against Cats and Hawks.
Hope both he and MOD continue to get opportunities to develop. I think they have both shown some promise.

[Jeffers1984]

Would love to see Smith play a senior match at the SCG. Reckon he could really burn it up through the corridor.

[liz]

Will be a better player than Smith,looked a bit out of it but will come good with game time.

He's a different kind of player to Smith. Roos has described Smith as having pace but he doesn't really play particularly quick. O'Dwyer, on the other hand, is a bit of a dasher. Smith's skills are far more reliable than O'Dwyer's - he's usually a beautiful kick of the ball and has very good hands in close too. He'll do his best work at centre bounces or in other tight situations but at the moment he's too skinny to be thrown in there at senior level. O'Dwyer showed on Sunday that he knows how to tackle and generally put on pressure but his greatest asset if he makes it will be his run and carry.

Both have some chance of extended AFL careers. Either or both could yet do a Simon Phillips and sink into AFL oblivion. Far too early to say who will become a better player and if they both do "make it" they will bring very different things to the team.

[ShockOfHair]

...laid a superb tackle on a Carlton defencer in the last to force the ball free which was picked up and snapped by Goodes (?).

Overall, not much of a contribution but neither was he a liability. Seemed a tad overawed by it all and a bit "off the pace" but will be much better for the run. I'd give him another run... Even if it was just for that tackle!

That's the Bloods' spirit! At other clubs they laud rookies' first kicks or goals. At the Swans it's the first tackle that counts!

[Jeffers1984]

Smith potentially could be a Kade Simpson. Very similar type of players.