Official Game Day thread - Semi Final Vs Bulldogs

[NMWBloods]

Just home from the 'G and although we lost I'm not too disappointed. I thought we were on top in the first half but wasted our opportunities - we needed to kick more than 5 goals while we were in control. At half time I said that Geelong would not be fussed about facing either side out there tonight. In the second half we looked a bit slow and tired, so hopefully a few changes in the off-season and we will look to further the rebuilding next year.

[alison.z]

from where we were at 3 or 4 weeks ago it's been a pretty good end to the season - especially last week's game .... time to focus on next year and rebuilding a stronger, faster, younger team

[Wazza]

Another day would have given Swans a better chance. Out of oooommph.

Good games by, and the future in;
Moore
Moore
.

What drugs are you on ...they must be good

Cheers

Waz

[SwanJoel]

Moore, did he even touch the footy? he was very quiet, but he had some mates.

[Big Al]

If the Saints win tomorrow we finish 5th and if you had said at the start of the year that's where we would finish, I would have gladly taken it. I think the youngsters have given us hope this year that while our premiership window is closed there are promising signs for the future.

All in all, I am satisfied with the year.

[573v30]

Moore, did he even touch the footy? he was very quiet, but he had some mates.

Had 7 disposals but at least he got 5 tackles.

[Bob Neil]

Had 7 disposals but at least he got 5 tackles.

He has / will become a constant in the team.

[SwanJoel]

Close enough to not touching it, but i guess you can forgot how much work certain players do without the footy in hand like tackling and the 1%ers.

[mcs]

remember its Moore's 1st final series as well. He also has played this year in a role that is very difficult to get right into the game when the midfield is being beaten. He will be very good player for us, I hope he can have a really big pre season and kick on next year.

[dimelb]

Just back from the G and sorting through the comments. A disappointing but not unexpected end to the season. The Doggies matched us at our game in the first half, although if we'd been accurate we'd have been convincingly in front. In the second half they played their game better than we could, were faster, more accurate (we didn't have a goal that Q) and passing the ball down the side was easy for them. They also seemed to beat us in the takeaways time and again, had noticeably more ball. We need to learn a few more tricks.
Had some Doggy supporters behind us tonight who were so one-eyed they were a caricature of the fan: praised and rubbished their own players in the same sentence, constantly urged Baz to do his block and scoffed at Goodes the protected species, generally did their best to spoil the game, continually complained about the frees (which in fact were fairly even) and only had one volume setting.
Looking forward to the trade season and then a good preseason ...

[Allymay]

Not happy with losing like that and making the Dogs look good, but I am proud of the fact that we made it past the first week of the finals, unlike last year!!

A couple of Eagles and Blues mates have been texting me, taking the piss, but at least I can sarcastically ask them where their teams finished up this year.

[Matty10]

Well that was a bit disappointing, but what can you do.

I really thought that we looked off after half time. You could tell when they came out. It was also a very strange ruck setup to start the 2nd half as well - all defence no attack (Mattner was in there???) Don't know what that was all about.

Hall stopped leading and tried to wrestle which became very annoying and we just lost the speed of the game.

Vespa will be much better after a good preseason - I'm not worried about his ability - he puts himself in good positions and adds flare, which we sorely need.

The Swans were more injured this year than was helpful especially to key players - Eski was basically a right-off so hopefully he comes back much stronger and more confident. O'Keefe, Goodes, Micky (even Playfair would have been handy tonight).

Interesting to see how we go next year. Go the Bloods!

[Nico]

What has happened to people on here tonight, some of you have simply rolled over and gone with "we had a good season". That game tonight was more embarrasing than the EF against the Pies last year. We folded in the second half again.

Sure last week was on a heavy track and we had a 6 day turnaround but we were horrible tonight, we were rubbish, utter crap. Here is my take on who did what and I don't give a stuff if people want to rip into me over my prognostications.

The perennial big time failures showed their colours again: J Bolton, Ablett and Buchanan. Yes Buchanan, he continually ran to his wrong side when clear, held onto the footy and when he handpassed it was either garbage or when he should have roosted it. When he kicked the pill they were nothing kicks. In the 3rd Q when Vespa was 2 out and fighting for the ball instead of going to help he RAN THE OTHER WAY. Sure he ran hard and probably got plenty of stats but was a genuine waster.

Enough said about Bolton, he just didn't get near it, but thats normal when the heat's on.
Ablett had 7 stats to Q time but they were absolute rubbish. From there on was woeful, got caught and was lucky not to be pinged numerous times.
Everitt wasn't our worst but was pretty ordinary
LRT had a good first Q but was lamentable and inept after that.
Leo wasn't real bad but he has lost all spring and just doesn't read the ball coming in. When you watch from behind the goals it is so obvious as he makes no effort to get in front.
Thought Kirk, Craig Bolton and Mattner worked very hard. Someone potted Bolton but he was giving Johnson a bath until he went off.
Ted Richards. lazy footballer who made massive mistakes and was horribly unaccountable. He wasn't the loose man in defence but he was never near a man. I loved his stuff up in front of the MMC members in the 3rd Q then did the old fake limp away. Sign of a 50% footballer. Can't win a flag with him in.
Bevo did well on Murphy in the 1st stanza but was left on him far too long after that. I thought he worked hard in other parts of the game, he was just towelled up by Murphy.
Jared McVeigh, mmm, did he win some hard ball against North? Got to do it consistently. Got most ball well outside the contests.
Moore, his slip showed in the 1st Q when he whinged about a free against instead of staying in the contest, his man ran off and a goal resulted. Downhill from thereon.
Malceski might be unfit so why did he play, but boy he was very, very soft. It could be along way back for him. He looked like he didn't want to be out there. At one contest he was very close to being called out for not going the contest.
ROK got too much ball way upfield and held on to it too long. Why did he play on when he had a set shot from 50. Was just dumb when we needed a goal. To me was the turning point of the game.
Goodes was clearly injured but refused to play in front after Q time.
Jolly looked like last weeks mighty effort knocked the stuffing out of him. Tried hard.
Crouch no where near our worst. At least he was still running at the end.
Vespa was OK and I don't know that he showed nerves. At least he tried to create and look forward to him in the midfield next year.
Jack was darn good WHEN HE WAS ON. Why was he off for most of the 3rd Q? He played well in the last Q. One of the few who found himself at contests at all times.
Barry Hall was as good as could given the horrible delivery after Q time. Misses too many sitters though.
Kennelly was our best for mine but my heart sank when he missed that gift.

Summary: smashed out of the centre unmercilessly. Sack the midfield coach NOW.
We stopped running on after Q time and fell back into the stupid chipping game. In the 3rd Q we were paranoid about going to a contest when it was obvious that was only way would get back in the game.
Apart from Kirk the midfield old guard must go. The ball was being pumped in relentlessly because of NO midfield pressure and you can hardly blame the backs for finally cracking under pressure.

[31 hard at it]

I think you are right Connolly but not just for Ves.....
There are a few Swans playing for their career tonight.
Too slow, over the...

Earlier quote from the Ves thread...

Many of the Swans looked painfully slow tonight.
We very much need a couple of young runners.

It has been a very good year, well ahead of the detractors predictions but for 2009 / 10 we need to regroup by making a few changes earlier than maybe some players would like.
Spida is the only official retiree ATM but a few sore bodies may announce next week.
Sad to see an Era coming to a close.
But it can only be the start of the renewal.

[Nico]

remember its Moore's 1st final series as well. He also has played this year in a role that is very difficult to get right into the game when the midfield is being beaten. He will be very good player for us, I hope he can have a really big pre season and kick on next year.

The worry is he got caught out badly with pace tonight both chasing and when in possession.