Reserves Live

[ugg]

Results:

15.16-106 TUGGERANONG Hawks
Selected Team
2:00 PM
Sun 31/May

Greenway Oval (Map) def. 9.12-66 SYDNEY SWANS
Selected Team
TUGGERANONG HawksGoal Kickers: J. KICKETT 5, M. GHIRARDELLO 3, B. FUNNELL, K. MASTERS, C. HEALEY, D. JOHNSON, D. SMITH, W. Overs, A. LAWDER
Best Players: G. CURRIE, J. KICKETT, A. POCOCK, D. JOHNSON, B. Cleaver, L. ANDREATTA
SYDNEY SWANSGoal Kickers: D. Currie 2, P. Veszpremi 2, M. PYKE 2, K. THORNTON, M. LAIDLAW, J. ORREAL
Best Players: M. O''DWYER, N. SMITH, D. Currie, C. Bird, R. BRABAZON, E. BARLOW

[ScottH]

Looks like Bird will be a certain starter next week.
But whom will they drop??
Ablett, Malceski, Buchanan, ... ??


Oh, and thanks for the updates Casey, and TripleB!!

[SCGonasunnyday]

Something to warm up a dour weekend, great news that Vespa is back playing.

[Triple B]

Oh, and thanks for the updates Casey, and TripleB!!

No problems.

We got home about an hour ago, will post a short report later tonight or in the morning.

[liz]

Real glad I stayed down in Canberra to witness that. Real glad

To be fair, one team out there this afternoon worked their butts off, tackled with intent, looked to have structure all over the ground, marked very well in freezing, slippery conditions, kicked the ball to the genuine advantage of their team mates and looked as if they had all the time and space in the world. The other team was a rabble.

You have to give credit to Tuggeranong. They have improved out of sight in the last couple of seasons. If they came up against the Swans team of 2006-7 they would probably still lose but I doubt we'd be seeing the cricket scores we saw then. It's great for the competition that there are no longer any easy beats (well, maybe just one!).

To the Swans...

Yes, they were handicapped by the fact that none of the top-ups were much chop. They all tried hard but were a long way off the pace. Even so, I don't think that excuses just how bad almost all the listed Swans played.

The not so bad players -

Smith was BSOG for me by some considerable margin. He won heaps of the ball and was clean and creative with it. Shame he is still so skinny because he was one of the few out there who looked capable of providing short term salvation for the senior team - if he were a bit stronger.

Currie didn't spend much time in the ruck but when he did, the Swans looked by far their most potent in the centre. He appeared to win the majority of taps he contested, and several went straight down the throat of a team mate. When that team mate was Smith, the ball moved forward with precision and speed. Occasionally when it was Bird the ball at least moved forward. Otherwise not much happened. He also marked very well around the ground, including a couple which were taken off him by the umpies but looked fine to the naked eye - just seemed like he was being penalised for being too tall and too good. One of his two goals came from a contested mark, the other he won the hard way by laying a strong tackle and earned a HTB free.

Bird looked like he didn't particularly want to be out there - who can blame him?! - and didn't dominate in the way one might have hoped. But he still showed a bit of class lacking in so many others.

Pyke worked hard to get to the right place, took a couple of very good contested marks, and his second goal was a ripper - received the ball on the edge of the 50 near the wing, wove his way through a few Hawks and let rip with a wobbly kick that just snuck in. The kick might not have been too convincing but the lead up was just about the best bit of play by a Swan all day. He also got penalised for a lot of ruck infringements and looked baffled by most of them. Still some work for the ruck coach to do...

Orreal spent much of the game up forward and with the way the team was playing, didn't get too many chances to show his wares. But he competed hard when the ball did come down there. He wasn't anything like as potent as Currie at centre bounces but he still just about earns a pass mark for his efforts today.

The no-judgement...

I reckon Vez could have a beer or two with Baz and MickyO this week (or maybe we should make that coffees) and they can compare notes on what it's like when they play with a team incapable of kicking the ball even close to their advantage. He looked lively to start - indeed, jumping out of his skin to get back into the fray - and kicked the Swans' first two goals. The second was from a great fingertip of a mark which looked like it was going to go sailing over his head. He also had two or three highly optimistic - quite probably selfish - pings that missed. He spent the rest of the game watching the ball go anywhere but close to him - a few feet in front, miles over his head. He didn't stray far from the forward 50, presumably on instruction, so it was hard to judge what kind of shape he is in. I doubt it was the come-back trail game he's been living in his head for the past 2 months, but it was impossible to judge one way or the other how long it's going to take him to push into contention.

The rest...

Whoever put together that "best" list must surely be having a laugh? Barlow best? I don't remember him hitting a team mate with a single disposal. OK, so that might be a slight exageration, but only slight. Unlike a few of his team mates, he usually uses the ball pretty well at this level, so it was particularly irritating to see so many of his kicks just aimless rubbish.

At least Barlow got a fair bit of the pill, which is more than can be said for Brabazon, O'Dwyer or DOK. They generally just wandered aimlessly around the ground, butchering the ball on the few occasions they got it. MOD marginally redeemed himself with a decent final quarter, where he lifted his work rate considerably, used his pace, and set up some half promising moves. Can't think of much to redeem the efforts of the other two.

Laidlaw and Thornton I thought were a bit flabby - not physically! - just in the way they imposed themselves, or didn't. Thornton started the game reasonably well but then had little impact until a couple of good marks late in the game. Laidlaw was almost unsighted - by me at least - in the first half, before coming a bit more into the game in the second. For two players who should be pushing for senior selection, I thought they were disappointing.

Gilly was also much quieter than in every other reserves game I've seen this year. Can't really comment on whether he used the ball decently because I couldn't see him really get involved much.

In other news, Murphy (complete with some hair) and someone I presume to be Gordon spent the game in the coaches box and looked pretty engaged with the whole affair. They were first down to the team at the huddles, Murphy carrying the whiteboard. Lewis Johnston was also around, but looked pretty bored with proceedings, and just lounged around the box with his feet up.

[satchmopugdog]

Thanks Liz for taking the time to write about the game..but it was a bit depressing. Seems as though the passion has gone out of the playing group on both levels except for Murphy and Gordon carrying the magnet board.

Looks like knitting and life drawing for me.

[Triple B]

Report:

Last weeks great draw against Eastlakes was built around good games from our listed players and solid mistake free games from the top ups.

This weeks disappointing loss can be put down completely to a very thin list of top ups. As has happened so often this year, most of the top ups were used/needed in defence and were quite simply, slaughtered. Making matters worse, our only listed player who played down back, albeit a rookie, Taylor Gilchrist must have spent some time with the seniors because he also had easily his worst game of the season.

The Best:

Currie: Another ripping game. With Orreal and Pyke also on the ground for most of the game, they use the 3 big men around the ground in differing roles. 1st quarter Currie played as a CHF, hitting up well and leaving room for Vespa, playing at FF, to lead into. He shared ruck duties in the 2nd. 3rd quarter he rucked for almost the whole quarter and just dominated. 4th quarter played at FF after Vespa sat it out and kicked 2 goals from strong marks.

Barlow: I've been as critical as anybody in regards to Cheese's workrate, but his work today both with and without the ball was first rate. Started well and had a very good 2nd quarter. Steady in the second half but never stopped running and trying, which he has often been criticised for before, frequently drifting down back to help out a hopelessly outclassed backline.

Smith: I have had a well documented 'man crush' on Smith for 18 months so I need to be careful of 'rose coloured glasses', but again today he was just great in getting down and dirty. If there was a 'Fan Footy' competition run on Canberra, he would be #1 picked, guaranteed 6 goals from tackles every week. I can understand how he is often overlooked by some because he works in so close, but with my 'man crush' I am forever saying 'Nice tackle Smithy', 'Great handball Smithy', 'Good bump Smithy'.
There was one passage of play today where Currie tapped it down, Smith extracted it from a pack, quick little handball to Bird who went laterally to Thornton on the move wide of the pack. i thought to myself 'That is a snapshot of a seniors game in 3 or 4 years'

Thornton: Actually started a bit quiet, but worked into the game after quarter time and finished as one of our best. It was drizzling on and off in the first half and all day the ball was a bit greasy, so where Thornton so often shines, overhead, was made that bit harder. Overall did his chances of a recall no harm at all.

The Rest:

O'Dwyer: Spoiled some of his good work in the first quarter with terrible disposal (not unusual). Quiet 2nd quarter but came to life in the second half and stood out like a beacon in the last quarter, very similar to last week. Beautiful mover across the ground, but his disposal is, well, think 2nd quarter v the Bullies.

Veszpremi: Very promising return from injury. Played the entire first 3 quarters at FF or in a pocket when a resting ruckman came in the vicinity. Very sharp start, kicking a goal and kicking a few behinds when his exhuberence got the better of him and he maybe took the wrong option. That said, it was the Vespa we know and love, instinctive and prepared to back himself. He kicked another goal in the second, but poor delivery hindered his return. High balls to the top of the square are not to Vespas advantage. Made a great play in the 3rd quarter when he setup Pyke for a goal. Great blind turn on the flank close to the boundary, beat 2 opponents and centered to the top of the square which gave Pyke's opponent an option to let Pyke mark or give away a free. he chose the latter.

Laidlaw: Like Thornton, had a quiet start but worked his way into it as the match progressed. Also like Thornton, the conditions didn't let him showcase his great strength, overhead. Went off with a lower leg injury (definately not hamstring thankfully) late in the 3rd, but returned in the 4th and appeared to be moving freely. Didn't put his hand up and demand to be picked in the seniors on todays performance, but his form over the past 6 weeks is undeniable.

Brabazon: Just a typical Brabazon game. Very busy, works hard but foot skills just let him down too often and unfortunately is no closer to senior selection then he was a month ago.

Bird: Bird was solid, but like Smith, doesn't play a flashy game so won't stand out greatly even in the seconds, even though we know he is a bona fide top grader. He spent way, way more time on the field then he has been accustomed to in the seniors and it showed. He looked pretty spent late in the game, so the hitout would have done him good, though one wonders if the effects of last weeks knock may have also started to take it's toll towards the end? Wasn't entitled to be included in the absolute bests, but I've no doubt he'll be the first one recalled next week, with good reason, he's a class act.

O'Keefe: On record as being a non-believer so i really need to try and be objective, but after a good first quarter, drifted out of it and was just plain old DOK for the remainder of the game, unfortunately.

Orreal: Actually did a few good things and his around the ground work is improving, showing 2nd and even 3rd efforts. Still a long, long way off though.

Pyke: Kicked 2 goals in the 3rd quarter after a very, very quiet first half. One of the goals would have done anybody proud, stepping around leaving an opponent grabbing at fresh air and slotting it from 40m (even though it was a helicopter ). Worked well around the ground in the 4th, a much improved second half.

Gilchrist: Unfortunately Taylor had a shocker. He was pretty much a lone hand down back trying to marshall some underage top ups who, whilst no doubt never lacking in effort, well way outclassed and outbodied by the Tuggeranong forwards. The longer the game went the more Gilly began to look like a top up himself. He has been really good this year and I doubt there is anybody who doesn't see him as a keeper, but today was definately not his day.

The only 'regular' top-up was Scholarship player Ryan Bottin-Noonan who played a little further up the ground than he usually does. Wasn't our worst and we haven't seen as much of him this year (last year he played nearly every game). I reckon he's grown another couple of inches.

Cheers.

EDIT: Liz, we were writing our reports at the same time

On Barlow, maybe I was impressed by him actually working and looking like he gave a flying for once, that I overlooked his disposal woes. That said, we know he has reasonable foot skills, so to see him caring was the big bonus. The truth in his game probably lies somewhere in between our assessments. And u are correct, one of Currie's goals was from a terrific tackle at the top of the square.

And u are right, it was so cold I couldn't be arsed getting out of my car, parked nicely on the outer wing, for the 3/4 time huddle.

[liz]

You must have been in a better mood than me Triple, as you've been far more generous to most of the Swans that I have. At least we agree on Currie and Smith (and on DOK and Gilly, though I am not as cold on DOK as you are - I reckon I've seen some real signs from him, but certainly not today.)

I wondered if no 47 was RBN - it looked like him, and he did some OK stuff in the final quarter. I just figured he'd be off playing with the Rams at the moment.

[Triple B]

I wondered if no 47 was RBN - it looked like him, and he did some OK stuff in the final quarter. I just figured he'd be off playing with the Rams at the moment.

Pretty positive it was him, he's had a bit of a haircut.

Ugg will get the official lists up at some stage I'm sure.

[ScottH]

No problems.

We got home about an hour ago, will post a short report later tonight or in the morning.

Maybe it's time you got yourself a u beaut phone??

Thanks Liz and TripleB, for the reports.

I wonder if Smith will get a run in the seniors.
From memory the last time we saw him (Or at least I saw him), was at the 'G against the Hawks, and wasn't too bad.

[dimelb]

Thanks Liz and Triple B - always appreciate your thoughtful comments.

[Triple B]

I wonder if Smith will get a run in the seniors.
From memory the last time we saw him (Or at least I saw him), was at the 'G against the Hawks, and wasn't too bad.

The only problem with playing Smith in the seniors is he is not really versatile enough to play anywhere else but in the middle and his body may just be a season short of being able to fully handle the rigours of top grade midfield action. In that respect he is a bit like Kirky, first player picked but unless he plays in the middle he doesn't really offer anything real special. Whereas future midfielders like Meredith and Vespa and guys who were recruited as midfielders like Moore and Malceski all had other qualities which enabled them to find a niche in the top grade whilst developing, Smith is adequate in all the key areas without being outstanding.

That said, he so deserves to get his chance and if he rotated off the bench with Birdy it would be great to see.

They may use him as a tagger, he sure knows how to tackle, but his true value is he just bloody well knows how to get his hands on the pill in close. Tagging duties may just deprive him of using that ability.

[ScottH]

Fair Call. I think he played mainly in defence in the hawks game a few yrs back. May be why he was just "OK".
What about Vepsa?
Does he need another run in the 2's, or can we throw in to the lions (or hawks)?

[Triple B]

What about Vepsa?
Does he need another run in the 2's, or can we throw in to the lions (or hawks)?

He probably ideally needs another run, but it would not surprise to see him get a gig against the Hawks if the match committee decide to give Bulldog Moore the flick. He certainly showed enough yesterday to be considered seriously.

I doubt that they could both play, even though long term I don't see Vespa exclusively as a small forward he doesn't have a fitness base to play anywhere else at the minute.

[ScottH]

He probably ideally needs another run, but it would not surprise to see him get a gig against the Hawks if the match committee decide to give Bulldog Moore the flick. He certainly showed enough yesterday to be considered seriously.

I doubt that they could both play, even though long term I don't see Vespa exclusively as a small forward he doesn't have a fitness base to play anywhere else at the minute.

We desperately need another goal sneak/kicker.
One who can actually find the goals.