Round 1 V St. Kilda - Game Thread

[royboy42]

Going to be an interesting year...but first things first. Goodesy is not a good starter in seasons past. On tonight's showing, get on him fast for his third Charlie!

[rojo]

Thank goodness for Adam Goodes. Not only did he assist in many of the Swans goals but provided some highlights as well. I was a bit disappointed with Jesse White's efforts, he seemed very one-dimensional, did he bend down to pick up the ball at all?

[Legs Akimbo]

You didn't need to, you're sooking enough while we're holding our own against a top 2 side. We didn't even make the 8 last year, what are you expecting exactly? If you can't argue a point, try not to resort to cheap personal insults.

I didn't need to because I didn't say it. Using sarcasm as a means of a cheap put down is just that, cheap. I don't apologise for being disappointed. I expected a win not mediocrity, which you seem to think it okay.

Different culture I guess.

[Q...]

He was sensational, wasn't he?

[chalbilto]

Yuri H,

I don't think the umps were crap. But it did hurt that the niggly ones against the swans = goals against a side that apparently couldn't miss for most of the game...

It seems to me perfectly reasonable that having that many new comers to the side will require a bit to get used to. When you compare our situation with that of the losing grand finalists, there seems to be a very good reason for the Swans and their supporters to be really happy and not much of a reason for the Saints or their fans to feel comfortable.

A win and 4 points will please them. I wonder if they will put a request to play Sydney in round one in 2011.

[top40]

Yuri H,

I don't think the umps were crap.

You have got to be kidding!!!!!!!

Lets start with three goals to Saints through free kicks where Grundy was simply contesting the ball. The one on Kosi Reg didn't even touch his opponent!!!!! It is a disgrace that such free kicks are awarded where the defender is simply contesting the ball. Did fair hair Nick get ANY free kick against him

Next, Goodes held without the ball in front of goal. No free kick!!

Next, Bradshaw's touched behind that really was a goal.

Next, the vicious from behind attack on Kennelly near the end of the game, where a mark was nevertheless taken by him. If EVER a fifty metre should have been taken....But no.

I could go on and on but I am too angry.

Sorry mate, but in my 14 years of following the Swans that is THE WORSE lost I have ever seen due to bad umpiring. Beats the Essendon lost at the SCG back in 2007, as well as the Eagles Qualifying Finals lost in Perth in 2005. THE WORSE!!

[Midfield]

Absolutely stoked with the boys again. Play like that for 21 more games and we will finish top 4. Not going to blame the umps, we lost, but it happens. Seaby very good pickup. I wish to welcome back Tadgh and even moreso that bloke in the #9. Great to see him with his confidence back.

[desredandwhite]

Coulda been better.. Coulda been worse. The good thing is that this team IMO has a lot of upside. There were plenty of quiet patches and skills gone haywire, but I would have expected that with a team containing a lot of new players. Plenty of guys have lots of improvement to come, and I would hope it will be a much sharper looking team in a few weeks.

Umpiring was questionable, but we gave away even more goals in bad turnovers and slack marking. It'll take time, but it's already a much more enjoyable year than last year IMO the pressure is off, and we just sit back and enjoy the new-look team coming together.

My thoughts based just on tonight (bear with me, I was busy yelling so might have misjudged a coupe of these players):

Guys who I think will improve once they get more game-time and/or learn how our game plan works - Bradshaw, Kennelly, Jetta

Guys who I think are doing just fine at the moment - Seaby, Mumford, Kirk, McGlynn, Malceski, Moore, O'Keefe, Jack, Grundy, Mattner, LRT, Shaw, McVeigh, C Bolton

Guys who I think need to step up - Kennedy, Goodes (good in patches, but I expect more from a player of his calibre), Jude Bolton (ditto), Richards, White

[Primmy]

Just back......I see the umps have a new poppet and Adam Goodes is no longer the "protected species" target. That mantle has been taken by Saint Nic. I mean I admire the man, but honest to goodness the umping at times was precious. I am not going to say any more until I have had food and a good lie down.

[desredandwhite]

Just back......I see the umps have a new poppet and Adam Goodes is no longer the "protected species" target. That mantle has been taken by Saint Nic.

That statement is garbage.




Riewoldt has ALWAYS been an umps' favourite

[Primmy]

And apart from that, I am worrying about White. Although Braddles looked after him a bit.
I am not worried about Jetta; he will find his green feet soon enough.
BIG YAY NicMal.
Oh dear Tadgh.
Happy with the rucking stocks (at least from a distance - my binoculars developed melting case desease over the off season - green sticky goo, I mean really and truly!!!!!!!!!!).

I watched a quarter and a bit of Hannerbery pre game; wouldn't be surprised if we see him sooner than later. He's a little gun.

[RogueSwan]

Next, the vicious from behind attack on Kennelly near the end of the game, where a mark was nevertheless taken by him. If EVER a fifty metre should have been taken....But no.

I could go on and on but I am too angry.

I see your angry but unfortunately Tadhg was cleaned up in a fair spoil. Nothing malicious in it (unlike Kosi's ugly attempts that came all night!) the Aint only had eyes for the ball.

And one of Reiwoldts free was for a hand in the back that was there, I don't like the rule but this is not the first game it has been used in.

[Margie]

Have to agree with top40 on the umpiring. The crowd were livid with some of tonight's decisions. We had a good vantage point and Goodes was constantly held without a free being paid. The 50m awarded against Mattner was soft - he rightly thought the Saints player had played on. Riewoldt always manages to have a good run with the umpires.

How a 50m penalty wasn't awarded for the hit on Kenneally is unfathomable! These one-sided decisions mar the "spirit" of fairness in the game.

Having said all that, we needed to do just a little more to win. BOG was Goodes, he is so much classier than any other player in the Swans and it would be wonderful if we had another couple of him. Kenneally was off the boil and will hopefully (if he's fit after that hit) get better each week.

Bradshaw didn't get great delivery, Jesse White had a shocker tonight, in fact the forward line didn't function well at all. I put this down partly to the fact the players need to "gel" as a team and that will come with time.

McVeigh had a decent game, as did ROK (apart from some errant kicking). The ruck duo did okay, while Kirk and Bolton (1) played their hearts out as usual.

Disappointing and I hope we don't have St Kilda first up again in 2011. Richmond or Melbourne in Round 1 this year would have been nice!

[Auntie.Gerald]

would like to see us push forward with the overhead long kick.............its worked well for Saints, Dogs and

I am happy with the start............ie a bit rusty........but tough competition, new players, our game plan was executed within the boundaries of its limitations !

worried about Kirky keeping up when teams flood forward...........he looked sharp and great hands as ever but a few times he just couldnt keep up and two goals came from good Saint flood forwards and Kirky was yelling at our HF players to cover him !

[Cheer Squad]

An Umpire-Assisted Win for the Saints

Having just got back from the game, you can't tell me St. Kilda - especially Mr. Riewoldt - were not gifted several rather crucial penalties.

Disappointing to lose, even though we had more scoring shots, but at least we played more consistently over the course of the whole game.

I did notice Bradshaw limping a bit at one stage - did anyone else see it? I hope that's not an omen - he didn't have much impact tonight.