Syd v Rich Game thread.

[liz]

All I'm saying is that little boyfriend needs to pick up his socks.
Richmond are easy beats. What's gunna happen when we front Geelong?

I suggest that the concentration and intensity of the whole team will be very different when we front Geelong. With the odd exception, the Bloods under Roos have consistently changed their level of intensity to match the opposition. Not suggesting it is deliberate in the sense of taking the weaker teams easily but most teams seem to get themselves "up" for games against the better opposition.

[liz]

Roosey's not going to come out and say that the kid played like crap.

He did after the round 1 game. Said he had a shocker.

(Mind you, Roosy also spoke at length in his presser about how good Richmond were tonight so not quite sure we can take anything at face value.)

[dimelb]

I thought White was a bit unlucky not to be allowed a mark, I think in the second quarter. He wasn't far out, and would probably have kicked it. If that one difference had happened, the rest of the evening may have been different for him too. Confidence and all that. I'm glad to hear that Roos has said publicly that he is pleased with his efforts; I'd like us to persist with it a bit longer before we start tinkering.
I also thought Moore had a very good game tonight: good hands, good positioning and on at least one occasion outmarking a much taller opponent. He's not a bad kick either.
The first half was full of good things, the second was frustrating.

[AnnieH]

He did after the round 1 game. Said he had a shocker.

(Mind you, Roosy also spoke at length in his presser about how good Richmond were tonight so not quite sure we can take anything at face value.)

Poor tiggers.
He's just trying to make them feel better ... like I did to the people standing in front of me for the bus to Central.
I told them to keep their chins up ... I followed the swans when they were @@@@ and know exactly how they feel.
We should have won by a lot more. The second half was lacklustre.

[Big Al]

He's not going to learn how to play in the afl by playing actafl. We all hear what you are saying about his contribution thus far, but the boy will be a star, fire up jesse!

Dropping a player back to the 2's has nothing to with learning, it about getting touch and confidence back which White is lacking at the moment. However it's only 3 games in with the new forward structure so I would give it and White some time gel before dropping anyone.

[Beaussie]

Spotted Geoff Lawson (former Oz pace bowler) in the Brewongle tonight. Crouchy in a suit near the corporate boxes probably flogging wine. Craig Bird limping around near the race. Gave an interview to the radio head and said he was still a way off to running.

Saw Barry O'Farrell at half time and Leo Barry at full time in the corporate box behind our seats in the Brewongle. When I asked Barry at half time if he was supporting the Swans he said of course. Then I asked where are your colours then. His response was that he had to be neutral as he was going around to the Richmond rooms. Ummm what the #@$%. FFS, this guy wants to be the premier of NSW... show some pride in the home state team Barry. Liberal scum.

[Beaussie]

The old Silver Fox aka Peter Hatley was back tonight. Even he gave up in the 2nd half. There wasn't much to cheer about in a very ordinary 2nd half.

Second half was ordinary but I'm still happy with the final result. We're in the Top 4 on the ladder tonight.

[ugg]

Saw Barry O'Farrell at half time and Leo Barry at full time in the corporate box behind our seats in the Brewongle. When I asked Barry at half time if he was supporting the Swans he said of course. Then I asked where are your colours then. His response was that he had to be neutral as he was going around to the Richmond rooms. Ummm what the #@$%. FFS, this guy wants to be the premier of NSW... show some pride in the home state team Barry. Liberal scum.

I'd vote for Leo Barry as premier of NSW.

[Legs Akimbo]

I think Roos is happy with White because his leading forward is taking a tall with him, which open up our forward line. Ditto Goodes. Seldom will it be the case that all three, let alone two kick bags. All that space is creating opportunities for guys like Ben McGlynn.

The issue is how do we fit two guys performing well in the reserves. Roos needs to show there are no sacred cows.

[stellation]

I thought White was a bit unlucky not to be allowed a mark, I think in the second quarter. He wasn't far out, and would probably have kicked it. If that one difference had happened, the rest of the evening may have been different for him too. Confidence and all that. I'm glad to hear that Roos has said publicly that he is pleased with his efforts; I'd like us to persist with it a bit longer before we start tinkering.

Aside from thinking he's been down overall, little incidents like the mark you mentioned have me relatively at ease with White's performance thus far. He was left in the goal square with the ball in his hands as the siren went already this year (Adelaide game?) and was running towards the 50 from right in front last night and had the siren go on him- if both of those results in goals (the goal square was a gimmy, last night who knows) then he's goaled in every game and nodoby is particuarly concerned. Unlucky, it happens but it should come around.

[stellation]

I'd vote for Leo Barry as premier of NSW.

I initially read it that way and was wondering "do we normally send someone from the club down to the opposition rooms after the game?".

[Primmy]

Finally I have woken fromthe sleep of the dead that accompanies me after a game we win.
McGlynne is like Might Mouse but needs to remember there are 21 other players, and some may be in a better position to goal....
I thought LRT was just fine. He is a b ackman. Leo let more frees abound than LRT has! He has acquired a bit of mongrel over the offseason. Mind you, its been a long time since we were treated to a ripped shirt incident, and a change (far too quick Lewie) on field.
Moore was terrific before he ankled himself. And he persisted later, not as well, but he is a good little unit.
Our rucking is doing quite well. Up against Simmonds tho, who is a monster and has a world of experience in his game.
Tadgh's ball use was a bit off, imo.
There is some fantastic run in our team now, and we need to utilise it to better effect.
Jetts is probably due for a bit of a rest in ressies. We have a few (MOD, Ves) who could take over for a bit.
White, obviously not playing to his best, but he surely contributed. Did some good blocking, passing, etc, but a bit wasted
Braddles is still playing a Brissie game, but is a good target.
NicMal is a gem.
Goodsie popped up and disappeared and popped etc.
I am going to hate it when Jude retires. He is a treasure.
Hanners is a little beauty. He is not tall so he kind of disappears in the mix, but inevitably he is involved in the whole of the game.

Loved the first half, the second was weird - that's all I can say about it. They still don't know how to bury the opposition. And the game plan got mashed when it should have flowed. Mind you there is a possibility that the tiggers got better, but ..... they shouldn't have.

Off now to breakfast, coffee and watch the replay (I love my HD recorder, and bless whoever invented it).

[Vonsteinman]

Far out guys... they're two wins from three starts and could easily have had three wins on the board by now.

Bradshaw, Goodes and White have played three times together so there's little wonder that they haven't gelled yet. And it's not hard to figure out that, given the experience of the other two, White is probably the one who will be most affected during the period where the guys get to know each other.

White is going to take some time. But he's not going to learn to play alongside the other two from outside the team.

As for the complaints about the game being boring.....are you guys kidding? Seriously, am I missing the joke? Richmond are struggling at the moment and the Swans did what they had to do - set up the win with a six-goal first term and had 10 goals to one by half-time. I thought they did it in good fashion and there was plenty to be pleased with.

It will be different against a much more committed Kangaroos side next week and I reckon they are up for that. If they get over the line there, they would go in favourites against the Weagles the week after and have a real possibility of going into round six with four wins.

From round six, they play four of the main challengers in five weeks and that is where the season will be made or broken and when our new forward structure will need to be a bit more functional by.

[giant]

I thought White was a bit unlucky not to be allowed a mark, I think in the second quarter. He wasn't far out, and would probably have kicked it. If that one difference had happened, the rest of the evening may have been different for him too. Confidence and all that. I'm glad to hear that Roos has said publicly that he is pleased with his efforts; I'd like us to persist with it a bit longer before we start tinkering.
I also thought Moore had a very good game tonight: good hands, good positioning and on at least one occasion outmarking a much taller opponent. He's not a bad kick either.
The first half was full of good things, the second was frustrating.

I think this is a good point - Jess has looked dead unlucky at times, with not just this mark but a couple of others that might be paid on another night. And twice in the last two games he's been about to kick a goal when the siren sounds - that hurts! Looks just a fraction off his gamebut compared to many others who are flying he looks dead ordinary. I suspect that was behind the move to FB - get your hands on the ball a few times son with no Bradshaw or Goodes to worry about. As others have mentioned, the SCG is a tough place to be playing the third tall, esp with a team playing as many men back as the Tigers did (can't really compalin can we, given the number of times we've strangled opposition teams there!). MIght make more sense for Goodes to play more midfield on our SCG home games - I noticed he started on the wing at a number of centre bounces.

Loved Big Mummy's game tonight - my goodness, if I've been lukewarm to date, well I'm a total Mummy's boy now! Was he BOG? What did others think?

People are harsh on LRT & Reg, who I thought had excellent nights nws LRT's might Q4 clanger. Second half was as dreadful as AFL gets, esp final qr. Funny listening to all the crowd chatter, don't think too many were bothering to watch the game. Still, it's bloody good to have footy back in town!!

[Triple B]

Jesse may not be marking and kicking goals like he was towards the end of last year, but he still has a part to play and is playing it. I loved how they just jumped out of his way when he got the ball in front of the Noble running away from goal. The defence just parted like the Red Sea as the big unit puffed out his chest and found a handball option for a goal.

All this talk of Jesse struggling with the new structure and personnel could easily be directed towards Rhys Shaw who is a shadow of the player he was last year now that Tadhg is back and Eski is as good as a new recruit.

Poor old LRT is getting slammed for the dropped mark late. Agreed it was a shocker, but 10 secs before that, Shaw had the ball in his hands in front of the Brewongle with a paddock in front of him, but whereas last year he would have just taken off for a run and carry, he stopped and chipped it 20 mts backwards to Reg/Tadhg(?) who crossed it back to LRT for the faux pas.