AFL Canberra Round 3: Reserves v Ainslie

[ugg]

Goodness me Lewis Johnson is an exciting talent. Hope his body holds up because he was excellent today.

TDL also showed why he was recruited. Moves well and reads the game superbly. Great kick as well.

Good kick if he wants to be. Stabbed at a couple of set shots which faded badly. The ones that he followed through were excellent, including one beautiful fade from left to right at the Paddington end.

[scolsey22]

i Got to the ground at the start of the second quarter, but from the 3 quarter that i saw it is obvious that we are going to see lewis Johnstone playing firsts before the end of the year. He is a good desicion maker, is an accurate kick for goal and in the outfield. On top of this from what I saw he seems to be able to run and run and run . Pushed down to near defensive 50 quite often. Patty was very good as well playing in the forward line for the game. Kicked goals a few of them from just outside 50 and was very good all day. After seeing TDL a few beeks back he didn't show much, but I will put that down to returning from injury as he was very good today. I would put him behind LJ and Vesp if a player was to be called up. But he showed today that he is going to be a good acquisition for us. I am a harsh marker of the cheese but i thought that he had a solid game today. my last point is on the ranga , it seems he was playing along the half back line but he got forward on numerous occasions and was very good. Hard at the ball and a very good tackler and defensive pressure.

[ugg]

ORB/Primmy posted a report and it seems to be gone now. This is in response to their report, and I want to post it here so I don't lose it again.

Thanks for report again ORB and Primmy. Agree on the umpire in question, some of the HTB decisions were bewildering.

• Gilly didn't play, so it's probably a reflection of how good you thought Meredith, Gordon and McKaigue's games were.
• Poor MOD looked out of depth in the middle without some real support. It's not his best position and was missing Smith today. He does his best work dashing out of defence.
• Johnston was brilliant, only thing holding him back would be match fitness having missed close to a year. He will be banging down the door in a month or so.
• TDL all long legs and a bountiful bag of tricks. He'll offer something different to the forward setup currently in place.
• Bevan was non-existant in the first half, started the second by giving away a free with a typical blunt high bump. But after that he was on song, pushing further up the ground and gaining plenty of ball and uncharacteristically for him, using it it really well.
• Jackson Potter in #48 was the other scholarship player, started a lot of the centre bounces in the middle. Solid left-foot but not as stocky as big brother Nick.
• Rohan started at HB, did some great dashes, forgot to bounce the ball even after being given some leeway by the umpies. Second half, played more midfield, helped redress the clearance problem a little.
• Agree that Ted had a shocker, but I would think is still in real contention to replace Bolton. Ted was not drop for form reasons, they just couldn't fit him in the team. So while he didn't have a good game, they know what sort of role he can perform for the club and the final decision will probably be swayed by whether Brown plays or not.

[ShockOfHair]

With Richards, Bevan, TDL, Vesz, Currie, Pyke, Johnston and Rohan running around in the twos, it's no wonder the 1sts are playing so well.

[liz]

ORB/Primmy posted a report and it seems to be gone now.

Primmy / ORB - don't panic if you read this. Your report does seem to have disappeared, but not before it was reproduced in full in an email to those set up to receive new article notifications. So it still exists. I have tried to restore it a couple of different ways but am getting "database error" messages, which presumably means there are still some issues remaining with the site. Once these are fixed, someone will publish it so don't fret if you haven't kept your own copy.

And no-one else need fret that they've missed this week's reserves report either.

[Old Royboy]

How about I plonk it here.

By Primmie and ORB.

The first quarter was a fairly lacklustre affair. The midfield domination seen in the first couple of home matches was not there - not surprising given that the team has lost its gun inside midfielder to the ones, nor are they likely to get him back! Lack of pressure from the Swans mids was also allowing Ainslie to pass the ball into their forward line with some precision. Poor goal kicking early on was also a problem, and as usual the main culprit was ?Poppa Bear? Henry Playfair. He did manage a great snap from 40 out on a sharp angle but his set shots were as we are accustomed to see ? pure rubbish.

Down five points at the quarter, and things started to get a bit ugly in the second, not helped much by Vidic Richards dropping an easy mark and Ainslie goaling on the turnover. Swans got some momentum back when ?the Dill? Dylan McNeil broke free and advantaged ?LJ? Lewis Johnston for a reply. Ainslie replied immediately after winning the center clearance, and got another one from a 50 metre penalty. Inaccuracy continued to plague the Swans, Poppa Bear and the Dill missing good chances. Finally Cheese Barlow won a clearance and passed to LJ whose long set shot was straight. Vez then took the tip and bombed a long one from 55. Two more goals for Ainslie, one when ?Jonesy? (no surname) Campbell Heath hopelessly misjudged a mark and Ainslie goaled from the crumb, another when ?Turnover Ted? did it again and a third when top up 47 was badly beaten. Bluey Rohan provided some relief in between Ainslie goals when he broke away from a boundary throw in and drilled a long one. Swans were 21 points down at half time, poor kicking for goal, skill errors and turnovers the main causes.

As usual the team structure changed considerably in the second half. Mercifully Richards was the nominated first emergency, so he was not seen again. Crusher moved to the ruck and Pyke took Ted?s place in the backline. The effect was almost immediate. After Ainslie got the first goal through an unbelievable umpiring decision, things kicked into gear. Goals to ?Penny? Lane, Cheese and LJ got the Swans back into the game. Ainslie got two back (one from another 50 metre penalty) Vez marked on the lead and goaled, then got another long bomb home amid more squandered shots by Penny, Poppa and Bevo. Penny made amends with a long angled set shot after receiving the pass from Bevo and Bluey finished the quarter after he accepted a good inboard pass from Nipper Gordon. At ? time the Swans had finally hit the lead and had all the momentum.

The last quarter was a cakewalk as Ainslie ran out of legs. The highlight was a long bouncing run from Bluey Rohan who kicked to Penny?s advantage for a 45 metre running effort. LJ, Poppa, Vez and Barlow joined in the fun. A 43 point win sounds impressive, but was by no means a true reflection on a game where the Swans did not hit the lead until late in the third quarter.

Player Assessments..

LJ is on song, and kicked a fine running goal, plus a further four. Good decision maker, good mark, good kick on goal and a promising future..

Pyke is improving, starting to tackle a bit more - appeared to have relaxed his fear of tackling (to start with), tentative on kicking, but tap rucking much better. Not helped by idiot umpire who doesn't recognise what a tackle is*. Went back into his shell a bit afterwards. But more inclined to get to a spoil position in the goal square.

Penny Lane got into the rhythm of the game after half time, 4 goals, good marks, and a couple of goals were outstanding.

Best game this year so far for Bluey/Red Rohan. He has got the tackle technique sown up. He must have extra long arms they wrap around his victim completely and always has a pure finish. Many long penetrating runs and disposal much improved. However, he must have been watching too much Rugby, as a couple of time he completely forgot that he has to bounce the ball

Cheese got as many ave/bad marks as good, blows hot and cold.

Bevo, giving away too many frees and appears frustrated. Up and down, good and poor. But to be fair took one outstanding mark.

Mod, never reached great heights, not expecting him to follow on next year if he doesn't get his finger out and play senior footy in the ressies. Could not get into it this week.

Crusher, outstanding at times, in the forward line and in the ruck. Had an unpaid mark* which was infuriating. His ruck work in the third quarter was instrumental in getting the Swans back into the game.

Patty tends to play his game, and forgets there is a team involved. Likes his moment in the sun does Patty. But can and did kick 4 goals including a couple of terrific long shots.....however his breathing is painful, shallow and often, felt like the trainers should have a Ventolin on hand.

Unfortunately Ted didn't do a great deal. Roos has flagged Ted as a chance to replace Bolton next week; to reward poor performance with promotion would be a slap in the face to other young kids breaking their necks to get promoted.

Cambo ?Jonesy? Heath had a dog of a day, like he was playing after a night out......decision making far to slow and indecisive. Last home game he was a star!

Meredith was on ground, so were Nipper and McKaige(?) Thanks for turning up guys.

Henry's game was ok, some very good marks, not much chop at goal kicking, or getting to contests, has definitely lost a yard or two.

Special mention must be made of Dylan ?the Dill? McNeil, Primmy?s BOG. You could hear them calling Dill Dill Dill, all the time, which meant he had got the ball. Related to Kirky, and his persistence must be a family trait. Not much of him, up and down or sideways, but well worth the effort. He got flattened with a bump, but he got up "he just got up". I wouldn't have.

Umpire Assessment* By the 3rd quarter the other umps had had enough of one of the field umpires, and in deference to Primmy?s heart condition moved her to the other end. No idea of the game or technique, and should not have been on the ground. Back to kindergarten I say. A lot is said regarding the playing standard of the Canberra league, but one of the comp?s biggest blights is the umpiring standard. Deplorable.

I think the 30 second rule for goal kicking for Ainslie has been put aside, or it doesn't count in ressies.

Toppies were not much in evidence, except 51 Emery, who is a big lad and had some first rate clangers... Guthrie at 47 had by my count all clangers and not much else. However number 49 kick pass of the ground to Nipper was a highlight.

Star of R1, the Weed Reid, didn't play this round. They can't play all of them, and apparently he is a bit sore in the shoulder, so he was rested. Looking forward to seeing if he is consistent.

Swans Reserves - 2.4 (16) 6.10 (46) 13.16 (94) 21.9 (145)
Ainsle - 3.3 (21) 10.7 (67) 13.9 (87) 15.12 (102)

Goals: Veszpremi 5; Dennis-Lane, Johnston 4; Playfair 3; Rohan, Barlow 2; Currie 1
Best: McNeil, Johnston, Pyke, Currie, Veszpremi, Rohan,

[troyjones2525]

Thanks for the great review guys! I look forward every week to reading on RWO how our up and comers are going in the 2's. It's great to be able to keep up to date with the form of them all from the great reviews we get every week from some of the RWO regulars! Keep em coming guys!

[Triple B]

Just a few points.

MOD spent the entire game parked shoulder to shoulder with ex-Crow Robert Shirley. Now there is no doubt that Shirley's better footballing days are behind him, but as an ex-AFL seniors player, it was always going to be a big ask for MOD to star.

I actually thought Guthrie (#47) showed a bit. He was turned around a few times especially down in front of us in the Noble, but some of his clearances and moving the ball out of defence by hand was quite good I thought, didn't panic and linked with Heath and Ted nicely. The guy he was minding would have trouble sitting down today I'd reckon, some of those snapped goals he kicked in the 2nd quarter were straight out of his backside, there'd have to be some collateral damage.

Meredith, whilst quiet, still managed to show he is composed and a lovely user of the footy. i wasn't at all disappointed with his first game for the year.

As ORB writes, Currie turned the game on it's head when moved into the ruck after halftime and was the catalyst to getting us up and running for our 15 goal second half. Bevan also had a very, very good 3rd qtr.

As for the female umpire, she was atrocious.

[BSA5]

Special mention must be made of Dylan ?the Dill? McNeil, Primmy?s BOG. You could hear them calling Dill Dill Dill, all the time, which meant he had got the ball. Related to Kirky, and his persistence must be a family trait. Not much of him, up and down or sideways, but well worth the effort. He got flattened with a bump, but he got up "he just got up". I wouldn't have.

Wha...? Is this common knowledge? I know he got invited over to the Kirks' for dinner soon after he was drafted, but no mention was made of them being related, at least not that I can recall...

[rojo]

Thanks Primmy and ORB, I was hoping there would be a report. It's exciting to hear about LJ's form. I wonder how they are eventually going to fit him, TDL and Rohan into the forward line in the 1sts.

[ScottH]

Thanks Primmy and ORB, I was hoping there would be a report. It's exciting to hear about LJ's form. I wonder how they are eventually going to fit him, TDL and Rohan into the forward line in the 1sts.

LJ did look good from what I saw.

I doubt Rohan would play up forward full time, seems to have far too much run to leave him there.
TDL got plenty of the ball too.

[707]

Thanks guys, great report.

If MOD was tagged by Shirley then it's lucky he got any touches at all. I was really surprised the Adelaide Cows delisted him as he was as human blanket last, just ask Judd and Ablett who rated him the best tagger in the AFL last year. Adelaide delisted him to keep a slightly younger Doughty to do their tagging but he has had a poor year, just like the Cows and don't us Swannies here in Adelaide love that!!! Go Poor Power this week to knock the Cows right out of finals contention :-)

[Primmy]

Thanks guys, great report.

If MOD was tagged by Shirley then it's lucky he got any touches at all. I was really surprised the Adelaide Cows delisted him as he was as human blanket last, just ask Judd and Ablett who rated him the best tagger in the AFL last year. Adelaide delisted him to keep a slightly younger Doughty to do their tagging but he has had a poor year, just like the Cows and don't us Swannies here in Adelaide love that!!! Go Poor Power this week to knock the Cows right out of finals contention :-)

Perhaps Freo ought to pick him up in the next draft.....they do that sort of thing.