Swans vs Dogs: In-game hobnob (aka the game day thread)

[top40]

I live in Canberra........ and agree Manuka is a terrible place to watch footy! For goodness sake, if they are going to pursue with this venture into Canberra....can somebody please spend some money on upgrading the facility! We've been watching footy there for years and they haven't spent a cent! Standing bleachers in the GA area....for goodness sake build a grandstand. Maybe GWS will warrant that...which is a joke in itself. Either bin Manuka as a venue or make it fit for AFL footy.

Just while I've got my crank on....the surface was rubbish also....players were falling over all over the place. Being a Canberran.....frost makes the subsurface wet, don't water it just because it might be slightly greener! (its frickin -2 degrees here overnight at the moment) You'd be better with yellow grass and a firm surface!!!!

Amateur horticulturalist out!!!

It was an interesting coincidence that through the Australian bid for the 2018/2022 soccer World Cups, the day before the Bulldogs game, a major upgrade was announced for Canberra's stadiums, predicated of course in Australia winning either of the above bids. If Australia wins a bid, a brand new rectangle stadium, (holding 40,000 for the Cup, and thereafter 27,000) will be built at the AIS, adjacent to the existing Canberra Stadium, (formerly known as Bruce Stadium). Canberra Stadium, (which has facilities far superior to Manuka), will then resort to a 20,000 capacity oval, and hold AFL games.

My main complaint about Manuka is the absurd situation where there is just one, JUST ONE, entry and exit point. With my ticket in hand, I nevertheless queued up for about 10 minutes outside the ground before I could get in. There has also been occasions when the "Record" simply didn't arrive at the ground. Finally, there is simply not enough food places. No matter when the game is on, you have to queue up for at least 10-15 minutes to buy something to eat.

Any positives? The nearby suburb of Manuka, (being just across the road), with its cafes, Coles (and great car park), wine bars, book stores, and even a cinema complex, is something you would never see at any other AFL venue in Australia.

[andyn]

It was an interesting coincidence that through the Australian bid for the 2018/2022 soccer World Cups, the day before the Bulldogs game, a major upgrade was announced for Canberra's stadiums, predicated of course in Australia winning either of the above bids. If Australia wins a bid, a brand new rectangle stadium, (holding 40,000 for the Cup, and thereafter 27,000) will be built at the AIS, adjacent to the existing Canberra Stadium, (formerly known as Bruce Stadium). Canberra Stadium, (which has facilities far superior to Manuka), will then resort to a 20,000 capacity oval, and hold AFL games.

My main complaint about Manuka is the absurd situation where there is just one, JUST ONE, entry and exit point. With my ticket in hand, I nevertheless queued up for about 10 minutes outside the ground before I could get in. There has also been occasions when the "Record" simply didn't arrive at the ground. Finally, there is simply not enough food places. No matter when the game is on, you have to queue up for at least 10-15 minutes to buy something to eat.

Any positives? The nearby suburb of Manuka, (being just across the road), with its cafes, Coles (and great car park), wine bars, book stores, and even a cinema complex, is something you would never see at any other AFL venue in Australia.

yeah I love that part of Canberra, which is why we always make the road trip to watch this game, but I totally agree agree with others about the shortcomings of the venue. We left at three quarter time because my girlfriend just couldn't see the game. We had to climb a hand rail to see anything which is a disaster waiting to happen. Was quite a bad afternoon out (with Swans performance not really helping things).

[andyn]

The margin was 38 points.

Question: if
1. Craig Bolton,
2. Bradshaw,
3. Mumford,
4. Seaby,
5. McGlynn,
6. Moore,
7. (and we sometimes forget), Bird

ALL had played, fully fit, (and let's add 56 year old Brad Johnson on the Bullies' side to be fair), what would have been the margin?

And Griffin to be fair to the doggies ... but I agree, we can't compete without our full list. With those guys all fully fit, we'd be able to mount a bit more of a challenge, but that goes without saying. Hopefully we'll get some luck toward the back half of the season, but a lot of teams seem to unlucky with injuries at the moment ... The pace setters are the ones with small injury lists and greater depth e.g. Geelong and Pies

[Primmy]

gee the umpires love that barry hall bloke

Yeah, I'll say. Protected species.

Another point is that he is no longer playing with the Swans THEREFORE that PROVES the umpires are agin the Swans and not B BB in particular!!! I Knew It!!!

[Primmy]

Missed this. Ridiculous statement for two reasons. Firstly, Malceski is averaging 7 contested possessions a game, which for a bloke playing his role is very good (it's the same as Brett Kirk, too). Secondly, and far more ridiculously, Luke Ablett a soft ball receiver? Really? Ablett was the complete opposite. He was in the team purely for his ability to win contested ball, get it moving forward, throw his body into the pack. Christ, nobody in their right mind would EVER play Ablett as a ball receiver with his skills.

I love you B.....

[Kanga]

Playfair - watching at the ground was an embarrassment! I don't have the words.
Jetta - just don't know what to think. As others have suggested I'm not sure we've found the right position for him an/or he's not seasoned enough to play in a posi Roos may want him too in the future.
Rohan - Starts at FF. I was sitting at that end. He presented well but the players did not go to him. They were always going to try and hit Bevo and Jude to begin with. The kid in his 2nd game, and his 2nd against top opposition ended up playing in FF, HF, Mid and HB. I don't know if Roosy wants to mix it up and see how he goes or what? He also seemed to cop a ankle injury down in my pocket in the 3rd qtr and kept putting in. I've got to say I would have him in the team right now above Jetta anyday. Give him time. He puts in effort and I think he'll get there. Needs to get stronger and get experience. He'll be good.

I made the trek down to Canberra for this match...... Agree re Rohan - he will be a gun and is better for the experience.....Jetta likewise. Once Bradshaw was out, there was no chance of a win for you guys - the Bulldogs defence is way to good to be exposed by the likes of Jesse White (3rd string fwd & minor Sydney celebrity at best !) and Jude Bolton as your fwd line! FWIW Hall should have ended up with at least three other shots on goal (he got climbed on and had his arms chopped all day) - generally great delivery to him by their midfield. The result indicates that they Dogs are top 4 and you lot are a not quite top 4 - more like positions 6 to 9 at the end of the year. Good luck against Freo - they will be smarting after the loss to Collingwood. cheers

[ScottH]

Just on the dogs defence, How good is that Lake bloke.
No wonder the dogs were so keen to keep him in the kennel.

I'd never really notice how god he really is till Sat, even without a #1 opponent he outshone the other try hard forwards.

[caj23]

I made the trek down to Canberra for this match...... Agree re Rohan - he will be a gun and is better for the experience.....Jetta likewise. Once Bradshaw was out, there was no chance of a win for you guys - the Bulldogs defence is way to good to be exposed by the likes of Jesse White (3rd string fwd & minor Sydney celebrity at best !) and Jude Bolton as your fwd line! FWIW Hall should have ended up with at least three other shots on goal (he got climbed on and had his arms chopped all day) - generally great delivery to him by their midfield. The result indicates that they Dogs are top 4 and you lot are a not quite top 4 - more like positions 6 to 9 at the end of the year. Good luck against Freo - they will be smarting after the loss to Collingwood. cheers

i disagree on the doggies Kanga, while we were well beaten on the day we had 6 of our first choice 22 and those missing were in crucial areas - ruck, key defender, key forward. I don't think we'll make top 4 but we'll be comfortably entrenched in the 8 come year end.

As for the doggies, they are a long way behind the top 3 (cats, saints and pies) and weren't that impressive against an understrength outfit. Lake is a v good player and had a day out, but he won't get an easier match up for the rest of the season, Hudson and Minson are average and the same applies to them, Barry played well but i think he is a flat track bully

[swansrule100]

Just on the dogs defence, How good is that Lake bloke.
No wonder the dogs were so keen to keep him in the kennel.

I'd never really notice how god he really is till Sat, even without a #1 opponent he outshone the other try hard forwards.

i agree, i am hopeful grundy can continue to develop and be a similar player for us.

[Kanga]

i disagree on the doggies Kanga, while we were well beaten on the day we had 6 of our first choice 22 and those missing were in crucial areas - ruck, key defender, key forward. I don't think we'll make top 4 but we'll be comfortably entrenched in the 8 come year end.

As for the doggies, they are a long way behind the top 3 (cats, saints and pies) and weren't that impressive against an understrength outfit. Lake is a v good player and had a day out, but he won't get an easier match up for the rest of the season, Hudson and Minson are average and the same applies to them, Barry played well but i think he is a flat track bully

I assume you agree with me (then even if you feel they are behind the top 3) - they can still be top 4! Stop sooking about your injuries - its a contact sport & every team gets them. We had the greatest FF going around off in the first qtr against Adelaide and just managed to drag ourselves over the line! (sarcasm intended)

Agree about Lake - a full back that decides when to go fwd and score goals = awesome. Disagree about Hall - Goodes climbed over the top of him in the second half, not a realistic attempt to mark - play on apparently. Hall was happy to share the ball around as well - he is just what the Doggies need.

[Matty10]

I had only listened to the game through the radio on Saturday, but have now caught up as I watched the full match on TV today. As I knew the result and was not as passionate about the contest I must say that I had no real problems with the umpiring in terms of the Swans getting a rough deal. I thought that perhaps they were a little trigger-happy at times, but nothing to be too concerned about.

The Bulldogs were just too good on the day - and we were beaten by a team that showed more class and more pace.

Like I said - the midfield is DOWN - ranting over Playfair, Pyke, Bevan and Mal is irrelevant..

Our midfield struggled again, which is a bit of an on-going concern. I also did not think that Playfair was that bad (comparing his game to Barlow's from last week is bizarre), as he took 6 marks, got 10 possessions and did not turn the ball over at all. He certainly needed to get into the play a lot more, and be more damaging with his disposal, but he was hardly a disaster.

Our forward line structure was pretty strange though - it was like we had decided to crowd our own forward 50 - to create more options and leave space further up the ground - which did not work - and made for easy aerial defence by Lake and co. Goodes could not get into the game when at CHF, so we had no link between half-back and the half-forward and as a result there were too many times when the ball was bombed in.

Listening to the news and seeing the highlights I also thought that Hall must have really taken us apart, but after watching the match it seems that it was really just a reflection of their midfield class.

[Jewels]

I had only listened to the game through the radio on Saturday, but have now caught up as I watched the full match on TV today. As I knew the result and was not as passionate about the contest I must say that I had no real problems with the umpiring in terms of the Swans getting a rough deal. I thought that perhaps they were a little trigger-happy at times, but nothing to be too concerned about.

The Bulldogs were just too good on the day - and we were beaten by a team that showed more class and more pace.



Our midfield struggled again, which is a bit of an on-going concern. I also did not think that Playfair was that bad (comparing his game to Barlow's from last week is bizarre), as he took 6 marks, got 10 possessions and did not turn the ball over at all. He certainly needed to get into the play a lot more, and be more damaging with his disposal, but he was hardly a disaster.

Our forward line structure was pretty strange though - it was like we had decided to crowd our own forward 50 - to create more options and leave space further up the ground - which did not work - and made for easy aerial defence by Lake and co. Goodes could not get into the game when at CHF, so we had no link between half-back and the half-forward and as a result there were too many times when the ball was bombed in.

Listening to the news and seeing the highlights I also thought that Hall must have really taken us apart, but after watching the match it seems that it was really just a reflection of their midfield class.

Pretty spot on summation there Matt on all points.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I agree that Playfair wasn't that bad, but i thought he was brought in as a tall/ strong marking forward option and he got most of those touches in space on the wings or in the guts. A guy half his size could have gotten those possessions and taken those marks.

Did he get a single touch in the forward 50 ? Not as far as i can recall, which IMO, rendered him basically useless. We would have been better have having Vez or O'dwyer, at least they would have provided some run as well.

[swansrule100]

i thought after quarter time especially, that we looked like a bottom team hoping to compete with the dogs. Not a side in the 8 that could win. There seemed to be no sense of purpose or game plan

[caj23]

I assume you agree with me (then even if you feel they are behind the top 3) - they can still be top 4! Stop sooking about your injuries - its a contact sport & every team gets them. We had the greatest FF going around off in the first qtr against Adelaide and just managed to drag ourselves over the line! (sarcasm intended)

Agree about Lake - a full back that decides when to go fwd and score goals = awesome. Disagree about Hall - Goodes climbed over the top of him in the second half, not a realistic attempt to mark - play on apparently. Hall was happy to share the ball around as well - he is just what the Doggies need.

I think what i was trying to say in a rather clumsy manner is that I don't think the doggies are as good as what their pre-season form suggested and that they were flattered by an average performance by our mob.