AFL Canberra Round 13: Ainslie v Reserves

[ugg]

Must have been a terrible game, only 3 named as best!

18.12-120 AINSLIE
7.11-53 SYDNEY SWANS

AINSLIE
Goal Kickers: C. Baxter 7, B. Hughes 3, R. Andrews 2, E. Stone 2, M. Lawless 2, C. MATHIS , M. HEARN
Best Players: C. Baxter, M. Lawless, E. Stone, R. Andrews, J. Holmes, A. HARRIS

SYDNEY SWANS
Goal Kickers: L. JOHNSTON 2, D. MCNEIL , M. MAY , S. SMITH , B. SUMNER , D. CAMPBELL
Best Players: S. REID, N. GORDON, D. MCNEIL

[ShockOfHair]

We were under-manned, but it seems guys like Vez, Johnston, Thornton missed an opportunity to make a statement.

The good news was Sam Reid named in the best players again. Is it too early to get excited about him?

BTW, did he play up back today?

[Primmy]

We were under-manned, but it seems guys like Vez, Johnston, Thornton missed an opportunity to make a statement.

The good news was Sam Reid named in the best players again. Is it too early to get excited about him?

BTW, did he play up back today?

I got excited about Reid (The Weed) a couple of months ago. Looks like a drink of water, but definitely filling out. He has good hands, and I am very pleased he didn't let me down.

Lots and lots of toppies, and not names I know, so I would say that was the major factor in this result. Disappointing yes. Surprising, no.

Intersted to note that Dill and Nipper both had less than exciting games last week and are named bog this game.

[ugg]

I thought Gordon was one of the best last week

Anyway, apparently Barlow had a bit of a punchup with Ben Hughes, left the field a bit out of sorts. Currie played limited minutes, so I'm guessing Reid must have spent some time in the ruck.

[Primmy]

I thought Gordon was one of the best last week

Anyway, apparently Barlow had a bit of a punchup with Ben Hughes, left the field a bit out of sorts. Currie played limited minutes, so I'm guessing Reid must have spent some time in the ruck.

Nipper gave away at least 3 50s and that had him in my tut tut files.
Surprised to that Barlow had a punchup.....don't see him in that light. Will have to wait for the "official" report.

[grose40]

Agree with all of uggs comments on todays game. Started off FLAT and got FLATTENED !! It was obvious from the start that the side sitting second on the ladder are there for a reason, and the experienced, older & wiser, knock-about, crusty, hardened, take no cr*p, in your face Ainslie players were going to give it to the regular swans players and also let the youngin's (scholarships & toppies) know they were in for a rough & tough day @ the office. Bumping off the ball, scragging, bussling, pushing, and niggling (all legal) could not be handled by the large amount of 'green' players in the side today. Our world doesn't end with this loss - but it highlights what we will be up against come finals time. Our magoo's is definitely influenced by the side make-up ie: amount and quality of scholarship & top up players. Anyways here's a bit of a wrap on what started out a beautiful sunny arvo with a very tricky wind and ended up in the final stages as the sun went down, very cool indeed.
CURRIE: back after foot injury and used very sparingly in ruck if at all, spent most of the match in the forward line. Looked mobile enough and certainly didn't sherk any issues. Was rotated on & off bench quite regularly.
BARLOW: in a match like this when you need the senior 2's to stand up cheese didn't really cut the mustard. Tried hard all day, maybe too hard. Got caught, doesn't honour 1st option leads, and maybe a tad selfish at times. Went off injured in the last not from punch up but actually did really well attacking a 50/50 ball and got sandwiched by 2 Ainsly-ites and also crunched by team mate LJ who from where I was sitting clobbered the cheese melon and sent it into outer space. Cheese got helped off and was legless and in gaga-land. Didn't return. Was missed in the back line!
VESPA: frustrates the bugger outa me! Does work hard, does try to be a leader, but in the process takes on too much onus in trying to turn things around. Consequently must have got pinged holding the ball at least half a dozen times today. When in possession still has the uncanny knack of not going with the 1st positive option but takes on the opposition singled handedly and puts himself and side under the pump when the pill is turned over. In my opinion the crop of draftee's that he was a part of in the draft, ie: read the book "The Draft", by Emma Quayle - have ALL gone on to play regular 1's for their respective clubs and poor old Vespa is busting his boiler to make up for lost time and get to that same status. In the process he neglects team orientated strategy and becomes a cowboy. Keep it simple, do the team things, be a leader by example, with voice, and encouragement to all around you. We need you to play this role - and I believe he can.
REID: was good! Rucked just about all day, and against a very big, hard, and talented opposition. Has a great leap and developing a seriously good skill linking with Dill, Nipper, Sumner, in the middle of late. Love his work ethic, tenacity, and ticker!
SUMNER: thought he was OK, played on ball and did lots of running and chasing, not sure if it was all positive. Kicked a goal, and can see him influencing more play as he develops.
LJ: ditto Cheese & Vespa. Does good things but in patches and as one of the more experienced players needs to make a statement and consistently. Beautiful 2 x goals in the 3rd term, seriously awesome 50+m goals that got us to within 3 goals - but thats all she wrote folks and we only kicked 1 other goal for the match I think. Its other facets of his game that need to improve and quickly. He shouldn't have to be reminded by the coaching staff yelling from the 2nd floor coaches box to lead and get involved. From the sidelines he seems medium/average height and build, but up close is taller and very well decked out, so shouldn't be sidestepping throwing his frame over a grenade when its his turn. YES, can kick a great goal, but do the 1%s and continue to work super hard when required also? Maybe this is whats stalling his 1s gig?
THORNTON: back after rest or injury? Perhaps it was a niggle me thinks, because called for physio in the 2nd qtr after a sprint, with a tweek to leg muscle of sorts. Didn't come back on. Was missed from that point as was part of a reasonable back line to that point, held his own and gave us some drive and stability down backs. Hope its not serious!
DILL: not the greatest game by his high standards, but definitely was in out top couple! Work rate good, never flicked an issue no matter what the odds, nil bench time, great engine, kicked goal. Big tick! Big future.
JETTA: also in our top couple, got his hands on the pigskin heaps, lots of jinky runs, bounces, hitting targets, but also complimented this already obvious style of his game with 1st option delivery by foot, following up delivery, provided support option, chased down many opponents, 2nd & 3rd efforts good. Was very work man like, confident and positive all over the ground. Big plus for his confidence going forward.
McKAIGUE: nil bench time, hard day at the office down backs, worked all day, spoiled and punched well under the pump. Was OK
GILLY: key position in def with Irish & Thornton, nothing too flash. We were exposed more than 3 times with opposition taking pack marks on our goal line. With Gilly, Irish, cheese back there I don't understand how that was allowed to happen that often?
GORDON: nil bench time, ran ALL day, raked up a heap of possessions, never gave up, added to his impressive and consistent last 2 months worth of footy. And YES, although giving away a free or 2 last week, I thought he deserved being in the top couple, and also again this week!
M MAY: has great height about him, but doesn't seem to impose it with presence when leading from FF, would like to see him demand it with strong leads again and again. Maybe some raw meat prior to match? Got moved down backs for a bit late in game when cheese had to go off.
JAY LEWIS: seems to get moved from pillar to post, with no real extended game time to gain confidence and consistency. Has talent and skill and can handle himself at this level as is evident with his Penno 1's appearances. Was a stand out at Coffs U18s for the Heat and was also in the RAMS U18s squad. Hope we continue to support him as I think we will see him deliver with time.
TOPPIES: x 11. Nothing outstanding, all very young and raw, some out of their depth, and all knew they had played a physical experienced outfit.
OPPOSITION: came with a plan, implemented it, never let their guard down, imposed their stamp with a bit of mongrel, great link play, always in the right spot at the bottom of a pack when ball was punched or came to ground, good foot skills and some cracker shots at goal from distance. Will be very tough come finals time if they can maintain that form and improve.

[ugg]

Thanks for the detailed report grose. Also, it was liz's comments I was passing on so all kudos should go to her. Official report is also up.

http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7106/newsid/98433/default.aspx

[dimelb]

Thanks G40, always good to get the details, even when they are unpleasant! Looks as if a couple of significant personnel missing can make a big difference.

[Primmy]

Than;ks for the report. One thing I glean from this is the lack of a leader on the day. No Teddy or Bev. Or Popper Bear Henry, and etc. Makes a difference

[satchmopugdog]

Thank you Grose...very perceptive observations

[Jesse Richards]

Thanks Grose40, Liz and ugg. A few more comments:
I thought Sumner had a good first half and a scintillating run with several bounces in the 2nd half which failed to finish with a goal. He didn't seem to be intimidated by the opposition. I really like watching him play.
Thornton did have a hamstring problem and didn't reappear in the 2nd half.
Jetta's disposals continue to be a problem.
Johnston kicked to the opposition - does he need glasses?
Currie took a beautiful mark running with the flight of the ball.
Chubby top up no.53 against the tough Ainslie men? But he kicked a goal, which was more than most of our boys could muster. 11 behinds - same as Ainslie. They kicked 10 more goals than us, outmarked and outplayed us.
Veszpremi continues to call for the ball at every opportunity no matter how many opponents are around him. I used to enjoy watching him play, but not so much now.

[liz]

I'll add some comments to those I texted to Ugg during the game.

It was truly an awful performance. Quite possibly the worst I've seen - though there were some bad ones last year. That said, there were some mitigating circumstances. Twelve listed players only, and Thornton out before half-time, didn't make things easy. More of a problem was the mix of those twelve players - few genuine midfielders, and too many who are the (important) icing on the cake, rather than the cake itself. And then the quality of the top-ups was, well, dreadful. I don't want to knock these kids because I am sure they did their best. But the clubs giving up these youngsters need to get real. Some of them I doubt would get a game in their school team, let alone mix it with professionals in top grade ACTAFL. Many of them looked petrified to be out there. I know they laid one tackle between them because Mitch May scored a goal from a holding-the-ball free. But I think that might have been the only one between them.

As for the Swans:

As already noted, Sumner was very lively in the first half, and kept on trying to the end. If they were going to pluck out three players for a "bests" list, he would have been on mine.

Jetta turned it on for about 15 minutes in the first quarter and then all but disappeared from the game. Did seem to pick it up a tad in the final quarter, but to very little avail.

Reid rucked all game without a minute's break. Didn't have things as much his own way as he did last week, but was certainly competitive. Didnt do a huge amount other than ruck but was probably knackered, so can be forgiven.

Was surprised to see McNeill in the bests. Worked hard but his hands seemed a bit fumbly and his kicking inaccurate. Have seen him play much better.

Ditto Gordon, who spent a lot of time on the ball (while I think he is probably more of a HFFer). Tried hard but wasn't overly effective.

Vez I don't think started at one centre bounce, which surprised me given the dearth of onballers, and the fact he ripped it up a few weeks ago as an onballer. Struggled to get into it early, but tackled well. Got a bit more of the ball in the second and third quarters, but as others have said, tried to do too much. Not a great way to win back a senior spot but I did feel a bit for him because there was often little for him to give it off too. He will look far far better with a bit more quality around him.

Johnston had a dog of a day but at least worked his backside off. Even in the final quarter, he was still chasing hard, though messing things up more often than not. Two great goals converted from 50m out were about his only highlight.

Currie played mostly at centre half-forward and did take some good marks, but too far out for him to convert. From a team point of view he would have been better off playing a little deeper to create genuine goal scoring opportunities. But presumably they wanted him to move around more than playing in the goal square would have allowed. As already noted, his game time was clearly being managed. He was the only of the Swans listed players to be given bench time (injuries to Thornton and Cheese aside).

Gilly and McKaigue were both pretty innocuous. Thorton was OK up to the point he got injured but not great.

That's it for the players. If I have forgotten anyone, then they deserve to be forgotten. It was amusing to hear the comments being shouted from the coaches box. I am sure I heard some strong comments directed towards the umpires at one point - comments were justified because the umpires seemed to have decided that no Swan should be allowed even a millisecond of prior opportunity before being tackled - a rule they didn't apply to the opposition. Hearing their exasperated shouts at some of the players was as intereting. Early in the game they were shouting out some encouragement and some direction. But the end it was just "Patty!!!!" or "Lewis!!!" with tones of anguish.

[ugg]

Frosty was, um, frosty when asked about the performance

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/ainslie-grounds-the-highflying-swans-reserves/1888358.aspx

That didn't exempt the remaining AFL-listed players from criticism, with Swans coach Daniel McPherson firing off a not too subtle salvo.


''Some of the efforts from some of the Swans-listed guys were pretty disappointing today,'' McPherson said.

[lwjoyner]

only 3 players named in the best for swans. Were there no one else worthy of a mention and we dont name another 3.

[Chookbilly]

Hmm sounds like its going to be a tough choice on who to bring in for Smith, and possibly Bevan, Mummy & McVeigh.

Tough, because of how inept the reserves were.