Elimination Final 2010 - Bulldogs v Swans Game day thread

[Nico]

With all the arguments going on here about ROK you have missed the really glaring omission in Bevan. At least he gives good defensive forward pressure, thinks about his forward work and finds space and is creative. Why he was overlooked for Moore is beyond my comprehension. Bevan was in form and 3 goals last week surely had him well ahead of Moore. Moore's running and speed is poor whereas Bevan seems to have endless stamina. I haven't been a fan of Bevan's in the past but his form this year has been very good and way above Moore's. Perplexing to say the least, but then again form hasn't always been the selection criteria at the Swans.

On Bradshaw; I was sitting at about the 60 metre point at the Punt Rd end and he appeared to go very close to the man on the mark with those set shots in the 3rd quarter.

[Nico]

I take exception to that- he won't be remembered by some with the same affection, but I assure you that there are some of us (me, at least!) that believe Goodes is the greatest player they've ever seen in the red and white and he will most definitely be remembered with affection befitting that view.

I agree, but last night although he had lots of stats he didn't bring his positive game to the G.

I felt he played very wide and wasn't used enough on the ball. He also took an eternity to move the ball on at times and allowed the Dogs to crowd Bradshaw.

[Melbournehammer]

I love goodes, but at the same time find him so frustrating. he reminds me of an argentinian soccer player, all deft little touches which can make him look fantastic, but if they are not working they make him look lazy and wasteful. last night was a game he could have won for us with no dale morris and a half fit lake to defend against him when he was played forward and with no obvious match up in the midfield. unfortunately lots of his clever handpasses were too clever and didnt come off.

one of those things i guess.

[stellation]

I agree, but last night although he had lots of stats he didn't bring his positive game to the G.

I felt he played very wide and wasn't used enough on the ball. He also took an eternity to move the ball on at times and allowed the Dogs to crowd Bradshaw.

Oh, absolutely- he certainly wasn't great last night and in a close game like that Goodes being on can certainly be the difference.

[Melbournehammer]

With all the arguments going on here about ROK you have missed the really glaring omission in Bevan. At least he gives good defensive forward pressure, thinks about his forward work and finds space and is creative. Why he was overlooked for Moore is beyond my comprehension. Bevan was in form and 3 goals last week surely had him well ahead of Moore. Moore's running and speed is poor whereas Bevan seems to have endless stamina. I haven't been a fan of Bevan's in the past but his form this year has been very good and way above Moore's. Perplexing to say the least, but then again form hasn't always been the selection criteria at the Swans.

On Bradshaw; I was sitting at about the 60 metre point at the Punt Rd end and he appeared to go very close to the man on the mark with those set shots in the 3rd quarter.

i watched the game again this morning. moore was better than i remembered on the night (although quite why he tried that 15.5 m pass to kirk on the lead to allow the bulldogs to kick the goal to put them in front i simply cant imagine) but i colmpletely agree with the sentiment. moore is a slow hff and thats it. they played harbrow on him to exploit his lack of speed, and bevan could have gone back on giansiracusa and had shaw move forward if we needed. bevan is simply more useful than moore who on the bigger grounds where speed counts he is a liability.

i was sitting just behind the cheer squad for bradshaws kicks - he really stabbed at the third but the first was the crucial one - 40m out directly in front...

[Bas]

I must be dumb. Not sure what you mean unless it was a reference from last week. In which case I would say you need to get over it and stop playing the man

Tooth Fairy, all those years, all those teeth and for the miserable amount of money you left me for each one. Give up, NEVER!!!!!!!!

[Bas]

The season had to end at some stage. If we ever made the GF we would have been slaughtered and I don't want the Swans to be remembered like Port for a GF thrashing.

I would expect a better finish next year if we don't have the same sort of injury toll.

I'm blaming Woody Woodpecker for the loss. She was pointing that beaky pointy nose at the Swans players all night. By the end of the game, everytime they showed her on screen, it reminded me of joffa wearing his gold jacket. I don't know which one was worse in the end.

The bulldogs got their elephant juice mix right last night. However the Saints will smash them next week.

[Nico]

i watched the game again this morning. moore was better than i remembered on the night (although quite why he tried that 15.5 m pass to kirk on the lead to allow the bulldogs to kick the goal to put them in front i simply cant imagine) but i colmpletely agree with the sentiment. moore is a slow hff and thats it. they played harbrow on him to exploit his lack of speed, and bevan could have gone back on giansiracusa and had shaw move forward if we needed. bevan is simply more useful than moore who on the bigger grounds where speed counts he is a liability.

i was sitting just behind the cheer squad for bradshaws kicks - he really stabbed at the third but the first was the crucial one - 40m out directly in front...

Totally agree, I said to anyone who wanted to listen on Friday Bevan would have given us much greater flexibility and works harder. Moore is too slow as a midfileder and doesn't work at all off the ball. Very limited in a team sense. May very well have cost us the game.

[cruiser]

Just got home from Melbourne (what a long long trip that was under the circumstances). Still gutted. Still mad as with Bradshaw. As far as I'm concerned he cost us the game. How he missed all easy three shots was bad enough, but the missed one from 10 (?) metres out was unforgivable. I dont care if he retires.

[Midfield]

Yep gutted is the right word. We should have won that game, we played so much better than the dogs. I blame those 2 goals before half time.... agh! It really @@@@s me because the way we looked with bradshaw in the team I really think we would have beat the saints.

[Wardy]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Kennelly - most of his posessions ended up being turnovers - and of course we had the obligatory running around in a circle which 9 times out of ten didnt work - but what really pissed me off was that if someone else did something wrong, he would give them a gob full (it didnt go down well at our table thats for sure) - yet he gave away 2 crucial frees, kicked the ball to a dogs player more times than I care to remember, and along with Grundy was very under par.

It was a sad way for Roos & Kirk to go out, they deserved so much better. Maybe we thought we were a shoe in - considering all the reports of Johnson not being able to walk and Griffin was supposed to still be under an injury cloud (and how wrong did that turn out to be) all we had to do was turn up. Bradshaw must be feeling awful today - two such getable goals. Still whilst we can never all be happy with the umpiring, this lot we had last night were jsut the pits - inconsistent. The commentary - well what can you expect, from what I could hear, I thought that only the Dogs were on the ground. And they kept flashing over the camera to Eade throwing tantrums, if it wasnt him it was Giant Lobes Gillard. A sad night all round.

However, despite it all, we have a bright future ahead of us we have some great and exciting young talent coming through - Jetts and TDL need to bulk up, McGlynn to get 100% well again (although he gave it such a good crack last night considering his injury) Mummy - he has 5 months to get that knee right - he is our Ruckman for the next 5 years along with Pyke, who has exceeded all expectations as well. Jack will get even better as time goes on. Ted Richards has returned and I hope he gets to stay in seniors - he has filled the void well.

so bring 2011 - a sad way to end 2010, but it also gave us a glimpse of better things to come.

[Primmy]

Wardy I totally agree with you re Kennelly. I thought it was just me be churlish (I get that way) but I watched him and thought to myself, bugger, he is playing like a man carrying injury, and hasn't he worked out yet that they have worked out his little twists because they always happen.

However the idea of Jetts bulking up (check the legs) and particularly TDL (check those slender fingers!) had me cracking up. Mind you MickyO did.

[mcs]

Just got back to Canberra this morning and still gutted about last night. We should have won that game and I think had we taken a 5 goal lead into half time as we deserved and not given away 2 silly goals at the end of the 2Q we would of kicked on and won it. We simply stopped running in the 2nd half, and our ridiculous wastefulness in front of goals in the 3rd quarter stopped us being able to stem the flow.

Oh and I must mention the umpiring- I know its done on Grand final day, but why can't the umpires be instructed to where possible in finals keep out of the game. They were dreadful last night in the 2nd half in my opinion- more so for the complete lack of consistency and total randomness of their internventions. It didn't cost us the game, but by gee there were some baffling calls at times. In finals especially,they should keep the whistle out of their mouth and let the players decide the game.

A disappointing end to what in my opinion was a very promising and generally very good season. We need to kick on next year from here and take the next step. We have most of the ingredients for a team that can soon truly challenge for the Premiership, but we need to work hard over the summer so that we can bridge the gap between us and the top few teams in the comp.

[Tooth Fairy]

tooth fairy, all those years, all those teeth and for the miserable amount of money you left me for each one. Give up, never!!!!!!!!

ok

[Cosmic Wizard]

Wardy I totally agree with you re Kennelly. I thought it was just me be churlish (I get that way) but I watched him and thought to myself, bugger, he is playing like a man carrying injury, and hasn't he worked out yet that they have worked out his little twists because they always happen.

However the idea of Jetts bulking up (check the legs) and particularly TDL (check those slender fingers!) had me cracking up. Mind you MickyO did.

Totally agree, Kennelly should be cut, use the saving of his wages to buy someone good and young.
And Jetta must learn to tackle players larger than himself, yes he can run but if if can't goal on the run he is a liability. To many times players get the ball and run off him.

But above all some goal kicking, especially for the older players like O'Keefe and Bradshaw; it not good enough if your conversions are 50/50.

Like the end to all good seasons, we will need to examine the list, and see who to cut.