Round 2 - Swans vs Dons Match Thread.

[Yuri H]

I was rather disturbed by some of our skill errors and the ease with which Essendon cut through our defence.

Definitely - I mean sure, in the end we kicked more points than Essendon and won, but the amount of missed shots and way-off kicks was v. frustrating. When even our even-tempered Ryan O'Keefe delivers a spray of frustration after desperately trying to reach a ball that had been kicked wide, nominally aimed his way, you know it's been a bad kicking day.

That being said, every game I love Ben McGlynn more and more, that li'l kamikaze (even if I think he was the target of Rhino's spray ... OK, even the best make errors). He does seem to be one of the few who is able, with some regularity, to kick the ball between those two tall poles which give us 6 points rather than the various other places we seem to have been kicking at improper moments through the course of the game.

Of course when I say I love McGlynn, I naturally don't mean it in a ... a ... well, maybe I do mean it in a queer, mardi gras, la di da kinda way, as well. But it's 99% platonic admiration, I swear.

[Triple B]

My man love for Smith is well known and goes way way back, but some of the comments here are almost like you just worked out in the last couple of weeks how good he is and he shouldn't be criticised.

Tooth Fairy is not THAT far off the mark. He had a HORROR 10 minutes in the 3rd quarter. He was on Winderlich when the turnover on the wing caught him out and Winderlich marked 20 metres out with nobody within 5 metres of him (except a teammate). They then swung Winderlich onto the ball and rested Watson in the pocket who then proceeds to kick a goal and miss one from in front when he got the better of Smiffy.

I love the guy and I can pull plenty of old posts out to show the 'love affair' has been that long I should almost have the ring on his finger, but yesterday was not one of his greatest games given those defensive lapses which are super scarce and his few poor disposals by foot which are also very out of character.

That said, just about first picked next week and every other week afterwards.

[Primmy]

Teddy is not up to playing on the first string forwards. Paddy Ryder was giving him a bath. i like Teddy but only on the second tier forwards. I'd like to know from the ressies watchers if Lewis J is ready for a game in defence? Kennelly will prob come back for Everitt..

Sheeze wolf, and our options were??????? He was amazing for a second string FB. Watching him live had us cheering him on for the effort he put into it. Not perfect, no, but undaunted. He is an experienced campaigner now, with a cool head and good command of the game at large, and I wouldn't be putting LJ in until there were a couple of bookends get back in, which may be a problem anyway. LJ may get a gig. But he would need a bit of direction, so having Tadgh on deck may help. At present it is Ted, as the last line if defence, and Reg with Marty. We are missing Craig, LRT, Tadgh and NicMal. I think Ted played his usual courageous game on a much bigger opponent, and did it well.

[Big Al]

Of course when I say I love McGlynn, I naturally don't mean it in a ... a ... well, maybe I do mean it in a queer, mardi gras, la di da kinda way, as well. But it's 99% platonic admiration, I swear.

I think he doth protest too much...

[Melbournehammer]

I think the backline is working about as well as it could be. I don't agree ted was taken to the cleaners. ted did his job and did it well as far as I am concerned. i agree that little spider is a third tall defender and if he gets switched onto a cloke or a dawes will get easily outmuscled. he reminds me a bit of saddington - who could get easily outmuscled and was probably an oversized wingman to be honest. but on a medium sized forward he will do a job and his skills are reasonably good. grundy played well not as well as last year mind but reasonably well. it will be interesting who plays on kennedy and darling next week because they are both reasonably fast and like long leads but they are also reasonably strong. if lynch plays as well we could be one tall short (if you know what i mean). The small defenders are all doing a job - i thought shaw, smith and especially mattner played well. I really like mattner he provides run and I've never seen him shirk a contest.

we have always been suspect to really fast ball coming down and yesterday was no exception. But so long as our midfield continue to pressure and the ball comes in under pressure they'll do me on the way in and usually on the way out too. but it is the way out which we are struggling with at the moment. Losing mal and tahdg leaves a hole for someone to take the game on from back there. LRT is not the answer to that problem !

[Primmy]

PS: Did anyone else note how excited one of our younger boys was (I think it was Gary) somewhere towards the end, and he actually was looking for Rhyce Shaw to have an approval hug? He is an odd one to consider to be a mentor but he is obviously respected by the younger brigade, as well as almost everyone else. From the looks of it he makes them feel important. An unusual quality.

[magic.merkin]

PS: Did anyone else note how excited one of our younger boys was (I think it was Gary) somewhere towards the end, and he actually was looking for Rhyce Shaw to have an approval hug? He is an odd one to consider to be a mentor but he is obviously respected by the younger brigade, as well as almost everyone else. From the looks of it he makes them feel important. An unusual quality.

Shaw is VERY vocal on the field, so must have some sway/leadership role as well.

[johnno]

The way we butchered the ball today was extraordinary. If we did that against Collingwood of today or Geelong of 2-3 years ago, we would of been hammered by 60points+. Having said that, I felt our best players were Bolton, Goodes, McGlynn and ROK. Honourable menions to Mattner, Mumford, Richards and Smith.

Lewis Jetta, pick up your act son, a better game from Jesse but can still do/offer more, Reid is special.

Almost forgot....Bevan you star!!!! Great game mate.

[ABloodsMan]

We robbed them blind, how we could play that badly and still come away with a victory shows a lot about our boys I reckon. Absolutely stoked we were the ones to burst Essendons bubble, so many friends so optimistic about Essendon this year, cruelly cut down with the rest of us, love it.

Would have loved for our younger boys to stand up however we put far too much pressure on our older guys to perform, it seems only Smith, Hannebery and Reid played well. Everitt was solid, didn't get a lot of it but I liked his defensive pressure. Jetta was terrible, still managed 73 SC points and got me over the line though

Glad horse threw Goodes into the middle, was the catalyst for our comeback and was something Roos was reluctant to do last year.

[ugg]

Kizza fined $1800 for making 'negligent contact' with umpire Troy Pannell.

[kangle4]

Kizza fined $1800 for making 'negligent contact' with umpire Troy Pannell.

Looked to me like Jack slipped and that was the reason the umpire tripped over him so purely accidental.

[jono2707]

I agree to a certain degree with the 'we played badly' sentiments expressed on here, but I think that is a pretty good reflection of the pace and pressure Essendon played with. We seemed to be under the pump from swarming Essendon players most times we got the ball. Its pretty much what Collingwood do and what everyone else is trying to do to a certain extent - pressure the opposition with the ball, force turnovers and get the ball down the other end asap. However Essendon are a work in progress and don't yet have the skill of the Pies. Plus they didn't expect us to put up as much of a fight as we did. That was the most pleasing aspect of the win - we were that little bit harder, tougher, and probably a bit luckier and thats what got us over the line. Yes there is certainly some improvement in a few areas but that is the sort of win that builds character and sets up a nice amount of confidence and momentum.

I reckon Jetta would be an ideal sub next week at Subi - it seems to be a good role to share around and I reckon we should bring him on in the second half (injuries permitting) and tell him to just run and run and run....

[Ruck'n'Roll]

If only White didn't play like such a complete Jessie. I mean I love some of his brilliant stuff, there's just not enough of it. If only he played with the same intensity as Bevo!

Bevo may only be a "small" in stature but geez he was good smashing into packs and bringing the ball to ground adainst the dons, a pocket sized power forward.

[Roscoe]

irish in for Shaw

Agree jetta as sub - give Meredith a chance

Only other change would be a tall (Pyke or Searby) but who would miss out

Mondays are so much better when we win especially aginst those whingers

I loved the bumbers during 84/85 but a lot of their supporters need a reality check

A bomber fan began complaining to me today

I said "I you like me raise your hand, if you don't raise your standard"

[ABloodsMan]

I thought Shaw played really well, his run was amazing, you could see in the first quarter how much he wanted the win all the way to the last. Just didn't stop running. Would be extremely harsh to drop him on last weeks performance.