Round 2 - Swans vs Dons Match Thread.

[Big Al]

Evert time I see Bevan as a defensive forward its like he is perfect for that role and really adds something to the team. Todays match reaffirms this view. Keep him there!

Was impressed with his work in the F50. Definitely earns his spot based on that performance.

[ScottH]

Evert time I see Bevan as a defensive forward its like he is perfect for that role and really adds something to the team. Todays match reaffirms this view. Keep him there!

Yep, agree. He was hard at it and caused some mayhem up that end of the ground.

[liz]

I too am on the Bevan-in-the-forward-line bandwagon - and not just based on today. I've thought for ages that he plays his best footy there. He knows how to find space, is courageous in the air and usually converts pretty well. His running, tackling and general harassment is excellent, and he never looks particularly nervous as a forward - probably because mistakes don't get quite the same level of scrutiny as they do when made in defence.

[Nico]

I too am on the Bevan-in-the-forward-line bandwagon - and not just based on today. I've thought for ages that he plays his best footy there. He knows how to find space, is courageous in the air and usually converts pretty well. His running, tackling and general harassment is excellent, and he never looks particularly nervous as a forward - probably because mistakes don't get quite the same level of scrutiny as they do when made in defence.

He also seems to be able to play close to the goals and not get sucked up the ground.

[Bas]

After 2 rounds we have 6 points out of a possible 8. We should have 0 points realistically, but thank the footy gods for clutching victory from defeat today.

What an absolute pathetic performance that was again. We didn't deserve to win. I haven't watched the replay yet but I don't know how we managed to get back after being down at least twice by about 25 points in the same game.

Once again we were soft in the middle and then added indecision to the top of that. How many times did a Swans player kick to a black jumper. Even when we rarely won a contested possession at a critical time, it was stuffed up one or two kicks later.

MMM talking heads started the day by talking about Bradshaw and how he felt about another Swans player running around in the reserves wearing his number - 36. We had a few minutes of wisdom sharing before someone texted in and told them that 36 was his Lions number and he played in 19 for the Swans - doh!

I thought for most of the first 3/4's that the only player who stood out for me was Goodes. I thought Bevo's two goals were so crucial in keeping the Swans in the game. They weren't easy kicks either.

I'm a Jesse fan but he was really bad in the last quarter. Did one major stuff up but his play I remember that was hopeless was when he didn't attempt to go for a contested mark. I will have to watch the replay, maybe he was further away than I could see.

After the Bounce on Foxtel showed that final Mattner tackle and it was more in the back-side than in the back. Higher up and I think he would have been penalised.

Reid is anything. Hopefully he wasn't too injured as the MMM team were going on about the injury more than I though it actually was. He seemed to run around OK afterwards.

The only game plan I can see at the moment is kick the ball downfield to either the opposition or a heavily contested contest.

The bombers forward line was incredible in the 3/4 qtr. They worked very hard in defence. Countless time the ball was moved downfield for them with ease. They zoned the Swans out for pretty much most of the game.

Trivia: Whilst sitting dowstairs with some RWO's I went for a walk and discovered that near the entrance of Aisle 124 there is a "Prayer Room". Seriously. There is a sign there that says it is. I thought it must have been installed for Canterbury-Bankstown supporters although at 3/4 time it must have been packed with Swans supporters.

I was sitting in my usual seat on Level 4 and the crowd was that sparse up there that about 200 people gradually moved up the rows to escape the sun. It reminded me of the stories the pre- bandwagon supporters share when there was about 2,000 people watching the game and everyone used to move up and down the field depending on the direction of play. It will be interesting to see if you can see it in the replay because in the last 15 minutes, literally every seat in the last row was taken by people that had moved back. My group included. It was hot in the sun.

Well, at least we won and a win is a win is a win.

It was great to catch up with other RWO's today. I at least gave Wardy and Big Al a big laugh when I told them about my eHarmony dating experience. So much for the rubbish they dish up in their television ads. Pure fantasy.

[mcs]

After 2 rounds we have 6 points out of a possible 8. We should have 0 points realistically, but thank the footy gods for clutching victory from defeat today.

What an absolute pathetic performance that was again. We didn't deserve to win. I haven't watched the replay yet but I don't know how we managed to get back after being down at least twice by about 25 points in the same game.

Once again we were soft in the middle and then added indecision to the top of that. How many times did a Swans player kick to a black jumper. Even when we rarely won a contested possession at a critical time, it was stuffed up one or two kicks later.

MMM talking heads started the day by talking about Bradshaw and how he felt about another Swans player running around in the reserves wearing his number - 36. We had a few minutes of wisdom sharing before someone texted in and told them that 36 was his Lions number and he played in 19 for the Swans - doh!

I thought for most of the first 3/4's that the only player who stood out for me was Goodes. I thought Bevo's two goals were so crucial in keeping the Swans in the game. They weren't easy kicks either.

I'm a Jesse fan but he was really bad in the last quarter. Did one major stuff up but his play I remember that was hopeless was when he didn't attempt to go for a contested mark. I will have to watch the replay, maybe he was further away than I could see.

After the Bounce on Foxtel showed that final Mattner tackle and it was more in the back-side than in the back. Higher up and I think he would have been penalised.

Reid is anything. Hopefully he wasn't too injured as the MMM team were going on about the injury more than I though it actually was. He seemed to run around OK afterwards.

The only game plan I can see at the moment is kick the ball downfield to either the opposition or a heavily contested contest.

The bombers forward line was incredible in the 3/4 qtr. They worked very hard in defence. Countless time the ball was moved downfield for them with ease. They zoned the Swans out for pretty much most of the game.

Trivia: Whilst sitting dowstairs with some RWO's I went for a walk and discovered that near the entrance of Aisle 124 there is a "Prayer Room". Seriously. There is a sign there that says it is. I thought it must have been installed for Canterbury-Bankstown supporters although at 3/4 time it must have been packed with Swans supporters.

I was sitting in my usual seat on Level 4 and the crowd was that sparse up there that about 200 people gradually moved up the rows to escape the sun. It reminded me of the stories the pre- bandwagon supporters share when there was about 2,000 people watching the game and everyone used to move up and down the field depending on the direction of play. It will be interesting to see if you can see it in the replay because in the last 15 minutes, literally every seat in the last row was taken by people that had moved back. My group included. It was hot in the sun.

Well, at least we won and a win is a win is a win.

It was great to catch up with other RWO's today. I at least gave Wardy and Big Al a big laugh when I told them about my eHarmony dating experience. So much for the rubbish they dish up in their television ads. Pure fantasy.

Ah Bas your a hard judge. Our skills were pathetic today, but we were much better in the middle with clearances and contested footy. Forward pressure was also much improved this week as well. But there is a long way to go- start hitting our targets much more consistently and we will look a far better team.

[Big Al]

It was great to catch up with other RWO's today. I at least gave Wardy and Big Al a big laugh when I told them about my eHarmony dating experience. So much for the rubbish they dish up in their television ads. Pure fantasy.

Would have thought the chicks adams apple would have been a warning sign.

[AnnieH]

Would have thought the chicks adams apple would have been a warning sign.

Funny. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

(Did you get your parking tickets??)

[Big Al]

Funny. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

(Did you get your parking tickets??)

Oh @@@@... that was rude of me. Yes I did Annie, it was very much appreciated. Cheers

[hot potato]

The best way to watch the 7 telecast is to pre-record it, then u can FF all the breaks and Ads, drives u nuts otherwise.
Exciting game, could have gone either way. On Goodesy kicking for set shot: his arms are too stiff and tense, just needs to drop his shoulders and relax the upper body IMHO.
Gutsy effort by Sydney, to get back into the game when the Bombers looked like they could run away with it. Just enough Swans stood up when they had to: Reid, Bolton, McGlyn, Mattner, Bevan, Jack, Goodes.
Bombers would have really fancied their chances today, as they seem to have a tall strong defensive stucture.
Why does Roosey sit right next to Horse? I thought it was Horsey's gig now.

HP

[Nico]

We came back from 5 goals down and in that comeback we had no paasengers and our skills improved. Players such as Hanners, Kennedy and Mcveigh lifted in a do or die effort. I thought it was a great win by a commited side. I Loved the hardness that we showed in the last quarter and a bit. The whole team lifted their work rate in a big way and Essendon finally relented. They say "big blokes don't get smaller as the game gets longer" and Mumford showed that to be true with tireless work in the last quarter.

[ShockOfHair]

At final siren I felt we had stolen it but after seeing the the second half on delayed telecast, and looking at the stats, I think it was a great win, twice overcoming a four-goal deficit. We were pretty good except we lacked Essendon's clinical finishing - they gave themselves a smooth ride through the forward line. Our forward structure is a work in progress to put it politely. We also turned it over a lot through poor kicking - it happens sometimes.

We outscored Essendon after quarter-time 13 goals to 9 and they only scored one in the last quarter. That's not a fluke victory. We should've scored more, with 59 inside 50s to 48.

I thought Bolton's free kick from Hardingham was a replica of the free against Lewis Jetta in Q3 - he'd run with the ball, was tackled, t hen disposed of it, but was penalised because of prior opportunity.

Mattner's defensive effort was unbelievable, but it did look a 50:50 decision on in the back. So I will just quote Bruce McAvaney, who said the umpiring in the game was brilliant and that the Geesh deserved congratulations.

We got a lot from Mumford, O'Keefe, Bolton, Goodes in the second half. Great support from McGlynn, Kennedy, Hannebery. Smith and Grundy were solid the whole game. Some neat cameos from Bevan, who is one of our best set shots.

West Coast next week: when was the last time they were two positions above us?

[AnnieH]

Influential players
Adam Goodes turned the game in Sydney's favour when he moved himself into the middle of the ground during the second quarter. Despite some close attention from Heath Hocking, the dual Brownlow Medallist produced a vintage performance, ending the contest with 23 possessions, eight inside-50s and a goal.

From the match review on AFL.com.
Pretty much sums it up. As I said on FB to Jules ... as soon as goodesy went into the middle, things changed.

[Cheer Squad]

jetta would be most in line to lose his spot IMHO... cant hit a target.

I was thinking the same thing during the match...his decision making isn't much better. Jetta's been around for a while now - if he doesn't improve in the next couple of matches, he might benefit from a spell in the reserves.

[Bas]

Would have thought the chicks adams apple would have been a warning sign.

It's just not honest or decent for a woman to photoshop her moustache out. Why don't they mention that in the TV ads?