Round 3 - Swans v. West Coast Game day thread

[giant]

Did anyone feel we were one ruckman short last night? I know which we won (which is obviously the main thing and fantastic!)...but we could have left Jesse forward more had Pyke or Seaby played.

I certainly did - Mummy was brilliant but he has to be utterly shagged after taking Cox & Nat. White did more ruck work than he has in recent weeks and wasn't awful but a second ruckman looked like it may have been the difference at one point. I guess it could be argued the extra runner has got us over the line when fatigue hits in the last qr, but you wonder at what price for the Mummy?

[No 14]

Did anyone feel we were one ruckman short last night? I know which we won (which is obviously the main thing and fantastic!)...but we could have left Jesse forward more had Pyke or Seaby played.

I had the binoculors on the ruck contests... in the 1st Qtr Mumford was holding his own aginast Cox but Cox clearly won the rest of the day... Cox's taps were mostly to the eagles possession. On the other hand Natinui (sorry for the spelling) won many taps but they rarely went to an eagles advantage position. We roved agianst Natanui brilliantly (which would not have gone unnoticed in the Eagles camp). If opposition run Mumford around the park all game their 4th qtr strategy could be vital against us. Clearly, Longmire knows the pros and cons. What's best? maybe it's a game by game decision.

[Matt79]

I had the binoculors on the ruck contests... in the 1st Qtr Mumford was holding his own aginast Cox but Cox clearly won the rest of the day... Cox's taps were mostly to the eagles possession. On the other hand Natinui (sorry for the spelling) won many taps but they rarely went to an eagles advantage position. We roved agianst Natanui brilliantly (which would not have gone unnoticed in the Eagles camp). If opposition run Mumford around the park all game their 4th qtr strategy could be vital against us. Clearly, Longmire knows the pros and cons. What's best? maybe it's a game by game decision.

Certainly agree with your points mate and I suspect that the extra 'runner' aspect was the deciding factor. However, on the reverse I would have thought if ever we were going to play a 2nd specialist ruckman it would have been at Subico against Cox and Natanui. Will be interesting to see how Pyke/Seaby are used this season.

[No 14]

Certainly agree with your points mate and I suspect that the extra 'runner' aspect was the deciding factor. However, on the reverse I would have thought if ever we were going to play a 2nd specialist ruckman it would have been at Subico against Cox and Natanui. Will be interesting to see how Pyke/Seaby are used this season.

Can see your valid point. Maybe our strategy was that you wouldn't win any more hit outs to advantage so simply rove against them. But I'm a mug over the fence... not many people picked up how well we did agianst Natanui on the ground (certainly on the eagles site they thought he had a great game - I beg to differ - winning the tap is one thing - but it has to go to advantage)

[Big Al]

Hated Sherman doing it at the SCG 2 years ago and think it's a bit arrogant and dickhead-ish. Hope it isn't a feature of his goal celebrations as doesn't do him any credit. Celebrate the goal by all means but don't put down the fans.

I'm a little different on this. If the fans are giving it to you then a "silence" gesture isn't over the top. A little bit individualism isn't a bad thing in the modern game.

[nomae]

Is Sammy Reid okay?

[Ardent Swan]

Great team effort

Congratulations to the whole team. Thought Goodes, Mumford and Smith really great

[mcs]

I was in the foward pocket near the fence.. to be precise... block 144, row C... the biggest idiots were in row D & F
The guy behind me brought his family (looked like 2 x 6 year old boys) and the filthy language from the dad was embarrasing... I ended up commenting loudly "I just feel sorry for the boys - imagine what they will be like when they are 16"... he controlled himself for a little bit thereafter.

I was in 141 and apart form the Dave Hughes guy there was a couple of nutheads a few row back in 141- one guy was very distasteful indeed and I think it was only when the guy that was sitting a few seats over from me said something along the lines "Why that girl is with a guy like that I would never know" and the dropkick weagles girl gave him a bit of a silent dressing down I'd say that he shut up. Some of their language was pretty bad- and it takes a lot to offend me as I enjoy giving the umps a spray as much as anyone else! Certainly glad thats not the usual crowd I have to put up with at footy games... I far prefer our sophisticated fans in Sydney

[Bloody Hell]

If opposition run Mumford around the park all game their 4th qtr strategy could be vital against us. Clearly, Longmire knows the pros and cons. What's best? maybe it's a game by game decision.

If it was a game by game proposition then surely this was the game. AA + future AA ruckmen....I thought the Essendon game would show us, but Hille's withdrawal made the decision ambiguous. I don't want Mumfords career shortened by these decisions.

It was reckless to go into this game with 1 ruckman. We could have ...and should have been smashed in the ruck during the last quarter....fortunately Mummy scragged, pushed, pulled and got his team through.

Bad choice IMHO.

[Primmy]

Jesse wasn't THAT bad! Up forward kicking goals, monstering and blocking, and backup ruckman. Mumms wasn't rucking 100%. Jesse did his bit, and I assume the coaches are quite in tune with shifting the game plan around it so that the midfielders can crumb off the opposition when Mumms was resting, which is what happened.

You can't expect a ruckman to be 100% effective - they never are. But I was darned impressed with some of the clearances under the circumstances! and by that I mean the all australian quality ruckmen they were up against!

[RogueSwan]

Hated Sherman doing it at the SCG 2 years ago and think it's a bit arrogant and dickhead-ish. Hope it isn't a feature of his goal celebrations as doesn't do him any credit. Celebrate the goal by all means but don't put down the fans.

I'm not sure if he was shooshing the crowd or blowing the smoke from his smoking finger, but either way, I agree with LK, it just puts pressure on himself by being a bit of a dickhead (Sherman analogy is very apt and Didak *spit* is another one who likes the 'shoosh').,,.

Agree, I don't rate it. (Although Magic's 2006 v West Coast celebration is a fave haha)

I am sure (at least I hope) his team mates will not let him get away with it. Surely at training this week, for every goal kicked, a good natured "Sssshhhhh" directed at Jetta will let him know it wasn't the right thing to do.

[RogueSwan]

Jesse wasn't THAT bad! Up forward kicking goals, monstering and blocking, and backup ruckman. Mumms wasn't rucking 100%. Jesse did his bit, and I assume the coaches are quite in tune with shifting the game plan around it so that the midfielders can crumb off the opposition when Mumms was resting, which is what happened.

You can't expect a ruckman to be 100% effective - they never are. But I was darned impressed with some of the clearances under the circumstances! and by that I mean the all australian quality ruckmen they were up against!

I was quite impressed with White's rucking against Natanui. He didn't do any special but he was able to hold his ground and get his hand on the ball in most situations.

[swansrule100]

I was happy with the the win in the end, there was a lot of sloppy play though.

Things i didnt like, the jetta ssshh thing, i dont like it anyway, but at least become a better player before you carry on with that rubbish. I thought grundy turned it over just about every kick once shaw said he turns it over a lot in commentary and then okeefe and a few others went turnover happy particularly in the third quarter.

Bevans kicking for goal wasnt much, and i also thought mcveigh was too in and out of the game for a captain on first look. I noticed he seemed to go to tell hannenberry to stop arguing with the ump at one stage, then about 4 minutes later argued over the same thing himself. I think he should be doing more, and i know thats odd as he is playing well, he should be close to our best player week in week out considering where he in his career, but as i said i havent had a look at a replay yet.

What i liked

I like goodesy in the midfield, i think our forward line looks good still when he leaves, especially with mcglynn in there. He is such a little warrior. I loved kennedys work in the middle, especially in the 3rd quarter when his team mates went to sleep. You cant not love Jude Bolton, hes been good the last few years always been hard at it, but has he stepped up even more since kirky left? I know he is old but he probably should be a captain given the job is shared anyway, deserves the title.

I was very impressed with Teds game, i know lynch got 4 goals, but surprisingly Ted has started this season quite well.

I thought bird was good, want to see him get more of the ball, but he is looking more confident out there now and Rohan was our best sub so far, he brings so much energy out there and was fired up, he is going to be a star. Jack was good as well, but when isnt jack good.

I would also say Johnson was good on debut, needs to put on a few kilos though, but didnt look out of place.

Oh and smith, i love the way smith plays, opposition supporters probably think Nick who, but he is a great player for us


Sorry to rant on but i also think if white gives us that every week thats good enough, especially if he kicks the odd 4 -5 goal haul, he gets a hard time but coming on nicely. I would also suggest mumford seems to thrive on the big assignment, i think white giving him a chop out is working well enough for now. I think Seaby could be handy, but i think Pyke will stay in the ressies baring injury.

[Nico]

I'm a little different on this. If the fans are giving it to you then a "silence" gesture isn't over the top. A little bit individualism isn't a bad thing in the modern game.

I'm with you on this one Al. It wasn't a rude gesture or abuse towards the crowd and a little personality in our game doesn't, in my mind, hurt anyone. I doubt he was seen to break the D/head rule.

Thanks goodness we haven't had a Brent Moloney (Melbourne FC) incident where he has urinated on a bar at a St Kilda pub over night. A shssssh is small change compared to that.

[Doctor]

I'm with you on this one Al. It wasn't a rude gesture or abuse towards the crowd and a little personality in our game doesn't, in my mind, hurt anyone. I doubt he was seen to break the D/head rule.

+1

I think the intent has something to do with it. He was clearly excited and smiling when he did it. It was good natured rather than aggressive. It was hardly as confrontational as Mickey O's effort a few seasons back and we loved him for that.

I wouldn't like to see it become a habit but under the circumstances it was fine.