Round 9: Ainslie v Sydney Swans Reserves

[Robbo]

Surely TDL deserves a go, given our lack of potency up forward.

[dimelb]

Thanks Dan. Great to see the ressies holding form.

[ugg]

Good solid win today, 122 to 64? Goals that I can remember TDL 6, Bevan 3, Meredith 2, Gordon 2, Sumner.
Best: Sumner, Meredith, TDL, Gordon,Moore, bevan and I also was impressed with Max Otten as FB.
Jesse White left the field about 5min in to the second quarter after competing in a ruck contest in the forward 50, I think it might have been an ankle?
Other good points, Krueger running through the centre from half back, currie competing all day and all the toppies

Dan, how did your mate Jack Pratt go? What jumper number was he wearing?

[ScottH]

Big win by the Boys. At least you can watch these games without your heart in your mouth!!

[Dan]

Jack went alright playing off HFF and HBF, laid a great tackle about 2 min after he came on and won the free, had a snap for goal later on but missed, and a few good handballs and spheperds. He was wearing number 47.

Other points from the match were that bevan didn't play as a backman, mainly midfield and forward. Sumner played excellent with a midfield role getting involved in a few centre setups at times and really impressed me with his tackling and second and third efforts. Meredith definitely stood out for me with his skills and Cambell Heath looked very cool and composed under pressure and had all the time in the world. Gordon pinch hitting in the ruck was interesting but I'm sure he got a few hit outs TDL kinda went missing in the second qrt but still ended up with 6 and I could see him really trying to lay some good tackles and pressure opponents in the forward 50. Moore also limped off during the final quarter but I'm pretty sure he went back on and he looked alright after the match.

Haha I was a bit off with the final score being 154 - 74

[ugg]

I think that's a typo from the Swans. The NEAFL people have the score 124 - 74

[ScottH]

Thanks Dan.

[Gezball]

Cheers Dan. Much appreciated.

PS. Ugg, I enjoyed reading your write-up on the Big Footy Gold Coast site last week It's a crime you don't get paid.

[Primmy]

Since I didn't actually get home until after 10pm, think inner city railworks and having to walk wayy more than my system is happy with, missing one train, etc etc, this is now my impression of the game.

Almost a country style ground, sloped down toward the Picket Fence, with two rows of cars like bugs watching the prey all round. Small grandstand, which we were happy to inhabit as it was raining to start. Served coffee in china mugs and expected you to return them safe and sound (never lost a mug yet apparently).

MY personal observations are

7 Brett Meredith, worked quite well, but not up to seniors level consistently, looked a bit rusty; smart player though,
8 Trent Dennis Lane, is a fantastic lead up mark and accurate kick. Problem is, most teams these days are not going to let a slightly built player get away with being a leadup mark in the forward line. I think the reasoning behind why he has been kept back in twos (other than some injuries) is to make sure his round the ground play improves. This game I would say he was better at reading the play and getting into position. Mind you the opposition is not much opposition.
10 Dan Curry had what I think as his best game. Was nearly always in the mix, actually went to ground after the ball, contested well, and against all my previous sproutings I think he could get a gig before too long.
18 Jesse White. Poor ole Jesse. He went down after a marking contest, thumping the ground with his fist over and over again. Could barely get up; hopped off the ground and crawled over the sideline, still thumping the ground. He obviously thought he had broken his ankle. I asked Jared Crouch how he was in the break (not the most forthcoming communicator) and he said it wasn't as bad as all that! footballers always thought the worst. OK, I will run with that as I have done ligaments and they hurt worse than a break. But he will have to be out of action for a while. Before that he was leaping and marking and being a nuisance.
22 Byron Sumner. Uncle was in good form and plays like a grown up. Tackling has improved and they stick. We will see him back before all that long.
28 Dylan McNeil; I like Dyl. He is in and under, small, and fiesty at times. Whether he gets a promotion in the future I don't know, but....
33 Jarred Moore; rolled something or other, was limping for a bit, but he was directing traffic and very involved. He may not be the greatest player on our list, but he is a damned good coach.
35 Campbell Heath; welcome back Cambo. Have a little hand rubbing going on here. You can see what he could be, and he could be very very good. Very safe hands.
36. Chris McKaigue; a lot of improvement is evident. A lot more is required. Someone needs to point out to him that the goals are at the other end of the ground, and not behind him. No matter how he got the ball he always seemed to pass to someone behind him. Aaagghhhh....
42. Paul Bevan; oh bugger. The problem I can see with Bevo is that he isn't standing out amongst the twos.....he should be. Its not that he played a bad game, he was doing his damdest, he just didn't play a superior game. However; to give him his due he did take a flying mark and goaled from it
43. Eugene Kruger; got some wraps I see. Not from me. He gets the ball, takes off like a hare, and then his disposal is bloody awful. Loooonnnngggg way to go.
44. Max Otten; well !!! Who is this young man I see playing down back, taking mark after mark with assurance and confidence, following up with good disposal, moving up the ground, working his arse off. And he can read the flight of a ball accurately! It was a pleasure to see just how far he has travelled in a fantastically short period of time as a backman. Not Dunks and not Alex or Lewis, but he has obviously absorbed a lot of instruction and I like players who can do that, and then put it into practice.
45. Nathan Gordon; had a crap first half, disposal all over the shop. No confidence. Turned it around in the second half and played with a lot more assurance.

Toppies:
48. Blake Guthrie; this kid has potential and enthusiasm and I would keep an eye on him as a possible. He is just a persistent pest; doesn't give up the contest.
49. Nathan Kenny; did some good things, but not obviously in the mix.
50. Nathan Brain; hmmmmmm, chicken. Got a good one here. Smart player. Tick as far as I am concerned.
53. Kane Murphy; keeper. Delivers his ball like a bloody dart, think NicMal or Stuey. And Accurate. In and under, clever, fiesty, quick decision maker. I love him.

Outside toppies:
47. Jack Pratt: local boy; looked a bit horrified for a moment or two, and then set about having some fun. Did some good things. Never know what could happen here.
51. Jonathan Gourlay: Long bodied, odd running style, leans forward over his knees, but lordy he can read the play and make some very smart decisions and execute them well. Impressed me.
55. Mitch Crawford: maybe not.
56. Brendan Norton: no notes...pretty much says it all.

Enjoyable from my point of view. Did not take their foot off the pedal even though the Ainsley boys were getting flogged. We had some boys who were plainly out of their depth but that was ok as we also had some who were well in charge of proceedings. I am glad to say that the team were very "inclusive" and involved all the boys; didn't get "swancentric" at all. Credit to them and to their Coaches; Henry spends most of the game standing on the sideline, Crouchy has to mag board. They are good coaches.

[Gezball]

Primmy, simply awesome, thank you.

[aardvark]

Nice wrap thx Primmy.

[liz]

Thanks Primmy and Dan for your comments. Great to read.

[dimelb]

Thanks Primmy, lots of detail and much appreciated. I wonder if the club takes videos for the twos, they sound like fun to watch most of the time.

[ugg]

Sydney Swans
Goal Kickers: T. DENNIS-LANE 6, P. BEVAN 3, B. MEREDITH 2, B. Norton 2, D. MCNEIL 2, N. GORDON 2, J. Brain
Best Players: C. HEATH, P. BEVAN, E. KRUGER, B. MEREDITH, B. SUMNER, D. CURRIE

Primmy would you say TDL's half dozen goals were hardworking or opportunistic?

[Dan]

One of his goals was from a soccer kick 1m out, but most were off leads from the goal square