Round 12: GWS Giants v Sydney Swans Reserves

[Bas]

Given that 'Uncle' Byron failed to make the bests, it appears that Bas was obviously charged with the job of compiling the best players for the day.

His eyesight is way out....

Worked well for the ripped jeans though !!!!!

[liz]

I agree with others' observations that it was a very even performance, with few absolute standouts. Henry has them very well drilled and in pretty much every game this year, their effort right until the end of the game has been excellent.

I thought Currie was super impressive down forward. He seems to have regain his great marking skills, which last season appeared to have deserted him somewhat. But his all around game is pretty sound too.

I also quite liked Jesse's game today. He was far from dominant in the forward 50 but it looks as if he has decided that if he's to make it back into the senior team, he has to learn how to contribute as a part-time ruckman, rather than see those minutes as an inconvenience. His bodywork at ruck contests was good and he contributed all around the ground, not just in the forward 50.

And I have to give credit to Max Otten, who I admit I was a bit of a critic of in his early games. Amazing what a haircut can do! He faded in the second half, but in the first half he was a very effective medium sized marking forward, and his goal conversion was impressive in such difficult conditions.

Of the top-ups, I thought Mitch Thompson was the standout. He looked very comfortable in traffic, moved well and showed neat skills.

I would love to know the comparative interchange stats of the two teams. I was sitting right behind the interchange area, and the Giants seemed to have a constant parade of 4 players waiting to come on. If they had focussed less energy on constant rotations, they might have stayed in the actual game a bit longer. In contrast, most of the senior Swans were on the ground for close to the whole game. The midfielders had a few short breaks but I doubt whether anyone over 188cm had a break all game.

[Kirkari]

... I think the most memorable part of today was watching the "Spangher Strut" ...

Ha ha - that was noted from where I was sitting too! It's quite the walk, isn't it?

There was no one standout today but Uncle would be one who would have claims to that title. Most of the mids did well with the exception of Meredith who was atrocious in the first half but was much improved in the second. Parker got a ton of it, Really concentrated on McNeil today and i appreciate more the work he does and Nipper was energetic on the wing and half forward. Currie's contested marks and goals support his claim along with his ruckwork while Jesse was reasonably effective both forward and in the ruck

Agree, especially re Meredith's turnaround in the second half. Much better effort! Dan Currie was vastly improved from when I last watched about a month ago. Dylan McNeill is getting to be a quick thinking little player.

I think you're onto something Primmy - I think Henry might be a very good coach.

On another note - not that it takes much, but we look set to continue confusing the commentary teams. Parker is a powerful unit who looks a lot like Dan Hannebery and ROK. Dylan McNeil and Kane Murphy are almost identical (though Dyl has grown his hair back a bit at the moment).

And goddamn, it got cold out there by the end!!

[ugg]

A lot of excellent players, particularly after the first quarter and the beginnings of the second which were a tough, congested and scrappy contest fought between the 2 50m arcs. The Swans had the lion's share of the clearances, possession and territory but were wasteful going forward. The Giants' defence held up well and rebounded the ball fluently but they also fell apart when trying to pierce the midfield.

The Swans began to use the ball better during the latter stages of the 2nd quarter, especially the use of the long kick to break the forward press of the Giants. The major beneficiaries of this tactical switch were the forwards who found themselves with ample space to lead into and convert. Once the margin had opened up to a comfortable 7 goals at half time, the tackling pressure of the Giants tuned down a notch or two and the superior physicality of the Swans began to shine through. The rest of the game was dominated by the Swans although the Giants did slaughter quite a few of the chances they had.

There were a lot of excellent players on show today - no one player stood out for the entire match but a few players had purple patches throughout the afternoon.

Byron Sumner, from what I could tell, was running with Stephen Clifton for the first half and some of the third quarter. He started to come into the game more in the 2nd quarter and left the grandstand gasping at times with some slippery moves and sleight of body tricks. One particular play stuck in my mind, he was tucked up tight against the left boundary line with two Giants bearing down on him. He sized up the situation beautifully, squeezing a short dart of a pass to Everitt on the lead. He went off after that, looked like cramp and when he came back he was freed of his defensive duties.

Luke Parker played predominantly in the midfield with short, sharp spells in the forward line. He won plenty of the ball but the element of his game that was most impressive was his ball usage under pressure and in heavy traffic. He also took some strong overhead grabs when playing forward and is also an effective tackler. He doesn't move particularly quick though, so an inside role is definitely the go for Parks.

Daniel Currie continued his good form with a solid ruck showing against the towering Jonathon Giles and was showed some forward smarts to end up with 4 goals. His around the ground work was also impressive, linking up well with the midfielders and using the ball just as well as them. The only criticism that was astutely noted by the RWO watchers is that he often needs a second grab when attempting to mark the ball.

I had my eyes trained closely on Dylan McNeil as I wanted to get a better idea of what unnoticed qualities he brings to the side. What you quickly realise about Dyl, is that besides his fearlessness in going for the loose ball and the bullocking work he does in and around the packs is that he is actually a very elusive player. Not in the same mould as Uncle Byron, who uses wearves, swirves, steps and ducks to avoid his opponents but McNeil has a clever knack of knowing when he is about to get caught, and ensures he disposes of the pill in time. He has supposedly been working on his spread, and today he ran particularly hard.

Nathan Gordon was very lively playing an outside midfield role and his superior running ability allowed him to work into spaces in the forward areas. Has a very good, strong pair of hands combined with a stretch that allows him to pull down some difficult marks. He was good value for his 3 goals.

Jesse White played reasonably well without convincing me that he's our long term solution at full forward - still gets caught trailing the defender too often. His efforts when the ball hits the deck and also around the ground on the other hand are as good as you'll find in a big man. What you can't fault about Jesse is he always plays with tremendous heart, and is very team-orientated. He got into some (harmless) argy-bargy today in trying to protect his smaller teammates and I have to say young Gerald Ugle is a very brave man!

Campbell Heath & Lewis Johnston were both excellent with the ball use coming out of defence. The ability to switch play with their long raking kicks across the ground is a big advantage for this side, and Johnston in particular can easily pinpoint targets 50m away in just a few steps. Defensively they were okay, I think Johnston played on Josh Bruce for most of the day with a few occasions finding himself on Folau while Heath took smaller opponents like Jeremy Cameron. Chris McKaigue performed his defensive duties well beside the aforementioned duo. He was desperately looking to get on a run and kick a goal in the last but just couldn't construct the right situation.

Andrejs Everitt played as a leading forward all game. He presented well with his mobility and ability to cover large swathes of the ground causing real issues for his opponents especially in the 2nd half. However he blotted his copybook on two areas - 1. He dropped more than a couple of easy, uncontested chest marks and 2. He missed some relaitvely easy set shots.

Max Otten followed up his promising second half display in the forwards last week with a solid performance again in the forwards today. He was influential early on taking marks inside 50 and booting 2 goals. Later on, he pushed further up the ground and assisted with good delivery into the forward 50 arc. Certainly at this stage, from the games we've seen, he seems more comfortable up forward than down back.

Jarred Moore had a few moments of brilliance intermixed with periods of inactivity. I can't really work out the exact role he played today, probably a little more midfield than forward but he was no where as dominant as he can be.

Matt Spangher was the lucky individual who drew the Izzy matchup and had his job helped by good Swans midfield pressure and some woeful Giants forward play.

Brett Meredith was ordinary in the first half, he failed to match the effort and the intensity that was on display by his other teammates. He picked up his workrate and effectiveness after the main break, and effected a few clearances. However it must be noted that the result of the game was beyond doubt at this time and it would be preferable if he could put up the same effort when the game was still a contest.

It just wasn't Trent Dennis-Lane'sday today.In addition to the swirling winds, he had some really close marking to deal with and couldn't find the space that he usually is so clever at discovering.He also butchered two easily chances, one a set shot from 30m out and one a quick snap after some quick handballs between Trent and Moore. Don't think he'll get a recall based purely on today's game.

Eugene Kruger is still going through a learning phase and playing him in defence is a great idea for his footy education. Besides that one early mark that he conceded (see goal descriptions below) he acquitted himself well defensively. With the ball in hand, his ball usage and decision making has to improve - in particular he should be encouraged to run with the ball more and use his athletic abilities to create attacking opportunities for the team.

The toppies didn't get as much game time as usual, mainly due to the lifting of the restricted number of listed players ruling. Mitch Thompson and Jack Lynch started the game while the other 5 warmed the bench, this perhaps is an indication of the pecking order of the topups. Thompson has been quietly impressing week in and week out and he had another laudable showing today. He is a neat user of the ball and has good all round skills. Lynch played as a rebounding defender, which I think is his best position. A Spangher clone right down to the strapping, Lynch made some telling passes out of defence. We didn't see as much of Kane Murphy as in previous games, he played mainly at half-forward and wing. Nathan Kenny had a few touches around half-back while Blake Guthrie saw some action at half-forward. I only saw a glimpse of James Brain late in the 4th quarter and I'm not even sure if poor Tim Wales even got onto the field.

Goals
1st quarter
Swans 0.0 GWS 1.0 - Giants win the opening clearance and push the ball forward. A hurried kick is marked by Adam Flagg who outbodied his opponent Kruger under the high ball. Converts from 15m out.
Swans 1.2 GWS 1.2 - Swans chip it around in defence. An opening finally emerges for Lynch as he bounds down the corridor and finds Nipper on the lead. Gordon kicks truly from 45m, not much angle.
Swans 2.2 GWS 1.3 - Everitt leads and marks on the 50m line, wide right. He swings the ball around and Otten cleverly, or perhaps fortuitously, stays down as the ball just clears his opponent playing in front and claims an easy chest mark. The siren goes as Max stutters in unconvincingly but drives it through.

2nd quarter
Swans 3.2 GWS 1.4 - Parker tackles well and holds the ball into the GWS player. He wins a HTB decision, and immediately kicks long to the true CHF position. The wind holds it up allowing Everitt to charge through and mark it. Turns around and drills a low pass to a diving Otten 25m out.
Swans 4.2 GWS 1.4 - Ball spills from a marking pack, TDL swoops onto it, feints once, dummies again and bangs it through the open goal.
Swans 5.3 GWS 1.4 - Sumner's determination sees him break a tackle on halfback, kicks it long to Currie who can't manage to hang onto it. Renowned crumber White picks it up, works out he has time to steady and kicks truly from 45m out.
Swans 6.3 GWS 1.4 - Parker has a quick clearing kick marked strongly by Otten. He has a shot from 50m, but it looks to be falling short. Currie stands under it, reaches up his long arms and holds onto the contested mark 10m out.
Swans 7.3 GWS 1.4 - Spangher has the ball deep in defence with seemingly no options and 2 Giants closing in. He manages to squeeze a pass out to Johnston, who calmly chips it to White just outside the defensive 50. He looks up to see a completely unmarked Everitt at half-forward. Spots him and with Currie's man peeling off the meet Everitt, Dre relays the pass to Currie for the easiest of goals
Swans 8.3 GWS 1.4 - Gordon running down the grandstand wing, draws a man and handballs over the top to Otten. He kicks long looking for Currie who rewards the kick by marking it 40m out. Having already seen a few shots by his teammates and GWS players swing right-to-left, he starts his shot aiming for the right behind area, before it swerves back late as expected and splits the middle. What intelligent thinking from the Crusher.

3rd quarter
Swans 9.4 GWS 1.5 - Sumner squeezes a tight pass to Everitt on the left 50m wing. He kicks to the fat side, allowing Gordon to run into space and mark it at a stretch.
Swans 10.5 GWS 1.6 - McNeil has a snap on his non-preferred left but it's falling short. Gordon's in the goal square and he climbs high to pluck the mark out of the air! Goal.
Swans 11.7 GWS 1.6 - Meredith, who has been quiet up until now, sprints around the right forward pocket and centers the ball. It just clears the despairing Giant leap and marked by Currie 10m out.
Swans 12.7 GWS 1.7 - Everitt on another searching lead, marks easily 50m out. Strolls back, lopes in and the goal umpire doesn't move.
Swans 13.7 GWS 1.7 - GWS get into a tangle in the middle of the ground, the ball spills out to White who gathers and handballs to a sprinting McNeil. He moves inside the 50m line and kicks a wonderful running goal.

4th quarter
Swans 13.8 GWS 2.8 - Jeremy Cameron manages to extract the ball out of a formed pack, and snaps around the corner.
Swans 14.8 GWS 2.9 - Gordon finds the leading Everitt again. He spots Meredith running on to the right forward pocket and chips it to him. Meredith runs in and without a hint of a LRT-esque disaster tumbles it end over end through the big sticks.
Swans 15.9 GWS 2.11 - Moore waddles through the centre square before aiming a kick for White. White waits down as his opponent flies too early, misjudges the flight and allows Jesse an uncontested mark 45m out.
Swans 15.12 GWS 3.11 - Cameron marks on the lead and converts from 40m.
Swans 16.13 GWS 3.11 - Everitt jumps early, protects his space and comes down easily with the mark. Laconic approach but serious result! Goal.
Swans 17.13 GWS 3.11 - TDL gets taken high. Siren sounds. Trent, approaches carefully with his steady run up, puts the icing on the cake.

Goals: Currie 4 Gordon 3 Dennis-Lane Everitt Otten White 2 McNeil Meredith
My Best: Sumner Parker Currie McNeil Gordon White

[alison.z]

Fantastic report - everything you could possibly want to know ... Thanks so much for the awesome read!

[ugg]

Trying to find out more on why the Ressies v Queanbeyan match is being moved from ANZ next week. My first thought was that perhaps the RAMS are playing an U18 game there but no they are scheduled for Aurora Stadium to play Tassie. I can only think that they are nervous about the surface holding up. There was a NRL match on Friday and another tomorrow.

[alison.z]

I think it was mentioned that it was because of the other games on the surface - Origin on Wednesday + lead in game, NRL yesterday and tomorrow including Toyota Cup games I think and then changing it for the AFL. Apparently they are reducing the time the teams can train on the ground this week too as well as moving the reserves to ensure it's in good condition - especially after the Essendon game when Bolton lodged a complaint about the poor surface.

[dimelb]

Thanks everyone for your comments, especially the amazing ugg: we don't get that much detail for the firsts! Very much appreciated by an interested ressie watcher who never gets to see them live.

[Bas]

Thanks everyone for your comments, especially the amazing ugg: we don't get that much detail for the firsts! Very much appreciated by an interested ressie watcher who never gets to see them live.

And not to be distracted by the ripped jeans!!

Watching Ugg yesterday, there was minimal writing and he has the memory of a tram/bus conducter.

[Triple B]

I thought Currie was super impressive down forward. He seems to have regain his great marking skills, which last season appeared to have deserted him somewhat.

He had a good day out yesterday for sure, but as noted in ugg-meisters report, he still double grabs just about everything. Clear contrast to say a Sam Reid, who just wraps the vice around the sherrin and it sticks.

[Big Al]

And not to be distracted by the ripped jeans!!

Or the Powerade girl which distracted BBB and me for quite awhile.

[Triple B]

Or the Powerade girl which distracted BBB and me for quite awhile.

My theory is that's what was behind the 'Spangher strut'. He was trying to keep her focussed on the job of dishing out the powerade and not on those 2 good looking guys in the stand....

[Lucky Knickers]

Yesterdays game had me hoping we can keep Currie on the list. He was my BOG. Seemed to be in everything. Byron was excellent too. Copped a cork or something in the second half and looked sore but didn't hold him back. Love Nathan Gordon - what a fiesty young thing he is.
With a profile like a roman coin Spang was strutting the boundary like a young Travolta. Whether you're a mother or whether you're a brother you're staying inside the (interchange) line.
Had everyone a giggling!
Thumbs up to all the red and white people at the game.

[Lucky Knickers]

Meant to ask the general consensus on Lewis J's game. Thoughts?

[Triple B]

Meant to ask the general consensus on Lewis J's game. Thoughts?

When the whips were cracking early and the backline was under some pressure, he's footskills were sensational. He is just such a good kick it's scary.

I think he just struggles with knowing what to do when we take control, he just really seems to want to get into the action and gets torn between playing the rock role and trying to create. That's my take on why he has such extremes of performance within a game.