Grand Final: Sydney Swans Reserves v Ainslie Tricolours

[Xie Shan]

So for the second half, down to 10 listed players, some of whom were seriously disinterested

Hmm, I wonder how many of them have been talking to Sheedy. We will find out soon...

[Big Al]

Just home after a pretty forgettable weekend. With Mrs ORB the tennis groupie holed up at Rose Bay for the weekend I decided to kill my sorrows from Friday and take the trip to Canberra so I would have something good to remember during the off season. Then down the Kings highway to do some yard maintenance on the South Coat hideaway.
What a disaster.
Bulldog down the race and gone after 10 minutes. Most of the team with collective cases of butter fingers and ball butchery. The kids were in the game until half way through the second quarter, but after that it was a cakewalk. Ainslie were good, hard at the ball, kept their structure, generally disposed of the ball well and converted most of the chances they created and those the umpires gave them.
The umpiring was the worst exhibition of one sided favourtism I have seen in 50 years of watching the game. I gave up on game notes during the third quarter after some half a dozen dittos to the notation ?Ainslie go forward and goal after ump gifts them a free?. While our teams performance was dreadful, it must be pretty difficult going in for the ball in the knowledge that any contact, legal or otherwise will result in a free to the opposition. One of the few good things I came away with was that I didn?t see any of them lose their cool ? if I?d been out there umpire 28 would have received a knuckle sandwich.
Anybody in our team who was playing for a contract would have a few sleepless nights ahead. Pike had a severe case of the dropsies. Jetta?s clanger count approached the number of bad umpiring decisions. Nipper tried hard but on a couple of occasions was beaten pointless in one on ones. Everitt, took a couple of good marks but nothing to write home about. Dill tried hard, but made little impact. Dan Currie would be pleased he was injured and out of the limelight.
To top the weekend off, I got down to Tabourie in time to see the Dragons lose by an agonizing extra time field goal, then switched over and could not get the Blues home either. Today I just about broke my back cutting knee length grass.
One last comment. I understand the cool and rational approach to coaching, but when a team is six goals down at three quarter time in a grand final, I expect to see a bit of passion from the coach. Henry, if you couldn?t get fired up, how can you expect the players to?

Agree with all this except the Henry comment. At qtr time it's as pissed as I've seen him. You could tell by the body language he was angry and giving it to them. I've already quoted the Maxfield critique of the midfielders so the coaches did try to put a rocket up them. By 3/4 time they were gone so why waste energy carrying on.

To give the readers some idea on the umpiring, take the Freo game and quadruple the number of dodgy decisions and you come close to what it was like.

[Big Al]

As one who hasn't the opportunity to attend the games I just want to say thanks to Ugg, Big Al, Primmy, Liz, BSA5 and all the other contributors for their information, match summaries, player evaluations and general "ressie" news. Greatly appreciated.

Thank you to all for the kind words.

Last game aside I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the development of our younger players this year.

Anyone that has read my dribble this year will know that I'm somewhat excited by 2 players in particular. Nipper and Chops have really excited me this year. I do have a soft spot for super aggressive players with skill and both boys have those 2 qualities in spades. Expect both players to be in our best 22 next year after big preseasons.

Questions to be answered next season:

Will TDL make the grade at AFL level next year?
Where does Currie fit in this list?
Will Kane Murphy (the best performed toppie) be offered a place in the list?
Will Max Otten and Chris McKaigue continue to improve and push for senior selection?
What will happen to Seaby next year?
Will Bulldog continue the on field mentoring role with the kids??

Already looking forward to next year to see these questions answered. How long to go is it.

[Chilcott]

Thanks to Al, Ugg, Liz and all others that contributed to the reseves posts this year. It is much appreciated.

My apologies to those that made contributions and that I haven't individually named.

[AnnieH]

Disappointing loss.
But a great day in Canberra nonetheless.

I love being able to get in at 1/4 and 3/4 time to hear the coaches (read Maxi) give the kids a spray.

[ugg]

#NEAFL GF report from @CanbTimesSport - @ainslie_fc defeating the @sydneyswans reserves http://bit.ly/ngzTO8

[rojo]

Thank you to all for the kind words.

Last game aside I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the development of our younger players this year.

Anyone that has read my dribble this year will know that I'm somewhat excited by 2 players in particular. Nipper and Chops have really excited me this year. I do have a soft spot for super aggressive players with skill and both boys have those 2 qualities in spades. Expect both players to be in our best 22 next year after big preseasons.

Questions to be answered next season:

Will TDL make the grade at AFL level next year?
Where does Currie fit in this list?
Will Kane Murphy (the best performed toppie) be offered a place in the list?
Will Max Otten and Chris McKaigue continue to improve and push for senior selection?
What will happen to Seaby next year?
Will Bulldog continue the on field mentoring role with the kids??

Already looking forward to next year to see these questions answered. How long to go is it.

Big Al, thanks from me too for your great work.

What about LJ? It seems like he is never off the injury list long enough to show how good he is - or is not. From what you have seen how do you rate his chances of making it into our top 22? One thing in his favour is that he is still only young. It is unfortunate that Campbell Heath is also having such a bad run with injury. Have you been impressed with what you have seen from him?

[Big Al]

Big Al, thanks from me too for your great work.

What about LJ? It seems like he is never off the injury list long enough to show how good he is - or is not. From what you have seen how do you rate his chances of making it into our top 22? One thing in his favour is that he is still only young. It is unfortunate that Campbell Heath is also having such a bad run with injury. Have you been impressed with what you have seen from him?

Thanks Rojo!!

Yes, I should have included LJ and Cambo in the interesting questions for next year.

LJ is frustrating because he can't stay on the paddock. A stylish footballer with great skills by foot who would push for best 22 status if he could string some games together.

I've always been impressed with Cambo, he uses the ball well but just like LJ needs luck with injuries.

[111431]

My favourite page every wk - thk you to all the dedicated spies and talent development spotters

[Nich]

http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/videoaudio/tabid/8664/default.aspx?contentid=390039#playvideo

SwansTV has footage of Incy's huuuuge torp.

[mcs]

That was a big kick indeed - for Manuka is a pretty long ground dimension wise is it not?