NAB Cup Round 3 - Swans v Essendon

[707]

Not too worried about the result although I thought Essendon showed more method than us. Of the fringe players who put their hand up?

Disappointing tonight were Pyke, Walsh and Morton, can't see any of those in the team for R1.

Parker was great, will definitely be a permanent fixture. Jetta was much better than last year, has made real progress over the summer.

LRT looked in good touch, Mal looked ok.

[Foreign Legion]

I forgot, Parker is going to be a very, very good footballer.

As Don Scott would say "he is physically mature"

[Cpt. Kirk]

Disappointing tonight were Pyke, Walsh and Morton, can't see any of those in the team for R1.

You mentioned that pyke was dissapointing was seaby aswell for you because in my opinion they both played at around the same level.

[707]

You mentioned that pyke was dissapointing was seaby aswell for you because in my opinion they both played at around the same level.

I'm not sure Seaby was any better than Pyke, Mike just looked a little lost tonight in contrast to a couple of games last year where he looked to be getting there.

Dumb stuff by Shaw to interfere with Ryder who LRT had beautifully covered but Shaw played a great game, gav his all and close to our best.

Cunningham showed tonight he's still a way off the top team but he looks to have the natural goods - 12 months away.

Reid is a superstar in the making, but we all know that. He just needs some genuine tall support up forward and I'm not sure we've got it on our list. Jesse, get your act together, you may be the man!

[desredandwhite]

I am also not too bothered by the result (though it is always satisfying to beat Essendon). Some good signs - Sammy Reid of course. Luke Parker WILL be the next Jude Bolton, only with more hair and skills.

A bit ambivalent about the games of Everitt, Walsh, Morton and a couple of others. There will be stiff competition for the 21st, 22nd spots on the list, they all show a little bit, but aren't necessarily putting it together just yet.

[Foreign Legion]

You mentioned that pyke was dissapointing was seaby aswell for you because in my opinion they both played at around the same level.

If I may Cpt, I think Seaby only had 1 quarter to impress. Unless Mumford gets injured, I can't see either getting a game as I suspect White may be in front of them. IF Mumford was injured then I honestly think Seaby would get picked first.

[Lucky Knickers]

Reid takes his standard contested mark and stabs it JUST home. 2 point deficit 2 minutes to go.

Looks like Reid is in for another year of loveless treatment from the umps. He had his arms chopped in that last contest several times. Has he had a free kick paid to him in the F50 yet?
Anyway, bit early for that to wind me up. My head will explode by the time the season ends.
Lots to like in that game. Parker, Jetta, Bird, Grundy, AJ, Smooch, Shaw, Jude, Reid all excellent.
Excellent but a little dusty were Goodes and Mummy.
Still simmering and yet to get on the boil were JPK, McVeigh & Gaz
Liked Everitt, Cunningham & Gordon.
Seaby/Pyke - OK but can't see them breaking into seniors. White is the superior even with his frustrations IMO.
Walsh has some way to go. Very harshly dealt with by the umps on that free when he was in defence. How dirty he was on the bench? Was that a BULL@@@@ cry I heard from the crowd?
Not sure what to make of Morton as he seemed a little lost and a step behind each contest. Hopefully just needs time to adjust to game but can't see him being a Round 1 starter.

[Nico]

Watched the last 4 minuites. After Reid kicked his goal, from the centre clearance we got
a free. The Essendon player deliberately gave it to the wrong player right in front of the ump. No 50. Should have been a supergoal to win the game. We got done for that a number of times last year.

[Lucky Knickers]

Also worth noting Reid has changed his run up. He's stopped that little dinky hop/skip and looks far smoother and more confident. First chance I've had to see him in action. 4/4!
10 one day - I'd like to see that.

[ShockOfHair]

Another tight Swans-Bombers game.

Good effort to come back from 4 goals down missing a few key mids. Great to see Reid on target, but still no sign of another tall to help him out.

[ugg]

Morton didn't do enough for me, I'm not sure he's guaranteed a place in Round 1. Seemed to skirt the edges of the pack waiting for the ball to come out and his tackling and chasing wasn't crash hot either.

[S120]

A few thoughts:

- Parker was brilliant. His days of wearing the green sub vest are long gone.

- Cunningham did some great things but also made a few bad mistakes. Very encouraging displays from him so far but I think a spot in round 1 is a bridge too far.

- Liked the games of Bird, Jude, Kennedy and, in particular, Jack. Looked like the Kieren of 2010 (hopefully his injury isn't serious at all, was icing his shin before half time so hopefully that is only precautionary).

- Sammy kicking 4 goals straight is a great sign. His hands were good as always and while a few of his set shots were a bit wayward, he must get some confidence from a good day in front of goal

- Liked Jetta's game for the most part despite continuing to blindly blaze away at times. Had 8 tackles which was easily the team high and looks to have built a much better tank. Just has to hit targets when he gets the ball but did that mostly tonight.

- Mumford was great whilst in the ruck while Seaby and Pyke were a bit meh but I thought Seaby was marginally better.

- LRT struggled on Ryder. Definitely missed Mattner and Teddy down back, though I thought Grundy did a pretty reasonable job. He and Shaw marshaled the troops well down back. Thought Malceski in the last quarter continued to show some improving signs as well.

- Morton was pretty much non-existent as was Rohan I thought though he did kick a couple. On the utility front, Everitt I thought did some good things, didn't make many mistakes. Looking a bit more solid and consistent this year so far. Still not in our best 22 IMO but looking more likely to be a contributor as long as he isn't played anywhere near the defensive 50

- Bombing long into a forward line just isn't going to work all year. Have to be a bit smarter with how we go forward.

- Bests: Parker, Shaw, Grundy, Reid, Jetta, McVeigh

[liz]

I thought it was a bit of a mixed bag. The forward set-up / delivery into the forward line is still a bit haphazard. Things definitely improved when they started mixing the method of entry up a bit. The Bombers carriage of the ball down the ground was far better than ours. On the other hand, it is an approach that can be broken down if the pressure is right up there, or the skills of the carrying team break down.

Essendon probably had more of the best players out there, as the commentators summed up pretty well. Watson was great, Ryder looked dangerous and Dempsey was good too. I thought we looked like more of a bunch of players, rather than a switched on team at times. Parker was certainly a stand-out, while Reid made the most of the contests that he could reasonably be expected to compete in, and also showed a few tricks close to the boundary line. I thought Bird was pretty important in getting the Swans back into the game in the final quarter, though I do wish he wouldn't bang the ball on his boot quite so often without even looking for a contest. I think he generally has more time than he thinks he has.

The jury is still out on the second ruck position, particularly as White didn't play today. Even though he did get lost at times, I would still have Pyke ahead of Seaby. I thought he contested a bit harder, and certainly laid more effective tackles. Seaby's skills are reasonable enough but he lacks any mongrel - all the more evident when compared with Mumford.

Walsh is still a work-in-progress but he did get himself into some useful positions. It was an advance on round 1. Everitt did some useful things but still isn't completely convincing. Morton was disappointing, I thought. He has the experience to know where to go to get dangerous but he rarely did. I'd have laughed at myself a year ago for thinking this because I thought he was a complete list clogger, but our forward line would improve massively with a fit Spangher in there. He showed last year he can be a pretty handy foil for Reid because he is very hard at the contest but also has the nous to get into dangerous positions and can actually mark the ball.

More nice signs from Harry but I agree with whoever said he is probably 12 months ago.

Was disappointed not to see more of Gordon. Not sure when he came on the ground but I only noticed him in the last 5 minutes or so. He could be another who could add a bit of purpose around half forward.

[Cpt. Kirk]

I am not a big fan of would've and could've but if ted richards had of played and went onto rider i think the game would have been ours, jetta has improved a lot over the preseason and i reckon will be considered a great player possibly top 10 for the swans by the end of the season.

Missing four out of our top 22: Mattner, Richards, ROK and Hanneberry and they had their top22 in for the most part so a pretty good effort considering.

[Nich]

Parker! Exceptional game.