Round 1: UWS Giants v Sydney Swans Reserves

[Triple B]

Would appreciate any opinions on how GWS player Tim Golds goes

I will update texts to you Reggi...

[rb4x]

Swans 23.13 151 - UWS 4.9 33 Final Score
Great win to the 2's. TDL at least 6 and Jesse 4

[liz]

TDL and Jesse were the two who impressed me most, and that had nothing to do with the goals they kicked. Indeed, biggest blot on Jesse's game was those he missed. Thought Lamb was busy and creative too. The work rate and tackling pressure was very good right across the team.

[ugg]

Yep TDL's tackling was prominent all over the ground. White worked well as a key target. Walsh didn't have much to do in defence in the first half but when moved there for the third looked somewhat lost and we weren't as dominant then. He moved into the ruck soon after and was okay. I think Pyke went off as did nipper

[gossipcom]

the UWS would be University of Western Sydney jono. I suppose its their affiliate - at least it would make sense if it is. All inclusive.

Yep our university sponsors GWS. This is what they sent out this week to staff and students (got it twice since I'm in both areas) regarding their affiliation with GWS.

The University?s partnership with the Giants spans multiple areas and we look forward to continuing to work with them in 2012. Whether it is in the classroom, on the football field, or in the research laboratory, through the partnership we will work together to continue to build the educational aspirations of Greater Western Sydney, and positively influence the health and well being of our communities.

The University wishes both the UWS Giants and GWS Giants all the best for a successful 2012 season.

Thanks to everyone who covered the game today, I was stuck on a bus when they were playing so couldn't get there until it had ended.

[ugg]

Anyone know the topup numbers? Unconfuseme? I know potter was in his customary 47 Wales was in 58 and a familiar face which I can only assume was Nathan Kenny was in 53. A Tim Schmidt lookalike kicked 2 goals wearing 56 while a curly haired lad was occupying jumper 60

[liz]

Number 56 had me taking notice of him even in the first quarter. I was excited when he kicked his first final quarter goal because I figured we would find out who he was when they put the goal scorers up at the end of the game. Alas, they didn't do so. He didn't do anything overly brilliant but he kept getting himself into good positions and was demanding the ball (even when some of the "senior" players chose to ignore him).

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, TDL, White and Lamb were the most encouraging performances for me.

TDL played all over the ground, including starting in the middle for some centre bounces. His tackling was good, and in front of goal he was dangerous (though he did miss a couple of gettable shots). There was one passage of play where the Swans had the ball in a crowded forward line but they were playing handball pinball, with no-one willing to take a shot. Finally it found its way into Trent's hands on the 50m arc. He steadied for a second, straightened up and pow! took a shot that sailed straight through the goals.

White moved around pretty well today. He took some good marks, including a couple on fast, straight leads. His conversion let him down a bit - I wasn't keeping count but he must have missed more than he scored. But he linked up very well and showed that, at reserves pace at least, he has a good brain when he has the footy in his hands. He set his team mates up time and time again with perfectly timed handballs, and showed a bit of creativity at times, some of which worked, some of which didn't.

Lamb was busy around the half forward line and into the midfield. He is certainly not a receiver - he is willing to go in and get his own ball. A few of his kicks were scuffed but he showed enough to suggest he might improve forward line delivery at senior level at some point in the future.

The rest were much of a muchness - which was a pretty good muchness, as the scoreboard indicates. Pyke took some good marks up forward but his conversion was also a little astray. He and Reid can compare notes on similar set-shot conversions they experienced today. Seaby got a fair bit of the ball around the ground and kicked a goal or two but didn't show anything to suggest he is the answer at senior level. Biggs got a fair bit of the ball, showed some pace and composure but didn't do anything startling. No-one in defence had very much to do so it was hard to judge them. The toppies - including the new faces not seen before - kept up the standard of last season.

Morton was disappointing relative to his age and experience, while Walsh's performance suggests he has some way to go before he pushes for senior selection. He wasn't bad - just that in defence he had little to do, and in the forward line he wasn't an imposing presence.

All three of our draftees from last year were sitting in the stand watching, together with Eugene. Shaw and Armstrong spent the game in the coaches box.

[ugg]

Agree with all above

• TDL played and tackled all over the ground but still was his usual classy self in front of the goals both in his set shot conversion and open play.
• White kicked 4.4 by my watch, he missed some very gettable set shots. He worked hard to get in front and present himself on leads which was very promising.
• Pyke looked much better as a forward than Seaby although they both dominated the taps. Pyke's greater mobility offers a lot more than Seaby's relatively plodding style. I couldn't spot Pyke in the last quarter, possibly injury or possibly just a tactical move to allow Walsh to have a run on the ball.
• Walsh was in defence for the first half, didn't have much to do - moved to full forward in the 2nd half with Jesse moving to CHF but unforunately for Tommy that's when the Giants had a little bit of a run.
• Meredith was not bad but didn't stand out either which I think he has to do if he wants to push for a place in the side. Having already been long overtaken by Hannebery and Parker who were drafted later than him, and with Mitchell the next big thing breathing down his neck, his future appears bleak unless he can start dominating at this level.
• Biggs mainly used off half back but also involved in some center square setups was noticeable for his accurate switches of play in defence. Showed a bit of toe for his goal.
• Gordon was up and about and was part of the dominant midfield for the first half. I am not sure when he was withdrawn, almost certainly due to being the reserve emergency. I don't recall much about him in the 2nd half.
• Lamb was good both in the midfield and in the forward line. Particularly taken by his defensive workrate - there was a 50-60m chase for one particular passage, he never gave up even though his chances of effecting the play were close to zero. He's good enough to play in the seniors, Longmire just has to find a way of fitting him into the side.
• Moore was his usual busy self, as usual very clever with his ball use and those big legs of his and wide body allows him to bustle his way through traffic or at the very least stand in the tackle and offload the handball.
• As already mentioned the defenders didn't have much to do, but when the ball came down their way I impressed by Jack Lynch's defensive positioning and reading of the play. He was often up against much bigger forwards but wasn't outmuscled.
• Morton started in defence and then switched to attack in the second half. He either tried too hard to conjure magic in tight situations or be too cute in his passing. Was very quiet for a lot of the day which is an incredible achievement considering our domination.
• Heath solid in defence with a snappy new buzzcut and McNeil snapped a nice goal. I wasn't concentrating on the centre clearances so I can't comment on his effectiveness in the middle.

[wolftone57]

That is a very good resies report. I think the spot for Lamb might just be vacant Ugg, Everiit was not good enough today and needs to find some way to mark the ball in the Resies.

[liz]

Now that you mention it Ugg, I remember that chase from Lamb. Assuming we are thinking of the same one, the chase did impact play because he put the Giant who collected the ball under enough pressure for him to just throw the ball on the boot without spotting up a target. Biggs, I think it was, then marked that kick. Unfortunately his kick into the forward line then turned the ball over, so nothing finally came of it. But Lamb certainly spent the afternoon doing the kind of things that suggest he wants a senior game, and wants it soon.

I did notice McNeil a bit in the middle. He was being spoonfed by our ruckmen all afternoon and would have had plenty of clearances.

Completely agree with Meredith. He looks like he is marking time and has given up hope of a senior career. He was OK but half the toppies showed more desparation than he did. He just meandered around when he should have been dominating.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Wasn't it was nice to see an effectively functioning forward line in red and white?

Also

I haven't seen that many beardies on an opposition team since playing against Campbelltown in the 80's, the GW$ players are clearly entering into the greater west ethos.


Kind oof ditto here too, we must have been watching the same game . . .

TDL
WOW! He seems to have got the message, his workrate was absolutely exceptional, making tackles. A complete makeover, with that sort of effort he must surely get another chance in the 1sts.
Tommy Walsh
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Died of hyperthermia in the first half, and all attempts at resuscitation up forward in the second half failed.
Jessica White
Completely overshadowed Walsh, looked very active and impressive, kicking for goal very Swanlike (ie atrocious). Frankly he was good, he says with some surprise.
Stumpy Moor
He cramped up badly in the last qtr and was completely unable to move when he received a handball. Even before cramping up he was the slowest player on the field, and the what he did when getting the handball was both clever and effective. Basically that was his career right there, if only he'd been born 50 year sago, he'd have had a great career.
Meredith
I disagree with some here: I think his game today was typical Meredith. As usual not a posession wasted, supurb disposal. Problem is there aren't enough of them, even at this level he doesn't overwhelm you with weight of posession and he's not quick enough to break lines.
Our Rucks
A VERY easy day at the office, GW$ seconds don't have ruckmen they have ruckboys. There was more muscle definition in one of there lads dreadlocks than his arms!
56
The return of Ed Clarke or what? What a huge kid!

[Primmy]

What they said - actually I rather enjoyed the game (ok so we won by a motza, but it put me in a good mood).

I spotted TDL in the defensive half a few times, he has obviously been working with the coaches to expand his game, and he has learned a lot. His tackling was good, and he is quick between the ears.
Dear Mocca; he is a very very good reserves player, but he was up against toothpicks who were stupid enough to argue with the umpire inside 50 and gave away 50 meters for I think three goals to various Swans from the goal square, so it wasn't exactly sports science he played well, was it.
Pike moves differently, and he would do ok in seniors; probably better than ok.
Expect to see Chops anytime soon in seniors.
Tommy, well you could hear him, but it was a bit of a stretch to understand him.
Interesting to see Cambo in charge of the back line; well he had to be at one stage, there were only toppies up there.
Jackson Potter has a man's build, but I am not sure he is an AFL player in waiting.

Can't wait to see what happens next.
At least the UWS knows what's in store for them in the future.

One further observation. In my opinion, the boys did not take their feet off the accelerator during the game. They may have been winning by the length of the field, but they played the game out to the end (even though it appeared to me to be a short last quarter.....27 minutes something, but I may have been wrong), gave UWS nothing.

[707]

I got there early enough to see most of the match, very nice viewing too! A few brief thoughts -

TDL, not sure why he is being kept out of the seniors but had a blinder. He is a very smart footballer, other than actual kicks/handballs/tackles, he does clever things to mve the ball to advantage.

Walsh is not the Messiah, but White, frustratingly as he has shown at this level in the past, does look like one. Grrrrr, come on Jesse, do it at senior level

Lamb looks likely for an early call up

Meredith doesn't look likely for a 2012 call up

A number of the toppies played their part, I liked No.47 in particular.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I haven't seen that many beardies on an opposition team since playing against Campbelltown in the 80's, the GW$ players are clearly entering into the greater west ethos.

Sorry Primmy, beardies and backchat

[liz]

Jackson Potter has a man's build, but I am not sure he is an AFL player in waiting.

It is a shame but I suspect you're right. Pace is a bit of an issue for him.

(even though it appeared to me to be a short last quarter.....27 minutes something, but I may have been wrong), gave UWS nothing.

There were barely 20 minutes gone when the siren went. I don't understand this. It happened regularly last year too. Is it so hard to open the ground and start a game so as to allow for sufficient time for a full game to be played before the ground has to be cleared for whatever gimmicky pre-match stuff is planned?