Game day thread - Rnd 2 v Freo

[Cheer Squad]

I thought the team showed a lot of hunger today, particularly during the first half, which is a really positive sign. The game itself was scrappy and not pretty to watch.

It was obvious that Jetta had a very good day; you just knew he was going to kick that goal after sprinting the length of the field. But all of the team contributed today, there weren't any passengers.

I was surprised there were only 22,242 people at the ground. There seemed a lot more.

[Triple B]

Exactly the same interchange free kick as against this mob last year.....

It changed this game last year and has again....what a coincidence...

Nearly repeated with the paperwork controversy.

We got crucified by Chamberlain and co. in the corresponding match last year, but wasn't the interchange fiasco against Carlton??? Setanta ???

[Triple B]

Good grief, did you all watch a different game to me? At the ground, it was an engrossing game with some great hard tackling and some thrilling goals. ....

I'm of the same view Erica (and a few others who commented similarly). I was most upbeat at halftime, SMS'd a few of my Melb based mates that it was as good as we've played for 5 years.

I will be interested to watch the replay to see what poisoned commentary seems to have all the 'at home' watchers lamenting...

[Auntie.Gerald]

with a week off it was always going to be tough to finish the game............we had the arm wrestle in the first half and then some !!!

[wolftone57]

The first half was superb only a few stuff ups letting them in. But we fell in a hole in the third, it was as though the teams had changed guernseys. I loved the endeavour today. I didn't think the first half was particularly scrappy except a few times when the idiots in command took an aeon call play up. But generally it was good fast play and some really clever in close work. I thought it became scrappier after half time and they benefited by this as they were literally handing the ball to each other! UMPIRE THAT IS A THROW YOU IDIOT!

[Alan]

We got crucified by Chamberlain and co. in the corresponding match last year, but wasn't the interchange fiasco against Carlton??? Setanta ??? It was against North Melbourne

[Doctor]

I was at the game so I don't understand what happened with the interchange goal. Can someone explain it to me please?

I thought JPK was all class and Bird did a brilliant job on Fyfe (or as my witty companion referred to him - East Fyfe (based on where he was playing)).

I also agree that the crowd seemed larger than it was and that the atmosphere was pretty good. Although there were some skill errors (and y'all may be underestimating the effect the breeze had on that as it was quite strong and very swirly) it was a pretty good standard IMO and a big step up from Round 1. An away game against Port should help show us where we are. They're an improved side but we need to win well if we're to show that we have what it takes.

[aardvark]

I was at the game so I don't understand what happened with the interchange goal..

Submitted the wrong player number to the interchange steward. So the player who ran on didn't match the number on the bit of paper.

[AnnieH]

OMG. Another swannies heartstopper. Blow the hooter!!!
How the HELL do you give away a 45 point lead?
Thought we were home and hosed at half time ... swans thought different.

Don't know why I buy a full membership ... I only ever use half my seat.

[robamiee]

well the commentators made the point that often after a bye and really our first hit up wasn't the best thing for us you can tire in the last qtr as the game runs out.
thats just what we looked like. freo had the run with playing last week..

i dare say we will much better for the run and the good point is we held out for the win...

some players played blinders today, LRT game changing tackle if you asked me, took the run out of freo....
Jetta great game..
Kennedy what can you say, whats his odds for the brownlow??? could be a smokey playing like that..

[Margie]

I'm of the same view Erica (and a few others who commented similarly). I was most upbeat at halftime, SMS'd a few of my Melb based mates that it was as good as we've played for 5 years.

I will be interested to watch the replay to see what poisoned commentary seems to have all the 'at home' watchers lamenting...

I too was upbeat and even when they came back at us, never thought we'd lose. The intensity from us in the first half was fantastic.

Interesting viewing from high up in the Trumper Stand after decades in the Ladies Stand. The players looked like ants - I'm so used to seeing the looks on their faces and hearing what they say. Still, it shows the game in an overall perspective, so from that standpoint it was good.

After having just watched the replay, I can see how those viewing rather than watching live perceived the game differently. The commentary definitely has an (often negative but not always) effect.

[Doctor]

Submitted the wrong player number to the interchange steward. So the player who ran on didn't match the number on the bit of paper.

Thanks. So that means teams need to submit a number for every interchange made all day? if so, I'm surprised there aren't more mistakes.

[Old Royboy]

I was worried that a practice match and a week off was a terrible preparation and it nearly cost us big time. Tackle pressure was superb for 2 and a half quarters, then all of a sudden fatigue kicked in and it disappeared, and the skill levels dropped off as well. Two blokes stood out in the last quarter - Josh Kennedy's work in close with game on the line was sensational. And Teddy Richards could hardly walk with cramps, but was still taking contested marks at the death. We were very lucky Freo had only two on the bench.
We have won a game that I had pencilled in as a loss, so I am more than pleased.

[johnno]

Watching it on TV, I actually thought we dominated the game except for 7-8 mins in the 3rd quarter when they kicked 6 goals in a row.

Yes even in the last quarter when they were coming at us hard, I thought we dominated.

In a 10 minute period, with 13 mins left to play up to 3 mins left to play, Freo were pumping the ball into our defensive 50 time and time again......we didnt concede not even 1 goal!!!!!.

Any way you look at it, you've got to be happy about that?......I am.

Really looking forward to this year folks....REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!!!!!

[cruiser]

I'm of the same view Erica (and a few others who commented similarly). I was most upbeat at halftime, SMS'd a few of my Melb based mates that it was as good as we've played for 5 years.

I will be interested to watch the replay to see what poisoned commentary seems to have all the 'at home' watchers lamenting...

Interesting. I watched it on TV but without any sound (it had been turned down in the pub I was watching the game in) and I thought we played really well that apart from that 10 minute lapse in the 3rd quarter. I thought that the game was played at a fast and furious pace and the standard was quite high (far more so than the drear I watched at the MCG tonight).

Great games from Kennedy, LRT, Jetta and Reid until he copped a knock. I thought Malceski had some really good runs out of half back too. Grundy was solid. On the down side I though that Alex Johnson made some very costly turnovers.