Swans v Bombers Game Day Thread

[swansprincess]

The problem is Ryder 41 hitouts, Pyke 14 Hitouts. He competed OK and was a bit better around the ground with 12 possies.

The problem is ryder does not play for us. We have 3 viable ruck options in mummy, seaby and pyke and IMO we cannot get by just playing one on the big grounds. Pyke is athletic and smart and he works his guts out for the whole game, regardless of whether or not he is able to get the most hitouts.

[giant]

What aspects were we ordinary in?

What i saw of the stats, smashed in clearances/contested possies/I50s/hit-outs. The centre clearances was one area where I thought we were beaten all night but they didn't make us pay until the last qr. That said, we out-tackled, out-ran and out-pressurised them and we were greatly more efficient (and defence played way way better) - we certainly deserved to win (IIRC the Dogs beat us for contested possession much of last week, so it's not a great stat in and of itself).

What I took from it is we have way more room for improvement from what was an excellent performance. 8-3 in a close race just so much better than 7-4, that's a great win to set the platform for the 2nd half of the season.

[ernie koala]

Great win, despite the last qt. Our pressure, chase and spread, for 3 qts, was as good as it gets.
As for the 4th qt, Essendon has nothing to loose and played a great last qt, we simply ran out of legs.
IMO, we'll take great momentum into the second half of the season.

[top40]

Didnt Hird win the Brownlow in 1996?

[ernie koala]

Goodes for Everitt would be my only change next week.

Wrong thread.........but don't forget McGlynn.

[swansprincess]

Wrong thread.........but don't forget McGlynn.

or spang

[Cheer Squad]

What a night (and it wasn't just the dozen or so drinks).

We played 3 amazing quarters, demonstrating some very sharp, skilfull ball movement. Just like the second half of the Hawthorn game (except this time, without Goodes). Keep up that sort of thing, and we will be genuine contenders.

But that last quarter was very disconcerting; there's no getting away from it. We did enough to win, but to have 9.1 kicked on us just doesn't leave a good taste in the mouth. It's not good enough to say that we were out on our feet, because Essendon certainly weren't.

Anyway, we got the four points, which was the main thing. Roll on Friday week.

[swansrule100]

Interesting to read analysis from the other side basically feel they threw it away against an inferior team. I cannot believe that crap and the media too, what year did luke darcy last watch sydney play? 1993?

Essendon are near unbeatable at etihad and supposidly quick and we ran circles around them most of the night, plus been struggling in melbourne and missing our best player, just would like the side to get more credit and see less focus on Essendons failed comeback.

[erica]

Best tweet of the night (that I saw):

Richard Hinds ?@rdhinds
Much better loss by Essendon than last week's loss. #afldonsswans

[JudesaGun]

Thought I'd let you guys in on a little Twitter exchange I had with Rohan Connelly about his match report in The Age. It was very refreshing (and surprising) for a journo to take the time to explain his writing and acknowledge his own shortfalls:

Me: "@rohan_connolly The focus on Dons loss/ final quarter rather than Swans win/ previous 3 quarters is a bit disappointing (but not unexpected)"

"@Kingclivemc Unintended consequence of deadline mins. after siren I'm afraid, journo's nightmare. Thought Swans fully deserved it and (cont)"

@Kingclivemc had plenty about that, but had to tell how it unfolded in last qtr, and not enough space. Wasn't best of headlines, either."

[Beerman]

One question: what do we do about Jetta's contested marking? Last night in the first quarter he was completely out-bodied in a couple of contests - he probably weighs 20kg less than the Essendon player he was up against.

Does he need to bulk up a bit? I wouldn't want to do anything that might compromise his speed. Or do we just live with the fact that in those situations the very best we can hope for is a contest? Perhaps it's a question of technique?

No player can do everything, and he probably our BOG last night but he can't get uncontested marks every time.

[dimelb]

One question: what do we do about Jetta's contested marking? Last night in the first quarter he was completely out-bodied in a couple of contests - he probably weighs 20kg less than the Essendon player he was up against.

Does he need to bulk up a bit? I wouldn't want to do anything that might compromise his speed. Or do we just live with the fact that in those situations the very best we can hope for is a contest? Perhaps it's a question of technique?

No player can do everything, and he probably our BOG last night but he can't get uncontested marks every time.

Yes, hope for a contest is fair enough. And perhaps work on kicking the ball so it drops in front of the player running onto it - which doesn't only apply to Jetts.

[liz]

One question: what do we do about Jetta's contested marking? Last night in the first quarter he was completely out-bodied in a couple of contests - he probably weighs 20kg less than the Essendon player he was up against.

Does he need to bulk up a bit? I wouldn't want to do anything that might compromise his speed. Or do we just live with the fact that in those situations the very best we can hope for is a contest? Perhaps it's a question of technique?

No player can do everything, and he probably our BOG last night but he can't get uncontested marks every time.

Last pre-season he trailed Jack around to get his endurance up. Next pre-season he can practice playing one-on-one against Reg, Goodes or Reid.

[barry]

Essendon simply did a "Sydney". They made a bad loss respectable. The only reason they got back in it, is because we took our foot off the pedal, and they showed a bit of pride.

It was quite amazing that the swans made essendon look like us at our worst over the past month. Sydney pressure forcing essendon to bomb it into the forward line making it easy for our backs.

In the game our backline dominated, our forward line dominated, but our midfield was beaten. Pyke, played ok, but wasnt tapping to advantage. We also missed Parker in the middle. So with Parker to come back in a while, plus mummy building fitness, I dont think we'll see our midfield beaten like that again.

Must be a spot for Spranger though. TDL or LRT would be feeling nervous.

[barry]

One question: what do we do about Jetta's contested marking?

Im far more worried about McVeigh's contested marking. Has he taken a contested mark this year? Seems to be easily pushed off, and goes to ground to easily.