Swans Geelong match thread

[grarmy]

A couple of observations:

I think LRT is in the team for ruck back up right now. The backline is settled and unless there is an injury to say Grundy or Ted then they will be loathe to change that structure and personnel.

Regarding fade outs: In 3 games against top sides we have been creamed in the first 10 minutes of the last quarter. Adelaide did it and we nearly got back and won the game. Essendon ripped us apart and Geelong found 3 quick goals. In each of these phases we have been done over on clearances both from the centre and elsewhere. Dangerfield had a purple patch at the start of the last quarter. It is almost as if they go to sleep. We must have Mumford starting on the ball in the last quarter and our hardest midfielders in the centre and around stoppages to make sure it doesn't happen again. The footy just seems to leak out to outside opposition players in these phases. No blocking, no fancy stuff, just find the footy.

Insightful observation. Makes much sense.

[Nico]

Just watched the last quarter replay.

We had chances up forward in that last quarter and I noticed we did things that we didn't do in the first quarter.

Jetta got clear heading inside 50 but chose to do a short kick that fell short.
Armstrong much the same when he only had to pop it over the top to Jetta who had dropped off his man, and had a clear run into goal from 20 metres.
Bird twice flew for pack marks instead of sitting behind the pack. Both times the ball would have gone off the pack and behind where he should have been.
Why is that cruel bounces only happen in the last quarter in tight matches. On at least 3 occasions we had the ball infront of us only to see it do a leg or off break. At least one resulted in a goal.
Grundy's horrible kick over the top to Mattner who was at least 30 metres in the clear. Mathews commented that our foot disposal had dropped away as the match went on.
From 7 minutes left on the clock, after Geelong hit the lead, we had the footy mostly in our control.

[sharp9]

Just watched the middle 2 quarters (having seen the last few minutes last night including shocking 50 call) and there were at least SEVEN technical fifties not paid to Sydney. I happen to agree that they shouldn't be paid but the onre that was...unbelievable. The worst NON decision was when reid got a surprise free in the centre square. the umps held up play so as not to let Geelong get players back....when Reid actually kicked the ball there was a Geelong player within one metre of his right hand. they've been paying those all year....Swans....nada.

Also all year for every other team it's "back a metre" when the defender runs to the mark....especially when the player with the ball is 5-10 metres back from the mark...but with the Swans it's "Have a goal mate"

Goodes decision is the equal worst ever decision in the history of football (with the WC prelim one) No umpire has EVER called play on EVER in history when a player feigns a handball but stands stays on his line. In fact I can think of 20 times at least that a player has received a fifty because the man on the mark gets taken in by the feint.

[SwansFan1972]

Hey - one quarter of ours was enough to beat three quarters of theirs. Who would have thought?

And have to think that hanging on the way they have over the last two games would give the boys lots of confidence that they'll be ok in the clinches when the business end of the season rolls around.

[SwansFan1972]

Just watched Jetstar's goal again - joy - absolute joy! And skill and class and all that too! He is a young man really enjoying his footy at the moment and so great to see.

[SwansFan1972]

And now Pykey's mark and goal. Leaving out the Irish (who start a fair way ahead in terms of similarity between their game and ours), he's the code cross over success story the AFL world should be talking about. Karmichael and Izzy have some catching up to do!

[sharp9]

Half way through 4th quarter watching now and have just seen TWO MORE fifties not paid to Sydney!!!! proper ones. First Chapman playing on after free to Swans when he definitely knew who the free was to and second Everitt takes make at HF in front and Geelong player trailing behind runs at least five metres over the mark when he DEFINITELY knew exactly where the mark was. Man oh man. I seriously think (and I've said this before) that umpires are just not very intelligent. They can't think fast enough to understand what has just happened. And the Giesch is the same. Just very low IQ people.

[ShockOfHair]

Just watched Jetstar's goal again - joy - absolute joy! And skill and class and all that too! He is a young man really enjoying his footy at the moment and so great to see.

The goal was great but I enjoyed the tackle on Selwood just as much. Like clean bowling Tendulkar. Jet will be dining out on that one for years.

[bloodsman]

Jude bolton, he just keeps surprising me. Very important player for us especially with parker out. His effort is second to none.

[johnno]

The team played well again and we beat another top side, albeit Geelong is on the slide in my opinion. Yes. the fadeouts are a concern, but they'd be more of a concern if we actually lost the games....we didnt, we won, so I'm fine with it.

For what its worth, I think Best on Ground for us on the night was.....Nick Smith. I know Stevie J has been a little out of form lately, but he still can be a very damaging player!!! Apart from one nice pass to Geelong team mate which resulted in a Geelong goal, I didnt even notice him out on the ground on Friday night, another brilliant game by Nick Smith, easily the most under-rated footballer in the competition.

[ScottH]

The team played well again and we beat another top side, albeit Geelong is on the slide in my opinion. Yes. the fadeouts are a concern, but they'd be more of a concern if we actually lost the games....we didnt, we won, so I'm fine with it.

For what its worth, I think Best on Ground for us on the night was.....Nick Smith. I know Stevie J has been a little out of form lately, but he still can be a very damaging player!!! Apart from one nice pass to Geelong team mate which resulted in a Geelong goal, I didnt even notice him out on the ground on Friday night, another brilliant game by Nick Smith, easily the most under-rated footballer in the competition.

I mentioned Smith earlier. He had a lot of contested ball, and was more prominent the Stevie J as you said. Hugely under rated.

I also thought Hanners worked hard, whilst not starring he ran his guts out, to make position or support his team mate.
Eg.he gave the ball to Shaw who ran to the F50 for a point, but hanners was right beside him.

[Primmy]

I also thought Hanners worked hard, whilst not starring he ran his guts out, to make position or support his team mate.
Eg.he gave the ball to Shaw who ran to the F50 for a point, but hanners was right beside him.

I am putting in a question here, and maybe a prediction. If Hanners keeps playing like that, would he be a candidate for Best Clubman?

[ScottH]

I am putting in a question here, and maybe a prediction. If Hanners keeps playing like that, would he be a candidate for Best Clubman?

Not sure what the criteria for that is, but he's sure doing the team thing.

[Nico]

I mentioned Smith earlier. He had a lot of contested ball, and was more prominent the Stevie J as you said. Hugely under rated.

I also thought Hanners worked hard, whilst not starring he ran his guts out, to make position or support his team mate.
Eg.he gave the ball to Shaw who ran to the F50 for a point, but hanners was right beside him.

I reckon Smith has started to finally come good after the inner ear infection that kept him out for a few weeks. The poise and closeness of his play has returned and it appears the bye got Johnson over whatever niggles he had.

[aardvark]

I reckon Smith has started to finally come good after the inner ear infection that kept him out for a few weeks. The poise and closeness of his play has returned and it appears the bye got Johnson over whatever niggles he had.

One of Johnson's best games IMO. Smithy was back to his best too.