Sydney Swans VS Brisbane Lions at the SCG @ 1:10pm

[Matimbo]

I dreamt I was playing along side Leo Barry. As I went up in a pack he told me to punch. My wife woke up holding her face and yelled "What was that for?"

Answer: Because her first name is Sherrin?

[Ludwig]

Umpiring

The umpiring in general this season has been absolutely baffling at times. At least yesterday it didn't impact on the result, but the inconsistency is at times is infuriating. we were sloppy yesterday at times and gave a few away that we shouldn't, but some of the frees given just were not there. The umpiring this season in general has lessened the quality of the footy imo and is playing into hands of teams like Geelong who always are looking for frees and trying to squeeze everything they can out of the umps.

It seems that the main problem is that the interpretation of the rules changes on a weekly basis. Of the 4 frees against us that resulted in goals, only the one against Grundy was questionable. Brown actually pulled on Reg's jumper causing him to fall over while having his arm trapped, so it appeared that Reg initiated the foul. The ump missed the jumper pull, which was well disguised. Put it down to a clever play by the more experienced Brown.

Jeff Gieshen has admitted the touch on David Hale's shoulder by Thomson should not have been called a foul, but pushing out in a marking contest is, so we need to be careful about that. Ted protested on a small push-out. These were being called a lot on the weekend.Perhaps the way to play that for a defender is to get position and not put up any resistance to a player backing into you, allow that player to make contact and just fall over, drawing a foul. It's a sad state of affairs, but defenders really don't have many weapons now.

As for the contact below the knees, I am beginning to come to terms with this. I thought Bird was a bit hard done by when he had one called against him when he really didn't run into anyone's legs, but rather the standing player walked into him after he went for the ball, but it's another one of those things where we need to get used to the idea that you have to keep your feet whenever possible. Better to kick the ball along the ground than try to take possession. It's too hard to anticipate whether your opponent is going to go for the ball or stay up; so better to keep your feet and walk into the contest, because the umps are going to make the call in favour of the player on his feet.

As noted, Geelong are really good at drawing fouls, and it has gone a long way to helping them win games. The team that best comes to terms with the rule interpretations will have a distinct advantage. Geelong play smart and always have. Smart football players are at a premium now.

[swanwolf]

Reid and Jetta's return to some form was the main thing of note in Sunday's match, clear improvement that's good to see. A first quarter blitzkrieg hinted last season's strong starts by the team might also make a comeback which bodes well. This week for the players, communication should be a focus; more to each other, less to the umpires and none to bouncers after the game.

Among the deluded, smashing the Ansett Cup Premiers should mean we're proper flag favourites! Or would if not for the Fitzroy Bears whose game plan, far as I could tell, involved kicking it to Brown - even when he was on the bench. Granted, their backup Plan B of kicking it to Swan's players in a forlon attempt to confuse us was certainly cunning, but we didn't fall for it... not everyone at least.

Hawthorn will not be so kind.