Swans v Blues Game Day Thread

[cyanide]

What a win. Damp but happy! The kids stood up tonight. Bird defied his doubters on here too.

Watching the replay in the pub right now - Tip's mark and Jesse's goal that was denied by the boundary ump were just outstanding in the conditions. So proud of the way we responded in the last quarter.

Massive win in the context of our season. Two weak teams coming up gives us the chance to consolidate our break on the chasing teams.

[DK_]

Tip for young players. Don't park in Fox studios. Been sitting here for 50 minutes and haven't got off our floor.

[Velour&Ruffles]

I don't care what the numbers were. We were absolutely raped by the umpires tonight in the moments that really mattered. For such a young team to win against contenders, in those conditions, against another team AND the maggots (lower case intentional) was a really great effort. In 10 years I still expect to be seeing at least BJ and Rampe.

[Bloodthirsty]

Tippett = awesome.
Bird = class showing. Nice work.
Jesse = damn good. Awesome (disallowed) goal.
Everitt = super-solid. Great performance.
Pyke = big warrior.
Malcho = career best form.
Lamb & Mitchell = living up to big expectations.

What a ridiculous decision against Malceski. Don't try to tell me umpires aren't 'aware' of match results for certain teams.

Gotta say - I thought history was repeating for a while. But we got over the line. Carlton get hyped up all year and we beat them with half our best team missing.

.......What the %#&*#* will happen when our best team is on the field?

[ShockOfHair]

To me the most satisfying win of the season. The way the game unfolded, and the conditions, were similar to the Power game but we maintained our intensity over the four quarters. Tippett was a matchwinner - 13 of his 17 possessions were contested. Lamb showed class. It may have been just a 22-point margin but it was Carlton's biggest loss of the year. To get that without Goodes, Jetta, Mumford etc was a massive effort.

I don't usually worry about umpire decisions but the Malceski one was a grade-A howler.

Advice to Andre: if you bounce the ball on a wet day and it comes back, that's called luck. Otherwise, another really good game.

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Plus, I don't want to sound ageist, but doesn't Mick look he's successfully auditioned for the role of grumpy old coach who needs a clue?

[aardvark]

Pykes effort against a No1 draft pick in Kreuzer was massive. Nice work from Jed and Brandon, both looked well at home tonight.

[wolftone57]

I had a feeling as soon as the switch was made tonight that something was up. Lammy for a full game starting on the ground was really sensible as he comes from one of the most constantly wet parts of Aus, Gipsland. Bj also was awesome for his first full game. We took 5 first year players and one player in his first outing into this game.

Lamby: What a game so easily the best wet weather footballer I have see in yonks. Hope he can reproduce the same in the dry spell. I he can a star is born

BJ: I have seen this kid develop in the Twos and he is good. It is about the clever little things he is able to do and that burst of speed to full tilt delivery WOW! One of the most naturally talented footballers I have ever seen.

Parks: WOW he was made for the wet and he proved it today. Man can this bloke get the ball and have the strength to get it out too.

Tippy: I didn't realise how bloody good this bloke really is until tonight. WOW! He really excites a crowd and ignites a footy team. Our blokes were just waiting for him to spark and then they fed. In coming weeks in the dry they will have a feeding frenzy.

Jesse: You were wonderful Jesse except for a moment in the second quarter when you turned your back o play and the ball was heading in your direction. Always keep one eye on the play. But other than that just wonderful, did all the things you need a big guy to do in the wet, blocked, shepherded, put his body on the line and kicked a few scores. I won't mention that point, damn I did.

Tom Mitchell: ditto with Parks, these blokes are going to be the bane of any opposition coach in the coming years. This kid is still learning the caper and with his inside twin took on Judd and beat him. Sensational.

Dre: You are such a talent. A HUGE talent that is just starting to believe in himself. Good on you Dre. You were wonderful tonight, buggered bounce and all, the fact you got the first one shocked a whole stadium. Your punching and defensive work were sublime, your attack decisive and dangerous. You could in a Brownlow.

Dane: you are such a great player. Every contest is your last just like Marty. You go in like you are not expecting to wake up tomorrow. Your kicking is wonderful and your second efforts are just sensational.

Xav: Sad you didn't get that mark out on the flank. you certainly looked like you were close to getting it. Belive me this kid can play. That leap tonight is only a rumour of what is to come.

As for the rest of you old buggers. You were all great tonight. Teddy work on your decision making and kicking, Reg DON'T PANIC. Birdie look and think! Benny an old buggers trick just before you are about to contest short your opponents shorts. In other words grab a handful of short at the back and pull down. Then take off leaving player trying to pull shorts up. Just a thought.

Solid win. Last week was one of the worst performances in a long time but after thinking it over I realised we made a few mistakes even before starting. for a start we kicked to the Northern end in the first quarter on a wet and very windy day. not on, ABSOLUTELY NEVER DO THAT AGAIN IT IS FOOTY PARK DEATH. We lost before the first bounce.

[Beerman]

I agree with all of you! Special props to Everitt though. I thought he was the key in getting us back into it in the third quarter. He seemed to be the only player to generate any run and carry, and get the ball out of defence.

[Beerman]

P.S. I was seriously concerned about fitness when I saw all the kids playing in such atrocious conditions. Great work from Lamby, BJ, Mitch et al to run out the game.

I thought Mitchell was a bit quiet but seemed to work himself into it. I was surprised to see his stats so good at the end of the game.

Seeing X. *and* BJ called up gave away The contents of Longmire's pre-game talk:

Longmire: Ok boys! We're a couple short. Anyone know someone who wants a game?
[silence]
Longmire: Kizza - what about your brother? He's pretty sporty, is't he?
Kizza: yeah, s'pose so. I'll talk to him.
Longmire: Anyone else? Ted - your brother's payed a few games hasn't he?
Ted: Yeah, a couple.
Longmire: reckon he'd want a run?
Ted: I don't think he's got anything on. I'll give him a call.

[top40]

The free kick decision against Eski by umpire Robert Findlay will go down as to date the worst umpiring decision of the past ten years. It is at least comforting that with the exception of the ABC's website, all newspapers and media to date reviewing it has mentioned the paucity of the decision.

It couldn't possibly be view as an "understandable" mistake. It was completely inexcusable, particularly noting that in a part time job Mr Findlay earns in excess of $100,000 per year as an umpire.

For the sake of the game, the AFL through the Umpires Association must admit that this was a serious error. Further,surely Findlay will be demoted to the VFL next week.?

[Primmy]

Exactly what Toppie said. We were right in the line of sight from above and the decision was inexcusable. The fact that Mal was still talking is a testament to how tragic the decision was, he doesn't normally remonstrate. Also testament to Mal that he wasn't penalised again by the D.H. for talking to him. He must have known he stuffed up big time. This wasn't an "oops dear me all umpires get it wrong sometimes" moment. It was a demotable offense.

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On another note, I have now watched the first quarter replay with breakfast. This is a game you have to watch again. At times I had no idea who was where, and who was who, and yes the rain was ridiculous. Never wonder how marks were missed during this game. Falling rain straight into your eyes, plus monster lights must stuff up vision. And no amount of stops in boots would have prevented the skating.

The Syyyydddnnneeyyyy chant went up in earnest for the first time this year. It was massive and wonderful and exactly right. The collective psyche always knows.

Other than the D.H. group beside us in two rows, the women in front sitting with their backs to the game, the whole game, chatting away about nothing in particular to a couple of blokes in my row, all at the tops of their voices and totally ignoring the game in progress, the whole game. (These crowds cheering a massive goal are soooo annoying). It became hilarious and the laughter blurted out of us on a couple of occasions. All in all it was a good night to be at the footy. Not cold surprisingly, I was packed up and ready for the Antarctic - that comes from sitting in the Noble Stand facing south for years and years, more reason to stay put in the Trumper imho.

In defense of Jesse, you had to be there to see what sort of work he was doing, and it was massive. He blocked and ran and contested like mad, he is very densely built so he is a problem for the opposition, he is not brought to ground. He worked.

I would like to point out that the RessieWatchers have long held the belief that BJ and X were going to be keepers along with Mitchell. Rampe we did not see coming. However, on behalf of the RessieWatchers, I would like to file a smugness report.

[ScottH]

Why oh why did Dre take a second bounce??
The first one struggled to come back to him and he was running into the wet zone.
I was screaming at the TV not to try a second bounce in those conditions. Silly play.

[Sandridge]

Always fantastic to beat the Vultures who hovered over us when our club was in its darkest hours but especially satisfying to do it with almost half of the side that won the Premiership missing!

Go the Mighty Bloods!!!!

[Beerman]

Why oh why did Dre take a second bounce??
The first one struggled to come back to him and he was running into the wet zone.
I was screaming at the TV not to try a second bounce in those conditions. Silly play.

I wasn't at the ground and TV angle wasn't great, but I strongly suspect he had nothing to kick to except Carlton players. He had spent the past 20 minutes watching Swans bomb it out of defence only to have it come straight back in again and was probably sick of it.

Also, he knew that the Swans had to take the game on, or lose. And nothing says "taking the game on" like taking a couple of bounces in the wet!

[DK_]

Seeing X. *and* BJ called up gave away The contents of Longmire's pre-game talk:

Longmire: Ok boys! We're a couple short. Anyone know someone who wants a game?
[silence]
Longmire: Kizza - what about your brother? He's pretty sporty, is't he?
Kizza: yeah, s'pose so. I'll talk to him.
Longmire: Anyone else? Ted - your brother's payed a few games hasn't he?
Ted: Yeah, a couple.
Longmire: reckon he'd want a run?
Ted: I don't think he's got anything on. I'll give him a call.

ROFL! That's hilarious!