Match Thread : Swans v Freo , R5 , 2014

[ABloodsMan]

I have been to 3 games for zero wins; now two games watched on TV for 2 wins. I'm doing my bit now.

Don't worry it will come

I went to 5 losses and a draw before I saw my first win live. It turned out to be in a grand final so I guess I can't complain haha.

[giant]

Did anyone see that little grub Ballantyne get two low jabs into Shaw either side of slamming his knees into Shaw's groin while he's on the ground? Always a pleasure beating Freo while they have such lowlifes in their team as Crowley and Ballantyne.

[BloodStainAngel]

Did anyone see that little grub Ballantyne get two low jabs into Shaw either side of slamming his knees into Shaw's groin while he's on the ground? Always a pleasure beating Freo while they have such lowlifes in their team as Crowley and Ballantyne.

Yeah, saw the germ do that, hopefully he's sighted by the MRP....

[Meg]

The sportal.com report of the match suggested that "Lewis Roberts-Thomson may face a please explain for a terrible dive in the first quarter." Has anyone any idea what they are referring to? I saw a couple of Freo players wrestling with LRT off the ball at one stage (I didn't see the start of the incident) but don't think that was the first quarter.

[jono2707]

25,000 against last years grand finalists on a fine sunny day is ordinary.

Didnt freo get 60,000 to an ANZ final?.

Maybe time to take another look at the S C G contract.

There are two perfectly wonderful grounds out at Homebush - there is also an AFL team based out there. In a free country such as ours one is free to follow the team that is based out at that facility....

[Dosser]

What a game, I am still exhausted from watching it on the TV.
For my two cents worth....... what's with the Derickx dislike? No one gets good hit out stats against Sandilands. And besides, all of his stats were better than Pykes but no one is hanging it on him. And neither should they. I would suggest they both played their role last night and that's as it should be. Chill out and enjoy the win everyone.

Happy Easter,
Baskin

I am not sure why everyone is having a go at Derickx the Gaul at the moment. He is a ruckman who has played 6 games of AFL now, so we need to cut him some slack. Sure, he may never be Dean Cox but for goodness sake, he is trying to play his part. I was fascinated to see his ruckwork against Sandilands in the second half as he appeared that he really wasnt contesting for the ball at the bounce - instead, he was simply putting his head down and running into him. That sort of thing must have been an instruction from the coaches, so I think he was simply playing his part.

[longmile]

I am not sure why everyone is having a go at Derickx the Gaul at the moment. He is a ruckman who has played 6 games of AFL now, so we need to cut him some slack. Sure, he may never be Dean Cockx but for goodness sake, he is trying to play his part. I was fascinated to see his ruckwork against Sandilands in the second half as he appeared that he really wasnt contesting for the ball at the bounce - instead, he was simply putting his head down and running into him. That sort of thing must have been an instruction from the coaches, so I think he was simply playing his part.

Derrickx has done a great job and I dont think anyone is having a go at him, its just with Goodes, Tippett and Reid to return its hard seeing all the big boys in the same team with LRT, Pyke and Franklin as well, so Derrickx presents himself as the most obvious option to make room for the others.

[ScottH]

The sportal.com report of the match suggested that "Lewis Roberts-Thomson may face a please explain for a terrible dive in the first quarter." Has anyone any idea what they are referring to? I saw a couple of Freo players wrestling with LRT off the ball at one stage (I didn't see the start of the incident) but don't think that was the first quarter.

IT was either 1st or 3rd, as it was the end of that end of the ground.
I think one of the Freo player bumped him to the ground, just before they were wrestling/jostling with him.
Not sure about a dive. Didn't notice that.

[O'Reilly Boy]

I enjoyed watching Derickz slamming into the Munster all night. Remember no-one thought much of Myke Pyke early on, and Bo D looks increasingly at home amongst the rest of the team. Loved it when he ran back out with the Jason Ball head bandage. If we get everyone on deck (KT, The Australian of the Year, the Reid brother with the dodgy pins, BLT plus Buddy and the Moose) it is hard to see how we can strike a good balance of talls/mediums/smalls, but I'd be reluctant to risk any of them as second ruck, and nervous about not playing two ruckmen. Derickz and Pyke appear to be sharing the role, rather than going 1-2, which may be aimed at holding back Pyke to ruck for the latter parts of games against an opponent who has taken a battering. I reckon LRT will be hardest pressed to keep his spot, unless he plays some time behind the ball?not a bad option. Great to see the smalls up front holding the ball in and pressuring the rebound options.

[liz]

Derrickx has done a great job and I dont think anyone is having a go at him, its just with Goodes, Tippett and Reid to return its hard seeing all the big boys in the same team with LRT, Pyke and Franklin as well, so Derrickx presents himself as the most obvious option to make room for the others.

Sure, but Goodes and Reid aren't (yet) available, and Tippett may only just be. Once all three are ready, I think we'll see one of the young half-forwards give way for Goodes, and Laidler and Derrickx also drop out. If they want to ruck Tippett, LRT might make way instead of Laidler, but LRT provides flexibility to either help out in the ruck or play on resting rucks in defence, as well as move forward to mix things up. Assuming Goodes and Reid are properly fit, they can run far and wide, leaving the 50m arc to Tippett and Buddy.

I think it's the suggestion that Derrickx should make way at this stage for either Naismith (still on the rookie list) or Nankervis that some are questioning. Sure, they are both doing nicely at the moment, but there's a big step up from NEAFL to playing as a human battering ram at senior level, something Derrickx is doing a decent job at right now. If Pyke were to get injured, I could see Nankervis getting his chance, because he does offer something in the forward line.

[wolftone57]

Maybe just usual blaming, but the umpires did seem out to get us tonight

Yes they were a bunch of people with unknown fathers. In facy I think Dalgleish was acting like the illegitimate son of a Babylonian Catamite. Too many easy ones when the real frees were let go. Touch a player in the back even with a finger and gone. give a bear hug or sleeper hold and it's ok. Stupid umpiring and dangerous. Players being held are going to lose it eventually and somebody is going to get hurt.

[wolftone57]

My concerns about the SCG are always raised with clarity and professionalism. It is a pity, Mr Koala, that the same is not afforded Those that pot shot the Anz stadium. Imagine the outrage on here if 25,000 turned up to a prelim replay of last year.

I have a good reason for not liking ANZ. I am in the Red Zone and there are definite black spots there. In other words if the ball is about 10-15 metres from the boundary on the Red Zone side you can't see the play and have to look at the scoreboard vision. Very disconcerting. I get there early but except if you are right next to or behind the goals you are still have restricted vision. If possible my mates & I adjourn to the bar to watch the game at ANZ. Because the bar is not fully glassed in you still retain the atmosphere. I don't think any player can like the surface either.

The other problem with ANZ is that it really is not a home ground but then again nor are Etihad, MCG, Adelaide Oval, Pattersons Stadium, Aurora Stadium (Launceston), Blundstone Arena (Hobart), Cazaly Stadium (Cairns), Startrack Oval (Canberra), TIO Stadium (Darwin) & Westpac Stadium (NZ).

[wolftone57]

25,000 against last years grand finalists on a fine sunny day is ordinary.

Didnt freo get 60,000 to an ANZ final?.

Maybe time to take another look at the S C G contract.

Barry you cannot compare a final to a home and away game. That would be like comparing the Olympics to the Commonwealth Games.

[wolftone57]

Some things that came out of this match;

1. The coaches obviously re-examined the game plan and threw out the long bomb. revised game plan not much different to the Adelaide & Collingwood games last season.

2. Players took a good look at themselves and re-evaluated where they were. Came with much more intensity and they are doing it for each other. Love the camaraderie.

3. Skills were up at least 50% especially after quarter time. Even against Adelaide we were never under such pressure and to operate under such great pressure is a testament to the players durability, grit and skill.

4. We hit the body very hard, tackle count was up immensely.

5. The changes worked to our advantage. Their big bodies counted for nothing because we had the speed and used it on the small patch.

6. Well done the mids for blanketing their mids and HB's for filling the gaps when needed.

7. The backline was not nervous and took the game on. Played like they had confidence. Not like the first four games, yes even Adelaide had nervous moments where players were blaming each other.

8. We found a way to goal against the most miserly team in the AFL.

[ugg]

Ballantyne charged with two separate offences on Shaw - one striking one kneeing.