Sydney Swans Vs Gold Coast Suns

[Ampersand]

Agree with other posters regarding the terrible umpiring but didn't expect anything less from the two worst umpires in the comp (Chamberlain, McInerney).

[Ampersand]

Also needs to be said that Ablett is a phenomenal footballer. Despite being tagged and sometimes double teamed his instincts to get into space and grab the ball are second to none. He and Fyfe are the pair I love watching most (only when we're not playing them though!)

[Melbournehammer]

I agree this should happen, but the MRP is a raffle at the moment.

Buddy should take a leaf from our hard nut leaders - Benny and Parker. Make them earn the possession, hit hard and fair. He has to give up the cheapies and lazy indiscretions.

Old dog. New tricks.

- - - Updated - - -

The message is you can bump but if any head high contact is made you'll be responsible even if the bump is fair

That's why coaches have said that they don't want players to bump anymore. I guess Buddy didn't get the memo from Horse

Ugg speaks the truth. This is why franklin who is so tall but currently has the athleticism of a midfielder struggles. His shoulder is head height for those midfielders and half back flankers. Was the impact low or of insufficient force - that is the only question here.

[Melbournehammer]

We have been spoiled by the Geelong win - nowhere near as sharp today but it was still a good to win. I think the highlight for me was our kicking for goal. So good to see Reid kicking with confidence and Harry just splits the middle each time. You can relax when Parks and Lloyd have set shots and Buddy indeed provides the excitement. At long last Jets kicked a goal on the run.

It is hard to work out how we won actually, the Suns skills seemed to be better than ours - except kicking for goal - and they matched us for stats in most areas. Was our forward structure different today? It seemed to work so well when KT stayed in the goals with Buddy further up the field and either Goodes or Reid hovering. Today the forward line seemed a lot more congested with a return to bombing it in long to a pack of players.

I suspect everyone has got a bit ahead of themselves with a win against the rebuilding and understaffed cats, as we did against the crows last year.

Too many times our tall forwards were playing from behind, and were two against one. Too often our players were drawn to chipping the ball to the contest rather than having the shot. Mcglynn showed with the pass to Cunningham what needs to be done. If they are playing the loose man in front of Tippett or buddy look to the small forward leading away from goal because their man will be sagging back to Tippett etc. we are currently conditioned to long bomb and having our crumbers charge the pack. What we would give for a Morton type (membrey ?) who consistently leads away because that opens up a whole range of other opportunities.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

If you just read a few comments here and didn't check the score, you'd be forgiven for thinking we lost.

[giant]

The main difference between this week's game and last week's was the performance of the opposition not the Swans'. Gold Coast actually came to play, compared to the limp wristed efforts of the Cats last week.

[Dosser]

Well, I feel I have to mention a few points here.
- the Suns are a seriously good team. This is the first time I have seen them play this year and I think that their spine is amazing with some great runners as well. In fact, their two key backs are so good that we had to drag Tippett and Franklin away from goals after halftime to see if our third tall (Reid) could do anything. Reid kicked 3 which forced the Suns to activate their sub and then we had to revert to our previous structure. Also, how good is O'Meara? The boy just oozes class and the entire midfield has a mentor like Ablett to learn from. I think we will all be in some serious trouble in one more season.
- Can you believe how high their ruckman (Smith?) can jump? Poor old Obelix was at the centre bounce waiting for the ball to come down and all of a sudden he has got a pair of knees on his shoulders. If our ruck had more experience he may have taken more of his space, but it is no wonder they were getting the taps. I am not sure if Pyke would have fared better.
- As has been mentioned, Harry's kicking for goal looks breathtaking at the moment. There is no swing or deviation, no hint of anything but perpendicular rotation and the ball sails through the exact centre. At 20 years of age, this kid can develop into a seriously good defensive forward.
- How far can Mackenzie kick? I laughed when he set up to take that shot after the siren as he was about 60m out and I thought the torp would be his only option. To kick a drop punt that sailed through the behinds at half-post height is scary.
- At the end of the day, we got 4 points over a team that has beaten many others. Let's bank those now and move on to next week.

[Jewels]

The main difference between this week's game and last week's was the performance of the opposition not the Swans'. Gold Coast actually came to play, compared to the limp wristed efforts of the Cats last week.

Yep, my thoughts also

Well, I feel I have to mention a few points here.
- the Suns are a seriously good team. This is the first time I have seen them play this year and I think that their spine is amazing with some great runners as well. In fact, their two key backs are so good that we had to drag Tippett and Franklin away from goals after halftime to see if our third tall (Reid) could do anything. Reid kicked 3 which forced the Suns to activate their sub and then we had to revert to our previous structure. Also, how good is O'Meara? The boy just oozes class and the entire midfield has a mentor like Ablett to learn from. I think we will all be in some serious trouble in one more season.
- Can you believe how high their ruckman (Smith?) can jump? Poor old Obelix was at the centre bounce waiting for the ball to come down and all of a sudden he has got a pair of knees on his shoulders. If our ruck had more experience he may have taken more of his space, but it is no wonder they were getting the taps. I am not sure if Pyke would have fared better.
- As has been mentioned, Harry's kicking for goal looks breathtaking at the moment. There is no swing or deviation, no hint of anything but perpendicular rotation and the ball sails through the exact centre. At 20 years of age, this kid can develop into a seriously good defensive forward.
- How far can Mackenzie kick? I laughed when he set up to take that shot after the siren as he was about 60m out and I thought the torp would be his only option. To kick a drop punt that sailed through the behinds at half-post height is scary.
- At the end of the day, we got 4 points over a team that has beaten many others. Let's bank those now and move on to next week.

Brilliant post, nailed it on every point.

[Nico]

I am a lot more sympathetic to Sammy. Could you imagine his current job description? Sammy - this week we want you to provide a contest in the ruck (I know you have not played their much - but do your best) when Tom is not around and make sure you are available for get out kicks from defence up on the wing. If we are struggling down back, we might need you to go in to defence for a while and take care of a key position player or at least be the spare down there. We might also need you forward if Tippo and Buddy are being well held to take a 3rd or 4th forward role - kick a couple of goals whilst you are there. Chase those pesky midfielders around the ground and make plenty of tackles - lots of pressure please!
Poor Sammy - I would not be surprised if he is bringing the cut up oranges to the game ATM as well.

My point on Sam is that he didn't do enough and wasn't competetive enough when the ball hit the ground. His stats were 5 kicks, 6 handpasses and 3 marks. Those 3 marks were in his purple patch in the 3rd quarter as were 3 of his kicks. He got those marks playing out of the square. When he was up on the wing we had noone in the forward line hence no structure. Why does he need to be on the wing to take a mark from a dfensive kick. He drops too many chest marks that he should swallow. Right now if you were to drop a big man he is first in the queue.

[Nico]

Moron comment aside... I apologise for that. Uncalled for. But quite simply, coaches lie.
I challenge you next week to watch all of Reid's possessions forward of 50, and note his ineffectiveness under pressure. Report back and if I'm wrong I'll happily rescind my comments of him being played out of position.

As for the Tippet comment of where he got hurt in ruck... again I apologise to you. Was just going off what I believe another poster had posted.(?) Like I said, I never caught the whole game. Only up until half time. Waiting on the Fox replay because it never recorded for me.

But I stand by my opinion that Tippet should never Ruck and that Reid is playing out of position and therefore a weakness in our team. Up forward, he is OK. But beyond forward 50 he is a liability. It's not like he is a sublime kick feeding the forwards or anything like that.

I was that other poster and I will go to my grave saying Tippett should never ruck. He has tendonitis and other issues with a knee. Rucking at centre bounces requires a verticle leap and landing on one leg. Remember Goodes doing his knee in Perth. He hasn't rucked since. I think it is a hige risk rucking him and putting in jeopardy what is a great forward structure. He has more chance of getting a knock on the knee rucking than playing full forward.

[Swansongster]

I thought today was another good win.. I don't feel we ever reached top gear.. I think we were somewhat sloppy and nowhere near our best in all areas of our disposal.. What is up with Jetta.. He seems to look quite down on himself at the moment.. When he kicked a goal in the last qtr a whole bunch of guys went to him to congratulate him like it was his 1st ever goal.. Is there anything in that ?

I noticed that too and it worried me. The way the boys rallied around looked very much like he is amidst some personal issues and they wanted him to know they care. Probably not fair to speculate what they might be but ... homesickness, family, relationship perhaps?

[goods78]

My point on Sam is that he didn't do enough and wasn't competetive enough when the ball hit the ground. His stats were 5 kicks, 6 handpasses and 3 marks. Those 3 marks were in his purple patch in the 3rd quarter as were 3 of his kicks. He got those marks playing out of the square. When he was up on the wing we had noone in the forward line hence no structure. Why does he need to be on the wing to take a mark from a dfensive kick. He drops too many chest marks that he should swallow. Right now if you were to drop a big man he is first in the queue.

I agree yesterday was not his best game, but I do not accept he would be the first big man dropped. He is the most flexible player in the team and the coaching staff are always singing his praises. He does drop the occasional sitter, but he also plucks plenty. Most of the marks he drops come when the has easily beaten his opponent and is in the clear. He works really hard and then when he is free and clear his concentration just drops off. This will improve over time. I would love to have a look at the GPS tracker stats for the players (so would the opposition coaches)!

[Conor_Dillon]

Not sure if anybody has mentioned this or not yet but we've won 8 quarters of footy in a row against high quality opposition...doesn't happen very often and is something to be proud of

[RogueSwan]

I haven't read any of this thread yet but
This was the only game I get to see live this year and it was a very dull crowd a far a Swans fans went. I was in bay 105 and apart from a few voices it was as though people were siting on their hands. Very disappointing. Fair enough that it wasn't a home game but c'mon people.
I'm sure none were RWOers :-)

[aardvark]

Rhyce Shaw = Jeckyl and Hyde. Brilliant against Geelong, hideous against GC. His disposal by foot was dreadful this week.