Swans V Bombers. Match Day Thread.

[crackedactor]

Another thing, I thought the umpires were generous too us tonight. Maybe the first time I have ever thought that

I thought we also got the beter of the umps tonight, which is the first time this year, very unlike last week. Just my summary..1. When its tough and the game is on the line don't you just love luke parker 2. Benny Mcglynn has taken his game to another level. 3. Come on Horse.. Jake Lyold is the real deal, he no sub. 4. I am still surprised as to how Towers gets a game every week. 5 Tippett is definetly not 100% fit.

[dimelb]

A frustrating game for much of the time, possibly due to the conditions: dropped ball, turnovers, Essendon getting clearances more easily, and not forgetting the high wind swirling around the SCG. At the same time a very intense game through the middle with lots of pressure from both sides, forcing errors from both.

I know we use the zoning off approach a lot in defence, but I sometimes wish we'd mark opposition players more closely, as other teams do to us.

I agree with others on Ben McGlynn - Mr Perpetual Motion, and an obvious inspiration to the rest of the team. He makes an outstanding crumbing forward, and I feel much happier when I see him bobbing up in scrimmages. Also for some reason he seems to be awarded a lot of frees for high contact ...

Membrey made a good start, Towers looks as if he belongs out there, Parker was impressive as was Kennedy. The defenders worked hard and were generally well co-ordinated. I think Tippett may be rusty rather than carrying an injury. The mids will just have to get used to working under such intense pressure, it aint gonna drop off any time soon. I can't wait for Hannebery to get back.

[DK_]

We did what we needed to do tonight. Newbies did well. Membrey provided lots of leads, Towers pressure and ball movement.

Overall, the team looked tired, particularly in the second half. Might be the six day turnaround, but I suspect the pre-finals training has begun. Standby for some tired bodies over the next few weeks.

[Swansinger]

I agree

Me three ! Not just his workrate , but his fearless approach as well.And 80 % d/e is pretty darn good.

[Ludwig]

I thought Nick 'Please Don't Go' Malceski was great tonight. Grundy was also very solid. Others have mentioned the obvious ones.

I too felt Tippett was a bit off this game, but not sure why. I was also disappointed with Towers' commitment to the contest at times. He also had a few opportunities to do something special, but didn't; I think you have to have one or the other. It was a good first up performance by Membrey.

[liz]

That was definitely a bit of a grind but happy to come away with the win. Started well but didn't convert as we should have, especially in the second quarter (notwithstanding we were kicking to the more difficult end of the ground to score at). Efforts definitely seemed to drop off in the third quarter and we were lucky that Essendon and the conditions conspired to limit their scoring. Dug in deep in the final quarter and they were never truly challenged once that quarter got underway.

Surprised to see someone criticising Pyke earlier in the thread. I thought he was one of the few who really held their own in the third quarter when the team as a whole seemed to be struggling. Also thought Jetta kept the hard work up when others slipped, and Benny was, well, Benny for pretty much the whole game.

[rojo]

Well, one of the games we needed to win done and dusted. I know that Macca and Kizza along with Kennedy get a lot of close attention each week but Macca and especially Kieran don't seem to be making anywhere near the same impact this year that they did last year. Benny and Parks however seem to be making up for it which is great to see. It will be good for them all to get Hanners back in the mix.

If you had to choose between KT and Goodesy at the moment you would definitely have to go with Goodesy. Hopefully with each game played though KT will build up some sort of fitness but he didn't seem to be moving any better tonight than he was last week. He was certainly not ready to be the 'main man' but on reflection he did as well as Carlisle did, maybe better!

[Swanno]

I agree Tippett wasn't at his best tonight and be it injury or match fitness, let's remember he did mostly have 2 defenders to contend with, although that doesn't excuse his one-on-one contests. He's definitely a player who benefits from having Franklin in the team.

[Bleed Red Blood]

just viewed the game, am pretty pleased, typical swans game, just we score that little bit more these days, being able to get to high 80s, low 90s without any forward in particular dominating, just having good patches, especially Adam..genius. JPK, bird, parker, mcveigh, had good games tho essendon(chappy, heppell) we're still able to get it forward at pivotal times, but our defense one the game, Ted and Reg don't rarely panic these days and were superb again,, Shaws return seemed seamless, and Rohan, wow, what a beast.
lot of upside in our attacking game, just gotta fine tune how best to arrange the big four up forward.
have seen essendon a fair bit this year, they gave it a crack, but it was always on our terms. just gotta ice it.

[DA_Swan]

Good to get the win as Essendon were certainly well organised and stopped us from moving the ball quickly - was a tough night for the forwards of both teams with the conditions - in relation to Pyke he was very good for most of the game - just made a couple of skill errors which stood out and reminds you that he does not do things naturally and sometimes you don't want him to have the ball when we are trying to move the ball quickly - Tippet just needs to play footy and great to see Rohan running around all over the place - that he can go forward and back is proving a real bonus - would be nice to give K Jack a break before the finals if we get that luxury

[AMcK3220]

blue collar - toughed it out - got the job done. And Lance got to recover from the "booooo-ing" of last week.. Sound result.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Rohan can only get better and as mentioned plenty of upside

Two very tight games in different styles the last two weeks and I think Gary for a guy who has played such a small amount of footy the last few years and secondly play a new role he is improving.........yes a few hurried decisions but I would rather him find the role now then in a final

Laidler can come back in anytime and play his role but Gary can offer more if he can minimise his errors

- - - Updated - - -

Last comment for me was that we generally played the game in the areas of our strengths and therefore played the game on our terms

Bombers did well to have a crack too though and are no bunnies

[sharp9]

Still can't get the Holden out of third gear. For me the thing I'm most desperate to see amended is the fumbling ground balls and the stupid little dinky handballs/knock ons to no one in particular when there is a lot of traffic. JUST TAKE POSSESSION OF THE BLOODY BALL AND THEN DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH IT....which brings me to the other (related) problem of making terrible decisions - always ending up being too cute...like Benny in 20 metres of space on the wing...no decent option so runs in a circle till there are 3 t players around him and then handballs over his shoulder to the ground!. Just flippin' kick it long down the wing if you have to. There were AT LEAST 15 examples of that sort of terrible brain action. Several of their goals came not from hideous clanger kicks but from not doing the basics PROPERLY....namely when the ball needs to be won and you are first to it - claim the ball. McGlynn is a serial offender (even though he was BOG). We just don't seem to understand that IT MATTERS whether you pick up the ball on the HFF. McGlynn's other stuff up should have been a goal when he managed to turn over the ball in our fifty as we looked for all money like scoring....what did he do? Ran around the bouncing ball then sort of did a stupid slap to nowhere.....straight down the other end for a 20 metre set shot (miss). TAKE POSSESSION and this would not be a problem. Stop trying to be so damn cute all the time. Pyke had a few....Rohan had lots. I'm optimistic that we can fix it - but we are like this EVERY single time there is decent pressure (Carlton, Melbourne, Richmond).

As others have alluded to Towers. Pyke, Rohan and Bird had a few occasions when they did not SEE BALL GET BALL....I guess they are thinking about what they are going to do with it before they have won possession....but the result is that the ball is knocked out of their hands just as it goes in - and what should be a decent possession or a ball up repeatedly ended with the Bombers streaming it down the field. You know that doesn't happen to Hodge, Mitchell and Selwood (or Kennedy). If we are going to be accused of playing Rugby then the least we can do is take that aspect of the game and do it properly!

If we tidy this up we are the favourites for the flag. I said it at half time against Carlton...if we had not fumbled the first possessions or let the ball fall out of our hands as soon as we get it then we would have been at least 5 goals up instead of 7 points (in that game)....the following quarter we fixed it and we scored 10 goals.

I know a lot of commentators point out that the Swans games are often horrible to watch (Carlton, Melbourne, Richmond, Essendon) - but it is not anything to do with our game plan....we plan fantastic footy WHEN WE DO THE BASICS RIGHT...and I'll hammer it again....if we had picked the ball up properly we would have double thrashed Carlton and beaten Melbourne and Richmond and GWS by the correct amount (70-80) instead of 20-30. Last night should have been a comfortable 50 point win.

On the other hand it's all good because we remain the underdog :-)

[DA_Swan]

Yep - i agree we don't do cute very well - looks great when it comes off though !!! - we tried to play on a few times and well it was funny after we got the final result !!

[giant]

What a joy to watch Goodesy last night? He made a pretty good replacement for the Main Show.