Match Day Thread Round 6 vs. Melbourne

[liz]

Yeah, I thought something was up with Buddy. He was very subdued - not in the sense he didn't work hard, but his disposal was off, and he didn't have that strut about him that he usually has. That said, it would be strange to play him further up the ground than normal if he was carrying some injury that was restricting him. Indeed, against the Dees it would be very strange to play him at all if he was carrying something.

[Ampersand]

He definitely went through extended form slumps at the Hawks, especially with his goal kicking. That's why I see this win as a pretty major positive. We can't expect him to win us every game as he often did last year. Plus, if there's a good time for a superstar to have a rough patch, I'd much rather it be early in the season.

Anyway, I reckon he'll have a big game against the Cats as he likes the big stage.

[Nico]

Now that you say it I suspect you're right about that. The five off to Richards was one that he would have taken a set shot for every day of the week. The fact that we saw so many more rotations to full forward ( including Richards) makes me think buddy was under instruction to not take any shots for goal. The second half was essentially used as a training exercise by Longmire. That also explains why Melbourne won the second half because Longmire had a whole lot of guys playing out of position so they could gain match practice out of position for the sake of versatility going forward. I think that's wise. The first half was confidence building the second half was training / match practice

If that was match practice in the second half then we made a complete botch of it.
I now agree with people about Rampe's disposal. What is it with him when he has the footy in space, and now wants hang on to the footy and stop and prop. Ok if he is looking for an option but most he picks the wrong option and kicks it way short of his target.
McGlynn gets it in the pocket, looks to centre to a target and proceeds to kick a worm burner. His poor kicking skills are so ingrained in him.
All players were guilty of this one; Tippett and Buddy, or other forward for that, make a lead and we kick it too their opposite side.
Someone made the point of Melbourne double teaming our key forwards so we have a loose man, but the loose man doesn't present. When Rohan presents on the lead he usually gets the mark. So why doesn't he do it more often. He disappears for too long in a match. He had a chance to tear that game apart but it was late in the game when he really showed what he can. I still think we should use him as a ruck rover where he roams the ground and makes space to open up the game with his pace.
Both Kennedy and Parker had plenty of it but Kennedy in particular had a host of horrible kicks forward. Parker just seemed to kick it. Contrast Mitchell who seemed to find space in close when it didn't seem to exist and although appearing to not be a really strong kick, mostly was clean by foot. KJ just seemed to kick in hope.
This is why our scoring percentage on inside 50's has dropped so much. We had 61 to 31 inside 50's and should have won by 100 points. We had 49 clangers to 39. A bad stat for mine given how much free and easy possession we had.
Yes we won it easy and a win is a win, but we will get smashed by good sides with that efficiency and slow and stodgy footy.

[Hotpotato]

Roosey seems to have an issue saying
Sydney or The Swans .
In the Presser kept saying anything but :
"The opposition "
"the other team"
Just thought it was odd ...

[Doctor]

It's probably so he doesn't actually refer to Sydney as "us". Old habits can die hard.

[Gary]

Nico ... I completely agree ... but most on here just seem to be dreaming about this being a satisfactory outing.

[barry]

Harsh judges. The difference between the best and worst teams in the afl is not that great. Any win interstate by more than 30 points is a cause for wild celebration.

[Ludwig]

Nico ... I completely agree ... but most on here just seem to be dreaming about this being a satisfactory outing.

Our goal kicking and disposal in general has been poor this year. But frankly, what can we do? You are talking about some of best players not kicking well. It's the truth, but we've got no one better to bring in. We just have to hope that they get their skill level up.

I watched the PA v WCE game and if you think our kicking is bad I can only imagine what the supporters of both those clubs must be saying. It was an exciting game filled with skill errors from both sides.

The only team that seems to kick straight consistently is Hawthorn, and even they must be doing something wrong to be 3-3 this year. It seems the standard of footy has gone down this year. Even teams playing well don't seem to be able to do it consistently. Every game is a danger game, because you really don't know what team is going to show up on the day. It makes for an interesting year that will frustrate many fans not to mention coaches.

[goods78]

Job done tonight - nothing special, but had more than enough to deal with what Melbourne could throw at us. A bit disappointed we took the foot off the gas in the last quarter and a half.

Kennedy was superb tonight -BOG for mine. Honorable mention for Tom McDonald from Melbourne, he did a fine job on Buddy. He is a really decent defender in the making, stuck playing for a very poor team at the moment.

It was not a bad win, but you are never really going to get a good gauge of how you are going against what I think are a poor opposition.

I really think Longmire is very unhappy about the way we kick the ball in to our forward 50. We have such a good forward line, but so often the ball is not kicked to the forwards advantage. Bird is regularly guilt of it (albeit he is usually under pressure). It's hard to knock any other aspect of his game other than he is a bit slow. Longmire has barely recognised Mitchell for nearly 60 possessions in his first two games - I think he is actually not happy with him. His disposal by hand is Diesel like, but his kicking is well below average (again usually under pressure). Have a look at Longmires reaction to a poor entry by Rohan in the second QTR to Franklin - classic.

[dejavoodoo44]

It's probably so he doesn't actually refer to Sydney as "us". Old habits can die hard.

Yes, and I suspect that I'm one of the many Swans fans who still see Roosy as one of us. In fact, I probably think of him as the head of our academy, who's on a bit of leave, rather than an opposition coach.

[swanwolf]

Well done putting the moz on Heeney
Sorry should have put a wink in there

The Geelong players look so fit, don't they? I hope they're not struck down with something just before our game. Well, nothing contagious anyway.

The match was not so bad, still much work to be done and we can build from here. I think injuries spooked us a little so we dialled it back in the 4th, understandably cautious. Which would you rather; crush the Demons by a ton or Tippo and Teddy out 4-6 weeks? No heroes this round but no villains either, a fairly even contribution to my eyes. Our skills are on the improve, yes really, and though our inside 50's could be far cleaner, our inaccuracy at goal (unlike our last premiership year) is biting us big time. Crack the whip, Nick!

[AnnieH]

So glad we won, yet so upset we let them in during the last quarter.
It should have been a total whitewash.
Kicking 1.7 is not very good for our percentages.

[dimelb]

So glad we won, yet so upset we let them in during the last quarter.
It should have been a total whitewash.
Kicking 1.7 is not very good for our percentages.

So was I upset - I lost the chance of a 5 point bonus for the biggest margin in my footy tipping comp!

[Kelpie_X]

The Geelong players look so fit, don't they? I hope they're not struck down with something just before our game. Well, nothing contagious anyway.

[ugg]

Coaches' votes, interestingly none for Mitchell from both coaches

Melbourne v Sydney Swans
10 Josh Kennedy (Syd)
6 Tom McDonald (Melb)
4 Kieren Jack (Syd)
3 Jarrad McVeigh (Syd)
3 Luke Parker (Syd)
2 Lewis Jetta (Syd)
2 Kurt Tippett (Syd)

Breakdown:
5 Kennedy, Kennedy
4 McDonald, Jack
3 McVeigh, Parker
2 Jetta/Tippett, McDonald
1 Tippett/Jetta, Tippett/Jetta