First Qualifying Final: Fremantle v Sydney

[Ludwig]

It's sad to see us lose after we outplayed them in most areas of the game.

Obviously the poor goal kicking alone was enough to decide the contest in the end. We had several unfit players (Rohan, Heeney and McGlynn) and several others had poor games (BJ, Lloyd and Jetta).

Goodes was fantastic and if he can produce this sort of game even on an irregular basis, I would love to see him go on another season.

Jones and Towers showed a lot of promise.

I don't know what we will do next week, because we are going to be a very tired and inexperienced side and may have to carry a few unfit players as well.

[treespirit]

Well, we @@@@@@ that up. While extremely proud of the team, we blew it. Can't fault their effort and Bloods spirit out there today, but until we can arrest the slide in skills and kicking for goal, we are not going to go too far. Proud, but very frustrated! Also, Freo are gone......as far as the flag is concerned. WC outright favourites now......but I'm still not writing us off, yet.

Saved me typing it.

[CJK]

This is weird, but I thought the umpiring was excellent.

Really weird.

[Ludwig]

This is weird, but I thought the umpiring was excellent.

Really weird.

Your're right. It was one of the best umpired games I've seen for a while.


This year is looking a lot like 2013 when injuries effectively ruined our chances for a serious go at the title. It makes you appreciate what a lost opportunity last year was when we had our best side on the park.

[rojo]

How could we stuff up so badly in front of goal! The great thing was the heart and determination shown right to the end. Jetta was the player who disappointed me most. He is now an experienced player and there is no excuse for him not to contribute more. He has undisputed talent but uses it very sparingly.

It is going to be so hard next week. There is no one much left to bring in for Reid, and BJ and Benny who were useless. The work load on the others may be too much to carry, especially if Rohan and Jetta play another game like today.

[Swanny40519]

Really proud of the team tonight. All the so called experts were writing us off and only our bad kicking cost us the game.

Joey, Hanners, Towers, Tippo, Mitchell, Goodes and our overworked defence really led the way. Unfortunately the workload was not carried across the team and Rohan, BJ, Cunningham and Benny must be very disappointed with their games.

Hope that we have enough fit players for next week as Heeney and Rohan looked very sore.

[Zlatorog]

OK, they have 7 days to prepare themselves for SF on Saturday at ANZ stadium. Even if they win, they will face WCE in Perth the following week.

Edit: Ok, it's been confirmed on the AFL website: it's on Saturday at ANZ stadium at 7.20 p.m.

[Bexl]

Pissed off about the result but as long as we keep doing that kind of effort anything is possible I believe.

[Scottee]

It's sad to see us lose after we outplayed them in most areas of the game.

Obviously the poor goal kicking alone was enough to decide the contest in the end. We had several unfit players (Rohan, Heeney and McGlynn) and several others had poor games (BJ, Lloyd and Jetta).

Goodes was fantastic and if he can produce this sort of game even on an irregular basis, I would love to see him go on another season.

Jones and Towers showed a lot of promise.

I don't know what we will do next week, because we are going to be a very tired and inexperienced side and may have to carry a few unfit players as well.

Massive opportunity lost. Better than the anchors.

Hopefully we get Smiffy in the side along with either Bird (if fit) or a KPP.

Can't imagine Rohan doing that 2 weeks in a row. McGlynn, sorry mate. BJ gets another go because there are no other midfielders.

Agree about Goodsey.Hope he plays on!

[Bexl]

Franklin will not play next match.

[neilfws]

So a full strength Freo at home with 13 ins rested beat severely depleted Swans by less than 2 goals. Someone will take them apart further down the line.

Not much else to say, too many if onlys.

[goswannies]

Franklin will not play next match.

You've heard this or you're speculating this?

[MarshallG]

The term 'mental illness' is as broad as 'alternative music'.

Nonetheless as much as I would love to see Budster out there next week, if he thought he wasn't right to play today, it is unlikely he will next week, but what do I know.

Reid going down is a massive hit, I wonder that that is going to do Buddy, as if he didn't have enough on his plate.

Missed Smith and I'm getting the feeling Fanta Pants is not a big game player.

Awesome effort after a crippling Q1.

[mcsquirta]

New rule. Shawry is not allowed to retire until he kicks a bloody goal! I'd say he played like a 25 year old but he actually played better than Jetta & Rohan combined.

Such a high pressure game, 5 senior players down, a handful of players who didn't bother show up, hostile redneck crowd, and we still ran the minor premiers to 9 points (which could have been just 3 points if luck went our way). Fully committed to the Dean Towers Appreciation society now but I'll give Jetta the bus fare whenever he wants to head west. The Red & White doesn't suit him any more, one of the few experienced players who didn't stand up. Heeney's got a better footy brain than Rohan - did the major humiliation last year affect Gaz in any positive way whatsoever?

Apart from that, I couldn't be more proud of the rest of us... We put Hawthorn to absolute shame!

[Scottee]

On reflection, one of the most worrying aspects of the game was one of the most positive. Two of the top 5 players in terms of possessions and who were both highly effective are Shawry and Goodsey. Shaw was terrific and Goodes was brilliant.

To think we might lose both these guys in a week's time is a sad thought.