Round 2: Sydney Swans Reserves v WSU Giants @ Blacktown

[ugg]

Jack was definitely injured in the last quarter. Finished on the bench.

Some highlights
TubeChop - Chop YouTube Videos - coast to coast Hebron goal

TubeChop - Chop YouTube Videos - Rose intercept mark for his fourth and the sealer

[Ludwig]

Went through the replay. It was an entertaining and competitive game for the NEAFL, especially compared to last week v Brisbane. There's a real advantage having your own reserves side, especially one that includes potential future players from the academy. We were able to play Towers and Dawson in the midfield for large parts of the game. I think it will benefit Towers with his tackling. He could make a good midfielder with his ability to burst from the contest at centre bounces.

If Towers would throw himself into the contests like Rose does, he'd be a star. I think Rose is perhaps a better choice than Towers atm for senior selection. He competes hard in both the marking contests and at ground level. He also has a natural goal sense. He spent a fair bit of time in the midfield, particularly during our 4th qtr surge.

I thought Colin O'Riordan actually was our second best player. He was very impressive. He has a physical presence, reads the play well, good pace and a Buddy type kicking action. I know he can kick left footed because I viewed some of his Gaelic football where he did it regularly.

I wish the commentators would just call Aliir 'Aliir' instead of always having to call him 'Aliir Allir'. For every other player it seems that one name is enough, so it seems even more ridiculous to have the one exception be for a player with the same first and last names. Besides that, I thought Aliir was very good. He's got a lot of talent. It's difficult to know sometimes if he's playing his role or he's just winging it. He often looked to be playing loose man in defence, but maybe that's just he way he covers his man. There were times I thought he could have shown more urgency chasing the man with the ball. He seemed to take control of the defensive coverage at times, which I also wondered whether it was a coaching instruction or something he took upon himself, as it would seem more natural that the role would go to Richards who has more experience.

We didn't see much of Melican last year so he's like a new player on the list. I wouldn't be surprised to see him fill out to a Rance type body. They're both listed at 194cm. Maybe the rest will follow. He shows some promise. Did some nice things, but made some mistakes as well, as young players do. He has some good pace too. I'm looking forward to see his development over the coming weeks.

We have a good stock of medium forwards and defenders running around. We just need a couple of KPPs to come through.

[dimelb]

Thanks ugg and others for your comments. I'm sorry we weren't able to see this as a curtain riser for the seniors, but I think it was a fair call to have the women's game instead. They are going to be a much more prominent feature of the AFL landscape in a short time.

It is exciting to hear - and see by replay - the form of our youngsters. The depth issue seems like much less of a problem than it was at the end of last year. Roll on the twos!

[ugg]

[penga]

Can anyone please give a detailed appraisal on Dawson, from the last two weeks, at all? I'm fantasising about him becoming our Jake Stringer.

As a side note, I find it crazy that a 190cm player, these days, is considered a medium forward, when the likes of Dunstall, at 188cm, in yesteryear, was considered a key forward. My other fantasy is for Heeney, wearing the correct number, is our Gary Ablett Sr..

[Pmcc2911]

Another good game from Jake Veale (judging from the stats at least).

[ugg]

Another good game from Jake Veale (judging from the stats at least).

The official stats robbed him of a goal too. Both from 50m penalties though.

[Ludwig]

Can anyone please give a detailed appraisal on Dawson, from the last two weeks, at all? I'm fantasising about him becoming our Jake Stringer.

As a side note, I find it crazy that a 190cm player, these days, is considered a medium forward, when the likes of Dunstall, at 188cm, in yesteryear, was considered a key forward. My other fantasy is for Heeney, wearing the correct number, is our Gary Ablett Sr..

Dawson and Stringer have different presentations. Stringer is energetic, strong and elusive, while Dawson is a more composed deliberate player who doesn't show much emotion out on the field. Dawson is a strong mark and very good long accurate kick of the footy. We played him a lot at the centre bounces on Saturday, not his usual position, which was clearly part of his development. I think we are in the process of rounding out his game. He seems like an intelligent player and a good decision maker. He has that size where he can be useful in many positions. I feel he will end up as 3rd forward option, many because he can nail set shots from beyond 50. He could be more like a Jack Gunston type than a Stringer type. He's done very well in his 2 NEAFL games.

[Mountain Man]

The kick to handball ratio for both teams is very high - us more so. Is this normal for NEAL calibre teams?

[ugg]

NEAFL MVP votes
9: James Rose (Sydney)
9: Jack Steele (GIANTS)
3: Adam Tomlinson (GIANTS)
3: Dean Towers (Sydney)
2: Jacob Hopper (GIANTS)
2: Colin O?Riordan (Sydney)
1: Jake Barrett (GIANTS)
1: Nick Haynes (GIANTS)

[Dan]

Dawson and Stringer have different presentations. Stringer is energetic, strong and elusive, while Dawson is a more composed deliberate player who doesn't show much emotion out on the field. Dawson is a strong mark and very good long accurate kick of the footy. We played him a lot at the centre bounces on Saturday, not his usual position, which was clearly part of his development. I think we are in the process of rounding out his game. He seems like an intelligent player and a good decision maker. He has that size where he can be useful in many positions. I feel he will end up as 3rd forward option, many because he can nail set shots from beyond 50. He could be more like a Jack Gunston type than a Stringer type. He's done very well in his 2 NEAFL games.

So sort of like what Tim Membrey was (or how the coaches wanted him to be at least)?

[YvonneH]

So sort of like what Tim Membrey was (or how the coaches wanted him to be at least)?

Is Tim Membrey still at the Saints as I haven't noticed him during the first 3 games?

[chalbilto]

Yes. He has been named as a emergency.