Rnd 9 Match Day Thread. Hawthorn V Sydney. MCG. 19.50 pm.

[Billericay]

Mark Stevens saying Teddy may miss next week with concussion...

[gossipcom]

Teddy may miss next week due to the concussion rule. Honestly with his history (like Tippett's) I'd be resting him even if it is against the Roos since his welfare is more important, etc.

[undy]

Has Wayne Carey had his eyes done???

I think that's a cybernetic Wayne. They call the feeling you get when looking at an almost realistic robot the 'uncanny valley'

[dejavoodoo44]

Really impressed by Hewett. He's going to get a lot of htb frees paid his way and a lot of over the shoulder as well. Really composed and up for the big game.

Yes, I was really impressed by his composure in heavy traffic tonight. Mills was also making a lot of good decisions under pressure as well.

[Blue Sun]

It was great to see Kirk behind the players when they were singing the song. Back in the red and white where he belongs. Tom Mitchell was incredible, held Sam Mitchell to bugger all disposals and racked up 20 or so himself. Awesome stuff.

Re Buddy, its a little scary that opposition have to be actively thinking about where he is if a Swan has a mark 60-70m from goal. Bizarre that the biggest danger is behind rather than a lead up mark closer goal. He makes those goals look easy too. Truly a massive weapon to have.

[bloodsbigot]

No pleasing some people bloodsbigot

We always beat Hawthorn without Hodge. I'm happy, but would really like to see us steamroll them ala Giants.

Also, preferably a win at the right end of the season. We did the exact same thing last season. Now let's see them beat these scumbags at the SCG.

[Billericay]

Very good win tonight.
Mills had a torrid time out there against a classy opponent, perhaps too big a job at this stage of his career but he did some good things and never have up. Hard to believe the kid is a teenager.

I didn't mind Horse leaving Mills on Gunston at this stage of his career. Good experience and it didn't cost us the game.

[Hotpotato]

Alot of players I had question marks over were awesome tonight. Hewett was huge.
Tippett is a star, and somehow underrated by all of us.
Rohan did some amazing things when it mattered, lets hope he doesnt go missing in the next few weeks.
Only player I'm still suspect on is McVeigh. Seems slow and his decision making seems shot.

McVeigh is fine...
Sinclair struggled under the blowtorch of a big occasion .

[gossipcom]

Horse to Heeney - try not to injure yourself by taking a speccie with 5 secs to go. j/k

[Billericay]

It was great to see Kirk behind the players when they were singing the song. Back in the red and white where he belongs.

How much of an influence has Brett Kirk had? He was the heart and soul of the Swans when he was a player

[Mug Punter]

I didn't mind Horse leaving Mills on Gunston at this stage of his career. Good experience and it didn't cost us the game.

I agree, he is getting the ultimate on-the-job training at the moment. He did OK on an elite opponent and never dropped his head

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How much of an influence has Brett Kirk had? He was the heart and soul of the Swans when he was a player

Our most important signing by a mile

[mcs]

Lets hope that is the breakout game for Hewett - he is composed, creates space and time for himself, and can seriously use the ball. The guy can play, and he will hopefully take huge confidence from tonight. I've seen him rip it up at NEAFL level, and I think he can do it at AFL level as well.

Great to have Rohan back. Didn't get much of the ball, but you can see the difference having that extra quicker player up forward in the team can make. Needs to find more of the footy, but can make a real difference for us.

Our back 6 were superb tonight, even after the early loss of Teddy. Grundy was immense - a good recovery after a poor game last week (or just a reversion to his superb form for most of the season), Rampe was great and Mills continues to develop.

Lloyd continues to grow as a player as well - he played well tonight, which was something he needed to do in a big game. Harry C is beginning to find more of the ball as well, and finally getting a harder edge to his footy - I liked a lot of his work tonight!

Kudos also to Mitchell - did a superb job on the grub, and won that contest very well, a big win and a string to his bow we haven't seen so much of it. A really good performance and really shut the grub out of the game.

Finally Tippo - much maligned by so many but did his role to the absolute 't' tonight - a superb game.

Oh and yeh there is that guy called Buddy - words don't describe what he can do when he is in form like this. He doesn't need to be in the game all night when he can pull out what he did late in the game. He is the key to our Premiership aspirations - if he is fit and firing, even if as a whole we don't play well, we can find ways to win the close ones!

Cheer Cheer - just what the doctor ordered after last week's meek surrender!

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How much of an influence has Brett Kirk had? He was the heart and soul of the Swans when he was a player

Absolutely - it is really becoming clear that he is doing more than his fair share in reinjecting some 'bloods' culture back into our club - after what could have been terminal damage at the end of 2014. So great to have him back at the club!

[i'm-uninformed2]

Our 25 and under midfield. Hanners Mitchell Parker Mills Hewett Heeney. Oh boy. Also thought Harry did some hard work tonight

[mcs]

McVeigh is fine...
Sinclair struggled under the blowtorch of a big occasion .

Sinclair is doing a lot right. If his hands stop letting him down and he starts clunking some marks again, he will be more than playing his role. It is reassuring he is getting in the right positions, and he can lay a tackle too. I like him and think he will be a solid servant for us.

[Luke Shannon]

Very good win tonight.

Rohan did some brilliant things, Hanners was good again and Mitchell did a great job on his sniper namesake. Rampe and Reg were huge at the back.

Good to see Hewett stand up when the going got tough as I have felt he's gone missing before but not today.

Mills had a torrid time out there against a classy opponent, perhaps too big a job at this stage of his career but he did some good things and never have up. Hard to believe the kid is a teenager.

Benny again showed how important he is for the team

And Buddy just gave us the touch of class we need at the end.

No real negatives for me except Ted's concussion which didn't look too bad but I'm glad we put his welfare first (as we always do), I could see us erring on the side of caution here and certainly perhaps wearing headgear for the rest of his career.

Jones seems more and more self assured as a senior footballer and I'd say he's not going to play much NEAFL going forward.

McVeigh was a bit of a concern but I just think he is feeling his way back into form but I'm sure the usual critics will be ion his case.

Hard to see how anyone can be dropped for next week really

People won't like this, but Ted going out gave our defence more speed and agility that matched up better on what the Hawks provided. He will have a match up next week as North have Petrie, Waite and Brown.

Mills has excellent closing speed for a defender and ended up matched up on Gunston a couple of times. He came through that baptism very well.

Hewitt has class, time and poise. Delivered well by foot.

Rohan showed why he will never be given up on. Great come back game.

Tippett was pivotal and Rampe must now be in all Australian contention.

The Hawks really are a triumvirate of Hodge, Roughead and Mitchiell. Two of those guys were out and Mitchell was quiet. If all three of those guys had played then we would have lost.