Rnd 17 MDT. Sydney V Hawthorn. SCG. 19.20 pm.

[aardvark]

I'm with you. I thought he did far more good than not tonight.

He competes well and makes solid contributions mostly. I think the obvious answer to the problem is to not have him on the ground at the end of the game when its there to be won.

[aardvark]

. I currently feel more comfortable when the ball is in his hands than McVeigh's, and I'm not really rippin McVeigh here, I'm happy with him in the side ATM, but I still feel uneasy when he has it.

I really hope he retires at the end of the season, or at the very least steps down as captain.

[annew]

I am disappointed but hell I think all things considering they have done well. I think we have lost ourvtop four spot now and wont get it back. Can a team win from bottom four cos of bye and what if our final is against GWS. I hate the hawks, i think they get the umpire calls and i think people forget that the hawks dont travel and play mostly atbthe MCG. IF the other teams like Richmond and Collingwood had been really competitive in the last couple of years they would have given hawks a run for their money with the mcg advantage. I still think brisbane were a better team as they did it hard

[gumby_bolts]

Thanks Go swannies, Liz and others for helping to ease the bitterness before I go to sleep.
Feel for Jones, didn't look great. Geez I loathe the evil empire, wait the bitterness is starting to return.. Must sleep.
Go swans!

[annew]

I have no doubt with all our cattle back on the ground eg. Tippett, Heeney and hopefully Reid, that we'll bounce back when it counts. Well i bloody hope so...

Cant see Reid coming back this year

[Plugger46]

I think I'm mainly disappointed because it's Hawthorn. We're still in a very good position with a fairly kind draw to finish. Unless we have a lot of injuries, we'll be right there at the business end.

Just a few observations:
- Lloyd is a bit of a frontrunner
- Very pleased that Rohan is putting it together. I doubted that we'd see this sort of form from him.
- McGlynn looks cooked.
- McVeigh struggles in those hot games.

[liz]

I actually thought McVeigh was pretty good tonight too...

In terms of top 4, I think it's far from lost. A win tonight would have been handy, but if the team is as good as I think it is, there's no reason why we can't win every game from here to the end of the season. Especially if we keep something approaching our best team out on the park. North in Hobart is clearly the most challenging, on paper, but we've beaten them down there before and they are losing players at a faster rate than we are.

[annew]

I actually thought McVeigh was pretty good tonight too...

In terms of top 4, I think it's far from lost. A win tonight would have been handy, but if the team is as good as I think it is, there's no reason why we can't win every game from here to the end of the season. Especially if we keep something approaching our best team out on the park. North in Hobart is clearly the most challenging, on paper, but we've beaten them down there before and they are losing players at a faster rate than we are.

Basing my top four chances on my ladder predictor - donth think we will win in Hobart

[0918330512]

Just on Towers. I remember when LRT was played consistently for his first 30-40 games, I used to wonder why. He's played less than 40 AFL games at any level prior to his debut. He was gangly and rangy, often out of position, pound for pound beaten by the bulked up key forwards on a regular basis. And had a shaggy mop of a hair cut! But they persisted with him and he repaid in full ... and then some. Pyke was the same - not as great a success as LRT, but 110 games ain't too shabby for a Canadian rugby convert. The coaches saw something, they kept playing them and eventually they came good. I trust the coaches know what they're doing. They've given some kids a chance but when the coaches didn't see a future, they moved them on. Not too many have they persisted with for the long term and failed with (sorry Dan Currie, you were one). If they keep playing Towers, they have a reason. I'll trust them.

[ernie koala]

As 2 first year players, I watch Mills and Allir Allir, they have poise, and for the vast majority of situations, make excellent decisions.

I watch Towers and I see a player with little to no poise, and for the vast majority of situations he makes terrible decisions.

Unfortunately his footy nous and footy instincts are not up to AFL standard.

The thought of him with ball in hand, in a pressure situation in a finals game, is not an appealing one.

[longmile]

I struggle to remember the last time I felt so betrayed by the umpires.
I really feel ripped off by them tonight. At the game tonight the general consensus was that we were done over.
Really bitter right now.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm glad the coach has made a question out of it

[rojo]

I loved Rohan's game. When he was drafted by the Swans his coach said, 'He can be anything'. It was interesting that in an interview last week he said that he is getting more and more confidence in his body which suggests that his long battle with injury has taken its toll. Tonight he showed he is on the way to becoming the star player for us that we knew he could be, like Cyril he doesn't need high possessions to make his mark. Hands off Geelong!!

[Hotpotato]

Buddy seems to struggle against his old club.
One goal would have got us there.

[Cosmic Wizard]

Have been trying to be positive about Towers since he came back after the Richmond debacle, and he was getting some redemption, but for heavens sake with 1.43 to go if you are going to go for a pissy short pass instead of banging it long to the square you have to make sure the pass is going to be 100% certain. Sadly I blame him too

For all those people who say keep him, give him time, no way!!!

We keeped White on the payroll forever, for no joy, and he has gone to Collingwood for three years for exactly the same results.

We keep playing Towers hoping that he will turn the corner, for the same results; three time he has lost us a games.

He will not improve! He is a nice guy, but this is what he will turn out week in week out if we keep him; just face the facts!

We have the younger players who need the game time, he need to go.

[barry]

I think the scoreboard flattered us. Hawthorn were vastly superior to us. They just lacked a full forward. Should have won by 6 goals.