Match Day Rnd. 3 Sydney V Collingwood. 7.50pm SCG

[DNJ500]

To that end...was Reid trying to give Buddy a goal for his 250th? His decision not take a likely certain goal was likely the worst decision of the game. Like an earlier poster alluded to...milestone games can be a real trap because they often lead to silly decisions in the name of honoring the milestone.

Well noted!...

[Bloody Hell]

I actually enjoyed that game. Don't feel we got shafted by the umps like we did last week and last year. .

We got somewhat shafted by the umps....you have become numb to this kind of treatment....which is common amongst victims of abuse.

[Melbournehammer]

It totally struck me as a perfect opportunity for the umpire to turn it over to Collingwood, duly delivered and within seconds, Magpie goal. I was more than furious......

There is a simple solution - step backwards from the mark before running off. That, like the Reid handball, was dumb decision making.

[waswan]

moder midfields dont ball chase they cover space we have 4 guys on the bottom of the pack which is stupid
good point someone else made about our defence and players in general not playing in front too

[waswan]

Jack is far from killing it but his planned role is a small fwd
I think he is getting exposed due to having to play more time in the midfield due to injuries

[barry]

This seems to be a typical RWO meltdown post loss. Blame all the fringe young players. Facts are it was slippery as hell last night and a real dogfight. We lost it at the coaches box in that first quarter. Blame the prep.

[707]

At least it's the first game this year that we didn't add to our injury list. That's progress.

Agree, but we've managed to add significant injury mid week just jumping a one foot chain on the way back to the rooms!

[MattW]

Well that was and still is heavily disappointing. We never looked like winning; each time we built up a little momentum, we'd give it away with mistakes - Reid's handball, kicks down the line ootf, dodgy set shots, even the two rushed snaps by Dawson and Joey late - they had more time.

The team collectively is playing without confidence. There were plenty of players out there who've not won a senior match. We're not playing as a team, which isn't surprising given the changes, but a large reason is the form of our senior players. Smith, Jack, Parker in particular have dropped in pace, know it. Parker is worrying. He didn't play with strapping tonight, but he's as immobile as he was when affected by his PCL last year. Hanners lifted himself for a while and I think his issue is in his head. Pretty disappointed by Reid last night. Not enough players playing the full 4 quarters.

We didn't have too many players who were good throughout the game. Lloyd again was clean and sensible every time he touched it, Jones was powerful and his game was only blemished by the htb fk, Aliir did some exciting things.

Hayward and Florent are clearly classy. Newman reminds me of Lloyd in his capacity to find a lot of the ball in his first games. He's a senior player. Less convinced by Foote and Fox. Dawson isn't ready, if he'll ever be. Together, there is too many of them given our senior players are down.

We'll be stronger in the contest with Rampe and Heeney back, and stretch teams more with Papley and Rohan. That will free up Hayward and Florent and tidy up the shallow 22 we've been fielding. Heeney and Tippett back next week might be enough to push WC, especially if Hannebery gains momentum.

[Faunac8]

Don't know what game the Age was watching to have Luke Parker as the only Swan in the votes. Did I miss something ?

[Swanny40519]

We will get bent over by West Coast, especially with our wonderful tactical adoption of 'play 10 metres behind your man every time in defence' that for some bizarre reason we've decided is a fad we should try. It has killed us every week so far this season....

Yes I am astounded by this continuing tactic. It makes us look slow and we just give awayb possessions and F50 entries. It drives me mad - so frustrated.

[mattybloods]

Aliir is so calm and composed with ball in hand, he'll improve over the next couple of weeks but already is so important to our back line. Very happy with the games of Newman and Hayward too.

I know he won't be dropped but Jack is looking very slow

[Industrial Fan]

Our ball movement last night was really predictable. Either kamikaze in a straight line to goal or when the play was static long kicks up the boundary.

I don't remember us switching play at the back at all.

[Industrial Fan]

George Hewett is way over rated by Swans supporters. 5 kicks and 12 handpasses all rubbish possessions. Gives the team nothing.

21years old and played less than 30 games. ????

[Industrial Fan]

No doubt he played on, as in he stepped off his line. However, the umpire did not call play on until after the bloke standing the mark had tackled him. This is clear from the down the ground replay.

So in my opinion, it should have been a 50, but I'd have settled for the ump re-setting the mark.

The ump behind Jones called play on the one he was looking at did nothing.

But clearly demonstrates the afl rule of the week concept. No 50m penalties paid for encroaching on the mark or going with the exclusion zone. I prefer less umpiring than more as the game flows better but those two rules will make a comeback at some point this season out of the blue.

[aguy]

Aliir is so calm and composed with ball in hand, he'll improve over the next couple of weeks but already is so important to our back line.

I agree that aliir looked like that last night. My observation about him is that his first instinct is to feign a side step or handball and then straighten up and run. This has been particularly effective because most defenders when under pressure look to handball backwards to someone under less pressure.

My fear is that teams will work out aliir very quickly and he Will end up being tackled because the opposition stop falling for his tactics.

Time will tell. He does look elctrifying when he plays on