Match Day Rnd.10 Sydney V Hawthorn. 19.50 pm. SCG.

[mcs]

The worst part about that call was that the roles were reversed in the GF last year and Jack was still penalised, with a 50m penalty to boot! Clearly the rule makers need to sort this interpretation out.

Yep good point Blue Sun. Rules should be designed to encourage players to go hard and fairly at the ball - both of which Towers said (its a surprise to say 'hard' in the same sentence as Towers - but he has maybe turned a corner the last few weeks). He did nothing wrong and should never have been penalised. It was about to break open for us as well as a result of his good play

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[QUOTE=bodgie;726265]

What odds do you want Bodgie?

Ha ha. I said mathematician not gambler!

[Belmasta]

The commentators tonight sound like Hawthorn supporters! Some bad umpiring decisions.... And all going the Hawks way. Gerry. Disappointed for the boys, but pleased with the pressure they put on later in the game. Too many lose men early....


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[Bill Posters]

Umps swallowed the whistle all night.

Disgusted by 2 sling tackles in the first quarter with 2 concussions for swans players. Then no sling tackle injuries thereafter. And none to hawks players.

So - job done in first quarter, great tactics Clarkson. DELIBERATE

[mcs]

Lack of players on the interchange hurt us. Our baby players just lacked the nous to get us through. This will change as the games they play help accumulate the experience they need to succeed. We can still play finals
The future is so bright I need to wear shades.
I JUST HATE BEING BEATEN BY HAWTHORN

I get where you are coming from Faunac, but I don't buy the 'baby players' lacking nous to get us through. We have had this problem continuously since the 2012 GF win - we just don't win anywhere near enough of these sorts of games. Our leaders need to take as much responsibility as the younger guys, but its not getting better. Already this year we've blown games like this against Hawthorn, against Collingwood, and we led in Q4 against the dogs. Win 2 of those 3 and we are still well in finals contention. We are 0-3. Its an ongoing problem that isn't improving.

Where was the onfield leadership when we were 7 points up and basically went into our shells - when it was clear we needed to keep attacking and look for one more goal that probably would of sealed the game...

[Merdo5555]

As for losing 2 players it hurt. But every other team that has taken away Hawthorn's kick and mark game has smashed them in the second half because the Hawks don't have the players to play hard in and under, we play that and like all the other teams belt them in the 3rd quarter and then coast to a win. Once you get this Hawthorn team down they don't come back.

[DA_Swan]

I was absolutely screaming at Mills after that kick, but after calming down a bit I think we need to cut him some slack. He was absolutely spent by then with only 2 players on the bench, and it just looked like a very tired kick to me.

I thought he was trying to kick to Florent and missed his target which is not surprising as apart from Buddy we don't hit targets very often.

[Nico]

What he was thinking was "I just missed a crucial kick for goal so I don't want the responsibility of trying to kick this one (despite being free and well within range".

I really don't care how old he is, that was a jaw-droppingly atrocious effort. So diabolical I had to rewind to check I wasn't hallucinating. How we managed to get no score from there just defies belief.

I absolutely agree on the age thing. These guys are good enough to be playing elite footy. It wasn't only Mills. Jones and Papley missed running into open goals. Papley was running sideways and the ball went that way. We had our chances and blew it. They all had plenty of time to run further in and nail them.

[Velour&Ruffles]

Incredibly irritating that free being paid (correctly) against Towers for diving into the legs. Applied in the precisely opposite fashion in the Grand Final, directly costing us 2 goals. Ancient history I know but it still absolutely defecates me to tears that the rule could be so blatantly misapplied by the supposedly best umpires in the year's most important game.

[mcs]

Incredibly irritating that free being paid (correctly) against Towers for diving into the legs. Applied in the precisely opposite fashion in the Grand Final, directly costing us 2 goals. Ancient history I know but it still absolutely defecates me to tears that the rule could be so blatantly misapplied by the supposedly best umpires in the year's most important game.

It wasn't misapplied - just selectively applied to ensure the AFL sanctioned outcome....

The rule stinks and should be changed.

[Merdo5555]

Mark McClure got it right there is something wrong in Sydney

[mcs]

As for losing 2 players it hurt. But every other team that has taken away Hawthorn's kick and mark game has smashed them in the second half because the Hawks don't have the players to play hard in and under, we play that and like all the other teams belt them in the 3rd quarter and then coast to a win. Once you get this Hawthorn team down they don't come back.

The way to beat them this year is easy. Take the game on and make them run - they are even slower than us. I know we were hurt in that regard by not having Cunningham and losing Lloyd early - but at no stage tonight did we play the game on our terms for an extended period. We only needed a quarter or 1.5 quarters like how we took on St Kilda and we would of roasted them comfortably. But instead we sat back and let them dominate the game style and play. Poor coaching in my book, even with 2 men down.

[Nico]

I thought he was trying to kick to Florent and missed his target which is not surprising as apart from Buddy we don't hit targets very often.

But why would he kick to a small player who was point post side. We do this crap too often. Hanners kicked to Florent one on two in the same play. I don't get why he wouldn't have a ping at the goals so late in the game. If there was an obvious player by himself then yes go there. Just brain fades under pressure.

[barry]

Players simply don't want it enough. Contrast to giants against pies a few weeks back. Similar 2 players out but hunger got them over the line.

When will we gave that hunger again?

[longmile]

It wasn't misapplied - just selectively applied to ensure the AFL sanctioned outcome....

The rule stinks and should be changed.

Sometimes I hate this sport to the core

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Players simply don't want it enough. Contrast to giants against pies a few weeks back. Similar 2 players out but hunger got them over the line.

When will we gave that hunger again?

when some luck goes our way

[mcs]

But why would he kick to a small player who was point post side. We do this crap too often. Hanners kicked to Florent one on two in the same play. I don't get why he wouldn't have a ping at the goals so late in the game. If there was an obvious player by himself then yes go there. Just brain fades under pressure.

3 times I can remember we kicked to Florent in contested situations in the last quarter. Once he did brilliantly well to ultimately lead to a goal for Heeney. Just stupid football under pressure.