Match Day Rnd 13 V Richmond. MCG. 13.45 pm.

[Goal Sneak]

[RANT]
Sorry - I don't have access to your parallel universe machine which tells me how games and even whole seasons turn out if a couple of decision turn out differently.

I'm just tired of reading, every week, the outrage from fans of eighteen clubs about how they were ripped off by the umpires. There are so many armchair experts who can pick out an umpires secret bias from the comfort of their lounge rooms, while claiming to be completely impartial themselves.

Lets face it - who's more likely to be biased (a) someone who is paid to be impartial, who spends hours in training each week to apply the rules fairly and who officiates a different team every week or (b) someone who has put thousands of dollars, and probably tens of thousands of hours over decades into supporting one of the two teams in the contest.

Sure - errors happen. Sometimes those errors favour one team more than the other. But IT'S NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK!!! IT DOESN'T DECIDE GAMES THE WAY YOU THINK IT DOES!!! Every fan thinks their team is robbed - they can't all be right, but they can all be wrong.

Even in the 2016 GF, when the situation was so bad that the AFL came out and made a statement about it, I wouldn't say we were robbed of the game. Who knows? The bulldogs were a good team who we hadn't beaten for two years - they may well have won anyway.

It's not about you, Goal Sneak, but it annoys me when so much of the talk is one-sided complaining about umpiring, when there is so much about aussie rules football to enjoy and discuss.
[/RANT]

I just thought you contradicted yourself when saying that favourable decisions even out but then pointed out how the 2016 GF was so biased. I'm not so much saying that we would've won that game, but i'm absolutely saying we were robbed of an even fight which is what sport is all about.

[sprite]

[RANT]
Sorry - I don't have access to your parallel universe machine which tells me how games and even whole seasons turn out if a couple of decision turn out differently.

I'm just tired of reading, every week, the outrage from fans of eighteen clubs about how they were ripped off by the umpires. There are so many armchair experts who can pick out an umpires secret bias from the comfort of their lounge rooms, while claiming to be completely impartial themselves.

Lets face it - who's more likely to be biased (a) someone who is paid to be impartial, who spends hours in training each week to apply the rules fairly and who officiates a different team every week or (b) someone who has put thousands of dollars, and probably tens of thousands of hours over decades into supporting one of the two teams in the contest.

Sure - errors happen. Sometimes those errors favour one team more than the other. But IT'S NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK!!! IT DOESN'T DECIDE GAMES THE WAY YOU THINK IT DOES!!! Every fan thinks their team is robbed - they can't all be right, but they can all be wrong.

Even in the 2016 GF, when the situation was so bad that the AFL came out and made a statement about it, I wouldn't say we were robbed of the game. Who knows? The bulldogs were a good team who we hadn't beaten for two years - they may well have won anyway.

It's not about you, Goal Sneak, but it annoys me when so much of the talk is one-sided complaining about umpiring, when there is so much about aussie rules football to enjoy and discuss.
[/RANT]

Well written piece. All I can add to all those complaining - pick up a whistle and give it a try.

You get a whole different perspective of the game from the inside looking out.

[Beerman]

I just thought you contradicted yourself when saying that favourable decisions even out but then pointed out how the 2016 GF was so biased. I'm not so much saying that we would've won that game, but i'm absolutely saying we were robbed of an even fight which is what sport is all about.

There's always an exception that proves the rule

Now that you mention it, I shouldn't have said biased either, which implies some systematic issue or intent. I think it's more that the umpires made several errors which favoured the bulldogs. I was quite surprised that the AFL commented on it - they normally defend their umpires no matter what. For them to say that the umpiring "was not up to the standard we expect of a grand final", suggests that there was some real issues.

Well written piece. All I can add to all those complaining - pick up a whistle and give it a try.

You get a whole different perspective of the game from the inside looking out.

You're not kidding! I used to play basketball, and once one of the refs didn't show up for the game after ours and someone threw a whistle at me.

It was a lot, lot tougher than I thought - harder than playing in some ways and very different skills. The game is so fast and there is so much going on, you have to be looking for and anticipating so much to be able to make a call in time.

In a game like aussie rules at AFL level it must be extremely tough. Take the Zak Jones "no-call" in the last quarter. Did the ball fly out of his hands? Or did he hit it out of his hands? Hard to tell at normal speed, even watching on TV, let along having to worry about in the back, high contact at the same time etc. Umpires don't want to blow the whistle too much, and it's understandable they would let that go.

I try and look at the umpiring from a coaches perspective - was there anything there that means our team should play differently, or be coached differently? I think that's a more constructive way to look at it.

[Aprilbr]

My take on yesterday's game was that it reflected our biggest problem this year which has been our inability to play four quarters of football. We managed to win this time on the back of a great second half fightback and some great performances from lesser known players but we should not get too carried away. Our performances this year have generally been well below where we were last year so we need to lift if we are to play finals again. Some tough games ahead. We cannot expect to win too many games after being 6 goals behind. A great win but we need to keep getting better to threaten. Our midfield has not dominated this year like it did in recent seasons so we have to work harder for our wins. GoSwans!


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[Bloody Hell]

Great victory!

Sam Naismith is going to be something. He plays with a bit of mongrel, but is extremely agile for a big man. Actually he is just extremely agile for anyone. Easily turned Rioli inside out. Once he gets to 28-30 you'd think he'd be close to the best big man in the league.

[barry]

Naismith could be the next mummy

[Matty10]

Great victory!

Sam Naismith is going to be something. He plays with a bit of mongrel, but is extremely agile for a big man. Actually he is just extremely agile for anyone. Easily turned Rioli inside out. Once he gets to 28-30 you'd think he'd be close to the best big man in the league.

He did have some good moments, although I do recall getting frustrated a number of times when our big men (especially Sinclair) kept getting handball receives. I am not really sure why they were often in those spots near the contest (and other options weren't), but it did not always work to our advantage.

The Rioli contest was super and our rucks dominated the day (although it may have looked a bit different had Nankervis kicked straight).


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[bloodspirit]

[RANT]
Sorry - I don't have access to your parallel universe machine which tells me how games and even whole seasons turn out if a couple of decision turn out differently.

I'm just tired of reading, every week, the outrage from fans of eighteen clubs about how they were ripped off by the umpires. There are so many armchair experts who can pick out an umpires secret bias from the comfort of their lounge rooms, while claiming to be completely impartial themselves.

Lets face it - who's more likely to be biased (a) someone who is paid to be impartial, who spends hours in training each week to apply the rules fairly and who officiates a different team every week or (b) someone who has put thousands of dollars, and probably tens of thousands of hours over decades into supporting one of the two teams in the contest.

Sure - errors happen. Sometimes those errors favour one team more than the other. But IT'S NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK!!! IT DOESN'T DECIDE GAMES THE WAY YOU THINK IT DOES!!! Every fan thinks their team is robbed - they can't all be right, but they can all be wrong.

Even in the 2016 GF, when the situation was so bad that the AFL came out and made a statement about it, I wouldn't say we were robbed of the game. Who knows? The bulldogs were a good team who we hadn't beaten for two years - they may well have won anyway.

It's not about you, Goal Sneak, but it annoys me when so much of the talk is one-sided complaining about umpiring, when there is so much about aussie rules football to enjoy and discuss.
[/RANT]

Hear hear! I quite agree. Less bleating about umpiring and more discussion of the play and celebration of our successes would be wonderful to see.

I have to say I thought this was a marvellous win. Never mind the first quarter which was dire. Richmond had a lot to do with that. They played terrifically, which is what makes this such a good win. I think this will do wonders for our confidence and development. But is also a reminder of what a tough, even comp it is and how we are going to have our work cut out to win the next two and square our ledger.

I thought while there were some underperforming players (hello Dane! Dean! Reg!) this was mostly a very even performance with a mix of senior and younger players excelling. Even though he wasn't among the best I totally endorse the love for Hayward - he was sensational! We have a terrific forward mix at the moment which could improve further if Tippett regains his mojo. So pleased to be revelling in the performances of Jones, Heeney, Newman and Hewett and not just the old firm (actually they are not old and have years left in them) of JPK, Hanners and Parker (who were also excellent).

So satisfying to win (a) against Richmond; and (b) after feeling so down and out in the first and second quarters.

Carn the Bloods!!

[bloodspirit]

What a great day. Today I got to experience one of those father son experiences I will remember for the rest of my life. Got to sing the club song with my 7yo son for the 1st time together at a game. Don't mind admitting there were some tears rolling down my cheek. Not just because we won and seeing the elation on his face. But in the manner of the win and the important little life lesson he got to experience. All through out the game I kept telling him to believe in the team and to never give up. They can do it, if you have belief. For the last 5min he was physically trembling with anxiety and fear. I kept reassuring him and we celebrated every little win along the way. The Kennedy clearances, the Papley mark, Newmans effort on the wing and gazz goal. When the siren sounded and we embraced it was a special moment. Thanks to all fellow supporters at the swans end for sharing it with us.

Lovely share, FS. I was watching the game with my 7 and 3 year old sons hanging about as I yelled at the TV. They too became absorbed as the game tightened up in the fourth and shared my euphoria when we won. All three of us (even my 7 year old who perversely supports the Giants) were jumping for joy after the siren looking at each other with wild happiness and huge grins. I don't think my three year old really got it or cared that much about the result per se but he got that it was fun and exciting and that it was about footy and the Swans and that we were happy we won. I'm sure it was a good bonding experience too.

[gazza]

Great victory!

Sam Naismith is going to be something. He plays with a bit of mongrel, but is extremely agile for a big man. Actually he is just extremely agile for anyone. Easily turned Rioli inside out. Once he gets to 28-30 you'd think he'd be close to the best big man in the league.

I hope the naysayers looked at our ruck stats, that good ruckman we gave away, he got pantsed by Naismith and sinclair

[The Big Cat]

The Reid goal was initially a stuff up by Rohan. He was 20 metres in the clear with Reid leading out which should have been a simple pass under no pressure, but instead popped it on his head for the defender to spoil.

Towers adds more value to the team than Rohan.

Rohan is being tried as a defender because he has failed as a forward.

Barry. Have you actually gone back and watched the last quarter of that game on replay. Rohan was more responsible than any other player on the ground for us getting over the line. His tackling, running, spoiling was inspirational. He ran himself to a standstill. Rohan is not in the team to get mega possessions. He creates pressure, both real and perceived. He puts the fear of God into opposing players when they've got the ball and he's close by. Not only is he quick, but he is fearless and his tackling is brutal. We need blokes like him to complement the ball magnets. 22 possession accumulators wouldn't win too many games.

[Industrial Fan]

Whichever way you look at it Rohan was not best on ground. Quite a few players more responsible for the result.

[neilfws]

Naismith could be the next mummy

Lost due to the salary cap? I hope not!

But seriously, it was good to see him follow up from last game, making the most of his opportunity. I hope he keeps on the trajectory. We've seen glimpses from several ruck prospects over the years, be nice for one of them to cement a long term spot. I still think the game is the better for them.

[barry]

I have no doubt Rohan will get selected, simply because he did a few flash things in the last quarter and because we won. We've had 5 years of this.

Had nankervis kicked straight, he would be dropped.

[Flying South]

That's what I was saying to my 5-year-old son after the game - "we'll remember this forever".

Plus he got to touch Sinclair's hand when they thanked the crowd. It's the little things, like that gesture, that makes all the difference to little kids.

The one point loss last year nearly killed us, so it was nice to experience another high at the G.


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I'm feeling it.