Match Day Thread Rnd 22 Adelaide V Sydney. Adelaide Oval 19.50 pm. Or 19.20 ACST.

[bloodspirit]

There is another technical point that I have been mulling over. The protected zone extends to include a 5-metre semi-circle behind the player taking the kick. Betts was not on the mark - so therefore I assume he should be classed as behind the player with the kick. While he couldn't have been expected to disappear magically in the split second it took for Mills to play on, it seems to me he should not be able to tackle as he was in the 5-metre semi-circle behind Mills. (As distinct from a player in front of Mills who could have legitimately tackled had play-on be called.)

I have two thoughts to throw in the mix:

1. I haven't seen the replay but I thought Betts was in front except that Mills turned and moved laterally (albeit consistent with his momentum when he took hold of the ball). So, not sure if you're suggesting that the in-front-of/behind axis runs according to the direction of the player's movement or the direction between the opposite goals. I would suggest it is the latter.

2. Where a player plays on immediately perhaps the rule about the protected zone never comes into effect.

Re: Papley - luck or skill

It's both. I think Papley was either judging that the ball would land in front of or next to him and he would regather or that it would be knocked on by Buddy. Pretty much that was what happened. This was smart. When the ball actually landed on his shoulder (which was really akin to a falcon) he adjusted adroitly and took possession without breaking stride - great skill although it was lucky the ball bounced in such a way that enabled him to do that.

[Nico]

I was pondering this, also. Where, in essence, Betts was "offside".

If you look closely Betts was holding Mills when he marked it and didn't let go. So could have been a 50 for that for deliberately holding up the game/time wasting. The closest umpire not making the call was a timing issue with him. Troy Pannell was looking straight at the contest and whistled first. Hope we get him in the finals.

[liz]

There's a bit of luck involved in many contests. What Papley did well is be decisive. He knew he had the pace to break away from the contest if he got into motion. There was some luck in how the ball fell into his hands, but even if it hadn't (maybe it had hit the ground) he would still have been in a good position to contest and maybe win the ball.

[Nico]

Nice finish though.

[Hotpotato]

There's a bit of luck involved in many contests. What Papley did well is be decisive. He knew he had the pace to break away from the contest if he got into motion. There was some luck in how the ball fell into his hands, but even if it hadn't (maybe it had hit the ground) he would still have been in a good position to contest and maybe win the ball.

How did the pill end up in his mitts , it was like a magic trick on Australia's Got Talent .

[liz]

Nice finish though.

Once he had ball in hand and was in full flight, it was very skilful and composed to finish as he did.

[Meg]

Once he had ball in hand and was in full flight, it was very skilful and composed to finish as he did.

That was right in front of me, superb piece of play by Papley. I was incredibly impressed by his composure, and in such a young and inexperienced player. We are so fortunate that the Swans took him as a last thought in the rookie draft for last year.

[barry]

He's baiting.

That's a cheap unimaginative comment. It's also BS.

[mcsean]

Incredibly lucky or pure skill?!

A different angle of Papley's winning goal. Incredibly lucky or pure skill?!

Frame by frame. Shoulder of God. pic.twitter.com/BxMDNQZDJg

— Scott (@RestingPlayers) August 21, 2017

Yeah good question. It reminded of a long cross/switch from a premier league footballer, deftly handled by the receiver. You can see Papley cushion the ball by dropping his shoulder and it drops into his path. Brilliant

[liz]

Watching that Papley footage again, that was a very nice shepherd by Talia on Brown. He manages to trip over his own feet and block Brown all in the same movement. Very decent of him.

[Hotpotato]

Fine observation there Liz , it's a pretty critical own trip creating the block .
Paps could have run right to the goal line but he may have been too exhausted to.

[goswannies]

OMG! 7 days of whinging Crows supporters daily crapping on about the Eddie Betts decision is about enough! I started by smiling and nodding - hardly worth the angst. But eventually I had to point out that while may well have been that Mills played on, until the umpires actually call it you can't tackle him. I didn't think it was a had concept, but then I realised that the IQ of fruit tingle supporters drops by 1 for every 10km west of the Vic/SA border they reside.

Ok, the logic of waiting until the umpire blows the whistle obviously doesn't apply (and I'm loathe to point out that taking off before the starters gun in a sprint would similarly get you disqualified).

So my next observation was the lopsided free kick count. Not Weller received either. Countered by the "if we kicked straight ..." argument.

Well & good but if we continued to pile on the goals like we did in the first quarter we'd have won by 40 goals.

sigh.

[Meg]

But eventually I had to point out that while may well have been that Mills played on, until the umpires actually call it you can't tackle him.

Indeed. This was a case of Betts being too quick for his own good.

[Back2oz]

Only just managed to sort out my log in so delayed post but needed to say how great it was to be at this match. I'm still buzzing - and topped up by the 10 goal effort from Buddy on the weekend. I hope we go REAL deep in September but I'll remember the season fondly having been able to watch this game live Thanks Swannies!

[Aaron]

I cannot understand why Buddy did not even get one vote from the coaches.
AFLCA votes, round 22: Danger closes the gap - AFL.com.au
ADELAIDE v SYDNEY
7 Matt Crouch (Adel)
7 Dane Rampe (Syd)
6 Rory Sloane (Adel)
5 Josh Kennedy (Syd)
4 Mitch McGovern (Adel)
1 Luke Parker (Syd)