Match Day Thread Rnd 23. Sydney

[Ludwig]

I did have a wry smile last night when, after this forum spent much of the week pouring scorn on the idea of worrying about in-game injuries to ruckmen, that both our ruckmen should go down injured and blues should come back into it as a consequence.

Many people were sucked in by the commentary about both our ruckmen being down. But let's examine what actually happened (times are time remaining on the clock in 2nd quarter):

• 13:31 With Tippett already off with injury and the score 35-6, Sinclair rolls ankle in ruck contest in of defensive 50, Kreuzer left open and kicks a goal. Score 35-12
• 12:15 Towers rucking and kicks to Reid for shot on goal that falls short. 35-13
• 11:18 Curnow kicks a goal from general play. No ruck contests involved. 35-19
• 11:15 Towers wins hitout and clearance.
• 9:45 Boekhurst kicks goal after 50 mtr penalty against Franklin. 35-25
• 9:01 Towers wins ball at centre bounce, clearance and nearly kicks a goal. 36-25
• 6:07 Casboult kicks goal after penalty in marking contest outside 50 to Weitering and good kick to leading Casboult. 36-31
• 6:07 Tippett returns
• 4:40 Sinclair returns

None of the goals by Carlton came as a result of a ruck contest, except the 1st one, when Sinclair was not able to cover Kreuzer due to being injured in the play.

Carlton kicked 4 goals in about 7 minute of clock time due mainly to high kicking efficiency and Swans turnovers and penalties.

By admitting that we need to play 2 ruckmen because of the likelihood that one of our ruckmen will be injured is a concession that we will play with a squad of 21 plus an injury substitute versus a 22 man opposition squad. Maybe we need to play 3 ruckmen to be reasonably certain that one can get through the game? Why are we playing anyone in a final series who is likely to be injured during the game. Haven't we learned from last year's final? More than anything, regardless of positional needs, we need to play fit players. Injured players only put a dent in the ice budget.

[Hotpotato]

"Injured players only put a dent in the ice budget."
I'm going to be very careful how I process that one .

[MattW]

Jones provided the assist for 3 of Buddy's 10. He was pilloried earlier in the thread, I take it for a couple of misdirected short kicks, but I thought he was among our best. He used his acceleration to great effect from defence and kicked very well long. He seems to kick better long than short. He'll improve that, as he has other parts of his game.

[Blood Fever]

Jones provided the assist for 3 of Buddy's 10. He was pilloried earlier in the thread, I take it for a couple of misdirected short kicks, but I thought he was among our best. He used his acceleration to great effect from defence and kicked very well long. He seems to kick better long than short. He'll improve that, as he has other parts of his game.

Young gun who also lifted late in the game v Adelaide

[Billericay]

Jones provided the assist for 3 of Buddy's 10. He was pilloried earlier in the thread, I take it for a couple of misdirected short kicks, but I thought he was among our best. He used his acceleration to great effect from defence and kicked very well long. He seems to kick better long than short. He'll improve that, as he has other parts of his game.

He's frustrating to watch because he'll break the lines, run past a number of opponents and then commit an appalling skill error by foot. He did that a couple of times against Carlton, but also set up a number of Buddy's goals. Hopefully he'll become less error prone as his game develops.

[liz]

Jones is a great complement to our other midfielders. His top speed is good enough, but his acceleration is even more valuable, and he has some nice hip movements too that help him evade would-be tacklers.

Last year our midfield was essentially JPK, Hanners, Parker and a few around the edges. (OK, maybe some, like Jack, were a little more than that, but the team very much relied on all three of our big midfield guns playing well.) None of those three has had as good a season in 2017 as they did in 2016 but our midfield feels a little more robust because of the others who not only rotate through there but, on their day, can be really important contributors around the ball.

[Blood Fever]

Jones is a great complement to our other midfielders. His top speed is good enough, but his acceleration is even more valuable, and he has some nice hip movements too that help him evade would-be tacklers.

Last year our midfield was essentially JPK, Hanners, Parker and a few around the edges. (OK, maybe some, like Jack, were a little more than that, but the team very much relied on all three of our big midfield guns playing well.) None of those three has had as good a season in 2017 as they did in 2016 but our midfield feels a little more robust because of the others who not only rotate through there but, on their day, can be really important contributors around the ball.

Selling Tom Mitchell a bit short there Liz

[liz]

Selling Tom Mitchell a bit short there Liz

Who?


(Fair call. I literally had forgotten Tom played for us last year.)

[annew]

In the make up of the swans mids I rate Jones much more important than Mitchell as he has more speed and breaks the lines.

[Blood Fever]

Who?


(Fair call. I literally had forgotten Tom played for us last year.)

LOL. Hawthorn can do that sort of thing to you!

[mcs]

Jones is a great complement to our other midfielders. His top speed is good enough, but his acceleration is even more valuable, and he has some nice hip movements too that help him evade would-be tacklers.

Last year our midfield was essentially JPK, Hanners, Parker and a few around the edges. (OK, maybe some, like Jack, were a little more than that, but the team very much relied on all three of our big midfield guns playing well.) None of those three has had as good a season in 2017 as they did in 2016 but our midfield feels a little more robust because of the others who not only rotate through there but, on their day, can be really important contributors around the ball.

From my layman's view of the world, it just looks like sometimes Jones 'stabs' his kicks a bit instead of kicking through it - for often his poor kicks end up dropping just short of the intended target and consequently getting intercepted.

He is so important to our structures though, we need him to fire in the finals to be achance.

[neilfws]

All I wanted from this game was the result you'd normally expect from in-form Swans v Blues, to erase the nadir of round 6. Job done!

It was pretty special to be there for the Buddy show. The whole place was just going nuts every time he went near the ball. I think even my kids (3 and 5), who normally don't pay much attention, realised something special was happening. Hard to pick a favourite goal, but I'll go with the round the corner from the pocket at the Randwick end from an incredibly tight angle (about number 7 or 8 I think?) The big groan when he missed 11 was pretty funny.

Some other nice moments too, Rohan's concern for opposition injury (and respect for Armfield at the end), plus his comedy crowd moment. And as I arrived very early for once, I sat behind the goals not far from Kenny and spotted him having a long and obviously very warm chat with Jed Lamb pre-warmup.

If I had a criticism: last H&A game of the year, the crowd basking in the warm glow of victory but...not a whole lot of crowd acknowledgement at the end and no kick to kick! Not that I ever expect it but I'd like to be surprised once in a while.

[tasswan]

Has anyone heard anything about Hewett's injury on the final siren? He landed awkwardly in the marking contest and limped off the ground with the physio/doctor. Really don't want him to be injured!

We are going to benefit from the week off especially now that we can't make top 4.

Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk

Didnt look great when he injured himself in the last contest of the day. was on the ground clutching his knee. Hope he is ok as I think he is important to the team

[YvonneH]

From my layman's view of the world, it just looks like sometimes Jones 'stabs' his kicks a bit instead of kicking through it - for often his poor kicks end up dropping just short of the intended target and consequently getting intercepted.

He is so important to our structures though, we need him to fire in the finals to be achance.

I tend to forget that Zak is still so young. He seems he has been around for a long time. This happens when a youngster gets into the team, then keeps his spot. I think the same will happen with Will Hayward.

[Hotpotato]

If I had a criticism: last H&A game of the year, the crowd basking in the warm glow of victory but...not a whole lot of crowd acknowledgement at the end and no kick to kick! Not that I ever expect it but I'd like to be surprised once in a while.[/QUOTE]

The crowd is always a bit subdued at the end when they announce there's no kick-to-kick .

It hasn't rained for ages, so whats the reason ?
There have only been two or more three for the whole year. They flog the balls at merchandise stalls.

It brings so much joi-de-vere and the kids go home saying "that was great Dad".