#AFL Round 2 Swans vs Crows Fri 29-Mar at SCG #AFLSwansCrows @sydneyswans

[jcroz29]

O Riordan will do well in a well functioning back line - the kid has talent. But he needs to be able to play a role not dissimilar to Kennelly of the half back sort of flank for mine, and we aren't in a position at the moment that will let him do that easily.

Yes O’Riordan had some quiet points; he missed a gettable goal and looked like a buffoon with the consecutive 50s; but ...

his first touch was a perfect 45 degree kick coming out of the back line - which is what we’ve been crying out for - more ways out of the back 50. His inside 50 to Hewitt was sublime - unfortunately George’s attempted mark was truly inept. I guess he wasn’t used to being spotted up from someone running out of the midfield.

I think he must be persevered with (& not just because I drafted him in my dreamteam this week).


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[dejavoodoo44]

I thought the holding the ball free against McVeigh was the worst. He didn't even take possession of the ball in the first place. Not even close. Just pathetic umpiring. I think we need to start doing pre season trading with scumpires like Scumthorn did. It worked for them.

Yes, the fact that the Heeney goal was then disallowed, just added an extra aroma, to that particular turd sandwich.

[aardvark]

O'Riordan will be good. Just needs games.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Well that wasn’t great. Positives? Blakey. And rumours of Buddy’s decline would seem to be very much incorrect.

Umpiring...the only one that really got me was the touched Crows goal that they almost got away with. I *heard* the deflection from level 4 of the Noble. To everyone’s credit they kept protesting all the way back to the centre, with good booing all the way. Almost thought they would refuse to restart unless the review came.

Our mids are not fluid or gelling and we struggle to kick 10, that’s the basics of it. Could be a long season if they keep going like this.

The only one? Really? I can't believe that. You must've been busy reading the AFL Record most of the match.

The umpiring in this match was the worst I've seen since the 2016GF and I'm not normally one of those umpire sooks.

[Danzar]

Positives:
We got the member beanie, finally.

Negatives:

Everything.

[Hotpotato]

Aliir was magnificent, without him we cop a far more comprehensive bashing up.

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The binoculars were a waste of carbon .

[mcs]

Agree with the Melican comment - so much improved on last week’s effort


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Thirded about Melican - the kid can play and just needs time to refind form and confidence. For mine, assuming they are fit, him and Aliir should be our KPD all season long.

[dejavoodoo44]

I see the poor umpiring as a positive. It shows that we are a better team than the score suggests.

We are at least a few years away from being premiership contenders, so why don't we just relax and see how the team develops.

Aliir, Melican, Thurlow and COR are haven't played much footy are probably the core of our defensive unit for the next half dozen years. The need a season or 2 or play together and learn to work as a unit.

Selection over the coming weeks should sort things out about our best 22 and who should play where. Mills should definitely play midfield. Dawson was't flash in round 1, but we should give him a string of games to build his confidence and get used to the pace of the game.

i think we'll improve as the season moves on, but I'm not expecting much in the games won column. i just want to see the team working better together, and looking more like a team than a bunch of footy player tossed onto an oval.

And another mitigating factor, is that Adelaide are our bogey side. We have a worse record against them, than against any other team. And as the commentary pointed out, the team with the best winning percentage at the SCG, are the Crows.

[Markwebbos]

2 ways to look at season 2019: one a massive disappointment, two a key development year.

Is it finally time to say “rebuild”?

[mcs]

I thought the holding the ball free against McVeigh was the worst. He didn't even take possession of the ball in the first place. Not even close. Just pathetic umpiring. I think we need to start doing pre season trading with scumpires like Scumthorn did. It worked for them.

Horrendous call at a huge moment. If it was play on as it should have been, we were back within a couple of points weren't we. As it was, Fruit Tingles got the next couple of goals quick smart. Utterly ridiculous call.

[troyjones2525]

O'Riordan will be good. Just needs games.

Totally agree here. Problem is that he'll no doubt be the first to go as is horse's way similar to Dawson last week who is another who will be good if we just persist.

Yet guys like Florent, Jones, Hayward and now it seems Clarke, who all have talent no doubt, keep getting gifted games week after week after doing basically stuff all.

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[mcs]

We need patience with a number of our under 24 players over the next 2 to 3 years. Experience will improve them. Painful but necessary.

Completely agree Blood Fever. But I just feel there is some stifling going on in there too, and fear they won't fulfill their potential. Their importance to the overall team is a key reason for why we are very hot and very cold at times now. When they play well, we invariably play well as a team. I have very low expectations for this season now, but hope as the season progresses, we see these guys begin to take the next steps, and we see increasing periods of good footy with a better attacking mindset.

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Positives:
We got the member beanie, finally.

Negatives:

Everything.

Was a hard choice this year - I went for the cap, but the beanie is very smart.

On a related note, anyone else in Premiership Club find the binoculars are utterly, entirely useless? Probably made by the same company as the umpires eyes were tonight, but I got mine last week and the pair I have are just crap.

[dejavoodoo44]

Thirded about Melican - the kid can play and just needs time to refind form and confidence. For mine, assuming they are fit, him and Aliir should be our KPD all season long.

Yes, Melican improved, Aliir superb in the second half. And an interesting selection dilemma for the future: as well as those two, how do we fit Buddy, Reid, Blakey and McCartin into the same side? Does Reid play in the backline? Does Blakey play on the wing? Though possibly the most likely solution would be a Reid injury?

[mcs]

Aliir was magnificent, without him we cop a far more comprehensive bashing up.

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The binoculars were a waste of carbon .

Glad it wasn't only me!!!

[S.S. Bleeder]

Aliir was magnificent, without him we cop a far more comprehensive bashing up.

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The binoculars were a waste of carbon .

I don't understand the love for Aliir. He dropped an absolute sitter of a mark and was very quiet. Similarly, Florent and Hayward were very poor tonight. They had little impact and made a few fumbles. On the other hand Blakey will be a gun for us once he gains more experience.