R12 Swans V Saints @SCG - Live

[i'm-uninformed2]

An average game featuring bad goal kicking by both sides. I know the spotlight is on Higgins but boy we missed some too.

Parker, the Hick and Mills very good in the middle. Thought McCartin had a nice game after last week’s difficulty. And a player going through what King is going through does not need a Rampe smother speciality all day. Oh, and that Buddy guy can play a bit.

Gee Amarty got better and better. Some of his marking in the last quarter was terrific, and he showed good hands in the ruck.

One watch is a few of the young guys look a bit tired. Wicks and Warner, and to a degree Rowbottom, lacked their usual pep. The bye will come at a good time for them, and it’ll then be a watch as to whether they need another week off at some point between then and end of year.

[Ralph Dawg]

Glass half empty says we only just beat a very mediocre side.

Glass half full says we hung tough and won, despite a few of our usuals having average days out and being on the wrong side of the umpires.

I'll take the 2nd option.

[Matty10]

I don’t quite understand how we are playing the Hawks next week (on a 6 day break) when they are coming off a bye this week.

Surely it is pretty easy to manage a draw that ensures any team coming off a bye only plays another team in the same situation.

Our players are looking pretty flat and might be crawling to the bye after today’s slog, while the Hawks will presumably be refreshed.

[Aaron]

One watch is a few of the young guys look a bit tired. Wicks and Warner, and to a degree Rowbottom, lacked their usual pep. The bye will come at a good time for them, and it’ll then be a watch as to whether they need another week off at some point between then and end of year.

Agree. But it will be after successive 6 days breaks for us and the Hawks will be returning after their bye (while staying in Sydney)

[Agent 86]

Just for a moment, let's consider the htb decision against mccartin. The bank was between King's legs. Now, for the last 4 weeks it has been almost impossible to be paid holding the ball. If the umpire saw the ball between king's legs, why did he pay it? If he didn't see the ball, why did he pay it? It was right in front of the goals. A mistake will cost the swans a goal. I just wish Longmire would raise it and take the fine.

All they see was the player dragging the ball in - what transpires after that doesn’t seem to matter. Hard to fathom how the ump could not see King sitting on the ball as it was right in front of him.

Basically, if you’re on the ground and drag it in - you’re gone. It’s dumb, and the umps don’t seem to be clever enough to use common sense.

Another pet hate is when tacklers drag the back towards the tackled player when it comes loose. Umpires fall for that every time. I’d like to see a rule change to stop this happening.

[rickmat]

Phew, we fell over the line. But these type of wins are needed from time to time. Our backline was a bit loose and too many times, 2,3 or 4 flew for the mark instead of staying down and crumbling or punching the ball. One of my bugbares about Dawson is that he delays in playing on or goes sideways too often, seems like he still lacks confidence. With a kick like his, he should not delay as he is so accurate and long in his kicks. It's obvious some of youngsters are still learning the game but it will come. I'm glad Amartey grabbed his chance with both hands. Just shows patience pays. Unlike some on this site, I'm not high on Fox, he is a squad player , not in the 18. My opinion for what's it worth. Need a solid win over the Hawks next week to regain our confidence.

[Kafka's Ghost]

I'd like to thank everybody here for being patient with my temper tantrum...but honestly, the shocking umpiring in AFL ( it always seems to be against us) makes me sooooo crazy angry....

I've also had a pretty bad week in terms of work etc...so it's nice to let off some steam

Thanks again all

You’re right, Daisi, no problem about the occasional rant. I was at the game (armed with earplugs and headphones, but the didgeridoo is ok) and quite a few epithets had to be contained. The umpiring was exceptionally poor today. Enjoyed the irony of icing the game from a free, though. As obvious a free kick as it was, for a few seconds I thought it wasn’t going to be paid.
We looked the better team all day, and should have won by about 4 goals. Heeney’s shot from 20m out is the shank of the year, even outdoing Aaron Naughton’s effort.

[mcs]

Glass half empty says we only just beat a very mediocre side.

Glass half full says we hung tough and won, despite a few of our usuals having average days out and being on the wrong side of the umpires.

I'll take the 2nd option.

We were far from our best today, but we seem to be learning to win games when we are far from our best - a very important trait teams need to learn and develop over time. So on that basis, I'm happy we got a win today.

[crackedactor 01]

Glass half empty says we only just beat a very mediocre side.

Glass half full says we hung tough and won, despite a few of our usuals having average days out and being on the wrong side of the umpires.

I'll take the 2nd option.

I am tired of getting the worse of the umpiring. Those 50m penalties for a gentle push were ridiculous. Then watch about Paddy Ryder stopping RB running for the ball by holding him on the wing 3rd quarter. How could the umpires not see that? I was amazed RB was given that free kick in the last minute, even though it was blatant.

[The Runner]

Parker is a competitive bull. But his ball use absolutely kills us. He even kicked backwards from a clearance in the final minutes which set up a scoring shot for them. He just bombs it when he gets it - compared to Warner who kicks long, and Florent who hits leading targets, it's really standing out this year.

And how on earth do we allow Jack Higgins to get 20+ and 7 scoring shots? It was hard to tell who his opponent was. But our small defenders have to be held to account for that - he kicks straight and we lose.

[Nico]

I am tired of getting the worse of the umpiring. Those 50m penalties for a gentle push were ridiculous. Then watch about Paddy Ryder stopping RB running for the ball by holding him on the wing 3rd quarter. How could the umpires not see that? I was amazed RB was given that free kick in the last minute, even though it was blatant.

Wicks was not in the contest and it doesn't matter if it is a "gentle Push". A push is a push and it was a dumb as dog doings thing to do.

[Captain]

Umpiring was ordinary but not to the point people are going on about here. We have had far worse in the past.

Thought it was a lucky win and one we will take every day of the week. We looked flat and tired.

Liked having Logan back in the team. Amartey showed a bit too and should only get better.

[dejavoodoo44]

Wicks was not in the contest and it doesn't matter if it is a "gentle Push". A push is a push and it was a dumb as dog doings thing to do.

I've only watched the highlights, rather than the game, so I've only seen the Rampe 50m. From what I saw, King should cop a fine for staging, as he went down as if he copped a Barry Hall fist to the jaw, instead of a Dane Rampe open palm to the shoulder.

[i'm-uninformed2]

The umpiring was poor. The Rampe-King one a classic example.

Unfortunately the McCartin one was there every day of the week. If you’re on the ground and pull it in, you have to get it out. Doesn’t matter that it ended up under King. It might be a stupid rule, but it’s the rule. And I instinctively agree with it in the interests of keeping the ball moving.

You just wish they paid incorrect disposal as often and on the same basis of the principle is clear.

[giant]

Really pretty horrid win - thought we played much better vs Dockers for a loss. Bye can't come fast enough I suspect.

Joel a very big bonus on an otherwise fairly ordinary day. He does need to learn how to handball though.

- - - Updated - - -

What kept St Kilda in the game was our 6 misses close in from set shots. Higgins missed up the other end but we were poor kicking for goal. Papley 2, Amartey 1, Hayward 2, Heeney 1. Heeney picked out his mum in the crowd on the opposite wing.

Isaac needs to sort his kicking out, because if he kicks like that to win us the GF there will be a riot. I actually think he's a pretty solid set shot kick so don't understand where this left foot screw kick nonsense has come from.