Swans v Giants Elimination Final 2021

[Go Swannies]

Firstly, I need to say thanks Swannies for a great season. I've spent the past few years getting excited about the talent coming through but this was the year it gelled. I'm gutted that we lost as I think the Cats are very gettable next week (but by us, not the stodgy Giants). But I don't think we would have won the Premiership this year - and watching the Dees right now I'm even more sure of that.

Losing the Lizard always put us behind and then seeing Mills and Kennedy in the coaches box it was hard to see how we could win. But it ended up with us finding so many ways to lose when winning was within our grasp. I know it will hurt the players a lot - and that's good and I hope it burns in every game next year.

If we had not lost to Freo or the Giants early in the season we'd be on our second chance tonight. Instead they're heading home.

I'm not going to comment on any individual players tonight. Except to say that I will be bitterly, bitterly disappointed if we don't find a way to keep Parker, Dawson and Hewitt in the team. Losing Parker would be like letting Kirk go at the same stage of his career - he's a Swans' spiritual leader.

Onward to next year for the Swans. I think I'm now hoping that the Dees go all the way - they play well enough to deserve it and I don't think that's true of many of the others.

[Blood Fever]

Just checked and was surprised to see that Melican had 17 disposals and 8 marks. Not shabby. He wasn't the reason we lost. I would like to see someone better in that fullback position, but if he could get a decent run with injuries, I think he would be okay.

A friend sent me Champion Data's expected score analysis of the game. It is based on where shots at goal are taken from and whether they are snaps etc. It is is based on a vast number of games over lots of years. Final expected scores: Swans 93 Giants 65. Very ugly picture of how we blew it. Also inside 50s- 65 to 45.

[Agent 86]

Just checked and was surprised to see that Melican had 17 disposals and 8 marks. Not shabby. He wasn't the reason we lost. I would like to see someone better in that fullback position, but if he could get a decent run with injuries, I think he would be okay.

Got better as the game went on as is his wont. But our 2nd qtr was a disaster zone (& not just blaming him).

By the way, can someone tell me why Gould never gets a game?

[Bexl]

Got better as the game went on as is his wont. But our 2nd qtr was a disaster zone (& not just blaming him).

By the way, can someone tell me why Gould never gets a game?

I expect he will be one of the de-listings.

[dejavoodoo44]

Toby Greene:
"It was just in the moment and I certainly would never touch him."

Leon Cameron:
“Clearly it's a talking point but all I know is it wouldn't have been intentional."

We really are living in a golden age of bull@@@@.

[Agent 86]

I expect he will be one of the de-listings.

Doubt that. Contracted until 2023 I think.

[barry]

I just watched the last quarter again. As a team, we failed badly. GWs were shot. We were 10.7 with 15 minutes to go, and finished 10.13. 5 behinds in 15 minutes!

[Bangalore Swans]

People talk about Kennedy and Mills not being available, but the most important player unavailable was Blakey.

Due to his height and leap he would have been able to provide aerial support for Melican and others.

He’s also a huge threat running off the halfback line and the opposition has to plan for him. Since Blakey wasn’t there GWS could focus on stopping the run of J-Mac.

[Bexl]

Doubt that. Contracted until 2023 I think.

ok

[SwanSand]

Apparently theres someone else so good we had to give games to instead

Probably because the MC knew what Chad was capable of !

[crackedactor 01]

Got better as the game went on as is his wont. But our 2nd qtr was a disaster zone (& not just blaming him).

By the way, can someone tell me why Gould never gets a game?

Heard Gould does not have the engine to play out a full game. His endurance levels will need some work in the off season.

- - - Updated - - -

Toby Greene:
"It was just in the moment and I certainly would never touch him."

Leon Cameron:
“Clearly it's a talking point but all I know is it wouldn't have been intentional."

We really are living in a golden age of bull@@@@.

Just want to give a 1000 thumbs up for your comment. !! So true.

[SwanSand]

Just checked and was surprised to see that Melican had 17 disposals and 8 marks. Not shabby. He wasn't the reason we lost. I would like to see someone better in that fullback position, but if he could get a decent run with injuries, I think he would be okay.

For a team like GWS the ease with which they were getting through the middle of the ground indicated our pressure was very poor till half time and then our forward structure was shot with Bell and McLean being there. I reckon if we had to win we had to have a blinder from the players like Rowbottom and Florent and Chad. Unfortunately they did not have the game we needed

[Bexl]

People talk about Kennedy and Mills not being available, but the most important player unavailable was Blakey.

Due to his height and leap he would have been able to provide aerial support for Melican and others.

He’s also a huge threat running off the halfback line and the opposition has to plan for him. Since Blakey wasn’t there GWS could focus on stopping the run of J-Mac.

Fair enough but can anyone think of a time when a team is 7 points down and totally out plays the other team in the last 10 minutes and has the last 6 scores and looses? the players that played should have won that game and I'm sure they all know that. Like John Longmire said any team left in it can beat any other team on the day and this is a chance lost. It's a bit different but I hope we use it to do what Essendon did in 2000.


AS a side note I don't want us to do what Essendon did in 2013

[stevoswan]

WTF i said it was a positive , i think a finals loss can be good for teams , exposes our weaknesses and gives us @@@@ to work on over the off season , now im in trouble for it

FMD

I was going to let others do the rebuffing of your 'he's no good' comment because they were doing very well but the above is just playing the victim......I think you know exactly what IU2 meant....it was the yet another 'he's no good' bit, not your whole post, that got you 'into trouble'.

FWIW, I think a fully fit and firing RB is going to be our next Ryan O'Keefe. I see it all the time and today, it was on show. A bit more polish needed but it's coming. I can feel it in my waters.

[stevoswan]

Toby will get a week, then lawyers involved to get it a fine.
He didn't deviate from his line and there was no force.

So it's up to the umpire to move to avoid contact? Mmm...I think not. No force....I don't think that matters does it? Added to that the fact that he didn't 'deviate from his line' means it was intentional contact. It would set a dangerous precedent for him not to be suspended.