Swans VFL 2022

[bloodspirit]

Today's a big day for the VFL team. I'm looking forward to the game. We're going to be serious underdogs. Wasn't last week the only game the Demons have lost all season? We've both got about the same number of listed players playing.

They'll have to figure out how to deal with our large number of talls (McLean, Amartey, Sinclair, McAndrew & Ladhams) - then again none of them are pure forwards. I'd like to see Ladhams spending a fair bit of time playing on ball, I think it's where he does a lot of his best work. Melican is a very handy in too.

Here's a preview from afl.com.au: VFL Qualifying Finals: Can Swans and Sharks penetrate fortresses of Demons and Lions?.

[liz]

Although both our AFL and VFL teams finished in 4th spot, the shapes of their seasons have been quite different. Our AFL team has beaten all the other top four sides (and the side in 5th) and hasn't lost to them either (having only played each once).

On the other hand, four of our five VFL team losses have been to the teams who finished in the top five. (We also lost to the bottom placed side - the only game they won!) Three of those defeats to other top sides were comfortable losses, where we were never really in the contest. Just the loss to the Suns was close, and that was a game we probably should have won, but seemed to run out of legs towards the end.

One thing the two teams do share is that they have noticeably improved over the course of the season. Continuity of personnel has helped, but individuals have clearly improved too. Warner and Rankin have both had a good last six weeks or so (apart from an ill-disciplined first quarter from Rankin a week ago). Sheldrick and Roberts working in tandem have proved to be a strong ball winning duo.

Gulden looks to be back to full fitness after a long injury layoff. Shipley, who I was disappointed by early in the season after having high expectations, is now playing excellent footy, and both Collis and Morrison look at home snipping around the feet of the big blokes.

We may not beat Casey later today, but I'm at least hoping for a competitive showing that demonstrates how far the team (and the individuals) have come this season.

[bloodspirit]

Great preview liz!

I think both seniors and ressies have come to the end of the H&A season's with a 'wet sail'. I also thought that the style of the reserves team has come to resemble the style of the seniors more distinctly as the season has worn on and they have built cohesion playing together.

[TheBloods]

Although both our AFL and VFL teams finished in 4th spot, the shapes of their seasons have been quite different. Our AFL team has beaten all the other top four sides (and the side in 5th) and hasn't lost to them either (having only played each once).

On the other hand, four of our five VFL team losses have been to the teams who finished in the top five. (We also lost to the bottom placed side - the only game they won!) Three of those defeats to other top sides were comfortable losses, where we were never really in the contest. Just the loss to the Suns was close, and that was a game we probably should have won, but seemed to run out of legs towards the end.

One thing the two teams do share is that they have noticeably improved over the course of the season. Continuity of personnel has helped, but individuals have clearly improved too. Warner and Rankin have both had a good last six weeks or so (apart from an ill-disciplined first quarter from Rankin a week ago). Sheldrick and Roberts working in tandem have proved to be a strong ball winning duo.

Gulden looks to be back to full fitness after a long injury layoff. Shipley, who I was disappointed by early in the season after having high expectations, is now playing excellent footy, and both Collis and Morrison look at home snipping around the feet of the big blokes.

We may not beat Casey later today, but I'm at least hoping for a competitive showing that demonstrates how far the team (and the individuals) have come this season.

Gus and Roberts will be 200 gamers . They are true bloods . I have not seen them shirk a contest once . Not once ! And they are 18 !

I hope Corey turns out good , the other one Rankin looks a bust

[Markwebbos]

Although both our AFL and VFL teams finished in 4th spot, the shapes of their seasons have been quite different. Our AFL team has beaten all the other top four sides (and the side in 5th) and hasn't lost to them either (having only played each once).

On the other hand, four of our five VFL team losses have been to the teams who finished in the top five. (We also lost to the bottom placed side - the only game they won!) Three of those defeats to other top sides were comfortable losses, where we were never really in the contest. Just the loss to the Suns was close, and that was a game we probably should have won, but seemed to run out of legs towards the end.

One thing the two teams do share is that they have noticeably improved over the course of the season. Continuity of personnel has helped, but individuals have clearly improved too. Warner and Rankin have both had a good last six weeks or so (apart from an ill-disciplined first quarter from Rankin a week ago). Sheldrick and Roberts working in tandem have proved to be a strong ball winning duo.

Gulden looks to be back to full fitness after a long injury layoff. Shipley, who I was disappointed by early in the season after having high expectations, is now playing excellent footy, and both Collis and Morrison look at home snipping around the feet of the big blokes.

We may not beat Casey later today, but I'm at least hoping for a competitive showing that demonstrates how far the team (and the individuals) have come this season.

Hey Liz, pretty sure our AFL side finished 3rd!

[liz]

Hey Liz, pretty sure our AFL side finished 3rd!

Minor detail

Doesn't really change what I was trying to say.

[longmile]

Cunningham looking elite today - ready for an AFL call up if needed

[Goal Sneak]

Casey seem to have a lot of space in their forward fifty early on.

[longmile]

Cunningham looking elite today - ready for an AFL call up if needed

As is Sheldrick!

[longmile]

No McLean?

[MattW]

As is Sheldrick!

https://twitter.com/VFL/status/1563367974131486722?t=25h30MT6SG8TDg9iYrCUhg&s=19

[Mel_C]

My first time watching the VFL this year. I had totally forgotten who number 29 was! Sheldrick is tough.

I see clearances are a problem for us in the VFL as well.

Amartey has taken some great marks.

Bell really is a different player in the VFL.

Our forward 50 entries aren't good. It's just bomb it in and hope.

What is going on with Warner's hair??

[longmile]

No forward line/structure and silly free kicks have been the difference

[Goal Sneak]

We're struggling to match the intensity of the game at this stage. Casey are a confident, physical side.

[liz]

Sheldrick certainly did his best to keep us in that quarter. He was pretty unlucky to have a HTB paid against him, given an almost identical tackle he laid on a Dees player a few minutes earlier (one arm pinned, swung round several times) wasn't rewarded.