2nd preseason game v North

[AB Swannie]

A lot of positives from today's game. I thought all of our young mids really had an impact and well and truly outplayed the promising, young mids from North. Lizard, Juzzy, RB were all stand outs.

I was also really pleased with Mills' half game. 15 quality possessions and 8 tackles in 41% game time is outstanding.

I've been a big supporter of moving Heeney to the midfield but I may have to reconsider if today's game is anything to go on during the regular season. All our talls looked better today but, as others have said, Wicks and Hayward were two of our poorest players and so Heeney may be needed further forward of the ball.

[stevoswan]

He was superb , havent been his biggest fan in the past , thought he wasnt much and maybe he was out of position , probably a mix of both . Now he is delivering , great attack on the ball and man ,his intensity is so fantastic . i said he is the 4th wheel because i am later getting on his bandwagon than i was with the other 3 but he can be as good as them i say

It's exciting.....he appears to have recovered from his injury and prepared for the coming season very nicely indeed.

[Ralph Dawg]

I've just realised that we witnessed the full complement of the Macs in today's game, and the season hasn't even started properly. LMac2 was always the one most likely to ruin the hand. Sure, it was an extended bench and not a best available (with Buddy rested) but still, that's one thing ticked off.

It was a full on Mac attack! May never happen again so I guess we just cherish the moment.

[Meg]

2nd preseason game v North

It was a full on Mac attack! May never happen again so I guess we just cherish the moment.

Maybe I’m a bit slow and grumpy - but can I please ask posters to use players’ actual names? It may be clever to use abbreviations for the various players whose names start with ‘Mac/Mc’ but it’s damn annoying having to stop reading to work out who you are referring to.

And in any case, I think they are all ‘Mc’ not ‘Mac’ which makes the Mac abbreviations even sillier.

[Ludwig]

I agree with others that Wicks has played better games. His ball handling wasn't clean, even given the poor conditions, but I thought he was hard at the ball and set up some goals with his perseverance. His stats of 14 disposals and 6 tackles wasn't too bad for a small forward.

[Bloods05]

Maybe I’m a bit slow and grumpy - but can I please ask posters to use players’ actual names? It may be clever to use abbreviations for the various players whose names start with ‘Mac/Mc’ but it’s damn annoying having to stop reading to work out who you are referring to.

And in any case, I think they are all ‘Mc’ not ‘Mac’ which makes the Mac abbreviations even sillier.

Yes please please please. It annoys the hell out of me.

[MattW]

McDonald fought on to show a fair bit in the last quarter not sure how he missed that goal though.

He was good all game; missed goal: cramping up and it was inconsequential.

[MattW]

I've just realised that we witnessed the full complement of the Macs in today's game, and the season hasn't even started properly. LMac2 was always the one most likely to ruin the hand. Sure, it was an extended bench and not a best available (with Buddy rested) but still, that's one thing ticked off.

A fair amount to be positive about coming out of that game. JMac and Blakey clearly. And PMac was solid. Mills looked decent enough in his first outing. Stevens and Campbell both looked solid and confident at this level, even if neither is yet guaranteed a spot. Florent and Rowbottom were tough right throughout the game, with Rowbottom's tackling and burrowing particularly impressive.

The thing that's buoyed me the most was LMac1. I was a bit frustrated with the way he was used last week but today he got to play as a proper forward. He showed some great signs. And HMac was solid as a second or third banana.

The small and midsized forwards was clearly the area where some improvement is needed (Heeney aside). Hayward had a couple of decent moments but plenty more where he didn't present as he could or should and let his opponent take an uncontested mark. And periods where he was largely unsighted. And yes, Wicks has played much better games than that.

Agree with every word.

Also:
- Campbell's disposal was excellent. Interesting that Cunningham just played 47% BOG - coming back from injury and/or competing for a spot?
- I thought Kennedy off half-back looks a smart move.
- Love the pep in Warner's first step.

On a more negative note, sorry: Sam Reid didn't take a ball cleanly all day. Hard to see him playing seniors much this year.

[giant]

Doesn't seem to be anything to fear for letdown seasons from JMac or Chad - both excellent. Lizard continued his excellent touch from last year (and seemed much tighter defensively than last week). Other excellent efforts from the young mids, Rowbottam and Florent.

As others have noted, Sam Reid looks behind McLean & Logan, let alone Buddy and Ladhams, in the forward line pecking order. Could be a long year for him.

Not our prettiest effort (and by the way, how do you win the game by 5 but be -16 in frees? I counted 2 frees in the entire second half for goodness sakes!), but a step up from last week, Bring on round 1!!

EDIT: I've been a Stephens critic but that was a much better effort from him today. Still needs to work on disposal and his attack on the ball at times, but that's the most fluid and involved I've seen him play. Keep it up!

[Bangalore Swans]

I only saw the last quarter and I bit of the 1st quarter. Test match is playing as well.

Paddy looks like his going to be very good for the defence. Big body, great natural ability and an elite kick. The biggest upside to having Paddy play well is that Rampe at 3rd tall can be more attacking and free to jump in from the side. When you have Rampe and Blakey jumping in from the side then it’s difficult for opposition forwards to beat you in the air.

J-Mac and Chad looking really sharp.

Campbell and Stephens coming along as well.

McDonald starting to come into his own. Great contested mark on the wing. Must play round 1.

Sam Reid sadly looks like he’s got limited confidence in his ball handling. Don’t think round 1.

[Bloods05]

I only saw the last quarter and I bit of the 1st quarter. Test match is playing as well.

Paddy looks like his going to be very good for the defence. Big body, great natural ability and an elite kick. The biggest upside to having Paddy play well is that Rampe at 3rd tall can be more attacking and free to jump in from the side. When you have Rampe and Blakey jumping in from the side then it’s difficult for opposition forwards to beat you in the air.

J-Mac and Chad looking really sharp.

Campbell and Stephens coming along as well.

McDonald starting to come into his own. Great contested mark on the wing. Must play round 1.

Sam Reid sadly looks like he’s got limited confidence in his ball handling. Don’t think round 1.

Rowbottom. Don't forget Rowbottom.

[KSAS]

- Bonus the conditions weren't atrocious as forecasted to allow decent hit out.
- No injuries!!!
- Mills got decent minutes so hoping his archilles has pulled up well.

- During telecast they mentioned Tom Papley is already training, so hoping this is more of a 4 week hammy than a 6 week, but still take extra caution as Brad Johnson pointed out at this time of season to make sure it's 100% right.

- Paddy McCartin does have pace observing sprint race he had with Larkey heading back towards goal in the first quarter. I see him more as a Fullback than brother Tom, probably due to his likeness to Heath Grundy with the No. 39.

- Rampe was allowed to play more of a sweeping defender role and didn't need to over extend his one on one defending duties.

- Reid's confidence and game may well have grown had he able to hold onto 2 pack grabs in the 1st quarter in front of goal. To be fair it appeared most slippery in the 1st quarter.

- Interesting to see if both Logan & McLean play in R1 with Buddy plus how Ladhams fits into selection. Hoping Logan does play as he has so much upside.

Edit: They mentioned Ladhams played in the VFL because Match Committee felt he needed full game minutes in the Ruck.

[Ralph Dawg]

Maybe I’m a bit slow and grumpy - but can I please ask posters to use players’ actual names? It may be clever to use abbreviations for the various players whose names start with ‘Mac/Mc’ but it’s damn annoying having to stop reading to work out who you are referring to.

And in any case, I think they are all ‘Mc’ not ‘Mac’ which makes the Mac abbreviations even sillier.

Ok Meg, happy to ditch the Mac / Mc abbreviations, especially now that they have all played in the same game together. Last thing I want to do is cause annoyance even before the season has started proper!

[stevoswan]

Maybe I’m a bit slow and grumpy - but can I please ask posters to use players’ actual names? It may be clever to use abbreviations for the various players whose names start with ‘Mac/Mc’ but it’s damn annoying having to stop reading to work out who you are referring to.

And in any case, I think they are all ‘Mc’ not ‘Mac’ which makes the Mac abbreviations even sillier.

Nooooh....people will start calling them MC 'blah blah'. Hayden will end up being MC Hammer, Justin.....MC Jammer, Tommy.....MC Tim Tam, Paddy.....MC Rice (see what I did there), Lachlan.....MC Pretzel and Logan.....MC Wolverine.

I apologise to everyone.

[stevoswan]

I agree with others that Wicks has played better games. His ball handling wasn't clean, even given the poor conditions, but I thought he was hard at the ball and set up some goals with his perseverance. His stats of 14 disposals and 6 tackles wasn't too bad for a small forward.

His never say die efforts lead directly to Ollie's goal. It's that sort of fight that we love.....just hope he does it consistently and scores a few more himself. Can't see him missing round one.