Round 10 v Carlton @ Marvel Stadium

[mcs]

I thought the free kick count was justified in the first half, you are going to give them up when you know that the Blues will likely convert any loose ball into a scoring opportunity. Most were legit, and we didn't earn any.

The second half was ridiculous though. The umps had two sets of rules on HTB, 15m kicks, in the back, protected area of the mark.

One of those umpires really needs to go back to clown school and learn what 15 metres is ha - several 'not 15 metres' were 20m +!!!

[stevoswan]

Sick of umpire whingers. Second half we won the contested possessions by 7 having being -31 at half time and we then win the frees by 1 having being -12 at half time. Easier to win the frees if in first at the ball or getting more inside F50 which won easily at f/t having been down by 14 at half time.

You did watch the game....and see the non paid frees, the varying interpretations depending on jumper colour, the instant whistle on Blues frees and the reluctant eventual whistle for Swans frees (especially in the first half)?

You don't think the umpires see the free kick count at half time? 'Oops, better be a bit fairer this half'....but by then, the damage is done. Sure we weren't at our best in the first half but it's not 'umpire whinging', it's seeing what is in front of us....and the umpires sucked.

[MattW]

Yes, I thought that we missed Rowbottom's defensive efforts around the contests. Although, that area improved in the second half. Campbell made a bit of a difference in the back half, when he came on. Harry Cunningham may have been useful tonight?

Absolutely. Rowbottom's defensive grit and general hardness is irreplaceable.

[stevoswan]

Really wish he had of kicked that one he just missed in the 3rd and one of those ones in the 4th. Deserved 5 or 6 goals tonight.

While I'm happy if Buddy plays on next year (on a lot less $ of course), I sort of wouldn't be unhappy if he bows out too. Logan is coming along very well. What I love is his ability to impact a contest from any angle. Still 1 on 1 has some work to do as his body build strength, but he reads the game well, uses the ball well, and is a good kick of the footy in general play. He is going to be an utter beast of a player in the not too distant future.

On a completely unrelated note, devestated for Joey. Can't see how this year won't be his last, and he won't have any chance of reaching 300 like he deserves it seems

Just announced on Seven that the Swans and Franklin are in talks regarding a contract extension. I'm happy.

[Agent 86]

Game was lost in the middle not by Bell or Wicks

Yes. Too true. We did win 2nd half clearances and inside 50 by a significant margin, however. Carlton were choking (once again) but we failed to nail them. Basically, too much damage in Q2. Also forward entries were once again bombing to the top of the square. Boring & predictable.

[stevoswan]

Game was lost in the middle not by Bell or Wicks

True....but if anyone's getting dropped, they will go before any mids.

[The Big Cat]

Absolutely. Rowbottom's defensive grit and general hardness is irreplaceable.

Never a truer word spoken.

[Ludwig]

Warner lacked impact in the middle. He was the one we needed to stop those fast exits out of the middle with his power and run. I reckon he and we missed Rowbottom who probably makes players around him look good by taking away easy exits of the opposition.

The other thing was ground ball in our defensive half in the second quarter, after a couple of goals got kicked, the players gravitated towards the ball and lost reference to their direct opponents. And more goals were kicked as a result. Their forward half pressure in the second qtr was terrific Ala like ours against Richmond last year.

Bell had all the reason to do well today. Doug Nicholls round and all. He just runs around and lacks decision making. I would get Stephens in this team atleast he can run exactly as much as bell and probably will have no less performance than him.

We are going to get belted in the next 2 games if we allow such a huge margin to open up in a qtr if a game.

The work Rowbottom does to break up opposition ball movement, especially at centre bounces, goes unnoticed by many. We really missed him today in the 2nd quarter. Warner gives up on his defensive play too soon. Rowbottom is relentless in his chasing.

The defensive side of midfielding (sic) is something I look for, and is why I've called for dropping Kennedy from the side, despite him being one of the all time great midfielders. I'm so pleased he got his records last week. He's been a champion, and all class.

I haven't read any comments crying out for Bell to play in the midfield. I wonder why?

I would prefer to go with a Hickey or Ladhams + Amartey as our ruck/forward duo. Amartey does more around the ground and as a forward than Ladhams. He's been playing well in the VFL and should be given a run in the seniors so we can compare our options for that role, along with Ladhams and McLean.

We have a few other options who could come into the side, including Clarke, Ronke, Stephens, Roberts and Gould. JMac looks tired and can use a week off. We need to get better, and getting better will involve taking some chances with selection.

[grarmy]

Game was lost in the middle not by Bell or Wicks

And then their young half forwards were dominant: contested marks, presesure at the contest, application. Bell seems keen and committed at times but then kinda has a go and then wanders off. I don't think he is yet ready for the big time.

[Industrial Fan]

Thought Rampe had a good game after being shifted onto Curnow at 1/2 time.

T.Mc had a shocker tonight, but he’s young - it happens. Looked really down on confidence after losing Charlie a few times.

Thought we missed Rowbottom at the coal face.

The free kick against Warner for running too far was a killer. Didn’t seem like he ran too far but that the ump missed his bounce?

We needed more from our rucks tonight, nothing from them aside from the 3rd qtr.

Logan was a solid target all night - hopefully a breakout game for him.

Sad end for Kennedy if the hamstring is as bad as it looked.

[stevoswan]

Campbell, in a bit over a half had 11 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles and 1 clearance.

In to stay now and more time in the mids.

[Hotpotato]

We gave up 10 goals in the 2nd quarter with Carlton missing their best forward i cant imagine how many Mckay would of kicked with that level of dominance.

Margin in the end was absolutely flattening towards us.

It’s flattened me, the game gave me a headache.

[Roadrunner]

Sick of umpire whingers. Second half we won the contested possessions by 7 having being -31 at half time and we then win the frees by 1 having being -12 at half time. Easier to win the frees if in first at the ball or getting more inside F50 which won easily at f/t having been down by 14 at half time.

What game were you watching COB? An incredible number of the dumbest decisions since the GF of 2016, and momentum changers too. That said, we were hopeless in the second quarter but redeemed ourselves in the third and fourth, but were still killed by awful frees against us.

[Danzar]

One of those umpires really needs to go back to clown school and learn what 15 metres is ha - several 'not 15 metres' were 20m +!!!

Crazy.

It's good to see umps finally start policing it (it was let go for years) but you can see they apply it at a team level. It's not that they get the occasional one wrong, my issue is they usually apply it to one team while another just gets away with it. The Cats got away with it for a decade, right up to this year but have now changed their game so it's no longer a factor.

[H2F]

It’s flattened me, the game gave me a headache.

Muting the vomit inducing commentary helped you only hear your own gnashing of the teeth at some of the umpiring decisions.

O