Round 12 vs Melbourne Demons @ MCG

[barry]

I can't remember a swans team that was so ferocious against the opposition when they had the ball. It was like, take the bulldogs at there best, and times it by 100.

[snajik]

I had been planning this trip for months, especially following the defeat last year and enduring the MCC members’ taunts and arrogance. The first quarter saw a state of deja vu, and I was beginning to wonder what could I do to become invisible.
I knew that we if we had kicked straighter or they kicked less straight then we would have been right in it but it was scary watching how easily they entered their forward fifty and were able to convert.
The second quarter saw RB completely dominate Oliver’s influence, a team approach to tackling and responsibility, great contested marking both forward and back and relentless pressure across the ground.
The second half became an arm wrestle with Gawn dominant but the Swans winning everywhere else. Blakey was outstanding, Rampe completely shut down Brown, the McCartin’s were amazingly brave and the Members were complaining (always a good sign from bullies).
This win was important not just from a ladder perspective but because we need to prove to ourselves that we are worthy, that teams need to fear us and that we are genuine contenders.
Why did we win, when so many times teams have not been able to resist the Melbourne onslaught once they’d gained the advantage? The belief and grit of this group of young men is surely remarkable and makes me humble to be a supporter of such a team.
A great night.

That was a great account. It's a big effort to get down to Melb to watch them play for most of us (as I'm sure would apply for the Melbourne-based fans heading north to Sydney). Always a wonderful to see an against-the-odds victory in enemy territory. Glad you got there to see it.

[Nico]

Blakey "On the Buses" had no influence for Melbourne. I think Ludwig said Amartey was playing on him.

[bloodspirit]

How good was that?!!

Such a great full-team, 4 quarter effort! We came to play and brought the intensity that we have been lacking.

We've shown we are a legitimate contender after all. But not more. We played close to our best tonight and the Demons didn't. Plus I think the absence of May probably hurt them more than Buddy missing hurt us. They have to deal with every team out there getting pumped up to play against them. I'm saying this not to cheapen the win (indeed I think it's by far our best win this year) or our form, but only to not get too carried away. Our best is good enough but we have to bring it more often.

I loved:

* we had no passengers! Some players had fewer stats but still made important contributions - Amartey's throwing his body around, especially in the first half was super valuable. Rampe shutting down Ben Brown meant he did his job wonderfully. Etc etc.

* Rowbottom had his second consecutive outstanding game - particularly at the contest. He's had more spectacular games but I think he's in career best form at the moment. Took real maturity and grit to take the fight to the Demons' midfield like he did - and his pressure made an enormous difference.

* Errol, as ever.

* so many special moments, as someone else already highlighted. This is a game that could be talked about like a final. That T. McCartin effort on the stroke of 3/4 time was reminiscent of Marty Mattner's superb effort in the 2012 granny. And there were so many other great moments too!

* the physicality. We were FEROCIOUS! That, more than anything, was what won us the game.

* we've got a bye coming up to enjoy the win and recover from the huge effort.

Some other things:

* Max Gawn was BOG. Stellar captain's game.

* Felt really sorry for COR, especially after the game was over. He looked despondent.

* We pulled off 2 of the last three games, which was a brilliant effort. I'm happy to take 8-4 going into the bye, especially with a win like that that gives us so much confidence (we already have the belief). Reckon we need to go at least 6-4, and quite possibly 7-3, over the rest of the season to finish top 4. It's going to be tough but we can do it. Geelong and Gold Coast have pretty easy runs home and are good chances to finish top 4 and top 8 respectively. That may mean we're going to need to knock Freo out of the 8 for a top 4 spot. Our game against them is going to be an 8+ point game. If I could nominate one game to win over the rest of the H&A season, it's that one (beating out our return match against the Bulldogs by a whisker).

* Stephens may turn out to be a draft bust but Logan McDonald doesn't look like he's going to disappoint as one of our only non-Academy high draft picks.

[TheBloods]

How good is it being able to move Mills around on needs . What a weapon . Was doing it all last night

[Ludwig]

We had some outstanding performances last night, but what I really liked was that just about every player did something special that took an extra effort. It was across the board. Amartey's numbers weren't big, but he was influential in several key plays. Ben Ronke only had 46% TOG, but I think he was playing on Hunt, or Hunt was playing on him, and Hunt did nothing all game. Chad had 530 metres gained; huge numbers for an inside mid. Gulden kicked that great 4th qtr goal, but what impressed me was coming up with some big plays in our defensive 50.

It was the kind of game where the stats didn't tell the story. You had to see the relentless pursuit of the ball all game and how well connected everyone was. We didn't need many possessions, because we had players leading to good spots all night, making it easier for our players with ball in hand.

I thought San Reid might not get a contract this year, and he was training with the defenders. I didn't think it would make much difference whether he was on our list or not. He's only 30 yo. If he can stay off the injury list, he could still have several good years left in him. It's going to be hard to get him out of the side the way he played last night.

I commented at the end of the 3rd that Gawn was hurting us. I meant to say killing us. I was very worried that he would, alone, bring victory to the Demons. Hickey and Ladhams have been very good for us, but if we had a Max Gawn, we would be a premiership side for sure. He's just about unstoppable.

The MCG didn't look that busy last night and it sounded like their might have been as many Swans' fans as Demon fans. It was a poor showing for such a top notch game. You picked a good one, Nico.

[Industrial Fan]

What a shame that Papleys snap off the left didn’t go through as a goal. Would have been one of the goals of the season had it gone through. A mad desperate scramble with effort after effort and went so close to the 6pts

[bandwagon]

The AFL site had our best as: Reid, Mills, McDonald, Parker, Papley, Heeney
Now every player on that list contributed to our win, and I don't wish to diminish their performance - but omitting both of the McCartins? How about our dynamic duo of Rowbottom and Warner? Ladhams, Florent and Lloyd were also really important. Perhaps it was just too hard to decide...

[i'm-uninformed2]

* so many special moments, as someone else already highlighted. This is a game that could be talked about like a final. That T. McCartin effort on the stroke of 3/4 time was reminiscent of Marty Mattner's superb effort in the 2012 granny. And there were so many other great moments too!

Great comparison! Pickett burns off the player 19 out of 20 times in that situation. It really was a special effort.

[Jimitron5000]

What a super win that was! Everyone did their bit and worked as a team. From a few minutes into the second quarter we didn't give them sniff, even when they were on top in the third.
Shout out to Joel Amartey, who had one of the better 3 disposal games I have seen. His competitiveness and willingness to stick to his task was terrific.

Also, Max Gawn. What a player he is. And Melbourne need Steven May in their team.

[stevoswan]

Darcy accused Stevic of being one of the best in the business at one point.

He makes that accusation a lot! What a twit.

[Hotpotato]

If only you could bottle that Mongrel intensity the whole team brought to the contest all night .

[Jimitron5000]

He makes that accusation a lot! What a twit.

Luke Darcy is a dill. He has one talking about a select group of players and umpires and repeats it ad nauseum. Anything outside that, he has no idea, and even then he buggers it up.
If anyone ever watches an Essendon match featuring Nik Cox, be prepared for 'he's 200cm, you can't do that', every time Cox picks the ball up off the ground.

[TheBloods]

Darcy is the peanut who couldnt get Sam Reid 's name right , a premiership player . Who earned a medal , didnt have it gifted

[Faunac8]

The Mongrel Punt is out and this is my favourite quote from it after highlighting how many young guns we have under 25

“ This side is not built for one crack at the flag – no, no… it is built for a continuous assault on the top four and possibly multiple premierships over the next few seasons.”

I believe and so should we all.