Round 12 vs Melbourne Demons @ MCG

[Hotpotato]

Sydney v Melbourne - The Big Questions - The Mongrel Punt

[Hotpotato]

“Chad Warner continued on his merry way of bursting from packs and sowing the seeds of panic in the opposition.”

H.B. Meyers
The Mongrel Punt

[TheBloods]

“Chad Warner continued on his merry way of bursting from packs and sowing the seeds of panic in the opposition.”

H.B. Meyers
The Mongrel Punt

He was terrific last night and some dill who wrote the match report didnt have him in our bests !

[Maltopia]

I'll admit I was wrong to be so pessimistic about the team selection - I thought the game was pretty lost when we picked Wicks over Campbell, but Wicks did well apart from one stupid free early on that wasn't too costly.

I also was scathing about our first quarter performance, but I think that was warranted. Good teams make the most of their opportunities and score goals instead of points. We were trailing 0.5 to 4.1 at one stage, with our team missing gettable (at AFL level) set shots. But we kept trying and lifted our effort at the contests, so full credit to the team.

Every player contributed and there were not many costly clangers (luckily - Tom McCartin almost gave a way a goal in the first quarter when he sprayed a kick under no pressure).

Gawn monstered us, but that was also some of us kicking it to his area a lot. Great to see Florent play a great game in defence and what a game by (Ben lol) Reid!

A great victory, redeeming some faith that we still might be in it for a top four placing after some shaky games earlier in the season.

[Mel_C]

I put my money on Gerard Whately (AFL360) doing so, as the ARC decisions is his obsession.

Edit: I thought all tight goal shots are automatically reviewed?

Yes I also thought that all goals were reviewed. But I think they only have until before the umpire bounces the ball to make a decision. So if it's not an obvious decision they won't call for an official goal review.

[stevoswan]

I'll admit I was wrong to be so pessimistic about the team selection - I thought the game was pretty lost when we picked Wicks over Campbell, but Wicks did well apart from one stupid free early on that wasn't too costly.

I also was scathing about our first quarter performance, but I think that was warranted. Good teams make the most of their opportunities and score goals instead of points. We were trailing 0.5 to 4.1 at one stage, with our team missing gettable (at AFL level) set shots. But we kept trying and lifted our effort at the contests, so full credit to the team.

Every player contributed and there were not many costly clangers (luckily - Tom McCartin almost gave a way a goal in the first quarter when he sprayed a kick under no pressure).

Gawn monstered us, but that was also some of us kicking it to his area a lot. Great to see Florent play a great game in defence and what a game by (Ben lol) Reid!

A great victory, redeeming some faith that we still might be in it for a top four placing after some shaky games earlier in the season.

I think we can now be confident as Swans fans that even if we don't have a great start, which seems to be our issue, we are likely to have a great finish. Fitness, effort and perseverance are not in question with this team and the Bloods spirit is alive and well.

If we can arrest the slow start issue, we are a chance for top four for sure.

[Mel_C]

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 sure they only look at stats. That's why the coaches votes are more meaningful.

[mcs]

I think we can now be confident as Swans fans that even if we don't have a great start, which seems to be our issue, we are likely to have a great finish. Fitness, effort and perseverance are not in question with this team and the Bloods spirit is alive and well.

If we can arrest the slow start issue, we are a chance for top four for sure.

It wouldn't have been such a slow start last night had we taken our chances in the first quarter. Missed some pretty gettable shots at goal. But yes - more generally you are right in terms of if we can start to fix those, then we will suddenly

We've got to about where I hoped we would be at mid season - 8-4/9-3 was braodly my hope of around where we would be. But by winning games I didn't think we would, and losing ones we really shouldn't have. That's footy hey!

[Blood Relative]

Looks like Fox spent all night on Fritsch, I hope he retains his spot.

Sorry F8

[rojo]

So good to have the Papley we know back!

Both McInerney and Heeney made some telling contributions but neither seem to be playing at their very best. Perhaps this is not a bad thing in that there is a long way to go yet and it means too that others have the opportunity/challenge to stand out.

In choosing the best players, Papley was asked by the commentators who he thought the best player was, to give the gift of speakers to, and he said he didn't know, then suggested McDonald, but after more thought maybe Mills (I think) but when asked what about Reid, oh yes, he decided it definitely was Reid! I think the commentators had already decided on Reid.

[AB Swannie]

I thought Fox was an unsung hero last night. Fritsch is an incredible forward who managed to inflict maximum pain from only 7 possessions. I reckon we look much more solid down back with McCartin, McCartin, Rampe, and Fox being the primary defenders and being supported with Florent, Blakey, and Lloyd.

[Industrial Fan]

Rampe is improving as the season goes and I think his performances have improved with taking more direct responsibility rather than playing loose.

It’s a bit odd because he seems like the ideal loose defender but seems to relish a direct opponent and beating them.

[MattW]

Rampe is improving as the season goes and I think his performances have improved with taking more direct responsibility rather than playing loose.

It’s a bit odd because he seems like the ideal loose defender but seems to relish a direct opponent and beating them.

Agreed.

[TheBloods]

Rampe plays with more injuries than what many would know about . Champion

[i'm-uninformed2]

Watching the replay, a few extra things you see - having previously mentioned a lot of great moments like the Lloyd mark or McCartin rounding up Pickett or Florent v Viney last night.

Just how good the T McCartin mark was in which he tweaked his ankle.

Ladhams was obviously on the end of a freak game by Gawn, but he kept going and did very well against Jackson. It would have been easy to drop his head and he didn’t.

McInerney did a good job containing Langdon, and then his last five-10 minutes with the ball were just outstanding.

We really did go harder for longer. There was a play late in the second quarter just after the Fritsch goal. There was a centre bounce, the ball bobbled around, and Rowie and Oliver arrived on it at the same time. Oliver is the best clearance/contested player there is. But Rowie dug in that nanosecond longer, wins the wrestle, claws the ball away and draws the free before pumping it forward.

As for Gulden, what a player he is. Leave aside the goal, which was nuts. There was a play in the second quarter where Spargo centres the ball to 15-20m out and there’s three Melbourne players. Gulden is in between them. Rather than panic, he watched the flight of the ball, sees it’s going to Mitch Brown, and calmly spoils the bloke at least 15cm taller than him - hitting it 20m minimum. The ball goes forward , bounces around, Chad grabs it, pumps to Paps and he goals on the run. There was another play where he took a mark in the last line of defence and within 30 seconds bobs up on the wing to pump the ball into f50. He was everywhere. I honestly have no clue what position he played but he just kept appearing and he just has a great instinct for the game.