Rd 23 v St Kilda @ Marvel

[111431]

Chad is the spark in the mids . When he doesnt have it we loss it

He certainly is a spark because of his ability to run through traffic but we do have some handy midfielders who didn't have there best games yesterday

[111431]

Or Nick Davis like. Watching live yesterday, the stress of that second half meant I didn't appreciate quite the degree of difficulty - and thus of skill - of those two last Hayward goals. His improvement in the second half of this season is a large part of why we've finished in 3rd spot.

In the forward line he benefits from oppositions paying so much attention to Papley, Heeney and Buddy, but it's his work up and down the ground, and the contested marks he's been taking across half-back and along the wings that have elevated him to being a hugely important part of this team.

Hayward played really well yesterday. His last goal was a cracker that I think even Heeney would struggle to conjure up. His work rate in being the release option for the defenders is very good but his one on one marking is exceptional. He is rarely beaten in a one on one marking contest.

[dejavoodoo44]

Or Nick Davis like. Watching live yesterday, the stress of that second half meant I didn't appreciate quite the degree of difficulty - and thus of skill - of those two last Hayward goals. His improvement in the second half of this season is a large part of why we've finished in 3rd spot.

In the forward line he benefits from oppositions paying so much attention to Papley, Heeney and Buddy, but it's his work up and down the ground, and the contested marks he's been taking across half-back and along the wings that have elevated him to being a hugely important part of this team.

Yes, I think I've mentioned in the past, that Hayward reminds me of Nick Davis, but with a bit more capacity/desire to run. His final quarter yesterday wasn't quite a Nick Davis quarter, but I reckon he has it in him.

[dejavoodoo44]

There was a CB that landed outside the circle that was called play on. Lead directly to a saints goal.

We got the bounce that counted, however, when Blakey pounced on it - Hayward goal!!

A few Malceski-like goals from WH.

Yes, that bounce caused me to file away another mental black mark against Matthew Nichols. A couple of years ago, I commented that I thought he was improving into a decent umpire. Since then, I've regretted it almost every time that he's umpired us.

[Faunac8]

Chad is the spark in the mids . When he doesnt have it we loss it

Chad has only had “it” in cameo performances over the last few weeks and we have not lost it, in fact we still won.
Luckily we have had another young gun step up and show the way by willing himself into contest after contest and stepping up when required.
I said to you a long time ago that you should just sit back and enjoy the fact that we have two young guns who complement each other so well and that we should enjoy ten years of them working together , almost a yin and yang duo if you were.
The last month has proved this to be pretty close to the mark but I would not be so presumptuous as to say I told ya as most of us could see it for themselves.
I will however say this that by the time James’s career is over at the Swans he will be regarded as one of our top midfielders of the last 20 years and maybe just maybe he will be talked about like Brett Kirk as a player who exhibited everything the Bloods spirit epitomises.
Brett by the way averaged only just over 18 possessions a game over his career but was widely acknowledged as an integral component of our team.
Seems he missed the 25 possessions memo ????
James is still 2 years younger than Brett when he debuted and I believe he will play 250 games for us.
It’s not always the show that wins our hearts as supporters sometimes it’s the effort.

[stevoswan]

Chad is the spark in the mids . When he doesnt have it we loss it

Well, I half agree with you on that TB....but also agree with giving credit where it IS due....and not saying we had nothing when we had James....who was BOG.

[Agent 86]

Or Nick Davis like…

Yes! That too. Hard to believe only 23. Seemed to take a while to recover from the busted jaw (seems like a lifetime ago?). But this year has been awesome. So strong in 1-1 marking contests and improved so much in general.

We have really stepped up since the mid-year slump, but yesterday was a danger game & TG we escaped. Mind you, they’ve all been danger games across the 2nd half of this season.

Lloyd’s kicking still scares the bjeezus out of me, & a few other kicks cost us (including from WH) - but Saints let us off the hook regularly with crap kicks too. A hard-fought contest (with a win) is not a bad thing at this stage.

Btw, did anyone see what happened with PMc before King’s first goal? He looked pretty upset following (as did his bro’).

[Faunac8]

Hayward played really well yesterday. His last goal was a cracker that I think even Heeney would struggle to conjure up. His work rate in being the release option for the defenders is very good but his one on one marking is exceptional. He is rarely beaten in a one on one marking contest.

Will has absolutely shown this year that he is a very smart footballer .
He doesn’t regularly pull in pack marks and very few of his marks are above his head, what he does do exceptionally well is out manoeuvre his opponent and his ability to read the flight of the ball and position himself to take the mark is elite.

[TheBloods]

Hayward has shut me up , how good is the way he tucks the ball in for chest marks so they cant be spoiled . Very clever .

- - - Updated - - -

Chad has only had “it” in cameo performances over the last few weeks and we have not lost it, in fact we still won.
Luckily we have had another young gun step up and show the way by willing himself into contest after contest and stepping up when required.
I said to you a long time ago that you should just sit back and enjoy the fact that we have two young guns who complement each other so well and that we should enjoy ten years of them working together , almost a yin and yang duo if you were.
The last month has proved this to be pretty close to the mark but I would not be so presumptuous as to say I told ya as most of us could see it for themselves.
I will however say this that by the time James’s career is over at the Swans he will be regarded as one of our top midfielders of the last 20 years and maybe just maybe he will be talked about like Brett Kirk as a player who exhibited everything the Bloods spirit epitomises.
Brett by the way averaged only just over 18 possessions a game over his career but was widely acknowledged as an integral component of our team.
Seems he missed the 25 possessions memo ????
James is still 2 years younger than Brett when he debuted and I believe he will play 250 games for use
It’s not always the show that wins our hearts as supporters sometimes it’s the effort.

Chad has heart and effort , he is a superstar and a special player . How did 38 go before him !

[Ludwig]

(Hayward's) work up and down the ground, and the contested marks he's been taking across half-back and along the wings that have elevated him to being a hugely important part of this team.

Absolutely true. We can add to this the improvement of Florent this year as well. Both players in their 6th year, much maligned on RWO, have come good and are taking the Swans to another level.

We've been fortunate to have players like Chad, Gulden, Rowbottom and Blakey who have been faster to develop, but it takes a bit longer for some and we need to be patient. I think this is the case with Stephens, who still has things to work on in his game, but is getting so much right and progressing fast to the level we hoped he could achieve when taken as a high draft pick.

[stevoswan]

Lloyd’s kicking still scares the bjeezus out of me, & a few other kicks cost us (including from WH) -

Btw, did anyone see what happened with PMc before King’s first goal? He looked pretty upset following (as did his bro’).

To be fair, Will's kick should have been eaten up by JMac but he fluffed it.....he is definitely one player who has to improve his output and composure for the finals.

On what happened to TMac, there's some excellent footage here (and Barrett and Lloyd discuss the incident) around the 7:16 mark:

How Pies stole it AGAIN, Lloyd on Dons' next coach, Zorko reaction

I think King should be in trouble despite Lloyd's assertion that 'he's clipped him'. Looks like a hard punch to Tom's chest to me.

[mcs]

Yes! That too. Hard to believe only 23. Seemed to take a while to recover from the busted jaw (seems like a lifetime ago?). But this year has been awesome. So strong in 1-1 marking contests and improved so much in general.

We have really stepped up since the mid-year slump, but yesterday was a danger game & TG we escaped. Mind you, they’ve all been danger games across the 2nd half of this season.

Lloyd’s kicking still scares the bjeezus out of me, & a few other kicks cost us (including from WH) - but Saints let us off the hook regularly with crap kicks too. A hard-fought contest (with a win) is not a bad thing at this stage.

Btw, did anyone see what happened with PMc before King’s first goal? He looked pretty upset following (as did his bro’).

I still don't like it at all when Lloyd takes kick ins at all.

Have not seen any footage of what happened to McGrundy in that contest at all - seems noone had an angle on it (Fox too busy playing funny buggers with crazy camera angles then to properly cover the ground is my guess). Edited to note post from above. Looked like a decent attempted clip to the chest/head for mine.

[Faunac8]

Hayward has shut me up , how good is the way he tucks the ball in for chest marks so they cant be spoiled . Very clever .

- - - Updated - - -



Chad has heart and effort , he is a superstar and a special player . How did 38 go before him !

What does Colin O’Riordan have to do with it ?

[KTigers]

I'd have the watch the replay to be 100% sure, and I'm not sure I have that in me, but we usually get a bunch of centre
bounce clearances from Hickey and that didn't really happen at all yesterday. It's unrealistic to expect him to do it every
game but we benefit a lot when he does get it out.
It's a pity we're not playing the Demons at the SCG but it is what it is and if we're good enough and willing enough then
we'll win.

[stevoswan]

I still don't like it at all when Lloyd takes kick ins at all.

Have not seen any footage of what happened to McGrundy in that contest at all - seems noone had an angle on it (Fox too busy playing funny buggers with crazy camera angles then to properly cover the ground is my guess). Edited to note post from above. Looked like a decent attempted clip to the chest/head for mine.

Hardly a clip.....don't let Lloyd's assessment fool you. It was a punch....you don't go to ground, doubled over in pain, from a 'clip'.