Match thread: Swans v Cats.

[Nico]

Same same - there is 50% of me that can't believe we didn't win, and 50% that can't believe we didn't lose. It's a confusing time.

How I saw it after the game was this; we controlled a lot of the game and I would have been gutted if we had lost. There were a lot of positives to take out of the game. Onwards and upwards. I am really bullish on Sheldrick. He is a see ball get ball midfielder at clearances and has clean first touch skills.

[crackedactor 01]

Hot take: our kicking for goal was a little frustrating.

Did you say a little frustrating? I am normally just a subdued Footy watcher but when they missed those 10 meters shots I had to bang the coffee table with my fists, something I never do.

[crackedactor 01]

Encouraging points from tonight and season to date:

* Campbell really hitting his straps as a senior footballer
* Sheldrick looking like a good prospect
* Aaron Francis looking increasingly good in our backline, he’s a great contested mark and makes the contest well

With some active drafting and list management I can’t see why we won’t be challenging again next year or 2025

I think we will be a decent premiership chance in 2025 barring numerous injuries. Campbell is now playing at a different level, Sheldrick has been surprisingly good. We also have Stephens and Corey Warner playing good football in the seconds and Jack Buller will be a real weapon once he gets a full pre-season behind him.

[Blood Fever]

Yes: 'Sheldrick is showing that we did make the right decision by drafting him and not Van Rooyen.'

A few on here strangely quiet after Sheldrick's last few weeks

[Ludwig]

I don't think it's contradictory to have preferred JVR to Sheldrick at the time of the draft and liking what Sheldrick is bringing to our midfield. They both look to be very good young players. The draft opinion is more based on positional needs than quality of the player. I wanted JVR, but have been a big fan of Sheldrick from the start. Sheldrick has exploded into a seriously good player in the matter of just a few AFL games, a bit like Warner did in his 2nd season.

Talking about seriously good players, Blakey has been incredible with his daring and courage. You wouldn't think by looking at him that he would be so physical and brave.

[BRS328]

You are technically correct, but it happens every week as defenders do exactly what Mellican did.

I pose the question do you think it would have been paid had it been Tom Stewart or DeConing doing the same thing?

I guess though we should be grateful, we did get one free kick in the first half, and it was not the obvious one when Francis was sling tackled, which incidentally resulted in a goal to Hawkins

[crackedactor 01]

You are technically correct, but it happens every week as defenders do exactly what Mellican did.

I pose the question do you think it would have been paid had it been Tom Stewart or DeConing doing the same thing?

I guess though we should be grateful, we did get one free kick in the first half, and it was not the obvious one when Francis was sling tackled, which incidentally resulted in a goal to Hawkins

Good question - I wonder how often in the AFL a team has received one free kick in a half of football? I like to see the stats for that. The final count was 17 to 9 free kicks. I am glad we had the home ground advantage for the umpiring decisions.

[Industrial Fan]

I really enjoyed the night at the footy last night. No doubt helped by the fact I believed we were not in contention for finals - I thought we’d lose and hoped we’d put up a fight and be tough to play against after their last two walk overs.

The game was heavily in our favour for most of the game and we should have been 6-7 goals up at half time given the balance of the play. As it was we would have had a famous victory if not for our push to hit every post on the ground or kick OOB.

I also really enjoyed the dearth of free kicks. Would be something if every game was umpired as well as the first half. Games like our one against Richmond last year when literally every half free kick is called is a great way to ruin the game.

Some great signs from the game, Gulden was again BOG imo, Blakey immense, Gus some great involvements. Rampe barely lost a contest all night. Cunningham was again great - Stengle only kicked the one goal from a harsh free.

Obviously a game we should have won comfortably but this year I think we’re better off working on our structures and ball movement etc rather than worrying about 4 points. It’s just where our season is at.

[royboy42]

I'm with you,Scottee.
Thought Rowbottom played a excellent game.
Also thought that The Lizard, despite doing some lovely work is missing targets a bit too much.
He is such a graceful kick of the ball, that sometimes people get lost in admiration of his movements and miss how many times he misses a target.

That shows that the ranking points system is BS.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[Dow]

I don't think it's contradictory to have preferred JVR to Sheldrick at the time of the draft and liking what Sheldrick is bringing to our midfield. They both look to be very good young players. The draft opinion is more based on positional needs than quality of the player. I wanted JVR, but have been a big fan of Sheldrick from the start. Sheldrick has exploded into a seriously good player in the matter of just a few AFL games, a bit like Warner did in his 2nd season.

Talking about seriously good players, Blakey has been incredible with his daring and courage. You wouldn't think by looking at him that he would be so physical and brave.

My thoughts exactly !

[BRS328]

The reason the Swans chose Shelderick when they did was because they were aware Geelong was planning to take him a couple of picks later. I think we need to give the recruiting team more credit for the job they do. They were well aware of JVR, but, in conjunction with the coaches etc felt the need for a ( ball extractor ) was a priority, given JPK’s departure and the unplanned loss of Dawson

They may have got this one right. Shelderick is in someway like Tom Mitchell, only appears to be faster, and has skills on both sides of his body.

Sure it would be nice to have both of them, but these are decisions that have to be made.

[waswan]

Happy with Sheldrick didnt know about VR at all

Both way too early to call either of them or judge whats either brings or will be.

A handful of games is too early, remember Dyl Stephens got 27 touches and in the best Round 1 and had "found his place"

[Blood Fever]

Sheldrick is not timid like Stephens who loses confidence too easily.

[Thunder Shaker]

Here are some posts from the 2021 trading, drafting and list management thread immediately after Sheldrick was drafted.

From the AFL Draft live feed:

"Angus Sheldrick is certainly the bolter of the first round now. The WA midfielder was rated an outside 30 chance, but has shot up to land at Sydney with pick No.18. An inside bull, he'll fit nicely into the Swans' midfield."

Hope so!

I'm surprised with the pick, but I think we'll love Sheldrick. He's a real talent. Tough as nails, powerful and quick. Shut down Horne-Francis when he played against him. Longmire and Beatson love competitors, and Angus is a competitor.

I'm happy with Sheldrick and don't see him as high risk at all. On the contrary I think he's going to be really reliable but possibly with a lower ceiling. But I wonder why we didn't take Johnson?! Or at least attempt to make a profit by trading back a few spots to still take Sheldrick? (My guess: we weren't prepared for Johnson to be there, may not have done the work on him, and couldn't organise a decent trade to take advantage of the situation quickly. That's why pick 19 is so valuable.)

Did you notice Dalrymple on the phone before we plugged in Sheldrick? Means we knew he wouldn't last until our next pick but we were unsuccessful in arranging and early/mid 20's pick to take him.

I'll go and read up on him now!

Edit, Chris Doerre on ESPN wrote "At 179cm and 88kg, Sheldrick is strong over the ball and routinely wins first possession, works hard around the ground to receive loose ball gets, possesses an explosive burst of speed, shrugs tackles and tackles with intent, plays a strong two-way game and hits the scoreboard."

From the AFL website "Missed the 2020 season due to a collar-bone injury, but has made up quickly for lost time. Tested soundly at the NAB AFL Draft Combine with his 3.05 seconds for 20 metres and 8.36 seconds for the AFL agility run."

So he turned 18 just two weeks ago and missed the entire 2020 season, reckon there's plenty of upside and a lot there to like and a lot of traits the club values

He's a true tough mid by the looks of it. Averaged 24 in rep games & 25 at Colts level. Can kick both feet. He's tough and nearly polaxed horne-Francis. what's more he kept the number 1 quiet in the state match WA v SA. I don't know a lot about him but these things do stand out. They scream ABILITY. Not only that but in the footage I have seen he tackles like Heens. Boys are goinna love this kid.

To keep this post short, I won't link more, but it's worth reading others' thoughts on Sheldrick's selection, many of them quite approving.

[waswan]

Sheldrick is not timid like Stephens who loses confidence too easily.

Maybe, Stephens hasnt been left to get his own ball either. Too late now