Match thread: Swans v Crows

[Mel_C]

We haven't played North Melbourne or St Kilda yet. We flogged West Coast by 171 points last year when we were 15th on the ladder (round 15). Who knows what will happen when we play Norf at the SCG on July 13th.

For some reason we don't seem to have big wins against North. Who can forget last year when we only won because their interchange steward couldn't count. Hopefully this year will be different!

[KTigers]

We haven't played North Melbourne or St Kilda yet. We flogged West Coast by 171 points last year when we were 15th on the ladder (round 15). Who knows what will happen when we play Norf at the SCG on July 13th.

As long as we can outdo Collingwood I'll be happy. Maybe we can come out of the sheds halfway through the second quarter after letting
North kick the first 12 goals of the game. We'll then kick 20 goals straight whilst North add 3 behinds. Clarko seen driving out of the carpark
at the SCG back to his hotel at 3/4 time after getting into a huge argument with the carpark attendant who didn't recognise him, and wouldn't
give him the usual visiting coach parking discount.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Love the love for Adams on here. He was a real little rat last night. Just showed his experience, cracked in and boy did he know Hinge was an easy mark at that point when he got the free for a shot on goal. He could sense Adelaide’s frustration and desperation at it slipping away and that it was a good time to give a bit of cheek to them.

He, Rowie and Grundy did the dirty work needed to get us moving. Adelaide were playing an unsustainable brand of footy, but it worked for a bit and we still needed a nudge.

As for my boy McLean, he was playing solid footy before the bye but has been a bit quiet the last two. I’m less worried about what he’s doing in the ruck than his marking. It’s a real feature of his game usually but has been off lately. We need it to return. It’ll be needed in big games when that release kick and mark down the wings is a part of how you grab control of territory and tempo.

[dejavoodoo44]

I'm assuming Alison O'Connor must be new to the AFL site's Things We Learned column, because she's learnt something about the Swans. Namely that Grundy is probably the year's best recruit.

Six things we learned: Brilliant Brodie is recruit of the year - Six things we learned: Brilliant Brodie Grundy is recruit of the year for the Sydney Swans

It's nice to be reminded of the bargain price that we paid for him. Last year's pick 46 and this year's second rounder. Which is a second rounder that's unlikely to be missed, since we have North's end of first round pick, acquired in the Dylan Stephens trade.

[cruiser]

How long does Amartey have left on his current contract?

[neilfws]

How long does Amartey have left on his current contract?

Restricted free agent at the end of 2026 according to Footywire. There are sometimes inaccuracies in their contract data so I'd cross-reference with other sources.

Update: seems accurate.

[stevoswan]

So right on cue, the site goes down in the midst of a tight game when we are mounting a glorious comeback.....it's almost frustratingly predictable these days. I couldn't get back on it until today, two days after the game! Oh well.....we move on.

Great win by the lads, really showing grit in the face of serious challenges.

As for Amartey, it really was a party, he was fantastic. He's likely to kick no goals next week, such as the player he has been but I think Saturday night was a real turning point for him and his AFL career. Exciting indeed!

Boy the Crows crowd are a bunch of sooks....and I hope Dawson is loving being at and leading such a loser club.

I know Hayward would be certainly loving his decision to stay east and not go home to mummy.

- - - Updated - - -

Downfield? Is that a rugby term. Relayed free means where the ball landed - I.e downfield if you like.

I was watching footy in the 60's and it was always called 'downfield'....but you're spot on about it's definition. ie: where the ball landed.

Take it as a fact, it's not a new term or a rugby term, it's a footy term.

[stevoswan]

Again, right on cue, site goes down again 20 minutes after my above post.....but we're back now.

Titus in form today: "The Swans are a Ferrari, and the Crows are a Camry.

The Camry led by 23 points late in the second quarter, but every Crows fan knew this would just make the inevitable hurt more."

Then later....."With the Ferrari disappearing in the distance, Matthew Nicks announced he thought the club was making progress this season, as he pushed the Camry onto the side of the road to let others pass."

The Monday Knee Jerk Reaction: Round Fourteen - Titus O'Reily | Don’t have faith in yourself

[i'm-uninformed2]

I do think the coaches have a few things they can go away and quietly work on after that game.

One was the way Adelaide set up at stoppages to work off us into space. It seemed, at least on the coverage, they used the merry go round off the back of JJ's attempt to tag Dawson to then have their own loose - who'd notionally switch over to Heeney - scoot free. It only worked for the first half and Heeney still had a hell of a game. But it was a tactic a better team could exploit more.

Two was the tag on Chad. Now, he still had a good game (no more, no less) - but it's the first successful tag I've seen put on one of the big three this year. It's often hard on the coverage, but I didn't see Chad getting much help at the contest and stoppages. The way tags are coming back into vogue, it won't be the last one attempted; so it's nice to learn something from it.

These are small things, but sides will keep trying small things against us and come finals time, the best sides will pick the ones they can work into their game most effectively, so good for the coaches to anticipate and plan for them.

- - - Updated - - -

And coaches votes. No surprises for me:

Amartey 10
Grundy 8
Heeney 5
Gulden 5
Rowie 2

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1153821/coaches-votes-round-14-western-bulldogs-captain-marcus-bontempelli-surges-tagger-gets-10-votes

[dejavoodoo44]

Amartey is now the thirteenth Swans player to get votes this season. And Heeney has polled in every game, except for round 11 against the Dogs.

[Nolie]

It’s a standard term in the AFL for example

AFL umpire Ray Chamberlain clarifies downfield free kick ruling

Chamberlain does not mention the word downfield in that article. The author Alex could be a boy or a girl uses the term in the heading. I have been watching football for 55+ plus years and it has always been a “ relayed” free. “Downfield” on reflection sounds like an American term. Sadly Aussie Rules being downgraded with Americanisms that never used to be there. Eg Dee-fence, and “back to back” instead of “consecutive” among others.

[Markwebbos]

Chamberlain does not mention the word downfield in that article. The author Alex could be a boy or a girl uses the term in the heading. I have been watching football for 55+ plus years and it has always been a “ relayed” free. “Downfield” on reflection sounds like an American term. Sadly Aussie Rules being downgraded with Americanisms that never used to be there. Eg Dee-fence, and “back to back” instead of “consecutive” among others.

I feel your pain. My personal bugbear is “the proof is in the pudding” (when it’s in the eating of the pudding)

However this article from the AFL website quotes an AFL statement that uses the term “down-field free kick”

Did the umps get it right? AFL makes call on Newnes' after-the-siren winner

[stevoswan]

Chamberlain does not mention the word downfield in that article. The author Alex could be a boy or a girl uses the term in the heading. I have been watching football for 55+ plus years and it has always been a “ relayed” free. “Downfield” on reflection sounds like an American term. Sadly Aussie Rules being downgraded with Americanisms that never used to be there. Eg Dee-fence, and “back to back” instead of “consecutive” among others.

Did you not read my earlier reply to you? I'll repeat it:

"I was watching footy in the 60's and it was always called 'downfield'....but you're spot on about it's definition. ie: where the ball landed.

Take it as a fact, it's not a new term or a rugby term, it's a footy term."

I can't believe that in "55 plus years" of watching footy, you have not heard the term 'downfield free'. It's not an Americanism, a rugby term or a new term. I repeat, it's a footy term.

It may also have been called a relayed free but usually and IMO more often is described as 'the free will be taken downfield'.

[Maltopia]

Did you not read my earlier reply to you? I'll repeat it:

"I was watching footy in the 60's and it was always called 'downfield'....but you're spot on about it's definition. ie: where the ball landed.

Take it as a fact, it's not a new term or a rugby term, it's a footy term."

I can't believe that in "55 plus years" of watching footy, you have not heard the term 'downfield free'. It's not an Americanism, a rugby term or a new term. I repeat, it's a footy term.

It may also have been called a relayed free but usually and IMO more often is described as 'the free will be taken downfield'.

No need to repeat your view, which is very preachy, and frankly, quite disrespectful to another forum member who happens to just have a different recollection and/or experience to you.

[Mel_C]

Chamberlain does not mention the word downfield in that article. The author Alex could be a boy or a girl uses the term in the heading. I have been watching football for 55+ plus years and it has always been a “ relayed” free. “Downfield” on reflection sounds like an American term. Sadly Aussie Rules being downgraded with Americanisms that never used to be there. Eg Dee-fence, and “back to back” instead of “consecutive” among others.

I've always known it to be a "downfield" free. Although I haven't been watching for as long as you, so the terminology has probably changed. Doesn't the umpire call out "downfield "?