AFLW R8 2023: Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, 1.05pm EST Sat 21 Oct Whitten Oval

[Blood Fever]

Wow!

Went to the game with my daughter. Swans played brilliantly. Pressure and tackling were great as well as the disposal. Handballing a bit over the top at times but the surge footy they play cuts teams up. Molloy's solo effort where she exploded with 2 or 3 bounces and then set up the goal was phenomenal.

Surprised at the number of Swans fans there. 40% of the crowd I reckon.

[liz]

Watching them play like that makes last week's "effort" all the more frustrating. Without taking anything away from Hawthorn, that performance was all in the head. Maybe they got ahead of themselves after the strong win against Port the week before, and kicking the first two goals in the opening minutes maybe persuaded them that they'd account for Hawthorn easily. From that point on, barely a kick hit a target and the pressure was soggy.

On the other hand, maybe games like that are an important step along the way to becoming a strong, consistent team. But it might turn out to be the difference between making finals or not. (Not that I think making the finals is that relevant to us this season, given we've had a softish draw. And we'll be doing well to win even one of the two remaining games, let alone both. So maybe that Hawks game won't matter in the end.)

[Maltopia]

Great to see us progressing so far in our second year, and to beat the Bulldogs is so sweet!

[Mel_C]

I am away this weekend so couldn't watch the game. I was out in the garden trimming the Peach tree and Lemon tree and my brother was texting me updates. I was receiving alot of texts!

I can't wait to watch the recording of the match. I think we seem to play better when I don't watch the game live!

I was concerned when Morphett was ruled out, especially after how we played last week.

Apparently there were 7 50 metre penalties! Were we the undisciplined ones?

[liz]

Apparently there were 7 50 metre penalties! Were we the undisciplined ones?

We received more than we gave away. I can recall two we did give away - one after CHamilton encroached on the mark deep in our forward line. And another after a very heavy tackle on Sheppard that left her on the ground groggy and for which the Dogs won a HTB free. I didn't quite see what the 50m was for but I suspect there was some remonstration against the tackler that held up play.

I can't for sure say we didn't give away a third. I do recall us getting a few but I wasn't keeping count. One was against a Dogs player running through the mark. Another was while Molloy was taking a set shot (and missing), which gave her another opportunity from the goal square. I didn't really see what that infringement was.

We lost the overall free kick count comfortably (15-9) but I don't think that reflects a lack of discipline. The Dogs seemed to get a few soft ones, whereas soft ones to us were let go. It wouldn't be a game against the Dogs if it landed any other way. And they won a handful of blatant HTB frees against us, which is something we still give away too often when players think they have more time or less pressure than they do, and don't take the first option. Ham and LHamilton were guilty parties today, Molloy might have given one such away, and there was the one against Sheppard noted above.

[Sandridge]

Went to the game with my daughter. Swans played brilliantly. Pressure and tackling were great as well as the disposal. Handballing a bit over the top at times but the surge footy they play cuts teams up. Molloy's solo effort where she exploded with 2 or 3 bounces and then set up the goal was phenomenal.

Surprised at the number of Swans fans there. 40% of the crowd I reckon.

My niece went to the game and she also says that the crowd support for our Bloods was fantastic!

Loving what the team is doing this season.

GO BLOODS!!

[Sandridge]

We lost the overall free kick count comfortably (15-9) but I don't think that reflects a lack of discipline. The Dogs seemed to get a few soft ones, whereas soft ones to us were let go. It wouldn't be a game against the Dogs if it landed any other way. And they won a handful of blatant HTB frees against us, which is something we still give away too often when players think they have more time or less pressure than they do, and don't take the first option. Ham and LHamilton were guilty parties today, Molloy might have given one such away, and there was the one against Sheppard noted above.

We lost the free kick count against the Bulldogs? Surely not!

[ootf]

Laura Gardiner was just so good around the packs - I love the way she doesn't just take the first option but has the skill to stop/prop and find her way out of congestion. She must surely have exceeded the expectations of the coaching team when she was traded in.

Molloy of course is the real spark they needed, McEvoy is just so solid/reliable. Good recruiting and natural progression has made all the difference.

[Mark26]

I can't believe I missed our best result of the season! Does anyone know how long it typically takes for there to be a full replay?

[liz]

I can't believe I missed our best result of the season! Does anyone know how long it typically takes for there to be a full replay?

At my place it's available on demand!

[Mark26]

At my place it's available on demand!

That sounds like an open invitation to all RWO members. What should I bring Liz? ????

[Mel_C]

We received more than we gave away. I can recall two we did give away - one after CHamilton encroached on the mark deep in our forward line. And another after a very heavy tackle on Sheppard that left her on the ground groggy and for which the Dogs won a HTB free. I didn't quite see what the 50m was for but I suspect there was some remonstration against the tackler that held up play.

I can't for sure say we didn't give away a third. I do recall us getting a few but I wasn't keeping count. One was against a Dogs player running through the mark. Another was while Molloy was taking a set shot (and missing), which gave her another opportunity from the goal square. I didn't really see what that infringement was.

We lost the overall free kick count comfortably (15-9) but I don't think that reflects a lack of discipline. The Dogs seemed to get a few soft ones, whereas soft ones to us were let go. It wouldn't be a game against the Dogs if it landed any other way. And they won a handful of blatant HTB frees against us, which is something we still give away too often when players think they have more time or less pressure than they do, and don't take the first option. Ham and LHamilton were guilty parties today, Molloy might have given one such away, and there was the one against Sheppard noted above.

I will keep an eye out when I watch the match. I saw the Sheppard tackle on the news. I'm not surprised if we remonstrated.

No surprise that the Bulldogs won the free kick count!

[stellation]

Those were some confuddling comments from the commentators at the start of the third quarter, wondering whether Laura Gardiner "might" be in AA contention. Huh?

That discussion had Stella Jr and I more than just a tad bemused- particularly when it was asked, then followed up with "she's second in coaches' voting". She's been outstanding this season, and a genuine two way player- top 5 in both disposals and tackles, the only other player doing that is Ebony Marinoff (pretty good company to be keeping, particularly when you're discussing AA).

[liz]

Unsurprisingly Malloy nailed ten votes in this week's AFLCA voting. The next two highest vote-getters - Gardiner and Hurley (seven and five votes respectively) should come as no surprise either. Hurley has been solid all season and you can see her getting more assured each week. I imagine working alongside Gardiner is helping her heaps. The two of them are pretty similar in height and build and the way they play, and you can see them becoming a quietly potent double-act in years to come as they gain more experience.

Coaches' votes, R8: Lion chasing down Roo, six perfect 10s

They tweaked the RS nomination criteria at the start of the season (possibly just for this year) to allow players who have previously been nominated to be nominated again this season so long as they meet the other criteria. That means Hurley is eligible to be nominated again this year. Fingers crossed that Saturday's performance - her best of the year, notwithstanding the quality of the opposition - might see her get the nod in an hour or two.

Sarah Black included her last week in a list of players in with a shot of claiming one of the remaining nominations.

Young guns still with a shot: Best remaining Rising Star hopes

[liz]

Yay! My wish has been granted. Well deserved, Sofia.

Hurley earns second Rising Star Nomination