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What More Do I Have To Do Mr Roos?
Pictures By Ugg
Dear Paul, Today I worked my butt off. In the first half I played a lone hand up forward and kept my team in the game. I kicked eight goals three, plus four goal assists. I was best on the ground by a country mile. Then to ensure that there will be room for me I slipped Baz a little something to iron out Staker. At half time we thought he may not have done enough, as that QC we use can work miracles. So Baz obliged by breaking his wrist. Have we done enough? Will you give me another chance please?
Yours etc,
Nick Davis.
Enough jocularity. The Swans Reserves opened their account with a hard fought and entertaining 13 point victory over Belconnen. The win was achieved with the grand total of 12 listed players and rookies taking the field. Swans fans had the horrors when they saw that Mathews and Brennan were both missing from the run on team ? 24 hours earlier Snapper Seymour was on SEN predicting that those two would replace Kennelly and Grundy in the ones. Fortunately Snapper was only half correct, I suppose we will never know why Mathews did not show ? was he hurt or was the decision to play Tadhg made at the last minute?
Anyway, this state of affairs meant that the squad was pruned to 22 and that there was very little bench rest for the 12 listed players.
The game started scrappily, neither team able to hit a target. Davis and Laidlaw were manning the key forward positions, White and Faulks the KPP backs. After about 10 minutes the Swans defence started to crack and Belconnen profited from defensive errors by White, Terlich and Murphy. Belconnen were winning a good share of the contested ball, the bigger stronger bodies having effect. Davis? efficiency at converting the few Swans forward entries into goals was all that was keeping the Swans in it.
Things started to turn around in the second quarter. Swans midfielders Brabazon, Smith and O?Dwyer started to win more ball and Laidlaw moved up the ground a bit to help out as well. Currie was dominating the taps, but most were not translating into clean clearances. White started to gain confidence as well. But Belconnen maintained their three goal break at the half, their goals coming from winning contested ball in their forward line and a couple of bad blues by Faulks. Belconnen were still getting the ball into their forward line far too easily. Nick Davis continued to play the lone role up forward, he had four goals at this stage. Good to see that two of them came from long and intelligent kicks from DOK and Smith to his advantage.
In the third quarter Laidlaw and White increased their influence further and Murphy was also finally getting some result for his endeavour. Previously he had dropped a few marks and gotten caught with the ball a few times. Currie?s tap dominance was starting to translate into more clearances as well. All this, plus Davis continued ability to convert limited chances into goals meant that the lead was down to 9 points when the boys went for their oranges.
Belconnen slipped away early in the last, again the ball was getting down into their forward line far too easily. Very noticeable that the Swans clearance rate dropped alarmingly when Currie was given a breather at the start of the quarter. Top up 44 was simply a boy rucking against men. Invaluable experience for the kid though. As soon as Currie returned, so did the clearances won. As the quarter continued this morphed into almost total dominance of the stoppages, with O?Dwyer and Smith in particular starting to run riot. Davis and Laidlaw did the rest! A few of the country boys appeared to be too fond of the beer and pies, many of them looked like they were running on empty towards the end.
Considering that at any one time there were 6-8 top up kids on the ground at any one time this was a very good win.
Player Comments:
Davis: Brilliant game. Only reservation I had is that in following the ball one cannot judge how hard he is working in the critical off the ball area. He sealed the game with a brilliant 1%er. I could not ask for more.
Laidlaw: Started in the forward pocket and was very quiet (very little ball came down in the first) Became more involved in the midfield as the game progressed and had some telling effect. Still has that burst of speed, still a telling mark. Looked totally spent at times in the last quarter but still kept on pushing and was instrumental with Davis in getting the team over the line. Needs a few weeks to regain full fitness, but will be applying pressure for promotion very soon.
O?Dwyer: Played as the outside running midfielder and went very well. Still needs to do a lot of work on his disposal.
White: After a very poor first quarter he improved in the second and then really stood out with aggressive running out of defence in the second half.
Murphy: So much to look forward to here. After a shaky start when he dropped a few marks and was caught a few times he really turned it on. Caused havoc in the second half with his run out of defence. I have tagged him ?Skull? after the old wrestler, because he revels in the tough stuff the country boys like to dish out. No backward steps from this boy! And the sheer level of enthusiasm that he shows playing the game is just a joy to see. He is having the time of his life.
Currie: Very impressed. Dominated the taps, their effectiveness increasing as the game progressed. Also did some nice things at ground level in the second half. He has bulked up considerably this year, give him another year or two and we have ourselves a ruckman.
Smith: I suspect the quiet achiever of this game. Did not have a lot of it early on, but what he got he used well. Really came into his own with the game on the line in the last quarter.
O?Keefe: Classy, but not involved enough.
Brabazon: Looks composed and Rolls Royce with the ball in his hands. Kicks it like a clapped out Trabant.
Faulks: Poor game, beaten often and gave away too many frees. At least he is now seeing some ball in the backline.
Bruce: Best of the rookies, kicked a couple of nice snap goals in the last quarter.
Best of the top ups was #49, our scholarship kid Bottin ? Noonan according to the scoreboard (others think he was #44 so just not sure) Anyway 49 showed some ability and kicked a nice snap goal.
One of the other top ups had the most appropriate name for a footballer I have seen in a long time. Frail was built like a matchstick, but he also showed some talent.
Sydney: 2-2, 6-3, 10-6, 17-11-113
Def
Belconnen: 5-1, 9-6, 11-9, 15-10-100
Sydney
Goals: Davis 8, Laidlaw, Bruce 2, Murphy, Terlich, Bottin-Noonan, Frail, Jones.
Best: Davis, Laidlaw, White, Murphy, O?Dwyer.
Belconnen
Goals: G Underwood 3, Mahar, Jeffrey Ainger, Love 2, Ilett, Bennett Curtis, R Underwwod
Best: Bennett, G Underwood, Mahar, Rhodes, Barton, Jeffrey.
Game notes:
Game began very scrappily, intense in close and turnovers galore. Belconnen finally started the scoring when they created the loose man in midfield and rushed the ball forward. Soon after Mocca misjudged the ball flight, over the back it went and an easy crumbed goal resulted. ?Skull? Murphy was badly beaten in a marking contest, luckily only a point. But worse to come, Mocca?s kick in goes OOBOTF, then he is beaten on the lead when the free is taken ? another goal. Sydney replied when Terlich wins the free at the centre bounce ? his long kick is marked by Davis who slotted a trademark long goal. Poor backline play left Currie in the poo ? too slow and caught HTB. Then Terlich is beaten, Belconnen mark and goal. Nick smith, good long kick to Davis? advantage. He duly marked and slotted another long one. But Belconnen reply when Skull dropped what he should have taken another crumbed goal resulted.
Quarter Time: Sydney 2-1-13, Belconnen 5-1-31
Smith frees up DOK, long accurate kick to Davo on the lead. He slots the set shot from the boundary line (no predictions of pending matrimony from Wardy this time!)
Davis in the action soon after when his clever gather and intelligent kick set Laidlaw up for a mark and goal. Soon after Beckmans finds the sticklike Frail who slots a Daicos style checkside dribbler. Next forward entry Davo won the contested ball and drills the angles snap. He?s upset the country boys and a couple of them gang up with a bit off rough stuff. Swans back in it! Not for long though, Belconnen reply with a snap goal. Then they create the loose man in another forward move and their man wins the contested mark against Faulks and goals. Another Belconnen goal comes from a throw in. Bad to worse, Columbo is pinged in the next marking contest and a gift goal results. Better quarter, Braba, Smith and O?Dwyer doing better in the midfield and Laidlaw starting to do some good things.
Half Time: Sydney 6-3-39 Belconnen 9-6-60
Swans starting to hit their straps now, but initial forward raids amounted to nil ? Beckmans sprayed his shot OOB, Laidlaw dropped what he should have taken. Belconnen make the Swans pay, create the loose man again and goal as a result. Swans reply with a nice snap to 4? (O?Dwyer?), but credit the goal assist to Davo. Then top up 50 freed up Smith, his long kick is marked by Davo who kicked truly again. Game on again, and Mooca got the Swans out of a bad spot with a terrific contested ball clearance. Currie and Brabazon combined to set up midget schoolboy T/U 54, unfortunately he kicked like a midget schoolboy too. But soon after O?Dwyer, Smith and Currie set Davo up for another goal. Davo then set up Laidlaw with a good kick to advantage, but he held his ground too vigorously and is pinged for ITB. Skull Murphy you star!! Pulled off a brilliant intercept mark, then caught Belconnen off guard with a storming run up the guts. His wobbly kick is best read by Davo, who cleaned up the contested ground ball and slotted another. But next the classic Irish clanger, Skull does a Jim Stynes, concedes a fifty and a goal. The look on his face was just priceless. Better to find out in the ressies rather than a Prelim Final!
Three Quarter Time Sydney 10-6-66, Belconnen 11-9-75
Smiths wobbler forward beat everybody, but rolls through for a point. DOK broke up a promising Belconnen thrust with a great intercept. But soon after T/U 52 is turned inside out and Belconnen goal. They get another immediately after when they win the centre clearance. Get this 44 out of the ruck and bring back Currie! Mooca repels the next Belconnen thrust, storms up the guts, the DOK?s great kick finds Laidlaw ? he missed! Currie is back on, Davo roves his boundary tap, but misses the difficult snap. Soon after Laidlaw burst around the members wing, goes half the length of the field and sets up Bruce for a snap goal. Laidlaw looked totally spent after that effort, but bobbed up with the next FF entry almost immediately after. Bruce wins the contested ground ball and snaps truly again. But Faulks gives away another free and Belconnen steady. Then O?Dwyer showed courage and skill to create a goal for Bottin-Noonan. Then a clever tap from Braba set up Skull for his first Swan goal, a nice snap. And boy did he celebrate! O?Dwyer took a good contested mark, he delivers to Davo who slots the long goal. 23mins in, Swans finally hit the lead! Bruce then hit Davo on the lead, his long shot from 50 near the boundary is touched on the line. Bruce has another snap but misses ? 7 points up now. But Belconnen go forward with precision, mark on the lead and goal to bring it back to 1 point. Then PLAY OF THE DAY ? Swans win the centre clearance, but O?Dwyer? overcooked the FF entry and it cleared the pack. Davo is after it, just beat the ball to the boundary and slapped it sideways ? Laidlaw showed skill to collect the ball and seal the deal. Finally the game was iced when Laidlaw set up T/U 51 for the goal. Kudo?s to the Swan on ball division ? Currie, Smith, O?Dwyer and co totally dominated the clearances in the last 10 minutes with the game on the line. Well done boys!
Final Score: Sydney 17-11-113 Belconnen 15-10-100.
Pictures By Ugg
Dear Paul, Today I worked my butt off. In the first half I played a lone hand up forward and kept my team in the game. I kicked eight goals three, plus four goal assists. I was best on the ground by a country mile. Then to ensure that there will be room for me I slipped Baz a little something to iron out Staker. At half time we thought he may not have done enough, as that QC we use can work miracles. So Baz obliged by breaking his wrist. Have we done enough? Will you give me another chance please?
Yours etc,
Nick Davis.
Enough jocularity. The Swans Reserves opened their account with a hard fought and entertaining 13 point victory over Belconnen. The win was achieved with the grand total of 12 listed players and rookies taking the field. Swans fans had the horrors when they saw that Mathews and Brennan were both missing from the run on team ? 24 hours earlier Snapper Seymour was on SEN predicting that those two would replace Kennelly and Grundy in the ones. Fortunately Snapper was only half correct, I suppose we will never know why Mathews did not show ? was he hurt or was the decision to play Tadhg made at the last minute?
Anyway, this state of affairs meant that the squad was pruned to 22 and that there was very little bench rest for the 12 listed players.
The game started scrappily, neither team able to hit a target. Davis and Laidlaw were manning the key forward positions, White and Faulks the KPP backs. After about 10 minutes the Swans defence started to crack and Belconnen profited from defensive errors by White, Terlich and Murphy. Belconnen were winning a good share of the contested ball, the bigger stronger bodies having effect. Davis? efficiency at converting the few Swans forward entries into goals was all that was keeping the Swans in it.
Things started to turn around in the second quarter. Swans midfielders Brabazon, Smith and O?Dwyer started to win more ball and Laidlaw moved up the ground a bit to help out as well. Currie was dominating the taps, but most were not translating into clean clearances. White started to gain confidence as well. But Belconnen maintained their three goal break at the half, their goals coming from winning contested ball in their forward line and a couple of bad blues by Faulks. Belconnen were still getting the ball into their forward line far too easily. Nick Davis continued to play the lone role up forward, he had four goals at this stage. Good to see that two of them came from long and intelligent kicks from DOK and Smith to his advantage.
In the third quarter Laidlaw and White increased their influence further and Murphy was also finally getting some result for his endeavour. Previously he had dropped a few marks and gotten caught with the ball a few times. Currie?s tap dominance was starting to translate into more clearances as well. All this, plus Davis continued ability to convert limited chances into goals meant that the lead was down to 9 points when the boys went for their oranges.
Belconnen slipped away early in the last, again the ball was getting down into their forward line far too easily. Very noticeable that the Swans clearance rate dropped alarmingly when Currie was given a breather at the start of the quarter. Top up 44 was simply a boy rucking against men. Invaluable experience for the kid though. As soon as Currie returned, so did the clearances won. As the quarter continued this morphed into almost total dominance of the stoppages, with O?Dwyer and Smith in particular starting to run riot. Davis and Laidlaw did the rest! A few of the country boys appeared to be too fond of the beer and pies, many of them looked like they were running on empty towards the end.
Considering that at any one time there were 6-8 top up kids on the ground at any one time this was a very good win.
Player Comments:
Davis: Brilliant game. Only reservation I had is that in following the ball one cannot judge how hard he is working in the critical off the ball area. He sealed the game with a brilliant 1%er. I could not ask for more.
Laidlaw: Started in the forward pocket and was very quiet (very little ball came down in the first) Became more involved in the midfield as the game progressed and had some telling effect. Still has that burst of speed, still a telling mark. Looked totally spent at times in the last quarter but still kept on pushing and was instrumental with Davis in getting the team over the line. Needs a few weeks to regain full fitness, but will be applying pressure for promotion very soon.
O?Dwyer: Played as the outside running midfielder and went very well. Still needs to do a lot of work on his disposal.
White: After a very poor first quarter he improved in the second and then really stood out with aggressive running out of defence in the second half.
Murphy: So much to look forward to here. After a shaky start when he dropped a few marks and was caught a few times he really turned it on. Caused havoc in the second half with his run out of defence. I have tagged him ?Skull? after the old wrestler, because he revels in the tough stuff the country boys like to dish out. No backward steps from this boy! And the sheer level of enthusiasm that he shows playing the game is just a joy to see. He is having the time of his life.
Currie: Very impressed. Dominated the taps, their effectiveness increasing as the game progressed. Also did some nice things at ground level in the second half. He has bulked up considerably this year, give him another year or two and we have ourselves a ruckman.
Smith: I suspect the quiet achiever of this game. Did not have a lot of it early on, but what he got he used well. Really came into his own with the game on the line in the last quarter.
O?Keefe: Classy, but not involved enough.
Brabazon: Looks composed and Rolls Royce with the ball in his hands. Kicks it like a clapped out Trabant.
Faulks: Poor game, beaten often and gave away too many frees. At least he is now seeing some ball in the backline.
Bruce: Best of the rookies, kicked a couple of nice snap goals in the last quarter.
Best of the top ups was #49, our scholarship kid Bottin ? Noonan according to the scoreboard (others think he was #44 so just not sure) Anyway 49 showed some ability and kicked a nice snap goal.
One of the other top ups had the most appropriate name for a footballer I have seen in a long time. Frail was built like a matchstick, but he also showed some talent.
Sydney: 2-2, 6-3, 10-6, 17-11-113
Def
Belconnen: 5-1, 9-6, 11-9, 15-10-100
Sydney
Goals: Davis 8, Laidlaw, Bruce 2, Murphy, Terlich, Bottin-Noonan, Frail, Jones.
Best: Davis, Laidlaw, White, Murphy, O?Dwyer.
Belconnen
Goals: G Underwood 3, Mahar, Jeffrey Ainger, Love 2, Ilett, Bennett Curtis, R Underwwod
Best: Bennett, G Underwood, Mahar, Rhodes, Barton, Jeffrey.
Game notes:
Game began very scrappily, intense in close and turnovers galore. Belconnen finally started the scoring when they created the loose man in midfield and rushed the ball forward. Soon after Mocca misjudged the ball flight, over the back it went and an easy crumbed goal resulted. ?Skull? Murphy was badly beaten in a marking contest, luckily only a point. But worse to come, Mocca?s kick in goes OOBOTF, then he is beaten on the lead when the free is taken ? another goal. Sydney replied when Terlich wins the free at the centre bounce ? his long kick is marked by Davis who slotted a trademark long goal. Poor backline play left Currie in the poo ? too slow and caught HTB. Then Terlich is beaten, Belconnen mark and goal. Nick smith, good long kick to Davis? advantage. He duly marked and slotted another long one. But Belconnen reply when Skull dropped what he should have taken another crumbed goal resulted.
Quarter Time: Sydney 2-1-13, Belconnen 5-1-31
Smith frees up DOK, long accurate kick to Davo on the lead. He slots the set shot from the boundary line (no predictions of pending matrimony from Wardy this time!)
Davis in the action soon after when his clever gather and intelligent kick set Laidlaw up for a mark and goal. Soon after Beckmans finds the sticklike Frail who slots a Daicos style checkside dribbler. Next forward entry Davo won the contested ball and drills the angles snap. He?s upset the country boys and a couple of them gang up with a bit off rough stuff. Swans back in it! Not for long though, Belconnen reply with a snap goal. Then they create the loose man in another forward move and their man wins the contested mark against Faulks and goals. Another Belconnen goal comes from a throw in. Bad to worse, Columbo is pinged in the next marking contest and a gift goal results. Better quarter, Braba, Smith and O?Dwyer doing better in the midfield and Laidlaw starting to do some good things.
Half Time: Sydney 6-3-39 Belconnen 9-6-60
Swans starting to hit their straps now, but initial forward raids amounted to nil ? Beckmans sprayed his shot OOB, Laidlaw dropped what he should have taken. Belconnen make the Swans pay, create the loose man again and goal as a result. Swans reply with a nice snap to 4? (O?Dwyer?), but credit the goal assist to Davo. Then top up 50 freed up Smith, his long kick is marked by Davo who kicked truly again. Game on again, and Mooca got the Swans out of a bad spot with a terrific contested ball clearance. Currie and Brabazon combined to set up midget schoolboy T/U 54, unfortunately he kicked like a midget schoolboy too. But soon after O?Dwyer, Smith and Currie set Davo up for another goal. Davo then set up Laidlaw with a good kick to advantage, but he held his ground too vigorously and is pinged for ITB. Skull Murphy you star!! Pulled off a brilliant intercept mark, then caught Belconnen off guard with a storming run up the guts. His wobbly kick is best read by Davo, who cleaned up the contested ground ball and slotted another. But next the classic Irish clanger, Skull does a Jim Stynes, concedes a fifty and a goal. The look on his face was just priceless. Better to find out in the ressies rather than a Prelim Final!
Three Quarter Time Sydney 10-6-66, Belconnen 11-9-75
Smiths wobbler forward beat everybody, but rolls through for a point. DOK broke up a promising Belconnen thrust with a great intercept. But soon after T/U 52 is turned inside out and Belconnen goal. They get another immediately after when they win the centre clearance. Get this 44 out of the ruck and bring back Currie! Mooca repels the next Belconnen thrust, storms up the guts, the DOK?s great kick finds Laidlaw ? he missed! Currie is back on, Davo roves his boundary tap, but misses the difficult snap. Soon after Laidlaw burst around the members wing, goes half the length of the field and sets up Bruce for a snap goal. Laidlaw looked totally spent after that effort, but bobbed up with the next FF entry almost immediately after. Bruce wins the contested ground ball and snaps truly again. But Faulks gives away another free and Belconnen steady. Then O?Dwyer showed courage and skill to create a goal for Bottin-Noonan. Then a clever tap from Braba set up Skull for his first Swan goal, a nice snap. And boy did he celebrate! O?Dwyer took a good contested mark, he delivers to Davo who slots the long goal. 23mins in, Swans finally hit the lead! Bruce then hit Davo on the lead, his long shot from 50 near the boundary is touched on the line. Bruce has another snap but misses ? 7 points up now. But Belconnen go forward with precision, mark on the lead and goal to bring it back to 1 point. Then PLAY OF THE DAY ? Swans win the centre clearance, but O?Dwyer? overcooked the FF entry and it cleared the pack. Davo is after it, just beat the ball to the boundary and slapped it sideways ? Laidlaw showed skill to collect the ball and seal the deal. Finally the game was iced when Laidlaw set up T/U 51 for the goal. Kudo?s to the Swan on ball division ? Currie, Smith, O?Dwyer and co totally dominated the clearances in the last 10 minutes with the game on the line. Well done boys!
Final Score: Sydney 17-11-113 Belconnen 15-10-100.
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