Sydney | 6.2 | 10.5 | 17.10 | 22.14 | (146) |
Port Adelaide | 4.1 | 6.7 | 7.8 | 11.12 | (78) |
Pictures by Des Lee
What a strange game of footy that was to kick off the home campaign for 2008. Not so much that the Swans kicked the first goal of the match. They may be better known for drowsy starts than dreamy ones, but it?s not unknown for them to snare one early before collectively snoozing off for half an hour or so. And thus it was not that much of a shock that Port promptly powered away, in response to Jack?s first ever senior goal, to kick three of their own in barely as many minutes.
But if Swans fans had been told then and there that the team would be relying on Lou-Bob-Tom to coolly slot one through from the boundary line, or Bevo taking a pack mark in front of goal, to get the scoreboard ticking along in the right direction, many of us would have packed up and taken an early shower.
The strangeness did not stop there. Who was that impostor, sporting the shaved head and spider tattoo, who leapt skywards over an opponent and grabbed the ball without even a hint of a spill? And who showed not even a soupcon of irritation when an infringement was called against him? And who even shared a joke and a chuckle with an umpy as the siren sounded to end that opening term? Everyone knows that Hall is too old, too slow, took crook and too grumpy to become a force again. Don?t they? Well, maybe not. One game does not a winter make, but the early signs are promising that Our Bazza is Back with a Bang.
There was strangeness too in some of the roles Mark Williams assigned his players. Anyone who watched the borefeast the previous week might be forgiven for believing that by stopping Kennelly, the Swans would be doomed. But sacrificing the ball winning ability of Kane Cornes seemed a big price to pay. Especially when seasoned campaigners like Peter Burgoyne and Cassissi just couldn?t get their mitts on the pill, and even Shaun Burgoyne?s possessions were more notable for their quality than their quantity. Cornes Jnr may have achieved his aim but it had no effect in quelling the tide of ball rebounding from Port?s attack.
Williams? stubbornness in leaving big brother Chad for so long in a forward line starved of decent supply, when he might have been marshalling the troops around the contest, was bewildering at best. Not only did Bolton completely have his measure, the Swans defender also got free far too easily to drive the Swans forward time and time again.
There is much for us to be contented about as we reflect on this game. Both young and old showed there is plenty of life left in the Bloods. The magic hasn?t yet deserted Mick, nor the guile either. And Leo looks to have plenty of leapin? yet to do. Jack backed up from last week admirably before knocking himself out ? twice. Grundy was solid on the taller, agile Westhoff and delivered the ball superbly, while Bird?s job in blanketing speedster Pearce has gone somewhat under the radar.
The highlight of the day had to be O?Loughlin?s kicking to Hall as he was slung in a tackle. Or was it Leo taking a slips catch at the ?wrong? end of the ground? Or maybe Jude thundering to goal and finishing with a banana snap? Whatever it was, there was enough to go around to keep the glow going for a while ? as we nervously await what Bradshaw, Brown and co have in store for us at the Gabba this Saturday night.
PLAY OF THE DAY
While 22 goals brought us to our feet often, this was a game based on sustained pressure as much as exhilarating skill. One passage just as deserving of standing ovation was the magificent effort of Jack, Kirk and Moore, working in tandem, to force the two Burgoyne brothers from seeming escape on our half-forward flank back, back and further back until they were forced into submission over the boundary line. Kirk's been one of the best for a while at not giving his opponents an inch. It seems he now has some worthy apprentices too.
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Sydney | 6.2 | 10.5 | 17.10 | 22.14 | (146) | Port Adelaide | 4.1 | 6.7 | 7.8 | 11.12 | (78) |
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Goals:
Sydney: Hall 5 O'Loughlin 4 McVeigh 2 Bevan 2 Kirk 2 Jack Bolton Roberts-Thompson Barry Grundy Barlow Goodes
Hawthorn: S Burgoyne 4 Motlop 2 Tredrea 2 Pettigrew K Cornes Rodan
Best:
Sydney: Barry Hall O'Keefe O'Loughlin McVeigh Mattner C Bolton Buchanan
Hawthorn: S Burgoyne Tredrea Carlisle Thomas
Injuries:
Sydney: Jack (Concussion?) Jolly (Ankle?)
Port: None
Reports: None
Umpires: McLaren, Rosebury, Stevic
Crowd: 24,700 at the SCG.
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