This could have been a tricky game for the Swans, Queanbeyan have not had a good season to date due to their star players missing long stretches with injury. They had improved of late and a couple of weeks ago towelled up the ladder leader Belconnen. But with players returning from injury, the Swans fielded 15 listed players. Naturally most interest was supplied by the belated return of the Eski ? how would his calf/knee hold up? We needed not have worried, after a slow start the Eski put on a textbook display of precision passing off half back. If he pulled up OK and has enough match fitness, a return to the firsts next week will happen.
The midfield group of Fosdike, O?Dwyer, Brabazon, Smith and Barlow were predominately in control from the outset, add the educated left boot off half back and it added up to the Swans taking an early lead and increasing it as the game wore on. On top of this (I presume) the inclusion of NSW NAB under 18 players also meant a quantum increase in the standard of the top ups. No?s 38, (not Meredith) 45 and the improving midget helmethead 54 (Spiteiri) all made valuable contributions. Not quite, but almost back to the demolitions of last year. It will be interesting to see if the ACTAFL allows these kids to play in the finals ? with only 13 listed players on the field, the quality of the top ups has a huge bearing on the overall team performance.
In this light it was a little more difficult to judge the performance of Mocca White at full forward. Kicked four goals, but in the circumstances any donkey who could lead, take a chest mark and kick straight would have got at least four. Mocca?s speed is impressive, he?s good below the knees, but he has ?hard? hands. Just drops too many easy marks for my liking. Does he need an eye test? Mocca did roam up the ground a bit, got plenty of ball around half forward and created goals for others around him as well.
Up back Columbo was solid until beaten twice in succession in the last quarter. I would say beaten, not disgraced ? the bloke he played on had a vice like pair of mitts and was no slouch. I would hate to see him cut though, on the break his speed and long accurate disposal is a joy. Saturday we only saw that a couple of times, but when he does it the skills are exquisite. His fellow KPP backman Skull Murphy also had a mixed day. Early on he was beaten badly in a few marking contests, but later on he redeemed himself with several terrific marks. Skull has an insatiable desire to get hold of the pill and bolt downfield ? his success rate at this is improving, but unfortunately his disposal is not. Still the helicopter king. Skull gives his body a tremendous battering because he is so willing to take the opposition on. I love his ability to get up after being absolutely pounded as if nothing has happened.
In the dominant midfield Fossie and Matty O were the picks. I would suspect 30 plus disposals for each of them. Fossie cannot be far from breaking back into the seniors. Smith was his usual competent Mr Invisible. Cheese Barlow was much better this week, won a ton of ball across the the centre and half forward and kicked accurately for goal (3-1). But is still prone to be badly beaten in one on one contests, also reminds me of Dale Lewis in that he never seems to get out of second gear, always seems to be strolling rather than sprinting.
In the ruck Crusher Currie had a competent game but was not the dominant force he was last time I saw him A couple of pearler taps but overall his ruckwork not quite as good as earlier in the season. Jayco Caravan is still a very mixed bag. Ruckwork, ability to find the ball and disposal are improving, but his positioning at throw ins is still suspect and he can commit some A grade howlers if he gets involved in a midfield rush. A couple of classics this week, but I am encouraged by the fact that he IS getting involved in these movements now; at the start of the year he was not at all.
Of the other rookies Butcher Beckmans had his usual Jeckyll and Hyde day disposal wise. One shocking miss from close in, then drilled one from 45 out on the boundary. I still like him because he has good footy instinct for a forward ? knows when and where to lead to. Terlich bobbed up for three snags. Others have a wrap on Bruce, but for some reason I never seem to notice him. This week no exception for me.
Sydney: 4-3, 10-4, 13-10, 20-11-131
Defeated
Queenbeyan: 3-3, 6-6, 8-13, 12-14-86
SYDNEY SWANS
Goal Kickers: J. WHITE 4, E. Barlow 3, D. Terlich 3, B. Mill 2, D. Currie 2, J. Orreal, M. O''DWYER, M. Beckmans, N. Gordon, A. Riley, B. Murphy
Best Players: N Fosdike, M O?Dwyer, N Malceski, E Barlow, B Murphy, J White
QUEANBEYAN
Goal Kickers: J. KAVANAGH 3, A. LIESCHKE 2, P. Williams 2, S. DICKINSON 2, D. JAQUES, J. SATCHELL, J. BROOKER
Best Players: M. CAVEDON, C. WALMSLEY, J. KAVANAGH, P. Williams, M. DANIHER, D. JAQUES
Game Notes:
The first goal of the game cam after a promising Swans forward move went wrong via a misdirected centering ball from top up no 51. Queanbeyan swept onto the loose ball and 10 seconds later their full forward had accepted the lace out pass. Soon after they could have had another one after Braba was pinged for a throw. Fortunately the kick was touched on the line. The Swans first good chance came when Mathews in the Bradman pocket, but he was too slow of mind and foot and missed everything. Crusher brilliantly tapped a ball up to Fossie, but his shot from deep in the pocket hit the post. Columbo and Skull defused the next Q forward thrust, before Matty O hit Cheese with a pin point pass that looked suspiciously like a miskick. Cheese converted the easy chance. Getting into their stride now, Mocca won the ground ball and snapped truly. Swans win the centre clearance and the promising Spiteiri passed to Braba. He shanked his shot. Q should have benefited from a horrible turnover from the ?Van, but missed again. Top up 50 gave Skull a textbook hospital handball, he is duly pinged, but Queanbeyan missed again. Made to pay when Fossie set up resting ruckman Crusher for an easy goal. Queenbeyan reply when the win a free directly in front. In the best play of the quarter, the impressive top up 38 won the hard ball and released a team mate who centred the ball It ended up with the Butcher who handballed to Matty O for the goal. Queanbeyan reply when the Skull is smashed and unfairly penalised.
Quarter Time: Sydney 4-3-27, Queanbeyan 3-3-21
Bad start to the quarter; the ?Van showed his inexperience; out of position in a boundary throw in. His opponent caught the throw in and snapped truly. Then the Skull was outmarked one on one, luckily only one point resulted. From the kick in the Eski, Smith and Matty move the ball downfield smoothly and set up a goal for top up 38. Then the Eski on the Columbo; his brilliant long pass hits Mocca lace out, pity he missed the shot. Skull beaten on the lead, but Q miss again. Mocca reads a spill over the back from a boundary throw and snaps an easy goal. Another lace out 50 metre pass, this time from the Eski and top up 45 repays with a nice long set shot goal. Next entry Fossie wins the ground ball, on to the the ?Van who nailed the tricky snap. Queenbayan reply when the impressive #26 beats Columbo one on one and goals. Then the Cheese is outmarked and another goal results. The Van won the centre clearance, downfield Crusher won the free and converted from long range. Right on half time Smith found Mocca on the lead and he nails it from 50 metres.
Half Time Sydney 10-4-64, Queanbeyan 6-6-42
Good start to the third; Eski and Cheese combine, Mocca accepts the pass and goals. Matty O picked up a terrific crumb, only got a point, deserved more. Then another beautiful FF entry from the Eski finds top up 51, he handballed on to Terlich for the goal. Swans well on top now and Fossie found Mocca for another sausage. More of the same , Eski and Cheese hit up the Butcher, but he got out his blade and carved the shot way left. Queenbeyan finally reply when #26 marks and goals. A bad turnover from the Van is not penalised when the easy shot is missed. Queenbeyan worked hard in the latter stages of the quarter, their persistence finally creates a goal, and they miss another that they should have taken.
Three Quarter Time: Sydney 13-10-88, Queenbeyan 8-13-61.
Beautifull pass from Eski to the Butcher. To the surprise of all he nails the long shot from out wide, Swans immediately pile on another, pretty well game over now. Queanbeyan reply after Benny caused a turnover. . Soon after Terlich nails another goal from almost the same spot from where the Butcher got his. The Cheese followed up with another long and accurate set shot. The Swans last goals come from the Skull on the run and two top-ups. Queanbeyan get another couple when Columbo spoils an otherwise good game by being beaten twice in succession in one on one marking contests, and Terlich was left stranded by a Z grade bounce.
Final: Sydney 20-11-131, Queanbeyan 12-14-86.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks