Nice suburban ground, with a healthy crowd gave it a lively atmosphere. Certainly more than you would get at Blacktown.
The Swans win was built on top a very solid defensive performance, with their tackling especially in-close preventing the Thunder from exploiting their outside running power. The back six worked well together as a unit and a lot of our scoring opportunities were generated from a Swans spoil or a Thunder turnover. Midfielders were also strong on with the tackling, and had superior hand skills over the Thunder on-ball division which gave us cleaner use of the footy. However, going forward we probably weren't as clean as we would have liked, which might be a strange comment given we were on 11.1 at some stage in the 2nd quarter, but many goals were kicked on the run or a snap under pressure rather than a Swans forward being pinpointed with a pass in the forward 50.
Note the Swans played most of the game with just 1 on the bench so it was a great effort by all the players and there will be a few tired boys resting up tonight.
Crouch certainly had the player name magnets moving all over the place on the whiteboard with quite a number of players playing in unfamiliar positions. For example, Biggs started in the forward line (although this didn't last long) while ROK and T.Mitchell found themselves at half forward for quite long periods allowing BJ, Membrey and Perris to play in the middle at times.
Quick player notes:
- Membrey - Led hard when in the forward line and kicked straight yet again (4 goals). The time in the midfield would indicate they're trying to add another string to his bow in order to make him AFL ready
- O'Keefe - Started in the midfield but progressively spent more time forward as the game went off. I have to admit feeling nostalgic about the 05 flag, seeing him take marks on the lead coming out of the forward 50 arc. A little wasteful with his goalkicking finishing with 3 behinds. Very vocal in the three quarter time huddle. Along with Rohan, kindly stayed back after the game to sign autographs and take photos with the kids.
- T.Mitchell - Like ROK but probably not as much, also spent time off the ball in the forward line. His quick hands are still a feature of his game and generated many clearances for the Swans.
- Jones - I fail to see how anyone cannot like his attack on the ball. Also quite proficient in the use of his body to gain an advantage in a one-on-one marking contest. Played on Davey when the ex-Bomber was in the forward line but also released late in the game to play on the wing.
- Nankervis - The number 1 Swans ruckman for the day and his height was a distinct advantage both in the ruck and when he went forward where he towered over the Thunder defenders. Very good kicking skills as well and finished with 3 goals straight.
- Rohan - Playing off half back again and was very energetic especially in the second quarter where his dashes through traffic were exhilarating to watch. They didn't always come off but when they did, it opened up scoring opportunties for us. Didn't seem to have any trouble with his leg which is a good sign as he has come off at times during previous reserves game grabbing at it.
- Walsh - Positioned at fullback and was keeping Liam Patrick very quiet. He injured an ankle in the 2nd quarter landing after spoiling a ball, immediately coming off and having it strapped. He tested the ankle out on the touchlines, went back on, was involved in a few plays but then came back off again and was not seen even on the sidelines after that.
- Lockyer - Started on a wing, played some defence as well. Probably better suited to the wing for me where he linked play well.
- Towers - Played okay in the time he was out there, he was crunched by Musgrave early on in what looked to be a perfect shirtfront but the umpire gave Towers the free, which he subsequently missed the set shot. He played on after that so I don't think the injury was directly caused by that bump, I think there was another contest in a forward pocket where he must have hurt a shoulder. Went off after that, came back in a tracksuit top in the 2nd quarter and they managed to improvise a sling for his left arm.
- Robinson - Another great performance by Robinson, who's starting to show that he offers value across half-forward as well as in the guts. Uses the ball very well with his kicking a real feature of his game today.
- Hewett - Has bulked up since the last time I saw him. Continues to impress me with his disposal, very smart user of the ball, equally adept on both sides of the body, and like any talented player seems to have that extra split second to use the ball well. One to keep an eye out on.
- Roberts-Thomson - Named in the team but was on the sidelines in the full tracksuit looking as happy as Larry.
- Marsh - Started in defence and performed a number of courageous acts coming across as third man to help a fellow defender or backing back with the flight of the ball.
- Jack - His best game this year by far, a really energetic and dynamic performance. Not normally a big wall winner, he collected many possessions in a purple patch in the 2nd quarter and the first half of the 3rd. Hit the packs hard, at speed but clean gathers and a good conversion rate. Tackling was also fierce.
- Naismith - Very, very agile for a guy his size (205cm), still raw in some aspects of his game but if he can refine those areas, could turn into a ruckman who is capable around the ground.
- Aliir - Mixed review for me. Did some things really well, including his coolness with the ball and his spoiling, but gave away some unnecessary free kicks when pushing his opponent in the back when they went up for a mark.
- Perris - Best game I've witnessed from him this season, intelligent footballer who thinks his way through tough situations.
- Richards - Started on the goalkicking machine that is Ewing, and I thought save for the one mark he conceded in the 2nd quarter had him well held. But Aliir was shifted onto Ewing in the 2nd half and that freed Xavier up.
- P.Mitchell - Many areas still to work on for Mitchell, but the number one priority has to be his kicking. You can't keep squandering 30m straight in front set shots as he has been today and in past games. Probably the best area of the game is his shepherding, he managed to protect a few Swans kicks going through the big sticks. With Naismith and Nankervis in the team, it's hard for the Swans to engineer time for him in the ruck, which would allow him to utilise his athleticism. Right now, he's getting stuck at full forward with little idea of when to correctly lead.
- Biggs - Started forward as mentioned previously but didn't last long there and was soon back into his usual spot in defence. Mopped up in defence but nothing too memorably from memory.
- Heeney - With only one on the bench, the two top-ups certainly received more game time than they were expecting. I really liked Heeney's creativity, especially with the handball, he was setting up runners by hitting them at the right spot when they were running at pace. Had at least 3 assists by my count to go along with his 1.1
- Davis - Kicked 2, grabbed a few more marks but what impressed me most was his willingness to chase and tackle and get in amongst the hard stuff.
Spotted at the ground - Longmire, Teddy, Nick Smif
Swans 6.1 12.6 18.8 23.12 (150)
Thunder 2.3 5.6 8.8 12.11 (83)
Goals: Membrey 4, Jack 3, Naismith 3, Davis 2, Hewett 2, T.Mitchell 2, Robinson 2, P.Mitchell 2, Nankervis 2, Heeney (I had Nankervis 3 and P.Mitchell 1)
Best: Robinson, Membrey, Lockyer, Jack, Jones, Hewett
Originally Posted by Ludwig
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