#AFL Round 7, Swans vs North, 7:25pm at the SCG #AFLSwansNorth @sydneyswans

[Danzar]

It's game day.

Weather is fine, should be about 17 degrees at bounce with a small breeze.

Match preview, stats and teams: http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2018/7/syd-v-nmfc
Broadcast guide: 2018 AFL Broadcast Guide - AFL.com.au (http://www.afl.com.au/broadcastguide.workstation)

Swans by 26.

[neilfws]

Heading to the ground. Should be perfect conditions, lovely day in Sydney today.

I hear North and Brown in particular have been going alright, so could be a good one.

Kind of looking forward to seeing how we go without Buddy, much as I love to watch him play.

[Hotpotato]

It�s about time for a solid win, get the job done comprehensively.

[Markwebbos]

Danger game. Jacobs will potentially tag Kennedy out of it... but if the Swans are on, we�ll win by 5 goals plus!

[bloodspirit]

Happy birthday, Isaac. I hope we can celebrate with gusto!

[troyjones2525]

Ordinary start as usual at home this year... I don't know what it is with thr Swans 2018!

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[Blue Sun]

The replay CLEARLY shows that McVeigh touched that, yet the goal stands? What the actual @@@@? An apology should be issued for that.

[Daisi]

That was just slack marking and bad football

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Thats Mcveigh. 10m ahead and loses the ball. That is the reality. stop talking about his organising etc too slow to play footy.

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[troyjones2525]

Soooo are we going to let Higgins run around and get kicks at will??? If so we are going to lose, and by a big magin...

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[Daisi]

The replay CLEARLY shows that McVeigh touched that, yet the goal stands? What the actual @@@@?
And he appealed for a replay and the umpire ignored it

[Mel_C]

How wasn't that North goal reviewed?? Every goal is meant to be reviewed and it was clearly touched. What a joke!

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[Markwebbos]

And he appealed for a replay and the umpire ignored it

Don�t they check every goal, so must think insufficient evidence to call it a behind.

Swans being outplayed at home AGAIN!

[mcs]

The replay CLEARLY shows that McVeigh touched that, yet the goal stands? What the actual @@@@? An apology should be issued for that.

Should of at least been checked surely.

Such sloppy play in the last few minutes. Need to get much tighter per say in the one on ones, letting them lead us to the ball time and time again. Bad miss by Jack but god i hate this rubbish of having multiple players on the mark - 5 of them for the jack miss.

Wake up Swans.

[MattW]

The umpiring is frustrating. That clearly touched 'goal' in particular. But we need to wake up.

[Nico]

It was our field kicking that let us down in that quarter and not taking our chances when we had them. That was a woeful miss by Jack and Hewett does it again; could have had a shot on his right foot, nup, goes back into the play as usual then has a week to shoot on his left, then handballs to a North player. Does that rubbish every week.

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The umpiring is frustrating. That clearly touched 'goal' in particular. But we need to wake up.

Matt, the umps are miked up, so it was deemed to be a goal after the replay.

[Blue Sun]

Don�t they check every goal, so must think insufficient evidence to call it a behind.

Swans being outplayed at home AGAIN!

I think it�s more likely that they were too slow to review it. By the time they knew it was a behind the umpires had already bounced the ball. What a joke.

[MattW]

Those last three frees against were wrong.

[troyjones2525]

I can see already we're done. Got nothing up forward and way too undersized tonight.

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[Blue Sun]

I know some of you guys are tired of �the damn umpires� moan and groan, but you�ve got to agree that tonight the Swans are getting the rough end of the stick?

[Markwebbos]

Swans getting into the game this Q. Have faith

[Mark26]

We are going to have to win this one without any help from the umps.

Great kick by Fox by the way!

[troyjones2525]

Swans getting into the game this Q. Have faithI would love to be wrong! Really hoping so! I admit we look a bit better the last 5 mins.

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[troyjones2525]

Good call then by Dunstall after the Hayward shocker!

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[longmile]

Hayward you turkey

[troyjones2525]

Geez not sure who Cunningham is playing on tonight, usually tags obviously, but he's been almost non existent offensively...

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[Daisi]

This is a terrible game - both sides playing badly and the umpires are over umpiring - its like every second play is a free kick

[stevoswan]

This is a terrible game - both sides playing badly and the umpires are over umpiring - its like every second play is a free kick

This might sound a bit over the top but I ****ing hate umpires. Besides the way the AFL run this comp, they are the worst thing about football atm.

[longmile]

Cunningham and FLorent with 1 possession each...

[stevoswan]

Is Jacobs on Kennedy?

[Markwebbos]

Is Jacobs on Kennedy?

Looks like Parker to me

[bodgie]

Hayward you turkey

[AB Swannie]

Missed opportunities. Jack�s kicking has really cost us.

[bodgie]

Looks like too much bombing to Rohan with no smalls running onto it. Then straight back out of the 50.

[Foreign Legion]

Swans playing stop-start football as if we have marking options at each contest. Move the bloody ball on! Yes we might turn it over but that is our only chance. Anytime we get it within 100M of goal we need to move it quickly within reason.

Don't mind a kick to a 1 on 1 contest we have pace in our forward line not marking ability.

[Cheer_Cheer]

Forward 50 entries have been been i'll conceived once again. Need to lower the eyes. How about we don't kick it to a contest Brown is involved in.

[AB Swannie]

Jack�s kicking has really cost us.

14 possessions @42.9% efficiency

[troyjones2525]

We are pretty lucky to be so close. I must say though that before the season started I honestly thought Nth Melbourne would be fighting it out for the wooden spoon and penciled this in for an easy win! How wrong was I!!! North has been mightily impressive this year with a list most thought and maybe still think is average at best!

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[MattW]

Don't look like winners so far. Inside 50 entries have been clumsy - Ben Brown would have the most marks inside our forward 50. Also, they are kicking it out of defence, and generally finding loose men around the ground, too easily. Wasting chances. Techincal umpiring. Heeney and Parker need to step up.

[Markwebbos]

Swans dominant around the contest that Q but poor kicking for goal and poor kicking into the Fwd50 cost us.

No point kicking it long to Ben Brown. Why not try and hit a leading player?

[MattW]

It was our field kicking that let us down in that quarter and not taking our chances when we had them. That was a woeful miss by Jack and Hewett does it again; could have had a shot on his right foot, nup, goes back into the play as usual then has a week to shoot on his left, then handballs to a North player. Does that rubbish every week.

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Matt, the umps are miked up, so it was deemed to be a goal after the replay.

Mate, it was clearly touched, so someone made an error.

[dejavoodoo44]

Now that we're on top in the clearances, I think we'll slowly grind them down in the second half. Sinclair probably best on ground so far.
The umpiring has often been mystifying and actually the difference on the scoreboard. I'm not sure why they seem to think that Ben Brown should get free kicks for being clumsy?

[Nico]

Blind Freddie could see that the Mills kick wasn't an option; turnover for goal. Symptomatic of our night. Dumb decisions all round.

[troyjones2525]

We absolutely lack a player with the skill and class of Higgins and it's really hurting us tonight.

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[dejavoodoo44]

Mate, it was clearly touched, so someone made an error.

I suspect that it might have been Mathew Nicholls concentrating on how was going to achieve another perfect centre bounce, rather than paying attention to unimportant things; like goal reviews. But that's just guesswork on my part, like a lot of the umpiring tonight.

[stevoswan]

I wish McVeigh never said they wanted to turn the SCG into a 'fortress' yada yada. We've been crap at home ever since.

[bodgie]

Hayward you genius

[troyjones2525]

I wish McVeigh never said they wanted to turn the SCG into a 'fortress' yada yada. We've been crap at home ever since.Yep...

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[bodgie]

A couple of second rate teams out there tonight...

[I�m-uninformed2]

This game is crap

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Longmire has us playing premiership footy....

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[Nico]

It is a greasy night so we continue to over hand ball instead of sticking the boot into it.

3 absolute sitters missed by Jack.

[bodgie]

Jack ... turkey

[troyjones2525]

Good call on Jack earlier.... pathetic!

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[bodgie]

I reckon our smalls will outrun North in the last

[troyjones2525]

A couple of second rate teams out there tonight...Good call...

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[bodgie]

At last! A mighty kick from Parker

[longmile]

One of the ugliest quarters of football I've seen for a while

[Markwebbos]

Tide turning

[bodgie]

Perhaps the umpiring has set the standard

[mattybloods]

This is terrible viewing

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[cruiser]

What a stinking pile of poo this game is. Both teams woeful, especially up forward.

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Premiership Captain stuff. Elite. Leader.

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[longmile]

Seriously shocking game

[Markwebbos]

Baffled by our determination to kick long to a contest when we have so few (1) tall players.

And we are struggling against their defence big time

[troyjones2525]

Heeney horrible miss from a good kick by McVeigh. Then Cunnington with a good goal from a @@@@ kick by McVeigh.... sums it up really...

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[Markwebbos]

Good preparation for the annual #HawthornHumiliation next week

[Melbourne_Blood]

Disgraceful. If we were playing a good side we�d be looking at a 100 point belting. K jack is done


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[S.S. Bleeder]

I wish McVeigh never said they wanted to turn the SCG into a 'fortress' yada yada. We've been crap at home ever since.

We've been crap at home for years now. Not sure why.

[Markwebbos]

As if what�s happening in the game isn�t bad enough, we now have to suffer 3/4 time music on top of Sweet Caroline at 1/4 time!

[crackedactor]

Disgraceful. If we were playing a good side we�d be looking at a 100 point belting. K jack is done


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It's is pathetic. It like watching a bunch of clowns play. We should be 10 goals behind. Need to do some rebuilding, the signs are. Bad. Parker looks finished andHewitt not up to this standard.


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[S.S. Bleeder]

Disgraceful. If we were playing a good side we�d be looking at a 100 point belting. K jack is done


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I can't recall the last time Jack made a significant contribution for the team, ie, was amongst our best. It's been at least a couple of years since he showed glimpses of his best. McVeighs been okay this year but I hope both of them retire at seasons end to make way for our youngsters.

[Nico]

We've been crap at home for years now. Not sure why.

We have real problems once the surface gets greasy. North have been better with their disposal. Our fixture is a worry because we play all but one of our home games at night. Plus some away games; 10 out of 15.

[troyjones2525]

Can we win a game at home???... not confident!

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[Markwebbos]

That was worth the price of admission!

[Mel_C]

As others have said this is a terrible game to watch.

Something needs to be done about these set shots players miss. Heeney has gone backwards and Jack tonight has been way off.

We love turning the ball over in our defensive 50.

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[troyjones2525]

Although just remembered last week.... can we have another dominant last qtr???

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[Hotpotato]

Awesome grab by Hayward .
Now a another .
Great hands.

[bodgie]

Hayward misses but is making amends for an early turkey

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Our great leader and the best organiser of our defence. Leave the corridor empty. Elite again.

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[Wardy]

We only have to win by a point! Don�t care how we do it just as long as we win.

[troyjones2525]

About the only thing Cunningham's done all day... shouldn't be playing next week.

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[goswannies]

Jake Lloyd! Use the Force!! GOAL!
2138
2139
2140

[Scottee]

All time record oobof tonight.

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[WauchopeAnalyst]

Longmire loves a goalkeeper. Watching goals go through...

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[WauchopeAnalyst]

Here comes finals...

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[troyjones2525]

Duds.... All of them....

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[bodgie]

Classic danger game. Crapola football all round. Sensational effort from us one week then lame the next.

[troyjones2525]

Only problem is that our pathetic reserves side is worse!

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[Hotpotato]

23 -16 Free kick to Norths

[U.S. Swan]

I could hear a chorus of boos from the crowd...they deserved every one of them.

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Lucky we have Longmire and Mcveigh. We have the best coach and Mcveigh. How can notvwin every premiership.

Reality. We cant but wait for xxx games xxx finals, xxx % wins.

1 premiership 6 years ago. Go on the Cats board and tell them that they're as lucky as us. Both have god coaches.

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[S.S. Bleeder]

Id love to see the footage of that touched goal that was supposedly reviewed. I had a feeling that it would come back to bite us and that we would lose by less than a goal.

[Scottee]

We actually won that game by 4 points.The maladministration of the touched ball by McVeigh is disgrace.What an incompetent bloody comp.

Mostly our own fault for such an insipid kicking performance though.I have to say, rather Newman in the side with the absolute rubish kickers we have.Heeney, Jack useless as forwards tonight.

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[Nico]

All time record oobof tonight.

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Worst game I have seen by Mills. Too many lazy kicks. OOBOF and Nick Smith can join him. I can't say that our poor kicking for goal let us down as North were no better. I am really disappointed in Hewett. He gives the ball over so often and his kicking is about the worst in the team. In the end our foot disposal let us down.

[Mel_C]

Terrible loss. Only ourselves to blame. Crucial turnovers cost us goals.

Still pissed off at the non goal review. Of course we will get a "sorry" from the afl but it's too late.

If Buddy isn't right for next week then we need another marking tall forward especially for the MCG.

They really need to practice goal kicking and they need to practice when they are fatigued to simulate the game situation.

3 losses at the SCG ????.

[stevoswan]

We had 10 more clearances and 10 more inside 50's and lost by *%&#ing 2 points......completely inefficient attack. Then you see 7 less free kicks and wonder........again. More integrity right there and we might now be saying "we won ugly but at least we won!", and celebrating and don't even talk about the non goal review.......it's hard to like this league sometimes, in fact, most times.

[waswan]

Play another tall if not 2 in AA and Melican and have Rampe as the running defender
We never looked like transitioning back to forward all game

[Bexl]

We actually won that game by 4 points.The maladministration of the touched ball by McVeigh is disgrace.What an incompetent bloody comp.

Mostly our own fault for such an insipid kicking performance though.

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It is a poorly run and corrupt competition. Every goal is reviewed they say. The afl are FULL OF @@@@.
That said we could have / should have won but I think we stuffed it up ourselves.

[Cheer_Cheer]

I had to laugh when the commentators called Florent a 4th qtr specialist. He was totally unseen for the 1st 3..

[Bexl]

Play another tall if not 2 in AA and Melican and have Rampe as the running defender
We never looked like transitioning back to forward all game

Franklin will most likely be back before Melican.

[Daisi]

Just a shocking game by all concerned - the low scores just prove what a truly awful display of footy it was - Swans should have won that easily with the talent in the side - umpiring was Incomprehensible - I don�t think anybody on the field or off it knew what was going on

[Bexl]

- umpiring was Incomprehensible - I don�t think anybody on the field or off it knew what was going on

yep

[waswan]

I realise we have guys out but ramps is a waste as a lockdown defender
he should be the running loose defender

[Melbourne_Blood]

I know it�s a soft target after a loss but Longmire is not a good game day coach. Never has been. I think that needs to be looked at soon because we will not win a premiership with horse at the helm.


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[waswan]

We are still yet to put 4qtrs together this year

[707]

Too many on here allow their emotions to swing far too wildly, last week they were heroes, this week they're all rubbish. Remember it's never as bad as it seems, never as good as it seems.

Kennedy & Sinclair huge. Sinkers is becoming a gun!

Let's look at the critical points and I haven't seen the whole game yet. Stuffed score review, twice KJ missed goals he should have kicked, Haywards shocker miss, Heeney shocker miss then we give them two in front of goal courtesy Sinclair & McVeigh. All of these shouldn't have happed - we win by 6 goals!

If Cameron was good again today in the ressies, we need another tall forward more than we need say Fox, time to bite the bullet and go back to some forward structure.

Ronke was ok today, others had lesser games.

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and - way too many soft and technical frees, even replaying some of them I couldn't see the free.

[Nico]

Terrible loss. Only ourselves to blame. Crucial turnovers cost us goals.

Still pissed off at the non goal review. Of course we will get a "sorry" from the afl but it's too late.

If Buddy isn't right for next week then we need another marking tall forward especially for the MCG.

They really need to practice goal kicking and they need to practice when they are fatigued to simulate the game situation.

3 losses at the SCG ????.

I doubt Papley was fatigued. Didn't get near it much. Just a poor execution and should have put us in front; no excuses.

[Matty10]

That was so unbelievably frustrating - we seem to lose our intensity and football nous every second game. What is going on?

It is hard to come up with solutions to problems like that.

The umpiring wasn�t great, but they weren�t our biggest problem. We moved the ball too slowly from defence - with a distinct lack of run - and bombed the ball to bad matchups.

And how is it that the SCG is now our bogey ground?


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[Nico]

Play another tall if not 2 in AA and Melican and have Rampe as the running defender
We never looked like transitioning back to forward all game

Good call. However, again we didn't make space until the last quarter, and our kicking is horrible.

[Swannette]

We seemed bereft of a forward structure. Same personnel as last week, very different implementation. North are good scrappers that�s for sure and that tactic has and still works well against us. Just no flow all night so props to them for being disruptive enough. We just couldn�t do enough with the chances we had - though if they had kicked straight we would have never been in it. Aaargh....


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[Nico]

I had to laugh when the commentators called Florent a 4th qtr specialist. He was totally unseen for the 1st 3..

I checked at 3q time. He had 2 handballs up until then.

[waswan]

Too many on here allow their emotions to swing far too wildly, last week they were heroes, this week they're all rubbish. Remember it's never as bad as it seems, never as good as it seems.

Kennedy & Sinclair huge. Sinkers is becoming a gun!

Let's look at the critical points and I haven't seen the whole game yet. Stuffed score review, twice KJ missed goals he should have kicked, Haywards shocker miss, Heeney shocker miss then we give them two in front of goal courtesy Sinclair & McVeigh. All of these shouldn't have happed - we win by 6 goals!

If Cameron was good again today in the ressies, we need another tall forward more than we need say Fox, time to bite the bullet and go back to some forward structure.

Ronke was ok today, others had lesser games.

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and - way too many soft and technical frees, even replaying some of them I couldn't see the free.

This can be true but we also let a good qtr in geelong mask 3 terrible qtrs
dont worry about our missed chances if any team should have had a 6 goal win it was North

He has changed his mid rotation which is good
The forward line is a bit hard with 2 tall injured and i suppose the defenders have the same issue

Its like he has a method but cant play that way cos he has guys out

That is game day coaching change with what you have

[jono2707]

We just aren't that good.

[Markwebbos]

He has changed his mid rotation which is good

The forward line is a bit hard with 2 tall injured and i suppose the defenders have the same issue

Its like he has a method but cant play that way cos he has guys out

That is game day coaching change with what you have

This is my frustration with the game plan. Completely dependent on kicking the ball long down the line out of defence to create a stoppage, which doesn�t work when you only have one player > 190cm.

With so many running players can�t we try running the ball?

Ditto the kicking into forward 50.

North to their credit held up our ball movement really well so we rarely got an open forward 50 to kick to.

A lot to work on before our #Nemesis next week. I�m pessimistic

[DNJ500]

We seemed bereft of a forward structure. Same personnel as last week, very different implementation. North are good scrappers that�s for sure and that tactic has and still works well against us. Just no flow all night so props to them for being disruptive enough. We just couldn�t do enough with the chances we had - though if they had kicked straight we would have never been in it. Aaargh....


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I think the number and timing of "Misses" was almost equal..Could have been the other way around..If we had been accurate....

[waswan]

Last week awesome at holding the ball up and hitting targets chippping etc

Didnt see it once tonight

[MattW]

Terrible loss. Only ourselves to blame. Crucial turnovers cost us goals.

Still pissed off at the non goal review. Of course we will get a "sorry" from the afl but it's too late.

If Buddy isn't right for next week then we need another marking tall forward especially for the MCG.

They really need to practice goal kicking and they need to practice when they are fatigued to simulate the game situation.

3 losses at the SCG ????.

Yep, thanks for expressing it for me.

Would've been surprised if Papley kicked that one. He's had an inexplicably poor year and ours looks marked.

Salt rubbed etc by fact that this is second of three games attended from Canberra, the first Port, relying on childcare and favours. Feels like a cheap, selfish habit.

[Nico]

What that showed me tonight is that we really lack quality in the bottom half of the team. Some stats from the game;

Towers 4 kicks 6 Hand balls, Fox 4/6, Papley 7/4, Florent 5/4, Cunningham 4/5, Hewett 11/3 (clanger riddled) Rohan 9/1. How do these blokes stay out of the game for so much time. Smith 6/2 (thrashed by Wood). Mills courageous but poor disposal.

I agree with those who say Newman should be in the team. He certainly gets a lot of the footy even though he was butchering it.

[stevoswan]

We just aren't that good.

......at the moment anyway. The coaching is a real concern for me. New innovations from new coaches in the box? Can't see it.....but they can't be blamed for match day player ineptitude but what are they doing during the week to address it?! This week......Truth and Honesty session for the coaches and SKILLS, SKILLS, SKILLS work for the players!!

[Nico]

This is my frustration with the game plan. Completely dependent on kicking the ball long down the line out of defence to create a stoppage, which doesn�t work when you only have one player > 190cm.

With so many running players can�t we try running the ball?

Ditto the kicking into forward 50.

North to their credit held up our ball movement really well so we rarely got an open forward 50 to kick to.

A lot to work on before our #Nemesis next week. I�m pessimistic

I don't have a problem kicking down the line but we kick it out on the full so many times.

[0918330512]

I know it�s a soft target after a loss but Longmire is not a good game day coach. Never has been. I think that needs to be looked at soon because we will not win a premiership with horse at the helm.

You�re right Melb_Blood! It�s a soft target and boringly repetitive. He�s one of 4 coaches who has coached us to a grand final since 1937. He�s one of 2 coaches who has delivered us premierships since 1934. He has one of the best winning %s of current coaches. Of all of the touted assistant coaches we had since Roosey started with us, he is the best performed (we bemoaned the loss of the likes of Lyon and Dew and numerous others who went to other clubs as assistant coaches, Longmire has delivered the best of all of them). Hindered by unjustified recruiting and trading restrictions & - if you are to believe some supporters - an AFL orchestrated umpiring anti-sentiment, it�s a wonder the man can stand up straight with whinging supporters on his back every second week. He wins he�s great, he loses and he should be sacked.

No Buddy, no Hanners, no Reid, no Naismith, no Tippett (and he would have been expected to be available when Horse was planning for his 2018 campaign last December). No matter, just blame Horse. We�re hampered by a paucity of available ruckmen (despite what Ludwig thinks, all the other clubs have a stronger compliment of fit talls to choose from), a dysfunctional forwardline (take the caliber and height of Bud, Reid ... and yes Tippett out of any side and see how their coach handles it).

So your pot shots at a soft target is worthy of a Crows fan, but most unbecoming of a Swans supporter. We should be supporters of our team, not fickle fair weather fans.

[Faunac8]

Possibly the most disappointing game that I�ve seen for quite some time, we never seriously looked like we would win
It�s games like this that provide ammunition for the VFL to tinker with the game and try to create rules to reduce the �congestion� that has become the accepted problem/issue impacting on the viewing spectacle.

[Nico]

How can you blame the coach for that rubbish. Why did Jack miss 3 sitters, why did Papley stuff that late one, why did Heeney miss that set shot and why did Rampe miss that one on the run, by a long way, why did Sinclair kick straight to a North player in front, why did McVeigh kick inboard to a North player and why did Mills do most of his kicks as grubbers. That woeful kick to someone in between about 10 North players in our forward line for a turnover goal. Dumb footy is not the coach's fault. Our kicking has been poor all season. We don't keep the pressure up for 4 quarters hence we always keep the opposition in the game. It's not the coach's fault. We have an underbelly of players that are not good enough and it is always left to the defence to save the game. Apart from Kennedy and Heeney our midfield is mediocre at best. We need Buddy back pronto.

[neilfws]

Reminded me of a lot of games I went to in the early and mid- 2000s. Ugly, frustrating with some excitement near the end when you think they might just steal it.

Just happy to draw a line under that and move on quite honestly.

[Bob Neil]

I know it�s a soft target after a loss but Longmire is not a good game day coach. Never has been. I think that needs to be looked at soon because we will not win a premiership with horse at the helm. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Not sure he realises that teams come to the SCG with a game plan of their own, like Swans do when away.

[Daisi]

I think it must be very difficult for any coach to develop a game plan when the umpires are so intrusive - difficult for both sides tonight
And ... we are relying on young players who can�t be expected to play consistently every week - they haven�t got the experience or body strength for that
However, tonight was miserably disappointing .

[Steve]

We're just struggling, 4-2 badly overstated how we have been going. After Rd 1 we've battled through games and the wins have been off the back of short bursts of scoring, interestingly in second halves when we've belatedly gone man-on-man.

It is a real bind the coaches are in - our ball movement is so poor and unimaginative, but our skill level doesn't allow for anything more creative. You see with Sinclair and McVeigh what happens when they try and do something other than kicking long down the line. The direction things have headed in re: pressure and congestion don't suit us at all - generally poor skills and no creativity from defence to break things open.

Our success bringing through rookies and later draft picks is a double-edged sword - most of them can't kick and that's becoming more relevant than their bravery and discipline.

That score review issue has been a long time coming - you get a smarmy, dismissive response from the umpire saying every goal gets reviewed, so don't argue or ask for a review, because asking for one would be redundant given it is being reviewed anyway etc etc. But we saw tonight what really happens - only if they stumble across the right footage before the ball is bounced, do they actually intervene. That is fine if the goal isn't being disputed, but they just can't justify not asking for a review on the basis that the right decision will occur regardless.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Longmire is not a good game day coach . Could argue he has got us two to GF�s. Could also argue he�s lost us two .


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[0918330512]

Longmire is not a good game day coach . Could argue he has got us two to GF�s. Could also argue he�s lost us two .


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Could argue that 16 coaches every year don�t even make the grand final. They�re not that easy to make, let alone win (ask any Swans coach from 1946-1995). And frankly, Longmire�s home & away record suggests he is a good game day coach. Armchair experts can take potshots all day. While the board has his back, he�s here to stay.

[Ludwig]

Here in Ruse Bulgaria and just saw the bad news. Should I watch the game or will it make me too depressed?

[stevoswan]

Longmire is not a good game day coach . Could argue he has got us two to GF�s. Could also argue he�s lost us two .


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No, no, no.....you can hardly blame him for a 20-8 free kick count in 2016. Low blow......

[0918330512]

Here in Ruse Bulgaria and just saw the bad news. Should I watch the game or will it make me too depressed?

Watching the game will make you far less depressed than reading the RWO comments after a loss

[crackedactor]

We had 10 more clearances and 10 more inside 50's and lost by *%&#ing 2 points......completely inefficient attack. Then you see 7 less free kicks and wonder........again. More integrity right there and we might now be saying "we won ugly but at least we won!", and celebrating and don't even talk about the non goal review.......it's hard to like this league sometimes, in fact, most times.

Yes it's a very corrupt league. 7 less free kicks yet again. I think the AFL wants to destroy football in Sydney. Regardless our standard is becoming worse every week. Fancy paying money to watch that? I would demand a refund. Need to drop Parker and Hewitt. Marsh and fox were also poor. Having doubts about horse' ability to Coach, Think game has gone past him. Don't expect to win a game at SCG this year.


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[Agent 86]

Watching the game will make you far less depressed than reading the RWO comments after a loss

Hehe


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[aardvark]

What a waste. That was really hard to watch.

[stevoswan]

Here in Ruse Bulgaria and just saw the bad news. Should I watch the game or will it make me too depressed?

Not if you want to witness one of the worst most frustrating games ever.....and yes, you will become depressed. Move on quickly and enjoy your travels.:tongue:

[Bexl]

Here in Ruse Bulgaria and just saw the bad news. Should I watch the game or will it make me too depressed?


No.

[AB Swannie]

I wonder if some fans actually hope we lose just so they can lay the boot into Longmire and McVeigh. So damn repetitive and predictable.

Unfortunately, we have good players who just didn�t play anywhere near their best tonight. Jack wore his boots on the wrong feet. On another night, he kicks three. Sinkers and McVeigh gave away two goals that they won�t give away again all season.

On the other hand, Higgins is a very underrated player for North. He and Mason Wood were the difference.

[Agent 86]

Yes it's a very corrupt league. 7 less free kicks yet again. I think the AFL wants to destroy football in Sydney. Regardless our standard is becoming worse every week. Fancy paying money to watch that? I would demand a refund. Need to drop Parker and Hewitt. Marsh and fox were also poor. Having doubts about horse' ability to Coach, Think game has gone past him. Don't expect to win a game at SCG this year.


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Interesting that 6 of our free kicks came in 1 x 2 minute phase of play. Wondering if they were trying to make the disparity look less biased?


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[Steve]

You�re right Melb_Blood! It�s a soft target and boringly repetitive.

No Buddy, no Hanners, no Reid, no Naismith, no Tippett (and he would have been expected to be available when Horse was planning for his 2018 campaign last December). No matter, just blame Horse.


How can you blame the coach for that rubbish. Why did Jack miss 3 sitters, why did Papley stuff that late one, why did Heeney miss that set shot and why did Rampe miss that one on the run, by a long way, why did Sinclair kick straight to a North player in front, why did McVeigh kick inboard to a North player and why did Mills do most of his kicks as grubbers. That woeful kick to someone in between about 10 North players in our forward line for a turnover goal. Dumb footy is not the coach's fault. Our kicking has been poor all season. We don't keep the pressure up for 4 quarters hence we always keep the opposition in the game. It's not the coach's fault. We have an underbelly of players that are not good enough and it is always left to the defence to save the game. Apart from Kennedy and Heeney our midfield is mediocre at best. We need Buddy back pronto.

The coach can only watch on as they players execute out on the field, but they are clearly accountable for the selection, development, gameplan and utilisation of the players at his disposal. The whole 'Longmire is a brilliant coach without a single flaw who we should offer a lifelong contract if he will have us' versus 'Longmire is the root of all our problems and has to go' debate is just silly. All coaches at times have flaws in either their strategies/game plans and/or how they are responding to circumstances confronting the team. You don't have to be calling for him to be sacked, or ignoring or disrespecting his past record, to question aspects of his performance.

But ultimately if we're always blaming the players, it's isn't completely out of place to at times question whether the long-term coach couldn't have deployed other options in terms of player selection, utilisation and game plan when things have ultimately fallen apart over numerous seasons for different reasons, when the coach has essentially had the same plan.

That's not to say he isn't the right person for the job, but he is accountable for what his players produce.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Longmire has developed a good game style( with a talented squad ). He has not shown at any stage he is capable of moving the chess pieces on game day.


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[dejavoodoo44]

Here in Ruse Bulgaria and just saw the bad news. Should I watch the game or will it make me too depressed?

If you're planning to convert the Bulgarians to Aussie Rules, then I'd probably choose another game. Very eccentric umpiring that favoured North. A dewy surface, that turned it into a clear sky wet weather game, in which both sides made relentless skill errors. Jason Dunstall in commentary.
But hey, if want to see another gutsy performance from Sinclair, some nice clearance work for three quarters and some classy moments from Heyward?
If you do watch it, maybe you could count how many times we actually got a holding the ball free, as opposed to how many times we were penalized for in the back. Or maybe you could try to work out what any of the frees to Brown were for?

[Danzar]

Reminded me of a lot of games I went to in the early and mid- 2000s. Ugly, frustrating with some excitement near the end when you think they might just steal it.

Just happy to draw a line under that and move on quite honestly.
We won a lot of those games.

[Hotpotato]

Didn�t enjoy being at this forgettable game which was like watching 36 seagulls fighting over one chip chucked in their midst . The game has changed for sure.

It�s umpired to a standstill .

Shorter defenders must wonder how they can compete. The tiggy touchwood to someone�s arms in a marking contest is such a Rubbish rule especially when paid so often for a minor infringement .

North were the better team on this occasion . Hate their bloody song from �96.

[Danzar]

Longmire has developed a good game style( with a talented squad ). He has not shown at any stage he is capable of moving the chess pieces on game day.


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Moving Brown down the ground was the real winner for North. Stopped our momentum when it counted, but particularly in the second quarter. Seemed like a decision Scott made in that moment, and it kept paying dividends later.

[MattW]

Here in Ruse Bulgaria and just saw the bad news. Should I watch the game or will it make me too depressed?

Seriously. It is perfectly scripted to maximise frustration. Spare yourself. Hayward marked well forward - that's the only positive news you could take away.

[juliec]

I have been following the Swans since they were South Melbourne and I am a Premiership Club member for years, I don�t know a lot about the tactics of the game but I would like to know why when we take a mark or just receive the ball why we take so long to pass it off or kick it???????? also with that extra man we seem to always have in defence and how many times we go for the stoppage, are we one of the teams who are to blame with this whole cluster of players around the ball????????

[Swanny40519]

I was so frustrated watching that game last night. Our forward structure was terrible all night. We did not put any pressure on their defenders and just let them run the ball out so easily. Then our defence insisted on playing a couple of metres behind all night and that allowed North to dominate marking. Terrible coaching !

What has happened to Heeney's kicking ability. He butchered just about every kick he had last night.

I am really concerned boy where we are headed in 2018. We have a number of very average or below average footballers win our side - Fox, Marsh, Cunningham, Towers and then some of our more experienced players who have lost form - Smith, Papley, Heeney, Parker, Rohan, Rampe, Jack, Mills. Spo that doesn't leave a lot left to try and win games.

The reserves have not won a game and don't look like it. They can't kick straight and lack skill and the will to succeed.

- - - Updated - - -

I was so frustrated watching that game last night. Our forward structure was terrible all night. We did not put any pressure on their defenders and just let them run the ball out so easily. Then our defence insisted on playing a couple of metres behind all night and that allowed North to dominate marking. Terrible coaching !

What has happened to Heeney's kicking ability. He butchered just about every kick he had last night.

I am really concerned boy where we are headed in 2018. We have a number of very average or below average footballers in our side - Fox, Marsh, Cunningham, Towers and then some of our more experienced players who have lost form - Smith, Papley, Heeney, Parker, Rohan, Rampe, Jack, Mills. So that doesn't leave a lot of good players left to try and win games.

The reserves have not won a game and don't look like it. They can't kick straight and lack skill and the will to succeed.

- - - Updated - - -

I was so frustrated watching that game last night. Our forward structure was terrible all night. We did not put any pressure on their defenders and just let them run the ball out so easily. Then our defence insisted on playing a couple of metres behind all night and that allowed North to dominate marking. Terrible coaching !

What has happened to Heeney's kicking ability. He butchered just about every kick he had last night.

I am really concerned boy where we are headed in 2018. We have a number of very average or below average footballers in our side - Fox, Marsh, Cunningham, Towers and then some of our more experienced players who have lost form - Smith, Papley, Heeney, Parker, Rohan, Rampe, Jack, Mills. So that doesn't leave a lot of good players left to try and win games.

The reserves have not won a game and don't look like it. They can't kick straight and lack skill and the will to succeed.

[Xie Shan]

Probably one of the worst games I've seen live.

[dejavoodoo44]

Didn�t enjoy being at this forgettable game which was like watching 36 seagulls fighting over one chip chucked in their midst . The game has changed for sure.

It�s umpired to a standstill .

Shorter defenders must wonder how they can compete. The tiggy touchwood to someone�s arms in a marking contest is such a Rubbish rule especially when paid so often for a minor infringement .

North were the better team on this occasion . Hate their bloody song from �96.

Yes, making sure that the tall forwards were totally unimpeded, seemed to be this week's version of the AFL's 'rule of the week'. Which I usually find irksome. I mean, is it really necessary, to randomly select which particular rule will pedanticly enforced each week? And one thing I found especially irksome this week, was that the 'tall forwards shall be unimpeded' interpretation, came in a game when we didn't actually have any tall forwards.

[bodgie]

Yes It would be fascinating to see Franklin play unimpeded

[dimelb]

It's not the umpires' fault (although a visit to their sponsors might help).

It's not the coaches' fault (although they may have had better days).

It is the bleeding obvious: we have lost significant players, and it may well get worse before it gets better. Plus some usually good players had a bad night. It happens. And perhaps we underrated the opposition - a mistake we won't make again, at least not with this particular opposition.

[CureTheSane]

Well doesn't Facebook suck again today.

People complaining not only about plan A but also plan B
Calling for blood, sooking complaining.
Goal reviews, umpires etc etc etc

I'm heading to Canberra for 4 days, in the morning and I'll be too busy while I'm there to bother with Facebook.
By the time I'm back hopefully it will be a bit better :)

[mcs]

Yes, making sure that the tall forwards were totally unimpeded, seemed to be this week's version of the AFL's 'rule of the week'. Which I usually find irksome. I mean, is it really necessary, to randomly select which particular rule will pedanticly enforced each week? And one thing I found especially irksome this week, was that the 'tall forwards shall be unimpeded' interpretation, came in a game when we didn't actually have any tall forwards.

Doubly frustrating last night was Brown's play acting, thinking he was playing for Real Madrid in the Champions League or something. At least a couple, if not more of those frees came when he was way under the ball (I.e. never going to mark it) and he certainly appears to then act up and exaggerate any contact looking for a free kick. Not a good look for me at all.

While it was exciting because it was close, it was a terrible quality game of football for mine. Never felt all night like we would find a way to win, and that's how it ended. I just am not convinced by us this season at all. We must surely play Cameron next week to give some sort of tall target up forward (Assuming Buddy is unfit still). We got lucky against Geelong last week, but our forward line was an absolute shambles all game last night.

And what is it with goal kicking at the club at the moment - just awful!

[sprite]

We have to get AA into the team and also give Maibaum a run as well to see how they can handle things. We need the height in the backline.

Lucky the SCG had the lights on last night or else Grundy wouldn't have known what round he was meant to at.

He is has lost any pace and if the opposition are moving the ball around he just simply loses his opponent.

Grundy wasn't the reason why we lost, but he is now being shown up. I think he has gone one season too many.

[Ludwig]

This will be the first game not seen in years but you have convinced me it's best to give it a pass. Packing up and off to Romania today. Mrs L loves Dracula.

[stevoswan]

This will be the first game not seen in years but you have convinced me it's best to give it a pass. Packing up and off to Romania today. Mrs L loves Dracula.

Good decision Ludwig......atm our team sucks as much as Dracula anyway.:tongue:

[The Big Cat]

What game were you at? Thought Grundy was one of our best. Out forward line of Ronke, Hayward, Ollie, Fox, Towers, Papley have played about 50 games between them. That's where the problem is at the moment.

[dejavoodoo44]

Doubly frustrating last night was Brown's play acting, thinking he was playing for Real Madrid in the Champions League or something. At least a couple, if not more of those frees came when he was way under the ball (I.e. never going to mark it) and he certainly appears to then act up and exaggerate any contact looking for a free kick. Not a good look for me at all.

While it was exciting because it was close, it was a terrible quality game of football for mine. Never felt all night like we would find a way to win, and that's how it ended. I just am not convinced by us this season at all. We must surely play Cameron next week to give some sort of tall target up forward (Assuming Buddy is unfit still). We got lucky against Geelong last week, but our forward line was an absolute shambles all game last night.

And what is it with goal kicking at the club at the moment - just awful!

I wasn't sure if he was play acting, or just clumsy? Either way, he shouldn't have got all those frees.

[mcs]

I wasn't sure if he was play acting, or just clumsy? Either way, he shouldn't have got all those frees.

Perhaps clumsiness but I thought on the replays I saw at the ground more than once or twice he looked to exaggerate any contact quite significantly when it became clear he was in no position to mark it.... maybe it was just me perhaps.

[Blood Fever]

Longmire has developed a good game style( with a talented squad ). He has not shown at any stage he is capable of moving the chess pieces on game day.


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Our talent is over rated. Longmire has got the best out of it on many occasions. We are too reliant on Kennedy, Buddy and Parker. Buddy was out and Parker struggled for most of the night. Greasy conditions don't help us.

[Hotpotato]

This will be the first game not seen in years but you have convinced me it's best to give it a pass. Packing up and off to Romania today. Mrs L loves Dracula.

I recommend watching it for at least three reasons:

1. Hayward takes this remarkable grab , one millisecond his arms are down, then he jumps and flings his arms up and the ball sticks to his hands like they are magnets.
2. Macca does one of the best dummies, he goes through all the motion to hand ball , ducks inside to kick the ball to Heeney who unfort misses , but the shimmy was a cracker.
3. I think best of all Sinclairs timing in the ruck is now spot on , he used to be too early or too late , now he watches the bounce or chuck in really carefully and nails it. He�s a big improver IMHO.

Oh...

4. My Indian veggie rap from the home diner on Oxford was very good too.

Oh and
5. I actually didn�t see this but apparently Gazza ran on with his new bubba . That was a tearjerker.
Lots of thoughts for him and Amie and the missing twin.


Cheers
HP

[Blood Fever]

Moving Brown down the ground was the real winner for North. Stopped our momentum when it counted, but particularly in the second quarter. Seemed like a decision Scott made in that moment, and it kept paying dividends later.

When the North player hurt his knee and there was a hold up, we were all over them. Reckon delay helped North regain their composure. We had no luck all night, but we were pretty lucky when we beat Bulldogs.

[chalbilto]

Our talent is over rated. Longmire has got the best out of it on many occasions. We are too reliant on Kennedy, Buddy and Parker. Buddy was out and Parker struggled for most of the night. Greasy conditions don't help us.

Here is a suggestion to the coach, why not have some coaching sessions at night?

[Blood Fever]

Here is a suggestion to the coach, why not have some coaching sessions at night?

Fair point

[Wardy]

How can you blame the coach for that rubbish. Why did Jack miss 3 sitters, why did Papley stuff that late one, why did Heeney miss that set shot and why did Rampe miss that one on the run, by a long way, why did Sinclair kick straight to a North player in front, why did McVeigh kick inboard to a North player and why did Mills do most of his kicks as grubbers. That woeful kick to someone in between about 10 North players in our forward line for a turnover goal. Dumb footy is not the coach's fault. Our kicking has been poor all season. We don't keep the pressure up for 4 quarters hence we always keep the opposition in the game. It's not the coach's fault. We have an underbelly of players that are not good enough and it is always left to the defence to save the game. Apart from Kennedy and Heeney our midfield is mediocre at best. We need Buddy back pronto.
THIS!!!! The players made the mistakes not Horse - the players have no one to blame but themselves. They are not good when it�s a team mates milestone game - ask the players where they went wrong and they will blame themselves, rightly 100% They are grown men and are capable of making decisions. Honestly, it�s only round 7 we are in a damned better position this year than the same time last year. So here�s the challenge to those of you on here who blame Longmire for everything that goes wrong - put your own hands up for the job. If you are all as bloody good as you seem to think you are from the comfort of a keyboard then knock yourselves out. Go to the club and offer your services.

[Hotpotato]

We�d better wait for Liz�s measured tones to calm down a tad .

[stevoswan]

THIS!!!! The players made the mistakes not Horse - the players have no one to blame but themselves. They are not good when it�s a team mates milestone game - ask the players where they went wrong and they will blame themselves, rightly 100% They are grown men and are capable of making decisions. Honestly, it�s only round 7 we are in a damned better position this year than the same time last year. So here�s the challenge to those of you on here who blame Longmire for everything that goes wrong - put your own hands up for the job. If you are all as bloody good as you seem to think you are from the comfort of a keyboard then knock yourselves out. Go to the club and offer your services.

The last bit is a little silly but I agree with the gist of your post and all other posts decrying the blaming of Horse. Sure, he's not the best match day coach going around but last night's woeful 'skills' display and crap decision making from our players wasn't his fault, the injuries that are weakening our team aren't his fault and Paps and Ramps missing gettable shots to win in the dying seconds weren't his fault. The umpiring discrepancy wasn't his fault, the non goal review wasn't his fault. A lot went against us last night and a lot is going against us as a club at the moment (in this league, we should be used to that I suppose) but we are the Swans......we will find a way.

The players got their crap together from a far worse position last year and the team was very well coached in that period. Of course, the coaches box looks a lot different this year, maybe they are taking time to gel (or just agree:tongue:). We have better players to return and the young guys can only improve. In a few weeks we may all be feeling a lot better......like last year. Mind you, I'll admit I'm drawing on all my 'optimism' reserves at the moment to compose this positive spin on things!:smile:

[Matty10]

Perhaps clumsiness but I thought on the replays I saw at the ground more than once or twice he looked to exaggerate any contact quite significantly when it became clear he was in no position to mark it.... maybe it was just me perhaps.

At times, he looked like a "wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man".

I was watching the game on TV and on two of his free kicks I kept rewinding and playing over and again multiple times to work out what Rampe had done wrong. I went through each criteria for an infringement and could not detect one. Perhaps if you run around like a flailing tube man people will just assume you have been retarded in some way.

- - - Updated - - -


When the North player hurt his knee and there was a hold up, we were all over them. Reckon delay helped North regain their composure. We had no luck all night, but we were pretty lucky when we beat Bulldogs.

Yeah, I made this comment to my son at the time.

[Bexl]

When the North player hurt his knee and there was a hold up, we were all over them. Reckon delay helped North regain their composure. We had no luck all night, but we were pretty lucky when we beat Bulldogs.


Fair call.

[Meg]

I note that the AFL has given a tick of approval to the goal that MvVeigh touched. From the AFL website:

"There was not enough definitive evidence to overrule and change the decision in time before the restart of play, so the original decision stood."

�In recent weeks the AFL's score review system has come under fire for taking too long and delaying games.�

�AFL football manager Steve Hocking has asked score review officials to make decisions within 20-30 seconds or else defer back to the goal umpire's original decision.�

The Swans goal attributed to Hayward last week against the Cats was one of those that took a long time to be decided, taking multiple replays.

So I think in an indirect way, a goal we got from a video review last week (in a match which we won by 17 points) cost us a goal this week (in a match which we lost by 2 points).

[emoji35][emoji35][emoji35]

Ps: the poor decision not to wait for a full video review didn�t cost us the match: we managed that ourselves. It adds to my overall grumpiness about last night though.

[S.S. Bleeder]

We're just struggling, 4-2 badly overstated how we have been going. After Rd 1 we've battled through games and the wins have been off the back of short bursts of scoring, interestingly in second halves when we've belatedly gone man-on-man.

It is a real bind the coaches are in - our ball movement is so poor and unimaginative, but our skill level doesn't allow for anything more creative. You see with Sinclair and McVeigh what happens when they try and do something other than kicking long down the line. The direction things have headed in re: pressure and congestion don't suit us at all - generally poor skills and no creativity from defence to break things open.

Our success bringing through rookies and later draft picks is a double-edged sword - most of them can't kick and that's becoming more relevant than their bravery and discipline.

That score review issue has been a long time coming - you get a smarmy, dismissive response from the umpire saying every goal gets reviewed, so don't argue or ask for a review, because asking for one would be redundant given it is being reviewed anyway etc etc. But we saw tonight what really happens - only if they stumble across the right footage before the ball is bounced, do they actually intervene. That is fine if the goal isn't being disputed, but they just can't justify not asking for a review on the basis that the right decision will occur regardless.

That goal review scenario just goes to show what the umpires think of us. I've never previously seen an umpire ignore a review request from a team.

[MattW]

I note that the AFL has given a tick of approval to the goal that MvVeigh touched. From the AFL website:

"There was not enough definitive evidence to overrule and change the decision in time before the restart of play, so the original decision stood."

�In recent weeks the AFL's score review system has come under fire for taking too long and delaying games.�

�AFL football manager Steve Hocking has asked score review officials to make decisions within 20-30 seconds or else defer back to the goal umpire's original decision.�

The Swans goal attributed to Hayward last week against the Cats was one of those that took a long time to be decided, taking multiple replays.

So I think in an indirect way, a goal we got from a video review last week (in a match which we won by 17 points) cost us a goal this week (in a match which we lost by 2 points).

[emoji35][emoji35][emoji35]

Ps: the poor decision not to wait for a full video review didn�t cost us the match: we managed that ourselves. It adds to my overall grumpiness about last night though.

I don't buy that explanation. It was evident live and as obvious as any standard 'bent finger back' behind after the first replay, which didn't seem to be shown until the ball was being bounced.

[Scottee]

What that showed me tonight is that we really lack quality in the bottom half of the team. Some stats from the game;

Towers 4 kicks 6 Hand balls, Fox 4/6, Papley 7/4, Florent 5/4, Cunningham 4/5, Hewett 11/3 (clanger riddled) Rohan 9/1. How do these blokes stay out of the game for so much time. Smith 6/2 (thrashed by Wood). Mills courageous but poor disposal.

I agree with those who say Newman should be in the team. He certainly gets a lot of the footy even though he was butchering it.Interesting stats Nico. Reinforces my feeling that we actually lack body mass. Hard to get possessions if you are constantly getting knocked out of the way, especially in greasy conditions when it is hard to keep your balance.The dry conditions at Geelong probably helped us there.

The other thing is that the smaller players tend to feed off the opportunities created by bigger players in marking contests.This was absent last night with our forward structure.Also, when the ball is coming out of defence in a rushed manner as it did last night it makes it difficult for the mids.

The good thing is that Cameron is fit and in form in the ressies and it is as good a time as any to bring him in.Aliir is now also looking fit but not yet in form as he is not quite hanging onto his marks. It might be worth the gamble though to bring him in.Difficult to know who to drop but not Fox because he is the only sraight kick atm. Newman should be given a go because at least he can attack.

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[Scottee]

I don't have a problem kicking down the line but we kick it out on the full so many times.Must have broken a record I reckon.Worst I can remember.

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[MattW]

That goal review scenario just goes to show what the umpires think of us. I've never previously seen an umpire ignore a review request from a team.

It was very strange.

[Scottee]

Well said whoever you are![emoji2]
You�re right Melb_Blood! It�s a soft target and boringly repetitive. He�s one of 4 coaches who has coached us to a grand final since 1937. He�s one of 2 coaches who has delivered us premierships since 1934. He has one of the best winning %s of current coaches. Of all of the touted assistant coaches we had since Roosey started with us, he is the best performed (we bemoaned the loss of the likes of Lyon and Dew and numerous others who went to other clubs as assistant coaches, Longmire has delivered the best of all of them). Hindered by unjustified recruiting and trading restrictions & - if you are to believe some supporters - an AFL orchestrated umpiring anti-sentiment, it�s a wonder the man can stand up straight with whinging supporters on his back every second week. He wins he�s great, he loses and he should be sacked.

No Buddy, no Hanners, no Reid, no Naismith, no Tippett (and he would have been expected to be available when Horse was planning for his 2018 campaign last December). No matter, just blame Horse. We�re hampered by a paucity of available ruckmen (despite what Ludwig thinks, all the other clubs have a stronger compliment of fit talls to choose from), a dysfunctional forwardline (take the caliber and height of Bud, Reid ... and yes Tippett out of any side and see how their coach handles it).

So your pot shots at a soft target is worthy of a Crows fan, but most unbecoming of a Swans supporter. We should be supporters of our team, not fickle fair weather fans.

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[ugg]

Especially when there two similar incidents in today�s Tigers Freo game which they correctly called touched.

[Steve]

That response from the AFL is typical - find a way to say it was actually OK, whether it addressed the issue or not. The real problem is that umpires have, and will now do so even more given the edict to try and save time on reviews, justified not using the goal review process on the basis that a decent review occurs anyway after each goal. But that just isn't the case.

The Ben Brown frees were a disgrace really - just poor umpires getting absolutely sucked in. Only certain players get away with those, and Brown has elevated himself to that level where he has a reputation for being a good mark on the lead and/or overhead, so when he stages in those instances, the umpires take a view that 'he must have been infringed to have gone under the footy like that' - totally ignoring what actual contact was made, if any.

[Markwebbos]

"There was not enough definitive evidence to overrule and change the decision in time before the restart of play, so the original decision stood."


That's a textbook example of weasel wording. Doesn't say there was no evidence is was touched, only not "in time before the restart".

[Scottee]

Flat out lie!
It was very strange.

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[Blood Fever]

That response from the AFL is typical - find a way to say it was actually OK, whether it addressed the issue or not. The real problem is that umpires have, and will now do so even more given the edict to try and save time on reviews, justified not using the goal review process on the basis that a decent review occurs anyway after each goal. But that just isn't the case.

The Ben Brown frees were a disgrace really - just poor umpires getting absolutely sucked in. Only certain players get away with those, and Brown has elevated himself to that level where he has a reputation for being a good mark on the lead and/or overhead, so when he stages in those instances, the umpires take a view that 'he must have been infringed to have gone under the footy like that' - totally ignoring what actual contact was made, if any.

Sheer arrogance again from AFL. Would win more kudos for admitting mistake was made. Treats people like idiots.

[dejavoodoo44]

At times, he looked like a "wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man".

I was watching the game on TV and on two of his free kicks I kept rewinding and playing over and again multiple times to work out what Rampe had done wrong. I went through each criteria for an infringement and could not detect one. Perhaps if you run around like a flailing tube man people will just assume you have been retarded in some way.

Though I haven't managed to bring myself to watch the replay, the decision that mystified me more than the flailing in the air ones, was the one where Rampe was apparently penalized for shepherding Brown out the marking contest. If I remember rightly, Rampe and Brown were moving towards the ball, but Rampe pulls up, because he sees that Grundy is in a much better position to take the mark. Which Grundy does, while there is a brush of the shoulders between Rampe and Brown.
This was ruled to be shepherding, apparently because Rampe should have went for the ball. Which is ludicrous, because if he flew, there would have been about a 98% chance that he would've clattered into Grundy and spoilt his marking attempt, while possibly injuring himself and his team mate.
I see no reason why Rampe should have been obliged to do that. Nor do I think that he should be under an obligation to leap out of Brown's way, once he had made the sensible decision not to fly.

[dejavoodoo44]

That's a textbook example of weasel wording. Doesn't say there was no evidence is was touched, only not "in time before the restart".
Yes, I when I read that, I thought that it might be handy, if some journalist was to quiz whoever made that statement, as to what actually qualifies as "definitive evidence". That is, why is one replay that showed the fingers bending back "definitive evidence", while another replay that showed the fingers bending back, is not considered to be "definitive evidence"? I'd be interested to hear an official explaining the difference between the two.

[Markwebbos]

Yes, I when I read that, I thought that it might be handy, if some journalist was to quiz whoever made that statement, as to what actually qualifies as "definitive evidence". That is, why is one replay that showed the fingers bending back "definitive evidence", while another replay that showed the fingers bending back, is not considered to be "definitive evidence"? I'd be interested to hear an official explaining the difference between the two.

You are missing the point. The AFL doesn't say there was not definitive evidence to overrule the decision. It says "There was not enough definitive evidence to overrule and change the decision in time before the restart of play..." So there may have been plenty of evidence but the evidence wasn't "in time"

Weasel wording par excellence

[dejavoodoo44]

You are missing the point. The AFL doesn't say there was not definitive evidence to overrule the decision. It says "There was not enough definitive evidence to overrule and change the decision in time before the restart of play..." So there may have been plenty of evidence but the evidence wasn't "in time"

Weasel wording par excellence

Well, it's probably a quality of weasel wording, that statements can have, both, multiple meanings and no real meaning at all. But I still think that they were trying to make some sort of distinction between distinctive evidence and some lower form of evidence.
Actually, if they were going to explain what happened honestly, it might sound something like this, "Yeah, the guy in the replay booth was trying to make up his mind, whether the ball had been touched or not, but then he realised that that clown Nichols had already bounced the ball. So then we thought, maybe if we say nothing, then everybody would just forget about it. But hey, no such luck. And really, I don't know you people are still going on about it? I mean, haven't you all got anything better to do? Fake news!"

[Markwebbos]

I think the AFL have deliberately sidestepped the question. Surely the goal review system should be there to correct wrong decisions if they are wrong. If they can't do that in the time available then that doesn't make the original decision right.

[MattW]

I think the AFL have deliberately sidestepped the question. Surely the goal review system should be there to correct wrong decisions if they are wrong. If they can't do that in the time available then that doesn't make the original decision right.

Yep. That explanation is actually absurd. To set a practice by reference to the length of a tv commercial will produce random and thus unsporting results. And for what? No reason related to what's happening on the field.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Well doesn't Facebook suck again today.

People complaining not only about plan A but also plan B
Calling for blood, sooking complaining.
Goal reviews, umpires etc etc etc

I'm heading to Canberra for 4 days, in the morning and I'll be too busy while I'm there to bother with Facebook.
By the time I'm back hopefully it will be a bit better :)

Keep a lookout for Roos if you're driving at dusk. I drove to and from Sydney (from Melb) last week. Roos and wallabies everywhere at dusk and I must have seen 300 carcasses.

[stevoswan]

Especially when there two similar incidents in today�s Tigers Freo game which they correctly called touched.

I was in the car listening to the call of that match today and heard one of those reviews and it took a way lot longer than Steven Hocking's "20-30 seconds" for it to happen. I was shouting "Oh, you'll review that one today after about a minute! You weren't that courteous last night!!" It makes me so angry......

[mcs]

That response from the AFL is typical - find a way to say it was actually OK, whether it addressed the issue or not. The real problem is that umpires have, and will now do so even more given the edict to try and save time on reviews, justified not using the goal review process on the basis that a decent review occurs anyway after each goal. But that just isn't the case.

The Ben Brown frees were a disgrace really - just poor umpires getting absolutely sucked in. Only certain players get away with those, and Brown has elevated himself to that level where he has a reputation for being a good mark on the lead and/or overhead, so when he stages in those instances, the umpires take a view that 'he must have been infringed to have gone under the footy like that' - totally ignoring what actual contact was made, if any.

Why is anyone surprised by the AFL's response.... the most arrogant of arrogant organisations these days. Just needs a wanker banker to run the joint and they'd be completely perfectly set up. They will justify anything to meet their required means.

As for Ben Brown, I've already said my views - I think he does seem to exaggerate contact and make a meal of it at times.

[CureTheSane]

Keep a lookout for Roos if you're driving at dusk. I drove to and from Sydney (from Melb) last week. Roos and wallabies everywhere at dusk and I must have seen 300 carcasses.

haha, I hope my wife doesn't see this. She's totally paranoid about Roos.
This time I'm flying up. I have to go to Canberra 4 or 5 times a year so the road is fairly well travelled.

Takes around 6.5 hours to drive, and around 4 hours to fly (from my front door to where I'm going).
just depends how long I'm going for and how much I need to get around easily.

[Meg]

From the AFL website:

�The (video review) system was brought in to eliminate mistakes, so surely time is a non-factor, otherwise let's just back our officials on the field. In recent weeks, AFL footy boss Steve Hocking has asked officials to make decisions within 20-30 seconds or else defer back to the original call, which eliminates any major delays in play. But what if a call needs to be made in the last 30 seconds of a Grand Final? Do we really want a time limit placed on a massive decision that could cost a team a premiership? Let's be clear, the Hartung goal wasn't the reason North won the game, but another minute to get the call right must be worth it. Players, coaches and fans deserve that.� - Adam Curley

[CureTheSane]

When I click on Match Thread #AFL Round 7, Swans vs North, 7:25pm at the SCG #AFLSwansNorth @sydneyswans
I get no thread, just the title.

[Hotpotato]

Oops ....
Same for me .

[liz]

Probably an act of divine intervention.

[dejavoodoo44]

Probably an act of divine intervention.
North?? Did we play North recently? Take your word for it.

[AnnieH]

It was @@@@ anyway.