Round 16 - vs Eagles

[ScottH]

Bevan absolutely set up somebody in the middle,

Poor old Dumpster.

[Donners]

Well done to McVeigh - by far his best ever game for Sydney. His tenacious tackle and beautiful one-handed pick-up were superb.

Our handballing was absolutely dismal at times. Bevan absolutely set up somebody in the middle, Malcheski's pass cost us a goal and there was one ridiculous moment in the centre when we had three handballs, each one to a player absolutely overwhelmed by opponents. Just kick the damned thing!

[ScottH]

Did Staker clearly fend off Schneider with a hand to the face before kicking one of his goals?

Not sure if it was to the face or chest, but it was a bloody good fend off.

[stellation]

Did Staker clearly fend off Schneider with a hand to the face before kicking one of his goals?

[SimonH]

One that particularly irritated me was against B2 for chopping Lynch's arms in the marking contest. Bolton made a legitimate spoil. His hand was on the ball while Lynch's were still being raised. Well after Bolton had spoiled the ball, his arms made contact with Lynch's on the way down. Absolutely no way was that an infringement by Bolton and it gave them a free entry into 50 from which they scored not long after.

There will always be the odd shocking decision in a game. The one to MOL which produced a goal in the last quarter is such an example.

But when that free was paid (Lynch against CBolt), I thought, "That's a dropping offence". It was a perfectly judged 'all ball' spoil. It's not like the umpire was out of position. Let's hope he has incompetently misinterpreted and misunderstood the 'chopping arms' rule and should be sent off for a week's re-education. The alternative is that defenders (if they're not in a position to mark) are only there to be window dressing and stand the mark-- because spoiling of a man in front has basically been outlawed. I'd certainly like to know which it is.

[stellation]

The only problem with this statement is you're comparing the Essendon midfield with a full strenght Eagles one. For all the skill the Eagles have, their midfield pressure is second to none (except make ours...or is that in the past now too?)

The Eagles game isn't the first time our midfield setup has been poor though, we're up for it regardless of the oposition

[Bloody Hell]

I completely agree, I think to realize his full potential he would also need to be on a team with better midfield coaching so that outside midfielders are positioned at stoppages in a way to be able to receive and place instead of just bang it on their boot. I watched the Collingwood vs. Essendon game yesterday, one thing that impressed me about the magpies midfield setup yesterday was that a clearance normally would then lead to well placed delivery as opposed to our hit and hope mentality, and I put a lot of that down to clever coaching.

The only problem with this statement is you're comparing the Essendon midfield with a full strenght Eagles one. For all the skill the Eagles have, their midfield pressure is second to none (except make ours...or is that in the past now too?)

[NMWBloods]

Our midfield 'setup' is absurd - it seems the be the 'Bloods ethos' that unless you throw yourself headlong at the ball you're not a true Blood. Hence we get 3 or 4 players diving on the ball. Meanwhile, 2 of the opposition dive on the ball and 2 remain outside the pack. So our options are either turn the ball over if the ball breaks free of the pack or force a ball up.

[stellation]

He'd be a lot more effective in a side with better outside midfielders.

I completely agree, I think to realize his full potential he would also need to be on a team with better midfield coaching so that outside midfielders are positioned at stoppages in a way to be able to receive and place instead of just bang it on their boot. I watched the Collingwood vs. Essendon game yesterday, one thing that impressed me about the magpies midfield setup yesterday was that a clearance normally would then lead to well placed delivery as opposed to our hit and hope mentality, and I put a lot of that down to clever coaching.

[WASwansFanatic]

That sentiment has come up after nearly every game this year.

I am the eternal optimist!

[NMWBloods]

That sentiment has come up after nearly every game this year.

[WASwansFanatic]

I know this is off the topic...but a friend saw the Swannies at the airport this morning, apparently all looking extremely dejected. To quote him "heads down, not much conversation etc"

Hopefully the loss inspires them to bigger and better things.

[NMWBloods]

I think it is a fair comment on Kirk. He gets a lot of the footy but short of feeding out a handball from in close he isn't overly damaging with it normally.

He'd be a lot more effective in a side with better outside midfielders.

[NMWBloods]

Jude and Ablett unable to do much at all in the middle

One of the great understatements...

It's pretty amazing we got within two goals really.

I wonder how much that is giving many people (including the coach) a false impression of our performance. We've seen occasions in the past when top of the table teams start to decline in performance - they manage to get enough wins to just hang in there, but it's actually a fragile facade that suddenly comes crashing down under finals pressure.

[stellation]

I've read some tripe on this board over the years but this beats them all. Take your childish comments elsewhere - the Swans are better off without people like you posting your consistent nonsense.

I think it is a fair comment on Kirk. He gets a lot of the footy but short of feeding out a handball from in close he isn't overly damaging with it normally.