The Opposition Factor

Respected AFL journalist, Mike Sheehan, recently interviewed Sydney Swans coach, Paul Roos, for his show on Fox Sports called ‘Open Mike’.

They covered many topics from his career as a player with Fitzroy to his decision to retire as head coach and hand over the reigns to assistant coach, John Longmire. One topic in particular caught my attention, it was the perception that the Swans have a negative and ‘ugly’ game plan.

I have some good friends that get carried away with this notion and even go as far as to say that they “hate” the Swans due to their style of play. I take offense to this allegation as it is baseless.

The Swans were a very successful team during the Paul Roos era of 2003 -2007. As a successful team there is always an opposition wanting to beat you week after week. Teams now are well prepared in working out how to negate the game plan of the opposition.

Roos points out that “people fail to see that there’s an opposition”. Watch them at training, “If it’s 18 on zero we’ll bring it down the corridor every time”. They don’t practice ‘ugly’ football. Of course they have played some shocking games of football, Mike Sheehan used an example against St Kilda. But it is no different to any other team. They have all used negative tactics and have produced ‘ugly’ football.

So why are the Swans singled out? Who knows? Who cares? People who bag my team should instead look at their own team and pump them up instead of hating the Swans.

Lucky To Even Get Close

St Kilda 15.6 (96) def

Sydney 13.10 (88)

This was the first game of the season. Therefore it had all the necessary excitement of a brand new season with fresh hope and new players. I was in attendance happy that the footy was back and to be seated with a good friend at the best stadium in Sydney.

We arrived a tad late to discover Sydney had scored the first two goals. Then through some skill errors and poor checking gifted St Kilda the next five. Some blatant umpiring inconsistencies didn’t assist matter.

That turned out to be the constant theme of the game – close margin, not quite good enough, our own worst enemy with skill errors at crucial moments, not forgetting the umpiring inconsistencies.

Could be typical of our season. One where we find that we tend to lose those close games such as this one against St Kilda.

That being said, this season definitely does have an air of 2003 about it. If you don’t know the significance then check out what happened in 2005.

Trade Week

For a few of us the off season player movements during trade week is the next best thing to the season proper, and for a change the Sydney Swans were very active and made some decent acquisitions.

Sydney was already shopping for an established ruckman to back up Darren Jolly and showed early interest in ex Eagle Mark Seaby. Then Jolly threw a curve ball stating his desire to return home to Victoria.

Considering the loss of the All Australian and premiership ruckman the Swans did well to acquire Seaby as well as up and coming Geelong ruckman, Shane Mumford

Seaby played in the Eagles 2006 premiership win against Sydney but always played second fiddle to Dean Cox and has recently been taken over by 1st year player Nic Natanui and the 2nd ruckman. Somewhat out of form at the end of last season he comes to Sydney rejuvenated and with plenty of ability.

Mumford slotted into the eventual premiership with ease with Brad Ottens injured for much of the season. He played understudy to Mark Blake but with Ottens return imminent it almost became a flip of the coin which two ruckmen to take into the final series. They went with Ottens and Blake. The lure of a long term contract and more game time were too good for Mumford.

The Swans also acquired two young players from Hawthorn, Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn. A good friend who happens to be a Hawks nut describes McGlynn, nicknamed ‘Mighty Mouse’, as a “great player…. a Luke Hodge in the making.” Of Kennedy she says that he “has showed some good signs, but he’s also made some really poor decisions throughout the year too.”

Overall, the Swans have done well.

A Free Kick Against You, For Being Barry Hall

Sydney Swans player, Barry Hall, is in a tough situation. He has a reputation of being the bad boy that precedes him into games. It seems impossible for umpires to view him in even a neutral way. This is unfair, and opposition players take full advantage by coxing him into random acts of frustration.

Hall is the most picked on player in the AFL. He is able to be wrestled like WWE Smackdown and receive no free kicks yet the glamour full forwards like Lance Franklin and Matthew Lloyd only need a finger nail to grace their shoulder for a free kick to be awarded.

He is now giving away free kicks and 50 metre penalties on the suspicion that he has done something wrong. Such as the momentum shifting incident with Jarryd Roughead, when it appeared Roughead ran into Hall’s outstretched arms for a second 50-metre penalty to be awarded and a certain goal the result. Also, once giving away the first 50-metre penalty no less than six Hawks players got into his face egging him on. Of course he is going to push and shove.

Barry is hard done by, although he does himself no favours in his remonstrations no matter how justified he may be. Umpires tend to not change their minds and go on to adjudicate more harshly on the remonstrators.

I feel for Barry. But to a large degree he created this and now he has to live with it.

How We Won

SYDNEY SWANS 3.4 8.7 16.9 22.11 (143)
HAWTHORN 5.4 8.9 12.12 15.15 (105)

1. Nullified Franklin’s Impact – Craig Bolton gives up height to Franklin but matches him for pace and somehow manages to get a fist on the ball at most marking attempts. Franklin resorted to moving up the field to get some touches. Bolton allowed him to do this and stay back. After all, Franklin is good but he can’t get the ball in the centre and kick it to himself deep in the forward line.
2. Mitchell had nothing – Sam Mitchell is a gun midfielder. Yet he had no presence during the game. He was tagged well by Brett Kirk (I think).
3. Hodge had minimal effect – Hodge backs himself and becomes the third man up in marking contests to affect the spoil. He was successful at the beginning when he was playing loose. When someone was sent to keep him accountable for a player he would still back himself on the odd occasion and he left his man. Mostly it meant that Barry Hall was allowed to remain one on one with his opponent. Goodes was able to fly at marks unimpeded and Darren Jolly was able to be dangerous up forward.
4. Tackling Pressure – Hard tackling is what wins matches. We didn’t have it last week and we got done. We had it tonight. Good tackling frustrates players. Franklin was gang tackled as soon as he got the ball. He never was allowed a clean grab at the ball. Chance Bateman, Sam Mitchell and Co were never allowed to run free with the ball. This results in opposition players looking for the tackler instead of a team mate to pass it to.

Couldn't Do A Thing Right

Picture this:

You're playing a team that you should beat, but instead of enjoying a fine display of skill and ability you end up wincing at every turnover, grimacing at every mark inside fifty dropped, and possibly the hardest to watch, the shots at goal that hit the post - oh the pain.

It was so bad that there was an exciting game of Rugby on another channel. It gave me some relief and a much needed boost to the spirits as the Wallabies got up.

The Swans just couldn't do a thing right. Adelaide are one of the most injury depleted teams yet we couldn't:

• Get in front position in marking contests
• Be first to the ball when it was on the ground
• String cleans possessions together consistently
• Give defensive pressure in our forward line
• Create run in our backline
• Kick straight at goal (I've never seen so many posters in one game by one team, must have been at least 6)

It's hard to determine where we will go from here on in. If we play like that there's no doubt we will slide. Although that is where we deserve to be, on that performance we shouldn't even be forth. It was inept, and just after I give Collingwood a bake as well

Doing It Too Comfortably

Round 12
Sydney 14.18.102 def St Kilda 9.13.67

Round 13
Sydney 17.12.114 def Melbourne 11.8.74

For the last two games I have been impressed with my team's performances. Although I have a slight fear that it has been just a bit too easily. Even though both teams challenged at some stage during each game the Swans were comfortable throughout.

I am slightly worried because playing comfortably won't be enough against the likes of Colingwood, Hawthorn, Adelaide and Geelong. All teams that we have to play in the second half of the season on the run to the finals.

Collingwood and Adelaide are considered "bogey sides" for us as well, so it will take an extra special effort to overcome the opposition in those games.

Although all my worrying could end up to be ill founded and the Swans could rise to the challenge and come into the finals full of momentum.

We Stole That

Sydney Swans 12.11 (83) def West Coast Eagles 11.12 (78)

Ten goals to three in the second half, but I still think we stole it from a team that played so intensely in the first half. The intensity may have cost the Eagles as it is near impossible to maintain the pressure for a full game. Sydney, as they did little in the first half had the legs to finish the game on a high.

A few comments:

• The Goodes report - didn't look as malicious as most this season, but the head has become untouchable. Not sure whether he will get rubbed out, I suspect not.
• The Staker goal - did appear that the ball was over the line when he kicked it, but the goal ump was right there
• The Bolton goal - I suspect the Perth media will jump on this as a wrong decision. One umpire said he ducked but then he was taken to ground. Something had to be paid, either for holding or incorrect disposal.
• Daniel Kerr - played like the class midfielder that he should be, instead of the 3rd string ball winner, definitely BOG for me.
• Adam Hunter's kicking - much like his hairstyle, it left a lot to be desired. Some misses came at crucial times when momentum was in the balance. All were fairly easy chances.
  

The Last Two Weeks

Saturday 24th May
Sydney 16.9.105 Def Port Adelaide 14.10.94

Just when I thought we had run out of legs we find another gear in what was the first really exciting game I have seen for the Swans this year. So exciting that when Jarred Moore kicked the goal to bring us level again I literally jumped from my chair. The injury of Power sharpshooter, Brent Ebert, late in the game probably helped as they lacked their best performer up forward when it mattered. Somehow we were able to make some breaks from the half back line and use the ball wisely when faced with a vacant forward line. Plus a clever banana from Tim Schmidt and smart roving by Jarred McVeigh and it was game over. Disappointing to see Port Adelaide fans leaving before the game had finished. Surely the traffic isn't that bad in Adelaide.

Sunday 1st June
Sydney 21.13.139 Def Richmond 8.9.57

Watched the entire first half and that was enough to know the result. Words like rout and clinic came to mind as Goodes ran rings around opponents with consummate ease. Jolly and Everitt worked in tandem in the ruck and were able to palm to advantage to easily. Richmond's disposal was sloppy and often led to turn overs. I was impressed with the tackling of Martin Mattner as well as his left foot. Henry Playfair is showing some promise up forward, although I'm not sure where he fits when Barry Hall returns in a few weeks. I think Playfair has done enough to stay in the team. But then who to omit?

So we have the best percentage in the competition yet we are in 5th place on the ladder. Even without the draw against the Kangaroos we would only be 4th. Three very winnable games before meeting Collingwood. Have to win all three if we are to solidify a position in the top four and gather momentum into the Collingwood game. Should be a cracker.

One Spurt the Difference

I know it's a bit late in the week to be doing a review of the game that occurred on Sunday, but hey, only the Hall of Fame game this week.

Pretty simple analysis actually of the Swans v Bulldogs game. Sydney let the Dogs kick 7 goals straight in the 2nd quarter to turn a 15 point lead into a 22 point deficit. Unsurprisingly the margin was 18 points in the end. I wouldn't to give the worst team in the league a 22 point head start yet we let a quality running outfit like the Bulldogs get ahead of us.

Ultimately, 22 points isn't a big lead in the scheme of things, but when you are trying to play catch up footy for one half against a good team it makes your task of winning that much harder.

Sydney came close but the Bulldogs were able to coast home in the end maintaining the buffer they created in the 2nd quarter.

Just A Tad Concerned

I am very glad to put the whole Barry Hall incident in the past. But as a result we are lacking a key forward and I felt the lack of forward structure was evident in the game against North Melbourne. Hall's absence means that the opposition's top defender will go on our No. 2 forward, which is at the moment Michael O'Loughlin or rookie Jesse White. Henry Playfair is named in the team to play the Bulldogs which is probably good timing and Peter Everitt's return couldn't be more perfect. He can ad another option up front as well as providing Darren Jolly with much needed assistance. Haven't seen Playfair play so hard to gauge the effect he will have on the forward structure.

Not really disappointed to see Nick Davis given the boot for the game. He hasn't set the world on fire and we definately need players like him firing at the right end of the season. He is a proven match winner.

The Bulldogs are on fire at the moment so while my heart will always say Swans, my head is leaning towards the Doggies.

Blowout & Blowup

Well an impressive performance by the Swans over an understrength Eagles outfit. Our stars seem to be warming up nicely with new guys hitting their straps earlier than expected.

Michael O' Loughlin was my BOG showing agility, awareness and most importantly for a key forward, clean hands in contested marks.

The game was really over well before the final siren with the Swans dominating in every contest and outscoring their opponents in every quarter.

Unfortunately a Brain spasm by Barry Hall has marred the night and left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth. In case you weren't watching he clocked opponent Brent Staker square in the chin. Staker was not to be seen for the rest of the night as I think he was sent back to Perth time.

My guess is that he will at least 3-4 weeks. Perhaps the only thing in his favour is the fact that he wasn't facing Staker so it can't be called a "King Hit" where Rugby Leagues players in recent years have received 8 - 12 weeks.

He may be out injured anyway after running into the fence late in the game.

Time will tell, dare i be optimistic?

Looking the Goods

One of the more exciting games I have seen the Swans play was their most recent win against the Brisbane Lions. We led all the way without having a comfortable margin.

Much has been said about our trading of premiership players Schneider and Dempster, but it seems to have had the desired affect as the praise on our rookie players continues to grow.

Craig Bird, Kieran Jack and Ed Barlow have all impressed those commentating the games this year. It has been encouraging as a fan because like most I was left scratching my head at trade time also. Barlow's dodge and weave and bullet pass to Barry Hall's chest was most inspiring.

People are finally taking notice and giving us a bit of respect after being widely tipped to slide to the bottom half of the ladder. Season is still young of course.

I'm looking forward to the challenge of the Eagles, the first game I will be seeing live this season.

Get Off Our Case

So how come every game that's ends up in a tight low scoring struggle the Swans get the blame for it? Boring Swans style footy you might hear.

Last weeke against St Kilda, again the Swans were blamed for it turning into a dire struggle. Even though it was St Kilda that started the flooding tactics.

People don't believe that the Swans can play free flowing hight scoring footy. Well I don't think I have to say anything to that, 22 goals and a 68 point margin against Port Adelaide kind of says it all.

Round One Loss

It's hard to make something out of the Swans first round loss to St Kilda. Not much is usually expected by the perennial slow starters. It was slow scoring but turned out to be an exciting finish somehow. Good thing too, I was about to call it a waste of a Saturday night.

Impressive form by some of the rookies. Malcolm Blight was particularly taken by Kieran Jack which must be a good thing. Also Jared Moore started well if he is to entrench himself in the senior line up.

The weeks ahead will be the biggest test to see if we will have a slide as is predicted in the mass media.

The Numbers Game

When it's the off season when I am starved of footy news the smallest things interest me greatly. one of these are the number changes. That is who has changed their number and what number have the rookies been given. I was glad to hear this year that two numbers previously retired have been filled.

• #14 - Craig Bird
• #11 - Ed Barlow

They talk about pressure taking over a club legend's number, but surely the pressure builds the longer it is out of action.

Other new players to the fold

• #13 - Patrick Vespremi
• #15 - Kieran Jack (elevated rookie)
• #26 - Henry Playfair (traded from Geelong)
• #29 - Martin Mattner (traded from Adelaide)
• #38 - Brett Meredith
  

New Captain

Craig Bolton has become the new co-captain in place of Barry Hall, but why have thee captains in the firt place. Having a "leadership group" is a relatively new phenomenon and has generally been accepted as a good thing. So then if there is a bunch of leaders at every club then is there a need for three captains. Perhaps I'm an old traditionalist (at 26) but I like the idea of one captain. But good on Craig Bolton for his elevated status.

Draft & Trade

I don't know what to make of the Swans draft and trade performance this year. On the one hand we got rid of two premiership players which can act as a destabling influence as premiership players tend to form a bond that is hard to break. On the other hand we made space in the salary cap and created some opportunities for young players now that some fringe players have left.

A Geelong fan friend does not rate Henry Playfair. I've never seen him play but being unable to crack into that fantastic Geelong team is not necessarily a reflection on your performance. I was at the game where Martin Mattner ripped Sydney apart at the SCG so I'm hoping he can now do the same to other clubs. He's another left footer and you can never have enough of them.

As for the draft, well time will tell. I was glad to see Nelson Bay (NSW) local, Craig Bird, drafted via the NSW Scholarship system.

We have another Irishman in the squad who has already been compared to Chris Judd. More by his athleticism I suggest as he is only on the rookie list for now and is very new to the game. But it is exciting, if he's anything like Tadgh then we have superstar on our hands.

Moving On

It's the only thing I can do now as one of the two teams eliminated from the first week of the finals. It has been a hard year to watch the Swans play. As the preamble on Channel 10 illustrated, it has been a roller coaster and just when you think they have some momentum and some decent form, players go missing. Same thing happened last night against Collingwood.

Against Hawthorn the previous week we were unstoppable and playing very clean footy. Against Collingwood Nick Davis was probably the most notable disappearance (to digress, can you believe Magpie fans are still booing him?), along with Barry Hall while Peter Everitt needed to do a lot more for the team to win.

Collingwood just out tackled us and that pressure showed for most of the game as it became implied pressure as we couldn't get clean hands on any hard ball possessions.

Ah well, already looking forward to 2008, it's the first year our players will get a decent rest in the off season and a proper pre season.

While we don't need a player clean out there needs to be some difficult decisions made about some players if we're not to bottom out as some clubs have done (eg Richmond, Carlton). Players like Ben Matthews and Stephen Doyle have been good servants of the club but may be on their last legs and the speed of the game may cut short their careers.

We have blooded some young players, most recently Ed Barlow, but we never get a real good look at them and what they are capable of on a consistent basis. Heath Grundy has been given a few games here and there, Tim Schmidt, Jared Moore and Simon Phillips have also made brief appearances this season. I hope to see more of them as the years go on. Let's face it, Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin aren't getting any younger.

Are The Swans Any Chance?

My team, the Swans, are playing a young and firing Hawthorn this week. No doubts that the Swans playing at their best will beat Hawthorn at theirs. Problem is that they haven't been playing anywhere near their best. The last few weeks have been embarrassing although coming across an emotionally charged Collingwood for Buckley's big comeback match was supreme poor timing.

Sydney now have cemented a place in the top 8. However I've read that we won't finish any higher than 7th and no lower than 8th which makes life difficult as no team has ever won the premiership from that low before. Hawthorn are on a role and currently sitting in 4th spot and I think it is fair to assume that they will be keen to stay in the top 4 (or better still to move even highter).

The only aspect going in the Swans favour is that the game will be played at the SCG and is already a sell out. It will be a sea of red. But is that enough to get the Bloods over the line? I have tip them to win but that's only because I rarely tip against my team (only when times are really bad). If I went with the head bet then I would tip Hawthorn. They are the form team of the competition and have shown tremendous flair all season barring the odd occassion of inconsistency. Plus don't forget that the swans are talking of resting Barry Hall amongst some others.

Time will tell. I hope I'm wrong.