The Hall KO

Just in case you didn't see it.

Courtesy of Dave's Football Blog

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.

Dumping of Pre Season

I personally love the pre season. It's a chance to have a good look at the young up and coming players on the list. It's hard to find that potential development of of players. Especially in Sydney where those not playing senior footy play in the Canberra league which is stronger than the local Sydney comp yet a lot weaker than an other 2nd tier competitions in the country. Our reserves win and win easily pretty much every week.

I feel that people call to scrap the pre season after their team cops a season ending knee injury. I don't know if it's really the case but it seems that there have been more this pre season than any proceeding years. And I would have fair reason to call for the scrapping as the Swans have lost 2 players to serious knee injuries.

If it's altered what would happen? Shorten it? Well that would leave little room for any form of competition, only a couple of practice matches. And imagine if clubs were inflicted with season ending injuries in these matches. They would be calling for an end to pre season.

Face the facts, clubs need the pre season and I think the competition needs it as well.

A Second Sydney Team

It's exciting to hear the AFL talk with some purpose about a second team in Sydney. Will it work? Well people have mixed feelings. Some say we should wait up to 20 years. That's being very pessimistic I feel but one this is for sure and that is it can't be rushed into and the right people need to be put in place to make sure it won't fall over. After all, a lot of money will be invested in such a venture. Everyone know how much North Melbourne we offered to move to the Gold Coast, we're talking big bickies. A new stadium will be built in the Blacktown area where the team would be based.

Eddie McGuire has piped up, as he tends to do, to put in his contribution. I am suspicious about his motives, perhaps it means his beloved Collingwood will have to travel more than five times in a season and take some revenue from them, oh dear.

I'm excited, bring it on.

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.

What A Tool

Wayne Carey, congratulations you have nullified everything you accomplished on the field with your history of violence and plain stupidity coming back to bite you on the bum. Why someone wanted to marry you, have your child or even just have a fling is beyond me. A brief look at the facts:

• Cheated on wife with best mates wife - needless to say they're no longer best mates
• Taken back by wife only to abandon her with their two month old baby
• Glasses model/grid girl/ girl friend while on holiday in Miami
• Violent towards police and is maced and later arrested
• Waiting to face trial in Miami

Basically I won't be disappointed if he ends up in Miami prison. His days of doing whatever he wants because he's a footy star are well and truly over. It's time for this child to grow up.