I didn’t read all your pre-game chats but honestly if you’re an astute follower of the AFL, you could not possibly have tipped us to win after seeing the teams on paper. The game played out pretty much how I thought it would. The Swans team has class, strength and composure on every line, and half our team looked like a pack of schoolboys (and played like them) in comparison. Gibbons isn’t a small forward, Polson isn’t an AFL player and O’Brien plays like he’s in the U17s. Name one Swan player like that? We lost at match committee, we needed a physically stronger team. Kennedy and Silvagni should have been in. We don’t need ‘small forwards’, we need smart and composed forwards. And we need players to learn how to deliver to our forwards’ advantage at the very minimum. We nearly always kick inside 50 to advantage the opposition. Losing Cuningham is shaping as a big loss because he’s smart around goals. Losing Curnow was massive and without those two our forward line was full of holes. Then losing McGovern didn’t help. But overall it’s not just a matter of that we need to win a game, it’s probably going to be a lot harder than most expected because our senior players aren’t really natural leaders and most make fundamental mistakes in crucial moments all the time. I think we’re not gonna be anywhere near finals until we have players that push Murphy, Thomas, E. Curnow and Simpson out of the team. As far as BB is concerned, he has got faults, probably the biggest is putting faith in players who continually don’t meet (supporters) expectations, but ‘try hard ‘.
INJURIES Fremantle: Donnellan (knee soreness) replaced in selected side by Grieve, Atkins (shoulder), Gooch (wrist), Miller (shoulder) Carlton: Harrington (shoulder)
Great game by Lauren Brazzale: easily her best season of AFLW footy. Really solid by Ali Downie, who did very well in the ruck and around the ground. Moody also was more dangerous and didn't make as many mistakes as she can: that combo gave us first use and our mids responded nicely.Everyone did something useful, even Till Lucas-Rodd who was lucky to be there. She was strong over the ball and made some excellent tackles. Gabby Pound, Kerryn Harrington, Jayde van Dyke and the other defenders also really had solid games. Tayla Harris, take a bow! Showed what she is really about. I doubt any trolls are willing to aim for her this week: I can't see how they could be that stupid in the first place, but after this week a comment against her would be suicide.
A little surprised you mentioned all those players without adding Sarah Hosking in there. I thought she was actually our best player overall taking into account her defensive abilities and she used the ball much better than Brazzale. Brazzale did have a great game though.
But based on form from yesterdays performance, all 3 would be ahead of Armfield!
Armfield was the sub at the start of the game, so didn't get the same amount of exposure.
Going by that logic, all 3 would be ahead of Murphy and Gibbs too!
Doesn't quite work that way
That's a ridiculous description of my 'logic' Kruddler. We're talking about 4 players competing for a spot in our best side as opposed to 2 of of best players! So it totally does work that way. MM probably would have been happy enough for Murph and Gibbs to get through the game uninjured. The others are fighting for a spot in the side.
Some very good points there Kruddler, it makes sense and it would be a difficult decision to displace anyone in the side you picked. However, Bell, Robbo and Cachia are probably our 3 best tackling players and I have a feeling that might count hugely in their favour when it comes to team selection. Plus I think Bell and Robbo in particular lift the rest of the team with their wrecking ball style of play.
