The Soaring

The Recap

Sydney Swans 0.4 2.7 6.9 12.11 (83)
West Coast Eagles 6.1 8.7 8.11 11.12 (78)

Ok, let’s just say it. In the long run, it’s good we lost.

For all the heartache of losing a 6 goal lead that was so wonderfully gained, for all the pain of seeing easy set-shots misses and for all the gut-wrenching caused by Jude Bolton kicking truly to put the Swans in front for the first time, with a minute to go - we got the right result for the team, long term.

It pains me to say it, but right now tight losses are the best thing for us. What’s the point in winning? Yes, we supporters love it. Yes, it will boost the morale of the squad. Yes, it will put some belief in the kids. But realistically, because the finals are beyond us every win takes us further from the prize of a topline draft pick in November.

Am I advocating tanking? I’m advocating exploiting the AFL drafting rules for all their worth because you don’t gain anything for wins from here on in. I don’t like saying it but 15th will do nicely thanks very much.

The truth is on 2008 form Sydney are a far superior side to us. Should they be, given the players we still have at our disposal? Probably not. But they are and in my mind anything under a 20 point loss would’ve been acceptable. So what did Saturday night’s game prove?

• We can still play decent footy. The attack on the ball and the man in the first half was outstanding. Our skills going forward were great. We LOOKED threatening, like the Eagles of old.
• We still lack a killer punch. So many games have we gone down to the wire when we should’ve killed off the opposition. Credit to Sydney to sticking at it, but it is a systemic weakness of our side
• Daniel Kerr is still a star. He was sublime at times on Saturday and he is the dynamic midfielder we’ve lacked for much of the year. His skills continue to stand-out.
• We have too many players that are not what you call “football smart”. Under pressure - and at times under no pressure - we make DUMB decisions. It’s easy in the stands, I know, but in close games bad decisions are terminal.

Kerr was our best. His two marks backing backing into on coming packs were sensational. Brett Jones did a good job on O’Keefe and has been in our top three performers in 08 in my opinion. His defensive work has stepped up a notch whilst his dash continues to be damaging. Glass and Wilkes were solid on O’Loughlin and Playfair and Lynch was good at CHF.

Credit to Sam Butler on his successful return to AFL footy too.

Selwood played well on Goodes in the first half but the Swan got away in the second to gain some of the ball. I wonder what sort of money you’d get for Goodsey getting off at the MRP - it’s true he is untouchable, regardless of whether he’s on the angry pills or not. No doubt Sydney’s QC Terry Forrest will be working overtime to get him up for next week.

I don’t like how the Swans push the limits of the laws of the game. We should always get 50% more free kicks than them by virtue of their style of play ie push the limits of every contest with holding. They are truly A-Grade scraggers.

But what I do respect about them is they are well-drilled and their players know the role they are to play. Some of our players could do with that sort of structure. They also pick teams to play their style of game - apart from the Ruckmen (x2) - all their other players are mobile, including their talls. Running ability is placed at a premium. The result is they get teams to play their style of game, and not the other way around.

I think as we rebuild we could learn a bit from the Swans as we re-fuel for another run up the ladder in 2009 and beyond.

Edit - Swan’s players carrying out instructions with precision again. Goodes was provoked? Is Goodes a bit of sensitive soul - the way his teammates constantly need to pump him up you’d think so.