I got my second fix of live footy for the weekend by driving out to Blacktown this afternoon to watch our women play their scratch match against GWS.
It was hard to fathom the structure of the match. They played three periods - maybe fifteen minutes long - with breaks in between and then both teams disappeared down the race. I don't think I was the only one wondering if that was it, since many in the crowd left at that point. But I hung around for a bit, just in case, and they re-emerged about 15 minutes later and started again. Then, after another period of similar length, the umpires packed up and went home, and one staff member from each club donned a fluro vest and took over for a fifth period.
At that stage it was getting a bit chilly (out of the sun) and I wanted to drive home before it got dark, so I left just towards the end of that fifth period. I don't know if they kept going for a sixth.
When I left the score was 10.8 to 3.1 the Swans way. That scoreboard reflects the disparity between the teams. The Giants weren't poor, but the Swans consistently got more players around the contest and swarmed the Giants as soon as they took possession, winning many HTB frees. They enjoyed territory advantage for large swathes of the game, especially during those first three periods. After the break the players started to look a bit tired and it all got a bit scrappy.
We played without Gardiner and Morphett, so there is scope for improvement. Except that I wonder if we'll see Morphett for the start of the season. I know she was in a moon boot when pre-season training kicked off and we've not been given much information about whether injuries have affected the pre-season. I don't think Heads was out there either.
Amongst those who played, Molloy did a few typical Molloy things but was probably trucking along in second gear for much of the game. Ham had a few eye catching moments early but I don't know how much of the game she played. She wasn't especially prominent as the game progressed. Tarrant was a rock in defence, while Privitelli assured us she has fully recovered from her injury with several strong contested marks. Kennedy was an energiser bunny in the first three periods, mixing plenty of strong tackles with lots of possessions.
CHamilton was helped off the ground early on after landing at the bottom of a pack of bodies. She looked pretty upset as she was escorted off but it wasn't obvious which part - if any - was hurt. She might just have suffered a concussion, but that wouldn't explain why she looked so upset.
Most of our goals came via set shot conversion. Molloy and Ham both nailed one from around 40m out. Privitelli kicked three of them from (I think) two contested marks and one mark on the lead. Davies and Bereldsen each kicked one and I'm pretty sure Lochland kicked one too. One of our few goals to come from general play was a snap out of a contest close to goal. I didn't catch who kicked it - possibly Holly Cooper. She was in the vicinity. And then there was another snap late in the game that I have not clue about who kicked it.
There was nothing on show to suggest we've turned into an Adelaide or Brisbane during the off-season, but there was plenty to be positive about. I look forward to seeing us against some stronger opposition to gauge how much improvement we've made. But I think we play Hawthorn next week so might need to wait until the season proper starts (notwithstanding that we're yet to beat Hawthorn after playing them in both seasons).
It was hard to fathom the structure of the match. They played three periods - maybe fifteen minutes long - with breaks in between and then both teams disappeared down the race. I don't think I was the only one wondering if that was it, since many in the crowd left at that point. But I hung around for a bit, just in case, and they re-emerged about 15 minutes later and started again. Then, after another period of similar length, the umpires packed up and went home, and one staff member from each club donned a fluro vest and took over for a fifth period.
At that stage it was getting a bit chilly (out of the sun) and I wanted to drive home before it got dark, so I left just towards the end of that fifth period. I don't know if they kept going for a sixth.
When I left the score was 10.8 to 3.1 the Swans way. That scoreboard reflects the disparity between the teams. The Giants weren't poor, but the Swans consistently got more players around the contest and swarmed the Giants as soon as they took possession, winning many HTB frees. They enjoyed territory advantage for large swathes of the game, especially during those first three periods. After the break the players started to look a bit tired and it all got a bit scrappy.
We played without Gardiner and Morphett, so there is scope for improvement. Except that I wonder if we'll see Morphett for the start of the season. I know she was in a moon boot when pre-season training kicked off and we've not been given much information about whether injuries have affected the pre-season. I don't think Heads was out there either.
Amongst those who played, Molloy did a few typical Molloy things but was probably trucking along in second gear for much of the game. Ham had a few eye catching moments early but I don't know how much of the game she played. She wasn't especially prominent as the game progressed. Tarrant was a rock in defence, while Privitelli assured us she has fully recovered from her injury with several strong contested marks. Kennedy was an energiser bunny in the first three periods, mixing plenty of strong tackles with lots of possessions.
CHamilton was helped off the ground early on after landing at the bottom of a pack of bodies. She looked pretty upset as she was escorted off but it wasn't obvious which part - if any - was hurt. She might just have suffered a concussion, but that wouldn't explain why she looked so upset.
Most of our goals came via set shot conversion. Molloy and Ham both nailed one from around 40m out. Privitelli kicked three of them from (I think) two contested marks and one mark on the lead. Davies and Bereldsen each kicked one and I'm pretty sure Lochland kicked one too. One of our few goals to come from general play was a snap out of a contest close to goal. I didn't catch who kicked it - possibly Holly Cooper. She was in the vicinity. And then there was another snap late in the game that I have not clue about who kicked it.
There was nothing on show to suggest we've turned into an Adelaide or Brisbane during the off-season, but there was plenty to be positive about. I look forward to seeing us against some stronger opposition to gauge how much improvement we've made. But I think we play Hawthorn next week so might need to wait until the season proper starts (notwithstanding that we're yet to beat Hawthorn after playing them in both seasons).
and nibblies then into the auditorium where Brooke, Tanya & Priv gave a good interview. Spoke about juggling work and football and some of them are literally knocking off work and then rocking up to training. Let's hope we continue to work towards where they can be paid and treated as the professionals, they are sooner rather than later.
