Autopsy Brave Swans fall 9 points short

[melbournehammer]

The turning point in the last was when we had a 2 goal lead and Stephens had the ball at halfback. Had a reasonably simple kick to a teammate on the lead into space. Messed it up, ball went out for throw in, and Essendon kicked a goal soon after

Actually it could have been Blakey missing a target with a five metre kick inside his own s fifty or McCartin to fist free spoil to nowhere or buddy missing from reasonably in front or just about any of the myriad centre sq clearances where they burst free

I think it’s really easy to slot Stephens as it is with the sundry whipping boys.

The turning point was not hitting targets all through the game - we got 16 points up but it didn’t feel safe it felt like we needed total commitment and we had anything but and we needed skills and we didn’t have that

I’m genuinely very frustrated today because there were a lot of players who simply got beaten

 

[Bloods86]

Out: Campbell, Logan
In: Clarke, Cunningham

Could probably try to find space for Lewy Taylor after that performance, inject some effort into the team. Ronke with a goal and 4 tackles in a half. Even a debut for Gould. Another game under Sheldrick's belt after coming back and I'd bring him in. Or this week, don't mind.

If Amartey and McLean's stats were reversed this week, Amartey to come in, but since he had a quiet one and McLean had his first good game in a while, I'd just play smaller.

Hayward was looking shaky at half time, but kicked a goal and ended up with 6 tackles (team high), so can stay in.

 

[Kennedy Parker]

Oooof.

Though in fairness it's felt like most of the times we've played them in Melbourne have been at Marvel?

Most losses against them there were in the 90s when we were shit. But we've played them in 2019, 2021 and today.

Really should won all three times but went 1-2.

 

[MK38]

You know you can highlight one player, one incident etc but when it comes down to it it was goal kicking that let us down. If we took our chances it's game over.

 

[strauchanie59]

Hard for McDonald to have any sort of impact when:

1. Midfield goes missing for large portions of the game, leading to minimal forward 50 opportunities.
2. Targeting Buddy + Papley + Heeney every time we go forward.
3. Most kicks to McDonald falling to his feet or over his head.

Happened today and has happened in most games this season. He's a second year key forward in a team that's wildly inconsistent.

We have to be patient.

 

[sthmelb_dimmies]

Dropping Clarke off that performance last week set this loss up

 

[MK38]

Not today

Should have been today

 

[Membling]

Hayward was looking shaky at half time, but kicked a goal and ended up with 6 tackles (team high), so can stay in.

Chuck Hayward on consistency.

Always seems to bob up for a few tackles and at least a goal a game

 

[Bloods86]

Hilarious to see the knives out for Stephens. Otherwise OK game after a career best, makes a mistake (which absolutely no-one else did all game of course) and bam, gone.

 

[kickthething]

Actually it could have been Blakey missing a target with a five metre kick inside his own s fifty or McCartin to fist free spoil to nowhere or buddy missing from reasonably in front or just about any of the myriad centre sq clearances where they burst free

I think it’s really easy to slot Stephens as it is with the sundry whipping boys.

The turning point was not hitting targets all through the game - we got 16 points up but it didn’t feel safe it felt like we needed total commitment and we had anything but and we needed skills and we didn’t have that

I’m genuinely very frustrated today because there were a lot of players who simply got beaten

Guldens last kick into forward fifty was abysmal, his kicking game generally is very over rated

 

[RW]

Have to give credit where it's due here, really liked Zerk-Thatcher's game in defence, his reading of the play was excellent and dare I say it, reminiscent of another "hyphen" who wore #30 in the 2005 grand final.

 

[scaryness]

Clarke wouldnt have made a difference.

Sinclair was his opponent last week and was still one of their best players and the 2 goals he kicked were fortuitous uncontested marks that anyone in his place would have taken.

Whether they would have actually kicked the goal though...

 

[Rhysswans13]

Groundhog Day.

Not surprised by this loss, Essendon in Melbourne is always a tough ask and I don’t believe the team is at a level to be trusted in any game based on our overall efforts this year. Was always a 50/50 game regardless of some people’s opinions on here and in the media.

It’s hard to be too critical of the team as a whole, as generally we have been quite competitive and never really get blown away in any game, even when we were bottom 4 in 2019-20.

Clearly we need to stop the momentum going against us and in far too many games this year and last we have conceded too many goals in a row.
Personally I would expect us to improve and be more consistent next year and I think we just need to be patient.

Finally credit to Essendon, they have been playing some good footy over the past month and wanted it more and well done to Parks on 250 sensational games for the Swans!

 

[SwansProudly]

 

[melbournehammer]

Was s

Guldens last kick into forward fifty was abysmal, his kicking game generally is very over rated

Was sitting more or less behind that - genuinely couldn’t see who he was kicking to

 

[Tedeski]

Sorry we are way better than Essendon.

AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results - AFL.com.au

Australian Football League. All the latest AFL news, video, results and information

www.afl.com.au

82 less possessions.
14 less hitouts.
10 less stoppage clearances.
20 less marks.
5 extra gifted frees.
9 more behinds. Bad kicking.........................bad football!

This game ended our season.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

In: McLean, Ronke

Out: Reid, Papley (both with temperament disorder)

 

[Tedeski]

Looking forward to Horse's presser.

"We just need to find a way".

What happened today John.

"We just couldn't find a way".

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Looking forward to Horse's presser.

"We just need to find a way".

What happened today John.

"We just couldn't find a way".

This team reminds me of Roos final years

 

[scaryness]

Brb off to see Dawson torch the Dees

Sigh

 

[tombomb]

Weird game.
We wasted a lot of chances. They seemed to pull about 8 goals directly out of their rear end. But still felt like Essendon deserved to win.

 

[Kapers]

Pencilled in this loss.

Will probably win next the next 2 and then lose the next 4 after that.

 

[DobmusEdge]

Clarke wouldnt have made a difference.

Sinclair was his opponent last week and was still one of their best players and the 2 goals he kicked were fortuitous uncontested marks that anyone in his place would have taken.

Whether they would have actually kicked the goal though...

Clarke on hind would have made a difference

 

[melbournehammer]

AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results - AFL.com.au

Australian Football League. All the latest AFL news, video, results and information

www.afl.com.au

82 less possessions.
14 less hitouts.
10 less stoppage clearances.
20 less marks.
5 extra gifted frees.
9 more behinds. Bad kicking.........................bad football!

This game ended our season.

See I agree with everything but the last sentence. I don’t believe the season ever truly got off the ground. We’ve played some good matches along the way but we’ve never been remotely good - just repeatedly poor matches - north Gold Coast port and now this - matches where the performance was just straight out poor. Today was just another example.

 

[Punts]

Probably time for a change