The week of the Big Bad Hally

Enough already! Barry Hall did the wrong thing, we know that, he knows that. Do we need to keep going on about it? Apparently we do, because the papers are full of it. In every sense of the phrase.
I like Barry Hall, he’s the player that bridged the Rugby League/ AFL divide for me. He reminds me of the biffs in the State of Origin games from the 80s and early 90s. He’s not the pretty boy that many of the other AFL players are (sorry Barry) and makes the game accessible for a girl who grew up watching NRL. If the AFL is trying to set up a team in western Sydney you need to have a few rough nuts to remind them of the other game.

I don’t condone what happened on Saturday night. It was an uncalled for reaction to his frustration. But I don’t think it warrants all this attention. There have been several instances over the past couple of weeks where players have gone down in off the ball scuffles and luckily for the perpetrators the cameras have been looking else where. Have we heard anything else about those instances? NO… granted I am living in Sydney and we don’t get the same amount of AFL news that Melbourne gets. In one game last week the guy had to be stretchered off!

Is it a slow news week in AFL world? This isn’t the worst act of aggression that has happened in the game. It’s probably not even the worst act that has happened this weekend. Why is the media hanging Barry Hall out to dry?
Sure something needs to be done about onfield violence, but until everyone who is guilty of it is treated with the same derision I don’t think it’s fair to use Barry Hall as a scapegoat.

Here is a voice of reason in the madness of the media. The author of this article says so much more eloquently what I was trying to say in this post.

Round 4 - Swans Vs West Coast or Bye Bye Barry

The round 4 clash between the Swans and the Eagles was set up to be the game of the round. In the past few years only a couple of points had separated them. Not only was the game exciting for only the first half, with the Swans taking control from the outset and keeping it, and then slackening off for the second half of the game. But, this game will be spoken of for all the wrong reasons. With one brain snap, Barry swung out with his left hook and caught Brent Staker on the chin. Brent Staker, who most Sydney fans had never heard of before, will now be known as the recipient of that king hit. Not only is Barry facing 4 – 8 weeks of suspension for the hit, but he’s got a suspected broken right wrist after a run in with an advertising board on the edge of the ground. What a way to end Barry’s bad night.

Enough about that… let’s look at the game!
The swans were in fine form! Adam Goodes broke away with the ball three times that resulted in 2 goals. It was the best form I’d seen him in for several years. Again the new guys stood up and did themselves proud. Ed Barlow got a couple of goals and Kieran Jack also chipped in with one. These guys must surely have cemented a place in the seniors!

I don’t know what was said at half time, but instead of the free flowing fast paced game of the first half, the Swans lost the plot! They started hand passing the ball around and going backwards instead of forwards. That doesn’t work for them! More often than not they turn the ball over and it results in the other team scoring. For the first half West Coast only scored 2 goals. In the 3rd quarter they got 2… granted, they could have gotten a heap more if their kicking was accurate. If they had been more accurate the result could have easily gone the other way. WHAT HAPPENED GUYS??!!

Granted a win is a win, but just because they have a handy lead doesn’t mean the game is done and dusted! With a team like West Coast at full strength, you can’t take those kinds of chances.

Geelong next week… and it should be a VERY interesting game!

Swans: 16-11 - 107
Eagles : 5 - 15- 45

Round 3 Brisbane Lions vs Swans

Round 3 Brisbane Lions vs Swans

I was really looking forward to this game… I would have liked to have seen it live… I would have liked to have seen the whole game. One of the frustrating things about watching the AFL at my boyfriends place is that he retains control of the remote at all times. As a result I don’t end up watching the game much at all.

It looked to have been a great game, where the Swans followed on from the game against Port by taking control of the game and keeping it.

It’s good to see the newbies step up and play like they’ve been in the senior team for years. Micky O’loughlin is back in exceptional form, and seemed a bit more aggressive than he has for years. Craig Bolton did an awesome job on Jonathon Brown, who had a quiet night as a result.

Next week should be a really exciting game with the Swans Vs West Coast.
Good stuff, can’t wait!!

Brisbane Lions 10 – 11- 71
Swans 13-10- 88

Round 2 – Swans vs Port Adelaide

The Swans had a win! And what a glorious win it was too! Though, they did let Port off the hook in the final quarter, as they are wont to do when they have a good lead! It was great to see players who are normally defenders score some goals. Barry Hall also kicked a bagful, though he doesn’t seem to have the confidence with the long kicks that he used to have… well it was either that or his was being team minded and trying to share the spoils around. Let me tell you, that never paid off. Almost all of the free kicks that he passed on to team mates were bungled and the goal scoring opportunity missed.

What I’d like to know is when did Adam Goodes supposedly strike someone? That was news to me when I heard it on the radio on Monday morning. Thankfully he was let off

There is one thing, not wholly connected to the game, that I’d like to complain about. The SCG member section has these strict dress codes that people sitting in the member section have to abide by. I am appalled at the inconsistencies in enforcing these rules. There were girls that had really short shorts when the dress regulations say that they have to be knee length. Also, there were heaps of people wearing thongs which are also a no no according to the regulations. If they aren’t going to be consistent they should do away with the rules altogether. It’s not fair that some people are refused entry while others wearing much worse clothes are allowed entry.

Final Score Swans 22:14:146 – defeated Port Adelaide 11:12:78

News of an ex-Swan

I was very sad to hear late last year that Adam Schneider had been traded to St Kilda. Adam's first year in the senior team came in my first full year of supporting the swans. I thought he was a pretty exciting player, and always pulled off a miracle goal that quite often changed the direction of the game.
I've spoke to other swans fans who thought his form was inconsistent. But I don't think that it was a reason to trade him. There are other players I would be happy to see leave the game.
I was quite pleased to see an article on Adam's transition to St Kilda on the Real Footy website.

I hope that he does well at St Kilda this season!

Welcome to 2008 - the year of the Swan teehee

Welcome to season 2008 Swans fans!
I know I'm a bit late starting this blog with preseason almost over... but better late than never. Although that in itself may not be true.
So the preseason is almost over. They've lost 3 and won 1... as far as I can tell. I haven't been able to find the preseason stats on the swans website.
The season kick off is now 2 weeks away. Hopefully the disruption on Paul Roos appearing before the AFL will be put behind them. See story here.
Until next time!