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March 18, 2006
Swans Finally Win Again
Yes, its only a practice match but a win is a win and today the Swans managed to put away the Saints by 17 points to cap off our pre season series of matches which until today had seen us lose 5 in a row to start the season and premiership defense. With most of the senior players available save for the injured Kennelly, Dempster and the Leo Barry who pulled out late the Swans managed to beat the team many predict will take our mantle from us.
Seeing as again I wasn't there and therefore unable to see what happened LIVE, here is the afl.com.au match report:
Swans edge Saints in Newcastle Karen CollinsSydney has won the battle of the pre-season strugglers, overcoming St Kilda by 17 points in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. The premiers ended their five-game losing streak to run out 12.19 (91) to 11.8 (74) winners for a confidence boost heading into round one against Essendon at Telstra Dome.
Nick Davis booted four goals in a great display with Ryan O'Keefe and Barry Hall adding two apiece, while Fergus Watts, Nick Riewoldt and Stephen Milne landed two goals each in strong performances for the Saints. With most of their senior players having only their second outing for the year, the Swans played strongly from the opening bounce and dominated for three quarters. The score could have been more damaging for the Saints had Sydney been more accurate.
The Swans conceded a minor score before dominating the opening term with 12 scoring shots to two, however, wasteful kicking let them down. Davis (10 kicks), O'Keefe and Hall caused headaches for the Saints defenders, Jude Bolton and Darren Jolly dominated in the middle while Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Ted Richards stifled Nick Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig.
Davis registered the first goal of the game and could have had another four by quarter time, O'Keefe soccered a beauty off the ground from 35-meters out on the angle to thrill the small crowd before Hall increased the lead to 3.9 (27) to 0.2 (2). Riewoldt shrugged off last week's woes in front of goal by polishing off a 40-metre effort in front, and Fergus Watts could have further reduced the deficit with a set-shot from 15-metres in-front but it was touched.
Adam Schneider replied with a solid 45-metre major, but then the game turned in the matter of two minutes when Watts booted two goals and Allan Murray a third to narrow the margin to four points. Davis responded with a goal, the Saints hit-back through Lenny Hayes before Davis had the final word, booting his third six-pointer for a 6.11 (47) to 5.7 (37) lead at the main change.
Watts proved to be a strong target up front, Riewoldt ran hard around the ground and provided plenty of kicks into the forward-50 and Troy Schwarze provided plenty of run in a solid effort in the backline. In the second half Riewoldt was rested with Matt Maguire moving forward while the Swans replaced ruckman Jolly with Paul Chambers and Stephen Doyle who spent most of his time at full-forward.
The Swans' inaccuracy continued in the third term as they booted 2.7, with Stephen Powell, Nick Dal Santo and Lenny Hayes kicking majors to maintain a ten-point deficit into the final change. Sydney's accuracy improved in the final stanza, the Swans managing four goals from their five scoring shots to St Kilda's three straight to improve the margin to 17 points at the final siren.
Leo Barry was late withdrawal with a sore shoulder giving draftee Kristin Thornton his first opportunity to play with a full-strength side. Sydney coach Paul Roos said the result was a bonus given what the Swans achieved from the game. "That was pretty much two sides at full strength and we got out of it what we wanted to, and that is what you want with the last practice game," Roos said. "We wanted to play good footy, get plenty of game time into our players and no doubt we got back to playing the style we did last year. That is the style we want to play and that is the most important thing."
SYDNEY: 3.7, 6.11, 8.18, 12.19 (91)
ST KILDA: 0.2, 5.7, 8.8, 11.8 (74)GOALS: Davis 4, O'Keefe 2, Hall 2, Schneider, Moore, Ablett, Williams
BEST: Davis, J. Bolton, Jolly, Richards, Roberts-Thomson
CROWD: 3,203 at the Newcastle
So all in all good signs heading into Round One, with the boy's now having 2 weeks to rest up before confronting Essendon for the third time this year in the season opener at Telstra Dome. Good to see Nick Davis hit some really good form, likewise Ted Richards and LRT who together held down the fort in defense against the likes of Gehrig, Riewoldt and Watts.
Only bad news is the reported injuries to Buchanan's shoulder which forced him to sit out the second half and Ted Richards who from reports did some sort of leg injury late in the game. No comfirmation of these injuries have come though with the afl.com.au report used above not listing them, so God only knows what's going on here
So finally a pre season win to give Roosy a 33% winning record in his time at the club (OK couldn't resist) and the next match finally counts for something.
Bring it on.
Posted by robbieando at March 18, 2006 04:45 PM