Sydney Swans vs Melbourne: AFL live scores, blog
Columnist By Michael DiFabrizio, 19 May 2012 Michael DiFabrizio is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Adam Goodes, AFL, Liam Jurrah, live blog, Mark Neeld, Melbourne Demons, Sam Reid, Sydney Swans
Jarrad McVeigh of the Swans contests the footy (Slattery Images)
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The Sydney Swans will look to get their season back on track as they host a struggling Melbourne side. We’ll have live scores and updates from 4.40pm AEST.
The Swans burst out of the blocks this season, winning their first five games. It prompted some to consider them a genuine premiership chance.
However, in the last two weeks they’ve dropped games to Adelaide and Richmond.
They’ve also been hit by a six-week quad injury to star Adam Goodes, while Shane Mumford remains sidelined with his back injury.
Melbourne, meanwhile, are without a win in 2012. Their past two weeks have seen them go down to heavyweights Geelong and Hawthorn.
But the Dees, to their credit, pushed in all four quarters against the Cats, which is sometimes all you can ask of a young side. Mark Neeld also described last week’s first quarter against the Hawks as “the best quarter that we’ve played all year.”
Unfortunately, though, the Hawks game was not a four-quarter effort and the team went down by 66 points.
With Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood in the next three weeks, Melbourne might be sensing that going up against an out-of-form Sydney is their biggest opportunity to snatch a win before the bye.
But the Swans, who will be celebrating 30 years in Sydney with a commemorative guernsey, are bound to have other ideas.
The Swans have changed things up in the tall department, bringing in Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Mike Pyke and Tommy Walsh. The Irishmen Walsh will be playing his first AFL game.
The Dees have made a couple of headline-worthy inclusions by bringing in Liam Jurrah and Jack Watts, along with Brad Green and Sam Blease.
Neeld, who has publicly said Jurrah needs to work on areas such as defence and tackling rather than just attack, has been impressed with the forward’s form for Casey in recent weeks. After his court appearance this week though, plenty of eyes will be on Jurrah.
Josh Kennedy has been winning the ball the most for Sydney this season with 27 disposals per game, followed by Jarrad McVeigh with 22 and Luke Parker with 21. Lewis Jetta is the leading goal scorer with 14 majors.
Pressure will be on the much-hyped youngster Sam Reid, who has gone goalless in his last four matches.
Nathan Jones is the leading Demon ball-winner with just 21 touches a game. Mitch Clark dominates the goal kicking with 17 from six games.
The last time these two teams met was way back in Round 1 of last year at the MCG, which ended in a draw.
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Michael DiFabrizio is completing his journalism degree. As an AFL writer, he has been an expert columnist at The Roar since 2009, and appeared in The Age and on ABC television and radio. Follow Michael on twitter @mdifabrizio
The Crowd Says (83) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Adam Goodes, AFL, Liam Jurrah, live blog, Mark Neeld, Melbourne Demons, Sam Reid, Sydney Swans
7:18pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:18pm | Report comment
FULL TIME
Sydney Swans 21.12 138 Melbourne 5.7 37
An absolutely belting has been handed down at the SCG. Sydney have scored a rare triple-figures win by taking down a deplorable Melbourne by 101 points. The win was set up by the likes of Keiran Jack (33 touches, three goals), Luke Parker (18 touches, three goals), Lewis Jetta (21 touches, three goals), Josh Kennedy (19 touches, three goals), Ryan O’Keefe (34 touches) and Dan Hannebery (33 touches). Sydney were clearly the better users of the ball, at one point in the second quarter there was a 20% gap in disposal efficiency. They also built a noticeable buffer in the contested possession count. Defensively, they were much better than Melbourne.
7:22pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:22pm | Report comment
The only positives for the Dees were the game of Jack Watts playing in defence, accumulating 34 disposals, and Jeremy Howe’s fantastic mark, which is a massive mark of the year chance. But, with some big teams to come in the next three weeks, it’s hard to feel too optimistic about Melbourne just now.
DISPOSALS: Sydney: O’Keefe 34, Jack 33, Hannebery 33, Jetta 21, Bolton 21
Melbourne: Watts 34, Blease 29, Grimes 23, Jones 22, Frawley 22
GOALS: Sydney: Jack 3, Parker 3, Jetta 3, Kennedy 3, Walsh 2, McGlynn 2, Dennis-Lane 2, O’Keefe, Mattner, Reid
Melbourne: Jones 2, Green, Bennell, Sylvia
KEY STATS: Contested possessions: Sydney +23
Clearances: Melbourne +1
Inside 50s: Sydney +36
Tackles: Melbourne +1
DREAM TEAM: Hannebery 137, Jack 128, Watts 121, O’Keefe 116, Garland 105, Roberts-Thomson 103, Mattner 100
7:23pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:23pm | Report comment
And that’ll be it from me. Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks!
7:24pm
GrantS said | 7:24pm | Report comment
As you stated Michael it’s very unusual for the Swans to kick such a high score and it was their biggest win since defeating Richmond by 118 points in 2006.
Not much of a game to watch and you have to feel sorry for the Melbourne coach who had to put up with such a deplorable exhibition by his players.
7:11pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:11pm | Report comment
Abuse gives Melbourne a 50m penalty. Bennell converts right in front of goal.
Sydney Swans 137 Melbourne 37 – 4min left 4th qtr
7:07pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:07pm | Report comment
Another to Josh Kennedy. Nails the set shot. 106 points the lead now.
Sydney Swans 137 Melbourne 31 – 6min left 4th qtr
7:06pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:06pm | Report comment
100 point lead! Mattner gets the goal for the Swans.
Sydney Swans 131 Melbourne 31 – 8min left 4th qtr
7:02pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:02pm | Report comment
Sylvia gets a consolation goal. Tiny ray of hope that they might avoid a triple-figure loss.
Sydney Swans 123 Melbourne 31 – 10min left 4th qtr
7:00pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:00pm | Report comment
Percentage boost here for the Swans, which is good for them. As I’ve already said, they aren’t known for really blowing teams away so this will definitely help them come August. 98-point lead as we speak.
Sydney Swans 123 Melbourne 25 – 11min left 4th qtr
6:58pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:58pm | Report comment
Ben McGlynn makes something out of nothing! Just hacks it mid-air in the pocket and it goes through. Almost 100 points now!
Sydney Swans 123 Melbourne 25 – 12min left 4th qtr
6:56pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:56pm | Report comment
Trent Dennis-Lane snaps from the pocket. Nice kick.
Sydney Swans 117 Melbourne 25 – 13min left 4th qtr
6:52pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:52pm | Report comment
Goal No. 3 has arrived for Melbourne. Jones’ set shot makes the distance. His second.
Sydney Swans 111 Melbourne 25 – 16min left 4th qtr
6:52pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:52pm | Report comment
Bennell subbed on for Cale Morton. 13 touches for Morton today, was caught in the wrong place several times.
Sydney Swans 111 Melbourne 19 – 17min left 4th qtr
6:51pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:51pm | Report comment
Must say I was this close to posting about Sam Reid’s poor form continuing, but he’s worked his way into it. 10 disposals and now his first goal.
Sydney Swans 111 Melbourne 19 – 17min left 4th qtr
6:48pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:48pm | Report comment
Final quarter underway now. Is this a 100-pointer?
6:47pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:47pm | Report comment
TV crew show pictures of Mark Neeld as the Howe mark happens. Doesn’t bat an eyelid, but looses his cool the second Howe decided to play on.
6:44pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:44pm | Report comment
THREE QUARTER TIME
Sydney Swans 16.9 105 Melbourne 2.7 19
More of the same that quarter as Sydney continued to build on their lead. Big win for them tonight, you rarely see them really blow teams away. Dees are playing very poorly. Aaron Davey just three touches. Jamar six, Green eight, co-captain Trengove ten. They did get a huge highlight with Jeremy Howe’s (very likely) mark of the year. But that’s about it.
DISPOSALS: Sydney: O’Keefe 26, Jack 26, Hannebery 23, Jetta 20
Melbourne: Watts 26, Blease 20, Frawley 20, Grimes 19
GOALS: Sydney: Jack 3, Parker 3, Jetta 3, Kennedy 2, Walsh 2, McGlynn, O’Keefe, Dennis-Lane
Melbourne: Jones, Green
KEY STATS: Contested possessions: Sydney +15
Clearances: Even
Inside 50s: Sydney +27
Tackles: Melbourne +5
DREAM TEAM: Jack 102, Hannebery 96, Jetta 96, O’Keefe 94, Watts 85, Parker 83
6:50pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 6:50pm | Report comment
Im grasping at straws here, trying to say something nice about Melbourne … but they are winning the tackle count
6:54pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:54pm | Report comment
Ian, it’s a positive but winning the tackles is to be expected when the other side has more of the footy.
6:57pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 6:57pm | Report comment
True, but Melbourne didnt manage that all the time last year.
6:40pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:40pm | Report comment
Crowd rises as Mike Pyke has a shot, but it’s wide. “I’m not seeing one ounce of leadership out there,” says Liam Pickering of Melbourne.
Sydney Swans 105 Melbourne 19 – 1min left 3rd qtr
6:37pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:37pm | Report comment
Lewis Jetta with his third. Swans have crossed over the ton.
Sydney Swans 104 Melbourne 19 – 3min left 3rd qtr
6:35pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:35pm | Report comment
Ok folks, here it is. @AFLphotos:
.@AFL Mark of the year? @howie0038 @melbournefc full series http://aflphotos.com.au #aflswansdees
6:42pm
The Cattery said | 6:42pm | Report comment
This is the amazing bit for me, he hung so long that at one point I thought to myself: oh, he’s given away the free here, he’s jumped to early, and then plucks it and come down with it!!
6:34pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:34pm | Report comment
Keiran Jack pushes off Jones to receive the ball and run in for another goal.
Sydney Swans 98 Melbourne 19 – 5min left 3rd qtr
6:30pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:30pm | Report comment
Trent Dennis-Lane from 50m out on an angle, strikes it beautifully. Good goal.
Sydney Swans 92 Melbourne 18 – 7min left 3rd qtr
6:25pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:25pm | Report comment
Feel like I need to do the Jeremy Howe mark justice, so I’ll write about it again. Absolute screamer!
Sydney Swans 86 Melbourne 18 – 11min left 3rd qtr
6:24pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:24pm | Report comment
Brad Green wins a 50m penalty and sends it home. Melbourne have two goals. There you go. But what a ripper of a mark from Howe!
Sydney Swans 86 Melbourne 18 – 12min left 3rd qtr
6:23pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:23pm | Report comment
Jeremy Howe! Wowee! Mark of the year candidate just taken on the wing by the high-flying Demon. Get a replay on, it’s the only Melbourne highlight of the night!
Sydney Swans 86 Melbourne 12 – 12min left 3rd qtr
6:22pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:22pm | Report comment
Sam Reid marks on the 50m arc. Hasn’t had an impact on this game at all. Young McDonald has been pretty good on him. His kick is wide.
Sydney Swans 86 Melbourne 12 – 12min left 3rd qtr
6:21pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:21pm | Report comment
Jetta’s awkward high ball (I think it was a shot on goal) ends up in the hands of Luke Parker, uncontested. 20m out, drills it.
Sydney Swans 85 Melbourne 12 – 13min left 3rd qtr
6:19pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:19pm | Report comment
Malceski’s deep ball ends up with Tommy Walsh, who outmarks Jack Watts. Probably could’ve done more, Watts. Meanwhile Walsh goes back for his second. Solid debut from the Irishman!
Sydney Swans 79 Melbourne 12 – 14min left 3rd qtr
6:16pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:16pm | Report comment
Jeremy Howe wins a 50m penalty but seemingly started to play on half way through. It worked, he had an uncontested shot at goal, but he wasn’t on target.
Sydney Swans 72 Melbourne 12 – 16min left 3rd qtr
6:13pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:13pm | Report comment
Tommy Walsh wins a free kick 25m out. Worked hard and was rewarded. He goes back but kicks wide.
Sydney Swans 71 Melbourne 11 – 18min left 3rd qtr
6:11pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:11pm | Report comment
Third term underway. Can the Demons show anything this quarter?
6:07pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:07pm | Report comment
Six of Sydney’s 11 goals, as well as all three of their behinds, have come from turnovers.
6:02pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 6:02pm | Report comment
@AFLphotos:
One of the best places in Australia to shoot @AFL @SCGvenue @scglive #aflswansdees
5:54pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:54pm | Report comment
Anyone know the last time Sydney won by 100+?
5:53pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:53pm | Report comment
HALF TIME
Sydney Swans 11.4 70 Melbourne 1.5 11
This is a massacre. Melbourne are just not using it well enough (at one stage there was a 20% gap in disposal efficiency) and Sydney are just a much better defensive side (rebound 50s are even, but Melbourne have had 14 less inside 50s). Keiran Jack leading the way for the Swans. Hannebery, O’Keefe, Kennedy, Parker, Jetta all worthy of a mention too.
DISPOSALS: Sydney: O’Keefe 21, Hannebery 17, Jack 16, Jetta 14
Melbourne: Watts 17, Blease 15, Moloney 14, Frawley 12, Grimes 12
GOALS: Sydney: Jack 2, Kennedy 2, Parker 2, McGlynn, Jetta, O’Keefe, Walsh
Melbourne: Jones
KEY STATS: Contested possessions: Sydney +4
Clearances: Even
Inside 50s: Sydney +14
Tackles: Melbourne +9
DREAM TEAM: Jack 77, Hannebery 71, O’Keefe 69, Jetta 68, Watts 61, Kennedy 61
5:45pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:45pm | Report comment
Jones handball to Moloney within striking range… and it’s out of bounds.
Sydney Swans 70 Melbourne 10 – 2min left 2nd qtr
5:45pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:45pm | Report comment
I asked at the start of the quarter, “Can the Dees bridge (the gap) at all or are we in for a massacre?” Massacre it is.
Sydney Swans 70 Melbourne 10 – 3min left 2nd qtr
5:43pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:43pm | Report comment
Wow. Ryan O’Keefe, with about eight blokes around him, takes a very simple mark in the goal square. That’ll get replayed many times in the next few days. He just threw it on the boot. Dees didn’t contest the mark nor the goal. Boy oh boy.
Sydney Swans 70 Melbourne 10 – 4min left 2nd qtr
5:43pm
TomC said | 5:43pm | Report comment
The Demons might as well not bother coming out after half-time. O’Keefe marks uncontested in the goalsquare surrounded by Demons players just looking at him. It’s like they just don’t care.
5:41pm
TomC said | 5:41pm | Report comment
Oh God. Jamar on half back kicks the ball 30 metres sideways out of bounds, then loses the boundary throw in to Roberts-Thomson. Keystone cops out there.
5:38pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:38pm | Report comment
Out of nowhere, Dees get their first. Nathan Jones in the stoppage reads it the best to get the drought-ending goal. Nice finish from Jones.
Sydney Swans 63 Melbourne 10 – 8min left 2nd qtr
5:39pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 5:39pm | Report comment
The AFL site says it happened too …
5:38pm
The Cattery said | 5:38pm | Report comment
STOP THE PRESS:
Melbourne has just scored a goal.
5:35pm
TomC said | 5:35pm | Report comment
How can Melbourne possibly think about paying another forward top dollar to come to the club when their mids can’t even get the ball down there?
5:39pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 5:39pm | Report comment
TomC,
Because they are desperate.
If I ran Melbourne, I’d consider offering one of the Scully compo picks to GWS for, say, GWS’ second rounder, Miles, Clifton and Palmer.
5:39pm
The Cattery said | 5:39pm | Report comment
think Kelvin Templeton from 30 years ago
5:35pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Tommy Walsh gets his first goal in AFL footy. Was in the right place in the goal square and run into the sticks. Kicked the ball on its side, which was a bit unusual.
Sydney Swans 63 Melbourne 4 – 9min left 2nd qtr
5:33pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:33pm | Report comment
Jeremy Howe nearly takes a mark inside 50 close to goal. Couldn’t hold it for long enough, was a bit stiff to not get the ump’s sympathy.
Sydney Swans 57 Melbourne 4 – 10min left 2nd qtr
5:31pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:31pm | Report comment
Sydney disposal efficiency: 72 per cent. Melbourne’s: 52 per cent. Huge gap.
Sydney Swans 57 Melbourne 4 – 12min left 2nd qtr
5:30pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:30pm | Report comment
Oh boy. Parker’s snap gives Sydney their ninth. Getting ugly now.
Sydney Swans 57 Melbourne 4 – 12min left 2nd qtr
5:29pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:29pm | Report comment
Sylvia ran down on the wing, ball ends up in Swans forward 50 again. Rushed behind ultimately, but nothing going right for Melbourne right now.
Sydney Swans 51 Melbourne 4 – 13min left 2nd qtr
5:28pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:28pm | Report comment
Once again, Sydney find a loose man rebounding out of the defensive 50. Jack finds Parker in a world of space, who ran then got it to McGlynn, who got it to Bolton for a set shot. He misses.
Sydney Swans 50 Melbourne 4 – 14min left 2nd qtr
5:26pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:26pm | Report comment
Just like that, Lewis Jetta ends up with the ball in the centre circle. He runs to the 50m arc, goes the long ball and sends it home. Ball spent a lot of time at the other end of the ground before that, but that’s just how easy the Swans are doing it.
Sydney Swans 49 Melbourne 4 – 15min left 2nd qtr
5:25pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:25pm | Report comment
Ball spending a fair amount of time inside the Melbourne forward 50 but they just don’t look like scoring. At all.
Sydney Swans 43 Melbourne 4 – 15min left 2nd qtr
5:20pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:20pm | Report comment
That was bad… Jurrah marks 50m out on the chest. Kicks it to Mitch Clark in the pocket sandwhiched between two Swans. Too tough an angle, so he goes to Magner. James Magner kicks an awkward ball that’s touched on the line. No Demon was there on the line to contest it.
Sydney Swans 43 Melbourne 4 – 18min left 2nd qtr
5:18pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:18pm | Report comment
Second quarter underway. 40 points in it right now, can the Dees bridge that at all or are win for a massacre? Let’s find out.
5:15pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:15pm | Report comment
QUARTER TIME
Sydney Swans 7.1 43 Melbourne 0.3 3
About as good a start as Sydney could’ve hoped for. Keiran Jack has been brilliant with two goals and a couple of extra score involvements to go with his 10 touches. Josh Kennedy has also been dangerous going forward with two goals, while Ryan O’Keefe already has 13 disposals. The biggest (only?) positive for Melbourne fans would be Jack Watts looking reasonably comfortable in defence while finding plenty of the ball. He leads them with nine touches. I think Mitch Clark needs to spend most of his time inside 50 as the Demons simply need a goal scoring threat. Overall, though, this has been Sydney’s game. 16 more disposals and 11 more inside 50s tells the story.
DISPOSALS: Sydney: O’Keefe 13, Jack 10, Hannebery 10
Melbourne: Watts 9, Blease 8, Trengove 7, Grimes
GOALS: Sydney: Jack 2, Kennedy 2, McGlynn, Jetta, Parker
Melbourne: -
KEY STATS: Contested possessions: Even
Clearances: Sydney +5
Inside 50s: Sydney +11
Tackles: Melbourne +5
DREAM TEAM: Jack 46, Roberts-Thomson 44, McGlynn 42, O’Keefe 41, Garland 36
5:11pm
TomC said | 5:11pm | Report comment
Geez this is brutal.
Everyone looks good against the Demons. They just don’t seem to be able to put enough defensive pressure on their opponents.
5:11pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:11pm | Report comment
Ben McGlynn marks very close to goal to get another goal with 17 seconds left.
Sydney Swans 43 Melbourne 3 – 0min left 1st qtr
5:09pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:09pm | Report comment
Another goal to Sydney. Swans quickly ran it from one end to the other. O’Keefe to Dennis-Lane to Walsh. While that didn’t result in a score, the resultant throw-in did. Josh Kennedy pounced for his second.
Sydney Swans 37 Melbourne 3 – 1min left 1st qtr
5:10pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 5:10pm | Report comment
When you need confidence, there is no better opponent than the Melbourne Football Club
5:07pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:07pm | Report comment
Mitch Clark marks from 45m out on an angle. A lot of his early possessions were up the ground more, so this is promising. Nice kick but just a little too much on it. Dees remain goalless.
Sydney Swans 31 Melbourne 3 – 2min left 1st qtr
5:06pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:06pm | Report comment
Need to be smarter going inside 50, Melboune. Frawley kicked to several Swans players just then.
Sydney Swans 31 Melbourne 2 – 3min left 1st qtr
5:02pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:02pm | Report comment
Swans on a bit of a roll here. Sam Reid in traffic inside 50 shoots a handball to Josh Kennedy, who gets the goal.
Sydney Swans 31 Melbourne 2 – 5min left 1st qtr
5:00pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 5:00pm | Report comment
Parker to Jetta, who kicks a bouncing ball from 50m that’s on target.
Sydney Swans 25 Melbourne 2 – 6min left 1st qtr
4:58pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:58pm | Report comment
Watts out of defence finds Mitch Clark a long way from home. His ball to Aaron Davey, up against two Swans, results in a stoppage inside 50.
Sydney Swans 19 Melbourne 2 – 8min left 1st qtr
4:57pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:57pm | Report comment
Nice work from Jetta to outwork Morton on the wing, but his forward entry is quickly thwarted.
Sydney Swans 19 Melbourne 2 – 9min left 1st qtr
4:55pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:55pm | Report comment
Melbourne behind in all major stats and are under a lot of pressure. Frawley rushes a behind.
Sydney Swans 19 Melbourne 2 – 10min left 1st qtr
4:53pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:53pm | Report comment
Luke Parker picks up the ball out of a stoppage in the forward line, throws it on the boot quickly and the Swans have three.
Sydney Swans 18 Melbourne 2 – 11min left 1st qtr
4:51pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:51pm | Report comment
Keiran Jack gets his second! Fumbled the mark but was in enough space to turn around and send it home from 30m out.
Sydney Swans 12 Melbourne 2 – 12min left 1st qtr
4:51pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:51pm | Report comment
Aaron Davey’s long ball goes just wide for a behind.
Sydney Swans 6 Melbourne 2 – 13min left 1st qtr
4:50pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:50pm | Report comment
Five disposals for Jack Watts in the backline. Dees withstanding the pressure at that end for the moment.
Sydney Swans 6 Melbourne 1 – 13min left 1st qtr
4:48pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:48pm | Report comment
McKenzie has the important role of containing Josh Kennedy. JK has had just one touch thus far.
Sydney Swans 6 Melbourne 1 – 14min left 1st qtr
4:46pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:46pm | Report comment
Keiran Jack kicks the first goal of the game. Mike Pyke did well to keep the ball alive along the boundary at half forward, Sam Reid picked it up and handballed to Jack who kicked the running goal.
Sydney Swans 6 Melbourne 1 – 16min left 1st qtr
4:44pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:44pm | Report comment
Moloney’s ball finds Jeremy Howe, who’s a nice a grab. His kick, though, is a shocker.
Sydney Swans 0 Melbourne 1 – 17min left 1st qtr
4:41pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:41pm | Report comment
Game underway at the SCG.
4:34pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:34pm | Report comment
Jack Watts did his warm-up with the defenders, could be a new role for him today. I like it if so.
4:20pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:20pm | Report comment
No late changes to either side. Craig Bird the Sydney sub and Jamie Bennell the Melbourne sub.
4:19pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 4:19pm | Report comment
Comparing my preview to other views out there, I may have been a little too generous with the Demons. Apparently they’ve been horrendous and there’s no end to the turmoil in sight.
The first couple of weeks this year I would definitely describe as horrendous, it was a shocking start, but I’m not sure what the critics expected when they ran into Geelong and Hawthorn sides in need of a win. They were always going to get belted. Looking a little closer, there have been subtle signs of progress. So much so, if they were taking on a team with slightly less class and experience than Sydney, I would go as far as suggesting they could be primed for an upset win.
Unfortunately for the Dees, the fixture right now is against them. While I’d like to see them stick the proverbial finger to the doubters, the fact they have Sydney away followed by Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood makes it difficult to see that happening.
Perhaps Liam Jurrah is the spark they need. More likely, they’ll be waiting until after the bye to get their first win.
For Sydney, they desperately need a win right now. The last two weeks have undone their brilliant start to the year and they can’t simply roll over with Adam Goodes out of the team. This is just too tight of a season for any team to drop three in a row and get away with it. And the Swans will be well aware of that.
For this reason, I see them coming out on top today. Keen to get a glimpse of the Irishman Tommy Walsh today. Lot of big wraps on him when he first came over. Also Mike Pyke, heard good stuff about him also but since the sub rule was introduced he’s had very limited opportunities in the senior side.