|
It was the best of days; it was the worst of days. The 9th of August 2008 will go down in the team annals not as a game that the Swans won, but rather as the day they came of age as a playing unit. The final result may show a 6 goal loss to the Toronto Eagles, but it was a game in which 18 players displayed an intensity and effort over four full quarters.
Rain, rain, more rain. Is this Melbourne or Toronto? Some of the players like Spud were excited at playing conditions similar to "home". The first quarter was a wet one in Toronto as the Swans regularly won first use of the ball out of the middle courtesy of Ryan Gregory. Playing with a smaller forward set up, the Swans made use of space to provide short leading options when the ball was in possession, making it hard for the Eagles to win the ball, let alone send it in with any direction to their forwards. After a steady start, Millsy moved onto the Eagles most dangerous forward (Locky) and had an absolute blinder. Millsy showed determination and controlled aggression at the ball without shirking his defensive responsibilities. At no time was his man given space to create opportunities for the Eagles. New players Steve and Dave G started their first game of the season in the backline and impressed with their ability to nullify any and all shots on goal. By the second quarter, the Swans were only 2 goals behind and controlling large periods of play. With Rock, Seth and Jake winning plenty of the pill across the middle, the Swans were given a number of chances to get some points on the board. With the ever reliable Spud and Alp mopping up in the backline and a cheeky goal by Ricca the quarter ended with the Swan's players firmly believing they had a chance to steal the 4 points. After some encouraging words from Legend (who succeeded in annoying Locky all day from the sideline), the Swans started the 3rd quarter in a rush, moving the ball forward at every opportunity. Razor continued to tap the ball at will to Seth, Rock and Yas, who were effective in their use of the pill and aggressive yet fair at every contest. The Eagles also took a disliking to some of the treatment dished out to their players and tried to up the physicality in and around the ball. By the end of the 3rd quarter, the Swans were only 3 goals down thanks to a great double effort by Ryan Ward, and not beaten by any stretch of the imagination. After a plea from Legend, the Swans made a vow to finish the game with the same intensity as it all started. Most pleasing was the fact that the sun came out just as the final quarter started. Nonetheless, it was a slog as water spread across the field making it hard to move the ball with any real direction or speed. The Swans stuck to their mantra of first to the ball, tackling hard and getting to every contest. Despite a number of close finishes over the season this result was one in which I am most proud of the effort and application displayed by the lads on game day. Best players: 1. Millsy - Stuck to his task all day and did not allow Locky an room to create scoring opportunities
2. Seth - Best game to date. Ran hard in the middle, won key contests and tackled hard
3. Rock - Solid 4 quarter effort. Used his size to dominate the middle and create opportunities for his forwards
4. Jake - Mr consistent. Won the ball every time it came out on his wing and never gave up trying.
5. Alp - Defended stoutly and used his bulk to win crucial contests for the swans and shut his opposition player out of the contest |
