Tacticians,
The final quarter was a classic exposition of sitting on the football.
After getting away to what looked like a match winning lead at half time, the Swans thought it only necessary to kick but one goal in the Championship Quarter, and then promptly shut the game down with endless stacks-on-the-mill, restricting the opposition to just two behinds in the last stanza,
Brilliant tactics, eh?
Worked in '05, why not now?
Also neatly demonstrated the inestimable value of winning away.
Excellent to see the best-on-ground, Nick Malceski, make a fashion statement and go all retro, having got the feel of the Antarctic conditions in Adelaide in the winter time, as the weather just barrels up from the Southern Ocean, by sporting the designer long sleeve guernsey.
On recollection, in the recent past Paul Kelly favoured the long sleeve from time to time, while Plugger was known to don one on occasion, but you'd probably have to go way back to Murray Weideman at the West Adelaide Blood'n'Tars to find someone who wore sleeves full time, come rain hail or shine, cold day or not.
Marty Mattner has obviously worked out the wide open spaces of Football Park Having played a hundred games for the Crows while on loan from Sturt, without anyone noticing, before coming to his senses and moving to Sydney; putting in his usual serviceable game.
Mummy is proving more than serviceable in the ruck in a defensive set up, keeping anyone they might put up against him on a tight leash, while J.Bolton has had two blinders in a row.
Sensible to give the Jetta kiddie, who's out of his depth in this company, a game or two in the reserves, as there's not much point sending a boy on a man's errand at this time of the year so early in the lad's career.
As the players gird their loins for the arduous task of preparing for this weekend's traditional mid-season break beers and BQQ around at SC Roos' place, [don't know who's going to cook the filet mignon -- that used to be BBB Hall's job], SC Roos would be contemplating his retirement, asLongmire surveys the season horizon at 7-5 thinking there is still some chance of making the top four, slim as that may be.
Still, looking down the telescope, another purple patch could well be in the offing if they keep their nerve, with Collingwood (h), Richmond (a), North Melbourne (h) and Melbourne (a) all eminently winnable before Geelong (h).
Always encouraging to find yourself half way through the race, without the wheels having fallen off.
PORT ADELAIDE: 4.0 6.2 8.5 8.7 (55). Goals: K. Cornes, Trengove, Hartlett, Hitchcock, Boak, Davenport, Ebert, Thomas
SYDNEY: 3.2 10.4 11.6 14.9 (93). Goals: Goodes 3, Hannebery 2, J.Bolton 2, Kennedy 2, Malceski, McVeigh, McGlynn, Jack, Kirk.
At Football Park, Adelaide.
Crowd: 20,106.
As the Tigers enjoyed the traditional beers and second bye of the season BBQ round at SC Sheens' gaff [Taniela "the Human Wrecking Ball" Tuiaki, with plenty of timen on his hands, got a few of his mates from Parramatta to come around with a couple of small pigs for the players to havea bit of fun with chasing around the yard, before they were duly spit-roasted. Bless], "That Pom" Ellis was the only bloke doing any work -- 12,000 miles away -- as he scored two tries and murdered a few opposition forwards for England in their 60-6 demolition of France at the new Leigh Sporting Village outside Manchester.
Back on the jumbo in time for this weekend's long awaited return to the Spiritual Home of Balmain Rugby League, Leichhardt Oval, where the hapless Raiders can expect the usual ritual pasting.
BALMAIN TIGERS: Bye.
