Firstly I will apologise for my lack grammatical skill and lack of any syntax.
The day was for me at least cool forgot me jacket! The colts' game was from an EP supporters view a very good display from a well-structured team who played to their strengths for pretty much the whole game. The Swans lads were not in large part disgraced although having said that a couple of them in the forward line need to understand that at this level their community level hollywood play won't cut it, effect disposals, team play and commitment are what is required especially when your being beaten. Number 6 was for me clearly your best player and one who you can hang your future on (if he isn't drafted). For East Perth yep Craven amassed a lot of possessions but he and a few other decided that they could do a bit of the 'glamour' stuff late in the game. Maxwell battled hard in the ruck and did some good stuff around the ground. For me Milner was the stand out, he was played forward on the wing and in the middle and wherever he played he had an impact. I also liked Lewis Nannups play down back, he looks like he is one to watch this season.
The reserves was a bit one sided with Swans able to answer all of the East Perth questions, it was at times not pretty but indicates that we have some players who will step up when required or given the opportunity. Boules, Raykos and Brooks all look like the can go up a level as does Cappeau. Not much to say other than we need to have Jed Edwards fit and on the field.
The league was a really great game and not just due to our win but it showed that the WAFL has some seriously good players running around in it. For me the first two things that had an impact were that Scott was in the forward line and for me who was/is not a big fan he showed that the Coach got it right in the game against Souths last year, he is a VG small forward, his disposals, his tackling and chase were great, the other positional change was that Robertson played back and this meant that he had the ball coming at him rather than have to do a queen mary once he got it when forward. As for the rest of the team I think our forward line will kick scores, our much-maligned backline looked very good with an obvious change in attitude, not being the scape goats will help them enormously! In the first half the Swannies seemed to more focused on tagging rather than playing with some freedom and after half time they went on the attack and did they attack. Going into the last quarter there was a fair bit of trepidation in the EP camp but we did something that has been absent for a while, we stopped, we decided that defending needed to be closer and attacking was the only way we were going to win.
Couple of things, Scott Jones was dominate in the last quarter but I thought Glass-McCasker played well and with Germs or Blakely will make a good ruck tandem. Peake whilst not amassing lots of possessions chased, pressured and did enough to warrant his place in the side.
All in all a good beginning now all we have to do is see what develops from here!
