TOPIC:

First wet weather game of the year and it looks like the deluge will be in full swing when this game is played on Saturday. Swans have a great opportunity to square their season at 4- 4 and be right in the mix for a top 5 spot. They will have to be wary of Subiaco though who will be desperate to keep their season alive. A loss for them will really make it tough. I assume Kohlmann will be an out under concussion protocols, this will probably be the only game he misses given the bye next week. The team will have gained great confidence from last weeks fightback but this will be a completely different proposition on a potentially waterlogged oval. They need to adjust their high possession game somewhat to suit the conditions and get the ball forward by any means possible including soccering when picking up the ball is difficult.
Special day for the club with Tony Notte playing his 300th game. What a great player he has been and if he stays fit he will pass Billy Walkers record later in the year 

Thus far in the season, Subi have lost 2 Home games and won 2 Home matches. Whereas Swans have the 1 Away win on the board. Given the league ladder currently, both teams would dearly like the 4 points. Going to be a hard day at the office given the venue will be slippery and heavy from the rain during the week. Looking highly likely of more wintery conditions on match day. Going to be the first dose of wet weather footy.

I'm in Darwin at the moment so followed the game from there. Would appreciate a report from anyone who saw the game. Sounds like it was pretty nip and tuck all day. Maybe the Notte factor gave us a bit extra in the last quarter to snatch it.

both teams had a large impediment onfield yesterday - umpire number 24

Them they it person whatever was absolutely insipid and at times absolutely baffling or incomprehensible

and mostly them it they person whatever couldn't even throw the ball up straight 

and it barely got above head height

poor indication of where WA football sits

Congrats to Notte - a true stalwart of the club - and thanks also to the Subi players in joining the other players and supporters in honouring his departure from the ground after a hard fought game.The game could have gone either way, and even though I haven't looked, I think the margin in the end was the widest between the two clubs all day. A win is a win, but Swans’ decision making – especially when going into the forward line – beggared belief yesterday. Case in point: Edwards secures on the far side with only an SD forward and a Subi defender between he and the goal. Under no pressure and plenty of options – continue to run, draw the defender, and pop it over to the teammate for an easy goal; run in to about 30m and have a shot, he instead sent a bullet-like pass onto the Subi defender’s chest.Examples like this happened all day and have been happening most of the season, but the team is improving. Despite Edwards’ clanger in the second, his characteristic assault on the ball – and anyone near the ball – was outstanding yesterday. Sometimes he takes the mark, but his skittling of the pack in the last saw, I think, Reidy collect the crumbs for a goal that put us in front, while Glass’ big bulk also did the same in the last. Glass’ last quarter at full-forward and in the ruck when Germs rested was good, and it is about time he started using his frame to fairly influence the game. 

Watched most of the first half and all the second and can see where your comments came from SH.It was a fairly mistake ridden game but enjoyable from a neutrals viewpoint and certainly was close all day.SD endeavour got them over the line and they simply tried continuously and got their reward.Subi were not disgraced and it just shows the evenness of the competition.The best part for me was the last 30 seconds when the stalwart Tony Notte finished the match with a trademark classic grab as the final siren went and his teammates mobbed him.Couldn’t have scripted it better.

It wasn't a great game to watch, but the result was all that mattered. Both teams had lots of turnovers that could have been avoided, especially Swans in their forward line. Subiaco are heading into what looks like being a rebuilding phase, and took half the last quarter before they got it into their 50m zone for the first time.
The two week break will be ideal now in the build up to the game against South Fremantle on June 15, the start of three games in a row at Bassendean with East Perth and West Coast to follow. It will also be the John Todd Cup match, so as well as consolidating a place in the top five, there is also the incentive to hold on to the trophy they won last year at Fremantle Oval.

MikeH, at 3/4 time I looked at the state of the game. Very even to that stage but the standard of footy was very low with Swans doing the better in my mind. Swans kicking with the wind and with the emotion of playing for Nottes 300th and to further cement a finals spot… I couldn’t see Swans losing. Well Subi gave a bit of a scare but that’s how it turned out. Once again, the umpiring ruined it. After being missing for most of the game they started giving out weak frees and missing blatant ones which didn’t help my enjoyment of the game. An earlier poster noted that one umpire could barely throw the ball high enough for the ruckmen to make a contest. Absolutely true. Heaven forebid if they had to bounce it! What has our game become!
Congratulations Swans and Tony Notte

Thanks for the reports all. Sounds like Swans will have to pick up their game significantly to beat the Bulldogs in a couple of weeks

Frothy wrote:

MikeH, at 3/4 time I looked at the state of the game. Very even to that stage but the standard of footy was very low with Swans doing the better in my mind. Swans kicking with the wind and with the emotion of playing for Nottes 300th and to further cement a finals spot… I couldn’t see Swans losing. Well Subi gave a bit of a scare but that’s how it turned out. Once again, the umpiring ruined it. After being missing for most of the game they started giving out weak frees and missing blatant ones which didn’t help my enjoyment of the game. An earlier poster noted that one umpire could barely throw the ball high enough for the ruckmen to make a contest. Absolutely true. Heaven forebid if they had to bounce it! What has our game become!
Congratulations Swans and Tony Notte..


Agree on this - I have seen higher throwing up at auskick games..WAFL going for ratios in umpire appointments will cost much more in loss of integrity