I talked about this game being a pivotal one for the Swans' season, one that would catapault them towards a finals appearance - and a good showing in the finals - if they could win. I said it would be a tough game, which it wasy. But I didn't count on some of the worst umpiring I've ever witnessed pretty much taking away a possible victory. Honestly, it's hard to see where this season is going now, with the resurgent Western Bulldogs coming into the SCG next Saturday, and a hungry pack of improving teams nipping at our heels now.
You get a general feeling at a game. Some fans will rail on the umpires no matter what. Then there are the fans who generally watch quietly, except for cheering their team in positive moments, and don't take unnecessary pot shots at the umpires. You know for sure and certain that things are getting ludicrous when those fans who normally refrain from ump bashing are on their feet, yelling out at the umpires run past, fresh off another catacalmysmic decision.
The Swans were pretty lethargic in the third quarter, but it seemed like they were playing against both the Dockers and the umpires. The free kick count was pretty even in the end, but the contentious free kicks and the rabid inconsistency were what eventually decided the game. The last 50 penalty to Kennelley, for example, was difficult to comprehend. Sure, give a free kick, but giving a penalty that effectively decides the contest by moving the football deep into Fremantle's attacking zone is not the way it should end. It was just a debacle of a day, thanks to the head honcho of the circus, Ray Chamberlain. It was oddly refreshing to hear a Freo fan taunting Razor as well. No one likes you, Ray.
What started the gathering between Ben McGlynn and Adam McPhee is still not clear. It was across the other side of the ground so I need to watch a few more replays. But seeing McPhee actually the instigator, trying - unsuccessfully, as it turned out - to land a few shots on McGlynn's chops and not get whistled for a free kick against did my head in. That too many Swans preferred to mix it up while Rhys Palmer strolled in and stuck the ball between the big sticks is another issue entirely. That's not good football, but that's not my issue. If you punch or try to punch a guy, you can get away with it? Is that what we're saying?
Similarly frustrating was Hayden Ballantine's ridiculously and mind-blowingly unfair and unjust free kick that he got off of a supposed moment with Heath Grundy that wasnt any worse than anything else we see on the football field 5 dozen times each weekend. There are two goals to Fremantle that weren't just. McPhee should've been whistled for his attempt to knock McGlynn to the wet SCG turf. And Ballantine's milking of a free kick - and the umpire's seeming happiness to oblige - after that was a joke. Hayden, you could win an Emmy with acting like that.
And it rained. The Swans have had problems in the rain all year. And we had another bad third quarter performance, in the wet. Long gone, apparently, are the days we used to be really good in the wet. Still, props for a stirring comeback that looked almost like it would get across the line. If only the defence had stood up a little better in the third quarter, the hill to climb wouldn't have been quite as high. One or two goals might've been the difference.
I thought Lewis Jetta played well. Sam Reid had another excellent game, as did Lewis Roberts-Thompson, Dan Hannebery and Jarryd McVeigh, whose goal late in the final quarter was the stuff of miracles on a dry day, and very much eye-popping in the torrential rain. On the other side, Jesse White suffered through another long, ugly day. Back to the reserves, Jesse. Time to try something new, John Longmire. Let's hope we get it right ahead of the Western Bulldogs appearance on Saturday, and another "return" for our ex-favourite son Barry Hall.
It should be an interesting week in Sydney.
FREMANTLE 3.2 7.4 14.7 15.8 (98)
SYDNEY 3.2 6.3 8.5 13.9 (87)
Goals: Fremantle: H Ballantyne 3 C Mayne 2 M Johnson 2 A Grover M De Boer M Pavlich N Fyfe N Lower R Palmer S Hill Z Clarke. Sydney: L Roberts-Thomson 3 A Goodes 2 D Hannebery 2 L Parker 2 H Grundy J McVeigh K Jack S Reid.
Best: Fremantle: N Fyfe G Broughton N Lower H Ballantyne M Pavlich G Ibbotson A Silvagni. Sydney: D Hannebery J McVeigh T Richards M Mattner L Roberts-Thomson.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Ray Chamberlain, Brett Ritchie.
Crowd: 23,415 at SCG.
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