Swans Review - Brisbane (July 7, 2012)

SYDNEY 4.2 10.7 15.12 16.14 (110) BRISBANE 3.4 7.4 8.7 9.9 (63)
GOALS Sydney: Reid 6, Goodes 3, McVeigh 2, McGlynn, Hannebery, Jetta, Pyke, OfKeefe. Brisbane: Rich 2, Brown 2, Karnezis 2, Raines, Crisp, Bewick.
BEST Sydney: Malceski, McVeigh, Shaw, Goodes, Reid, Kennedy. Brisbane: Zorko, Hanley, Adcock, Rich, Drummond.
UMPIRES Schmitt, Farmer, Leppard.
CROWD 19,419 at SCG.

Towards the middle of what's been a strange round of football - a strange Friday and Saturday, at least - the Sydney Swans anchored themselves firmly to what was expected of them, and are now atop the Toyota AFL Premiership ladder, ahead of the West Coast Eagles, heading into a now hotly-anticipated, top of the table clash across in Perth next Sunday afternoon.

In a turnaround from their recent way of doing things, the Swans started slowly and ran over the top of the Brisbane Lions, a team getting better, but not quite there yet, on a murky Saturday afternoon-evening to capitalise on Collingwood's demise at the hands of their arch-rivals Carlton on Friday night and on a squeak-past victory by West Coast against North Melbourne in Tasmania. As we would later see, Essendon, premiership co-favourites, were pumped by St Kilda. In a weekend of change and loss at the top of the AFL tree, only the Swans remained steady.

Who would have thought - certainly not this blogger - that the Swans offensive effort would be headlined by Sam Reid? The key forward's never had a problem taking big, spectacular marks over the pack, but converting those grabs into goals is where he's let himself down for most of the season. Except for last night. Reid was tidy, opening his first six pack of a young career and proving that the tutelage of Nick Davis, a gun goalkicker in his day, is reaping reards, and should continue to.

Nick Malceski, a late inclusion for Marty Mattner, played like he'd never been away from the side, amongst the best midfielders the Swans had - no mean feat; the midfield was it's usual ball moving, tackling, intense beast - and will certainly stake a claim to be included in the team to take on West Coast in Perth next week. Where that leaves Mattner, hobbled late by an injury, is anyone's guess. It was a nice

Six goals to three in the second quarter set the Swans on their winning ways. It was a good night defensively, with Ted Richards holding Jonathan Brown to just two goals, smothering the Lions big man with some niggly help underneath from Ben McGlynn, who shows no fear or favour on the field. He'll go after Brown, a giant vs a midget almost, as willingly as he'll go after a guy more his own size. The Hawthorn discard is now a major part of the Swans machine, and has endeared himself to fans with his rugged style of play. After all, rugged is what the Swans covet the most. See Messrs Bolton, Kirk, Kelly as prime examples.

Richards should be on his way to All Australian selection, as should Lewis Jetta, who seems to add another highlight reel goal on a season chock-full of them. If both those guys aren't at least in contention, there's something very wrong. It's an amazing moment. Who would've thought, at the beginning of the year, that Jetta and Richards would likely be 1-2 - perhaps separated only by Josh Kennedy - in the best and fairest race. Yet, they've been the backbone of our season.

With the trip to Perth looming, Adam Goodes seems almost back to his vintage best, getting touches, kicking goals, making tackles, and pretty much looking like the Adam Goodes of old, just what we wanted to see. The afore-mentioned Kennedy, and Jude Bolton, Kieran Jack, Dan Hannebery, Rhyce Shaw and his beard and Heath Grundy were sensational, too. And who could forget Ryan O'Keefe's spectacular mark in the square. No doubt he's trying to get on the same highlight reels as Jetta.

A good win, a premiership-leading win, it might be said, and now comes the long trip out to Perth to take on our old rivals, the West Coast Eagles. If prior form is anything to go by, we'd all be best strapping ourselves in for this one.

Go Bloods!!