Even Barry O'Farrell could've kicked that!*

Last night I watched possibly the worst three quarters of AFL I have ever seen. I say three quarters because I left before the end (totally out of character might I add) but I had things to do and people to see and sitting freezing my backside off watching the Swans not score goals, not hit targets, not handball, seemed a little counterproductive. I am assured that we acquited ourselves better in the final quarter but seeing as the Swans had scored 2 majors in 3 quarters and only 1 in the entire first half, quite frankly it would have been hard not to have improved.

While the Pies were better than the Swans on the night they certainly weren't good either, fortunately for Mick and the boys, the Swans were dismal. Both teams were extraordinarily inaccurate in front of goal, the Swans had 14 behinds and the Pies had 13.

Ridiculous.

Possibly the defining moment of the game was when Leaping Leo Barry under intense pressure in the Pies forward pocket decided to handball instead of putting the ball over for a rush behind and delivered the ball right into the hands of Travis Cloke directly in front of the sticks. it was a bad decision, poorly executed and it was the story of the night.

The Magpies successfully closed down Sydney's run, particularly from defense, and removed options for the Swans when they did get the ball. The pace of the game was glacial and the Swans seemed flustered and utterly lacking in composure.

So what does this mean for the rest of the season?

Well the Swans have a tough run to the finals, they have the Hawks next week in Melbourne, followed up by a dangerous looking Carlton (who are at the very least unpredictable) also in Melbourne then Adelaide at home and the Doggies at Manuka. In the final four weeks they'll face Collingwood again and also undisputed favourites and top of the table Geelong.

If the Swans play like they did against Collingwood they have't got a hope. They will need to pick up their basic skills and work at dominating the clearances and making sure that they can play their brand of fast moving running football. They will also need to imporve in front of goal. They will not beat top teams if they squander that many opportunities. Not only is it wasteful it is demoralising and exhausting.

Perhaps the one good sign for the swans is that the 6 majors were scored by 6 different players. perhaps that seems a little paradoxical but the Swan's strength it seems to me lies in their capacity for teamwork and in the ability of mulitple players to finish off. It makes defense difficult and it means there are always options.

To even look like contenders for September the Swannies will need to be more consistent. They certainly cannot afford another night like last night.


*Screamed by a Pies supporter when Magic missed a goal. It is possibly the strangest heckle I have ever heard at a footy match- I think the Pies fan must have been a Liberal seeing as no-one else knows who Barry is!