Player ratings: Sydney Swans vs North Melbourne, Round 7, 2018

We’re not going to win many games at the SCG if we play three quarters like that. It isn’t as if North Melbourne are a great team – they’re not. But when you are gifting the ball to them, turning it over furiously every chance you get, you’re going to get punished.

I would genuinely worry if we had to back up next week against Carlton at home. The form we’re in at the SCG, there’s a few NEAFL teams that would give us a scare. While 2017 was a worse start to the season at the SCG - winning one from the first five, we’ve equaled the 2011, 2006 and 2000 seasons, winning one from our first four. Only seasons 2017 and 1994 are worse. That’s not something we need or want this season.

B: Jake Lloyd, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB: Callum Mills, Dane Rampe, Robbie Fox
C: Harry Cunningham, Josh P. Kennedy, Zak Jones
HF: Jarrad McVeigh, Will Hayward, George Hewett
F: Tom Papley, Gary Rohan, Kieren Jack
FOL: Callum Sinclair, Luke Parker, Isaac Heeney
I/C: Oliver Florent, Dean Towers, Ben Ronke, Harry Marsh

3: Jarrad McVeigh
7
He's been in really good form so far this season, but this was a game where his pace was exploited countless times and his presence in defence was a liability. While he was tidy as usual, almost every disposal was in the back pockets.
5: Isaac Heeney
6.5
Finished with 6 marks and 18 disposals, but after the first quarter just about disappeared from the match.
7: Harry Cunningham
1
9 disposals at 50% and 4 turnovers is not AFL standard, it's not even state level standard. There's off nights, and then there's nights like this.
9: Will Hayward
8.5
Looked like the only one capable of taking a mark inside 50, or kicking a goal. Finished with 3.2, was our only threat inside forward 50, and one of our better players.
10: Zak Jones
7
His disposal has been very tidy recently, recording 94% and only 3 turnovers from 18. Unfortunately, almost every disposal was in the back pocket, and he was involved in that shocking turnover from Sinclair in the second quarter.
12: Josh Kennedy
8
Really struggled in the first half. Not sure if the shackles were on, because he was winning his own ball, but Jacobs' was taking him to the cleaners. Finished with 31 disposals, 18 contested, 29 pressure acts and 436 metres gained.
13: Oliver Florent
4.5
Had a few moments of brilliance, especially in the last quarter. Let himself down with atrocious disposal, going at 44% with 3 turnovers from 9 disposals. Like Cunningham, a bit of a dog night out.
14: Callum Mills
7
It's a little hard to rate his game. Hit his markers, did well, finished with 20 disposals, with only four of those in the attacking half. Took a couple of good grabs, but found himself beaten one-on-one a few too many times.
15: Kieren Jack
2.5
First three quarters were as bad as it gets. 15 disposals, 40% efficiency, 3 behinds and 5 turnovers. Bobbed up at the start of the fourth, his first four disposals at 100% and the Swans score 2.1. Recorded 9 for the last quarter, still going at 50%, so it means his last six, only one hit the target.
16: Gary Rohan
4
I don't want to be mean on the guy, I love him and when he's on, he's on. This week, it just seemed as though the occasion got to him. It's happened before and he's admitted in the past that he gets overawed, so you just have to wonder if this is another instance of that.
18: Callum Sinclair
8.5
For three quarters this guy dominated for the Swans. He was lightyears ahead of the next Swan at half-time, 21 AFL Fantasy points ahead of Kennedy. That's unheard of. Finished with 20 disposals and 27 hit-outs, had 15 disposals and 13 hit-outs at half-time. He was the only reason the Swans were close.
22: Dean Towers
6
Didn't have a great comeback. Kicked a sizzling goal and had 5 score involvements, but couldn't get involved or assert himself, finishing with just 10 disposals and four tackles.
24: Dane Rampe
4
Ben Brown kicked one goal on him, then he shifted to full back and played like the great wall of china. At the other end, Mason Wood dominated. Rampe... he wasn't good. 11 disposals for 5 turnovers not good. For someone that's usually so good with the ball in hands, he was anything but.
25: Ben Ronke (R)
7
Hard to be critical on the second gamer, but the Roos didn't let him impact the game. Still, he did a lot better, and a lot more than his more senior players, finishing with 13 disposals, 5 score involvements, 1 goal assist, 21 pressure acts and 320 metres gained.
26: Luke Parker
6.5
You really have to wonder what's going on with Parker. Completely absent in the first half, despite having 10 disposals, you couldn't even pick him out on the field. Finished with 21, didn't look close to it at all, but kicked a beauty and was involve in some of the scores.
29: George Hewett
7
Our second best mid on the night. Won the hard ball, did a bit with it and looked good around the packs.
31: Harry Marsh
4
Another night where he wins up with possessions but defensively looked out of his depth. I get the appeal of having a running rebounding defender, but if you're going to play defence, you have to be able to at least win, or neutralise one-on-one battles, and he just doesn't seem to be able to do it. While his kicking was no near as bad as Rampe's, he still had 5 turnovers from 16 disposals and just 1 tackle. Not good enough.
39: Heath Grundy
8.5
Best defender by the length of the Flemington straight. Had it on a string and recorded absurd numbers in the first half, career best metres gained. Finished with 22 disposals at 91%, just 1 turnover, 11 intercept possessions and 11 marks. Ended up with 401 metres gained.
40: Nick Smith
7
Don't look at the AFL Fantasy Points, they always say he's crap. It wasn't his best game, but he was serviceable. Can't really expect him to win too many against Mason Wood though.
11: Tom Papley
6
Had a chance to win it. Overall, not really a good night.
42: Robbie Fox (R)
5
Kicked a great goal and showed terrific pace and hands. Other than that, didn't do much.
44: Jake Lloyd
7
Well down on his averages, just the 17 at 77% and a clutch goal in the fourth quarter. Only 192 metres gained, suggests most of his disposals were sideways or backwards. 1 tackle, sigh.

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Justin Mitchell

Justin is a passionate AFL and Sydney Swans supporter, and football blogger since 2016. All articles are of his own opinion. You can reach him by twitter and Facebook at @theswansblog

Melbourne, Australia https://theswansblog.com

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