#who was likely the first to possess lloyd's element or some greater element that lloyd's came from

[calypsolemon]

fighting for my life so hard every day. ppl still think firstbourne is canonically fsm's mom 🤦‍♂️

[pokemon-ninjago-world]

Headcanon/Pokéninjago version of Lloyd’s identity crisis during season 5 of Ninjago

Got ab 12 likes on the announcement post so here we are: This is an essay-sorta-thing about something I thought and wrote some six years ago. It’s been so long since I wrote this I feel cringy reading it, but it’s tenable in Pokéninjago lore. It’s kind of a mix between my headcanon for the show, and canon of my AU, which is why there is mentions of “evolving” and Pokémon types.

Things to take into account:

Idk if there should be content warnings, but depression mention at least. Otherwise, this is pretty much as intense as season 5 went, just a little more angsty I suppose.

I must say that my version of Lloyd and his identity crisis were inspired by a certain artist’s version of him and by a comic they made about the Child’s Play episode’s aftermath. I don’t dare name the artist, since they don’t wish to be linked with the Ninjago fandom anymore, but some of you might know who I’m referring to. 

I do not know how psychology stuff actually works, all of this was made on grounds of a couple of high school psychology courses and a lot of imagination `:D

I wrote this originally in Finnish and let Word translate it, so this might be v clumsy at points.

Most of the text is under the cut!

                                                  ~***~

When Lloyd was just a small cub, closer to three years, his mother had left him in his father's care. Misako knew the boy would become the Green Ninja and Garmadon would become the Dark Lord. That is why she went looking for any ancient knowledge to avoid the final confrontation. Although her heart was torn since she had to leave her loved ones, she knew that she couldn’t just sit on her hands, and that perhaps she was the only one that could prevent the decisive battle between good and evil. It was also her wish that the father and the son could spend as much time together as possible. Thus, Lloyd's earliest childhood memories are about his father, and his recollections of his mother are blurry, obscure, and fading away as he grows up, or mixing with other memories.

            Dad meant everything to little Lloyd. Although they lived in the same monastery with Lloyd’s uncle as well, whom he also liked, his own father was still the greatest. Garmadon also loved his child deeply and wanted him to have a happy life. Although the poison in his veins was starting to get a hold of him and he was increasingly drawn to the Golden Weapons, his love for Lloyd and the desire to be with him in anticipation of Misako's return kept him away from them for much longer than if the boy had never existed.

                    When Lloyd "evolved," he lost some important years of his life, during which a youngster usually developes a picture of himself and his changing body. Lloyd's body changed in a single moment and even though his mind also changed to some degree, it was still mostly on the same level as before, since artificial aging did not bring him the years of experience that growing up normally would. From that moment on, he had to form himself a new image of himself. Frankly, he was facing a fierce identity crisis.

                     After the episode Child's Play, Lloyd adopted an identity whose foundation was flimsy and unstable. It consisted of a few simple pillars that supported his image of himself. Some emotions, thoughts, and memories that he could not, wasn’t able to or didn’t dare to deal with, secretly and slowly gnawed at those pillars like erosion. They grew into doubt that settled into the cracks like rockfoil.

                     That flimsy foundation for his self-image, consisted of these elements: I am the Green Ninja. I'm the strongest ninja of all. I’m the son of  sensei Garmadon. I’m the grandson of The First Spinjitzu Master. I'm one of the Elemental Masters. I'm a student of Sensei Wu. I'm one of the five elemental ninjas. It's my destiny to protect the world from evil.

                     This made it easy for Morro to destabilize and crush Lloyd’s self-esteem. Morro proved himself to be stronger and more independent than Lloyd, and that he could win him over and over again, no matter how hard Lloyd tried to fight back. Lloyd felt weak and desperate. Two pillars of his self-image collapsed to the ground and the masked emotions and doubts that chipped away at the other columns began to grow and intensify: He was not the strongest ninja and was therefore unable to protect the world from this evil.

                     This also affected his view of him as the Green Ninja. Although logically he still was just that – the Golden Weapons and his powers had proven it – he could not help but think that maybe Morro really was supposed to be the Chosen One. His identity was cracking, which ate away at his strength and self-esteem. Being a Psychic Type, his greatest strength resided in his psyche, and whenever his mind was in an unstable and vulnerable state, he couldn’t do his best, even if he had used everything he had learned. Losing his father fairly recently had already struck a dangerous notch in his mental stability.

                     Even though Lloyd was still his father's son, it didn't feel the same when he was no longer with him. Finally, he was only driven forward by his relationship with his other loved ones. He had to do everything he could to stop Morro from harming his friends. By protecting them he was also protecting the last intact remnants of his Self.

                     Lloyd did everything he could to resist Morro's possession. From time to time a memory of his friends and the will to keep them safe increased his "self-control," weakening the ghost's hold on him. However, a long, grueling time in constant motion, without water and nourishment, poisoned by a cold, vindictive spirit, steadily filled his mind with anguish and despair. Doubts penetrated deep into the tears of his self-image, breaking everything old until he no longer knew who he was. Only with the last bits of his mental strength could he interfere with Morro's possession so that he failed to clear the other ninjas out of his way.

                     Then, when Morro broke away from Lloyd's body, the Espeon felt like nothing more than an empty, broken shell floating aimlessly in the dark, beachless sea. He was unable to live up to any of the expectations and goals that had been set for him. Now, he was used as a trade-in item in the market of the world’s destiny. He longer had the strength or power to save even his best friends. He was as helpless as a newborn pup and all he could do was to stand by and apologize when he was traded for Realm Crystal.

                      Somewhere from his past, he dug up one last spark of strength. Already as a child, he had been left alone with unfriendly people, who then had ignited that stubborn flame in him: the desire to fight the cruel, unjust and repressive world. His body still had more strength than his mind, and this momentary burst of grit made him kick the Crystal out of Morro's hand. This, however, caused him to end up in the freezing stream, all his energy used up. There was not much left but a primitive desire to survive and a little strength to keep his head afloat before the cold numbed his muscles.

                     Lloyd's mind was in shambles. Images, memories, shattered fragments of his adopted identity… they all churned in his tired, blurred consciousness. Unintentionally, he began to go through the feelings of uncertainty, fear and inadequacy that he had denied from himself for years. The present seemed more surreal than the memories. He relived moments that had had a revolutionary impact on his life: When the golden weapons pointed him out as a Green Ninja; when he grew up under the influence of Tomorrow's Tea; when he met his mother and became to know her; when he unleashed the Golden Dragon in the Temple of Light; how he fought the Overlord who was possessing his father; how he harnessed his True Potential; got his father back; lost Zane; reunited his friends again and felt great togetherness with the other Elemental Masters. When he lost his father again. And when Morro possessed him.

                     Lloyd was lost. If it wasn’t for his friends and their care, he would have sunk deep into depression (and, on the other hand, drowned or, at the very least, died of hypothermia). When Kai carried him out of the FSM’s tomb, it triggered a very clear memory of the day when the Master of Fire had fulfilled his potential and Lloyd had been identified as the Chosen One. That day, Kai had come to save him from an erupting volcano and carried him to safety. Now, Lloyd felt like he was that little scared cub again, who had for a moment thought he was going to burn to the ground in the boiling lava of the volcano. He remembered how Kai's closeness had brought a feeling of immediate security around him. Even though the mountain had raged and wanted to kill them both, Lloyd had known he didn’t have to be afraid. Kai was there. He'd protect Lloyd. There was no reason to fight the fear anymore, he didn't have to pretend like he was tough. He was carried by someone older and stronger, whom to rely on.

                     The feeling was so intense, the memory so vivid that Lloyd was overwhelmed by an inexplicable, immense grief. The sadness of being forced to give up a carefree childhood so early on, to take on an enormous responsibility and assume a role that seemed too demanding for such a small boy to perform. He had had to grow up way too soon. He started shaking from holding back the tears. He didn’t mind since he thought Kai was probably assuming that he was shivering from the cold. But when Kai said quietly and understandingly: "Shh... It's okay... Don't worry about it," the last wall of pride and fear fell, and Lloyd could no longer repress his weeping.

                     At this point, he slowly began to build a new identity on the ruins of the wrecked one. He understood that even though he was the Green Ninja, it didn’t make him greater or more important than the others. He had more magical power than anyone else, but he was still only a person just like them. He could hesitate, too, and fail. There was no way for him to do anything more than what he was capable of, mentally, physically, and skill-wise. That’s all there was to offer, and if it wasn't enough, there were others whom he could rely on. Others, who would catch him when he ran out of strength. He wasn't the last link to hold the whole structure together.

                     These ideas developed slowly in Lloyd's exhausted mind. Slowly, he got stitched back up from the fragments of his previous self-image. This time, however, his new identity was not something that was given to him from the outside, in which he would have had to fit himself, but it was a solid, authentic self-image created as a result of self-reflection. It was still obscure, uncertain and seeking its form, and its growth was overshadowed by fear. But the conversation with his father drove away that last fear. The fear that Morro was supposed to be the Green Ninja instead of Lloyd. His father assured that Lloyd’s qi had no influence on how he should live and act. He should live the way his heart told him to.

                     In the end, although Morro managed to beat Lloyd one last time, this time he did not break down. He was more intact now, he had more inner strength, and he knew for sure he wouldn't be abandoned. That the fate of the world wasn't really up to him. He may have been part of the story, but after all, he wasn't the protagonist, at least not the only one of them.

[vedj-f-bekuesu]

Ninjago Unpopular Opinions

Following on from my watch of the entire old series (combined with already having seen the last two series), I have enough material to work with to make a sort of unpopular opinion list. Some of these are lightweight, some of these are...uh, not so much. 

These aren’t in any particular order, this is more of a “I’ll just put them down as I remember them” sort of deal. That’ll be why they appear so messy. 

-Even after all this I prefer the newest seasons to the older stuff. There have been a surprising number of good to great older seasons, but I just love that hit of S1/S2 campiness with the more developed writing of later seasons. 

-Cole sucked as a leader, aside from in the pilot episodes. In the series proper he varied from complete meathead I hated (first part of S1), to having the same mentoring personality as everyone else (S1 - S2), to being consumed by the love triangle which made him pull a really shitty move (I don’t need to tell you what that refers to). He eventually gets ironed out in season 4, but Lloyd had already taken over as leader at this point. And rightfully so, even if Lloyd’s material got knocked from season 3 as a result. 

-I couldn’t really warm up to Ronin that much for some reason. I get the reason why he’s popular, since it was pretty obvious he was supposed to be like an off-beat mentor figure to Nya, but...I dunno, unlike with Dareth, it felt like his skeevy moments were more off-kilter, plus I didn’t really like his arc in Skybound (even if that was written out of reality). That being said, his was strong in Possession even with said moments. Maybe I just need a future appearance to see how I ultimately swing with him.

-I mentioned this in my Hunted overview, but I think Skylor’s just bland. Part of the problem is that she’s mainly just wedged in as an action girl and doesn’t have too many moments to interact outside of that. That’s mostly reserved for moments where she acts as Agony Aunt (which is fine, that shows that being supportive is in her nature), but she needs more to work with. And as an obvious offshoot, if Kailor is the intended endgame it sucks in its current form. They don’t have chemistry or a decent dynamic.

-The other Ninjago ship I don’t particularly like out of all of them is...actually Geode. Yeah, Rebooted obviously wasn’t good for it considering the love triangle, but what actually did more damage to it for me was Skybound. It went so far in trying to oversteer back that it beat you over the head with the fact they were making Cole and Jay best friends after said love triangle (made really obvious when Jay is worried about Cole’s reaction to him seeing Nya in his reflection in both Possession and Skybound, when Cole isn’t even phased when he’s told). It was just really off-putting.

-Jay is a better big brother figure to Lloyd than Kai. Yeah, Kai’s true potential moment in Rise of the Serpentine hinged on realising he (and the others, mind) were supposed to protect Lloyd, they all spent Legacy of the Green Ninja’s first half being Lloyd’s proper mentors, Zane’s death prompted Kai to hover with thoughts of the Green Ninja again (which seemed to me for different reasons to being envious of power at the start, although its handling was very clunky after that), and he had the first episode in Possession which was arguably the strongest showing of a dynamic with Lloyd, but Possession didn’t have much about it outside of said episode, and the show seemed to just forget it from that point beyond some very, very fleeting and sparse bits. In the more modern seasons, it feels like Jay’s stepped up to be more supportive of Lloyd on a more consistent basis (which would make sense with the common fanon that Jay is the youngest of the original Ninja, he’d be closer to Lloyd’s age). It’s something I kind of want tapped into in a proper way at some point.

-Sensei Garmadon is a bit overrated. Just a smidge. When he’s good, he’s good, but most of the time he’s no more interesting than Wu would be in the same position. And I feel like they didn’t really develop his fatherly bond with Lloyd too well despite that being what his character was there for. Again, aside from moments where he was really good.

-Most underrated season of the old batch for me was the last minute shock, March of the Oni. I did enjoy Day of the Departed (which has a worse reputation), but I can understand why someone wouldn’t like it considering how bare it was. March of the Oni is far from my favourite season but I thought it came together really well, so the fact it’s generally panned legitimately confuses me. I guess Hands of Time would be a contender too, but I think opinion on that has swayed in its favour after the new seasons came out (and Secrets of the Forbidden Spinjutsu would be here if I included the new batch) so that’s why it’s edged out. 

-Most overrated season for me was undeniably Tournament of Elements. It’s not my least favourite season, but Rebooted and Hunted are pretty maligned to begin with, while Tournament of Elements is usually considered one of the top ones. It starts strong, has an interesting premise and there are ideas that are executed well. The thing is that the elements that people tend to praise the season for are ones I actually think the writers dropped the ball on, hence why this ended up the toughest season to get to the end of, even more than Hunted. It’s a shame, but it’s just not for me. 

-Best ninja suits...honestly, I don’t really notice the suits unless they’re really bad, because I’m used to franchises where costume changes mark radical permanent redesigns, and are not just par for the course of the brand (it makes perfect sense with a toy brand who want to sell you the same characters over and over again but still). Not counting the S11 suits since they weren’t part of the old batch, I guess I’d honestly say the ZX suits, maybe? They’re simple, but they’re cute and very distinct. Also Sons of Garmadon Cole channelling the Movie costume was a very good move (and arguably looks even better ripped up in Hunted aethetically), and Kai’s suit was bleh in Sons of Garmadon but its overhaul in Hunted was way better. Also, just as a wildcard, Rebooted Lloyd looks like a more finely tuned ZX suit. Actually, just one last bit on a tangent to note a difference the show makes to the figures that demonstrates the figures’ limitations. For Kai and Jay’s S11 suits, their figures invoke similar feels (because underneath the accessories they do have a lot in common), whereas they feel very different in the show because while Jay sticks to the figure and looks snug, Kai has a lot exposed around the neckline, as if his gi is hanging loosely on the shoulders and should join Cole in the “For fucks sake it’s an ice realm wear a jacket please” club. 

-Worst ninja sui--what the hell happened to Cole and Nya in Hands of Time?! Nya’s main issue is that it’s trying to work too many colours and they just don’t mesh well. I think this was the time they were partially adapting the movie’s change, but they were clinging onto her having red to both represent Samurai X and her ties to her brother, but they should have just picked one or the other because it just doesn’t work the way it did in Skybound. And Cole’s outfit is just hideous. Its balance of colours and accents is all off-kilter, and to top it off the shoes just don’t work and somehow look like socks with sandals. I didn’t know that was doable with a whole suit. Finally, on a general note, I’m not a fan of when the suits are all very similar bar some very, very minor differences. One could argue that it makes them look more like a team, but I prefer the individual personality to come out. 

-It’s hard to judge the best and worst episodes, honestly. The seasons from Tournament of Elements onwards are done so tied to each other that picking an episode is rather difficult outside of designated finales (or the odd Jay-focused/Zane-focused episodes that happened in seasons 7, 8 and 9). I guess for best I’d say stuff like The Quiet One, or The Fall, or Grave Danger, or stuff like that would be up there. Worst episodes in those seasons are even harder, because usually it’s how arcs over episodes are written that get to me, not individual episodes.  This all being said, it’s much easier to do this with the more episodic first three seasons, and to that end I would still say that Tick Tock is my favourite standalone episode still, and Home is still my least favourite. For all the times the writing has dropped the ball, nothing has legitimately pissed me off more than what this episode did because it’s in its own category of bad writing. 

-There have been some concepts thrown in that, while they definitely wouldn’t work out in the long term, make for interesting snippets of what-ifs. Like, I loved the bit where Jay was a show host and got around the stage using his lightning powers. That seems like such a natural fit outside of his ninja identity I wish I’d thought of it. Imagine Bradley Walsh using lightning to get around the studio, that would be metal as fuck.

-On the other side of that coin, the bizarro Ninja are the single most overrated concept in the show. I don’t like Scourge the Hedgehog to begin with, but he at least had some efforts to make him unique (that fell flat, but eh). The bizarro Ninja are the equivalent of Evil Sonic; cliche and undeveloped. They’re not even useful for the cliche idea of framing the actual Ninja since even though they’re seen doing delinquent behaviour, this is never addressed. Heck Nadakhan was more effective with this idea. Thing is that I can’t blame the show at all for this. While the concept is naff, the show itself treats them as they actually were; Garmadon’s puppets and the scheme of the episode. Aside from bizarro Jay’s behaviour to Nya being full of unfortunate implications, there is no greater purpose for their existence, and the show never tries to do it again. It’s really the fans that have inflated their appearance in this case because I guess the idea of “take this nice character and give them an evil version” is just so appealing to the teenage demographic. Screw that, corruption is way more fun and interesting. 

-What I can blame the show for is the single worst execution of an idea, because to this point I still consider Kai’s green ninja “arc” in Tournament of Elements to be the single worst executed arc (yeah, even worse than the love triangle, but that one is still bad). The sad thing is it managed to convince me that it wasn’t such a bad concept when they explained it by being an offshoot of his depression following Zane’s death (before that I was very sceptical it could fit it in naturally after the last three seasons). But then it was used once when Skylor tried to get Kai to stab Lloyd in the back during the skating match (which Kai completely rebuffed and seemed over his depression-rooted negative vibes on Lloyd), and once more when he was overcome by the power of the staff. The latter is especially infuriating since this would have been the perfect opportunity for a character moment. Like, Lloyd and/or Skylor could have fought to get Kai out of the trance of the staff and see that his friends mean more to him than having power. It practically writes itself and is a perfect set-up. What happens instead is that Cole is technically the one to save Kai from himself as he rams the Roto Jet into the chamber and makes the rocky serpentine structure come crashing down on Kai. Maybe interesting to read into if you want a Lava reading of the show, but in that moment is just a wasted opportunity. Come on!

-Actually, also talking about other bad concepts, I don’t miss those weird energy dragons they could summon starting from Tournament of Elements. The dragons in Rise of the Serpentine/Legacy of the Green Ninja were fine because they had a logical reason for being there and actually were integrated into the plot (so you got to watch them being maintained and having moments with the ninja). The energy dragons in Tournament of Elements existed for one character as a plot thing (Zane’s, because he always had the good plots in the earlier seasons), but then everyone else suddenly could do it too and they became convenient plot devices and nothing else. Airjutsu I was more okay with because it seems more like a tool they’d use and could be integrated better, but I can also see why that stopped being used (outside of that one bit in Prime Empire).

-The Elemental Masters are both over-hyped and underdeveloped. The normal civilian cast really got the shaft once the series decided it wanted to explore this lore, yet the only ones I really got interested in in any way were the villain EMs and Karlof. And even Karlof is overlooked by the fandom, by the looks of it. 

-Jay actually came off the best in the Rebooted love triangle. He’s not entirely perfect, but he is essentially the biggest victim as a result of it in that season, and what Nya and Cole did either bordered on or was outright callous for different reasons. I think if people gave Jay the biggest shtick for Rebooted’s events, it’s influenced with how Skybound botched trying to patch it up. 

-The movie was a net positive influence on the show. Aside from me preferring the designs of the movie anyway, it forced the characterisation to actually pick a lane for each character and stick to it, mitigating a lot of the haphazard characterisation issues. The inconsistency in later seasons is tone instead, which is maybe why people thought the characterisation was inconsistent between Sons of Garmadon/Hunted and March of the Oni/SotFS (when really, they weren’t that different if at all). The show also made a good call in ignoring movie Zane’s characterisation; as much as I enjoy it in the film, it really didn’t gel up with what the show had done with him, so trying to force it in would have been more of a characterisation jolt than any of the early season stuff. 

-I’m generally fine with Jaya and Pixane. The former I can see why people would be off about it because there have been some badly written periods for them, but I think on the whole it manages to hold it together. The latter was written in surprisingly smoothly given the circumstances, so it’s no wonder I don’t see discourse about it. 

-Oh yeah, I don’t get Wu/Faith as a ship. Like, she was the cool drill instructor/aunt to everyone, including Wu. This is a quick one because it’s just a very small aside.

-Also I can’t really get behind Polyninja either. If the characters had a fairly even spread of interaction and moments between each other I could, but the spread ends up like lots of moments between Cole and Kai varying from little moments to huge dollops, and Cole and Jay having a whole best friends affirmation arc due to the fallout of the love triangle, to Kai and Jay having barely anything to work with and anyone with Zane getting a couple of table scraps occasionally. It’s not even enough.

-Following on from that though, Zane feels the least integrated with the group dynamic in general. He’s has some of the best plots and stories in the show, but nearly all of them have been focusing on him solo. And not even SotFS or Prime Empire helped with this one. Hopefully MoM can smooth this one out a bit. 

-Finally for this post, after going through all those seasons I still prefer Nya’s movie voice to her show voice by a significant margin. Sorry Kelly Metzger. 

I think that’s it. I’ve actually been on this for a week but I’ve been allowing time for more thoughts to come to me, because there have been a lot of thoughts coming in batches. I think I’ll leave it at this though, because I think most of it is covered pretty well.

I have at least two more text posts like this planned, but they’re not strictly about the old seasons so I’ve left them for after. I’m looking forward to them though, because they’re on specific topics and that is my bread and butter pudding. 

[fearsmagazine]

THE POWER - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: SHUDDER

SYNOPSIS: In 1974 London Britain prepared for electrical blackouts to sweep across the country. Val is a nurse in training and she arrives for her first day at the crumbling East London Royal Infirmary. Most of the patients and staff are evacuated to another hospital, but Val is forced to work the night shift. She is in a dark, near empty building. Within these walls lies a deadly secret, forcing Val to face both her own traumatic past and her deepest fears in order to confront the malevolent force that’s intent on destroying everything around her.

REVIEW: There was a time that a heroine in a genre film had to face down a single supernatural force, such as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers in the “Halloween” films. More and more, there is a new breed of genre films where the female heroes are dealing with some form of personal trauma in addition to facing down a supernatural foe. Sometimes there is a direct connection, other times there is a parallel reference. In either case, it makes for a stronger character with an interesting complexity. Corinna Faith’s THE POWER is a compelling character study. There is a quality to Faith’s tale that is reminiscent of Jerome Bixby’s short story “It’s a Good Life” that was adapted for both the original Twilight Zone series and the 1983 anthology film. THE POWER is a darker plot and Val is dealing with deep personal scares.

Val is a troubled woman who is typically British as she suppresses her problems in order to take on the challenges of  career. Still, we see her vulnerability and know she will have rough emotional waters to navigate. There were times the character made me think of  Eleanor from Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House.” Unlike Hill House, there is only one spirit in the hospital and it possesses greater power to get what it wants. Val is as much a victim of the British class society as she is of being a woman in 1974 London. The matron informs her that she is not to speak to the doctors, who appear to be all male. Later on we learn that she felt so threatened by the male authority figures in her earlier years that she recanted her accusations of abuse against the  school’s headmaster. Faith presents all this background material as haunting memories so the viewer can understand where Val is and what she must overcome to deal with this supernatural horror. She does an excellent job of showing us the evolution of this character and her overcoming trauma and adversity.

The film’s plot centers around this personal journey of Vaa. Bringing her to the screen is the talented actress Rose Williams. Williams does an exceptional job of giving Val a soul. We understand her pain, sympathize with her frustrations, and inwardly cheer as she finds the courage and fortitude to stand up to those who aim to “keep her in her place.” It’s a riveting performance that is as impressive as the genre work of Jamie Lee Curtis or Sigourney Weaver.

THE POWER features some amazing period locations, excellent costumes, breathtaking special and visual effects, in addition to the rest of the talent cast. Corinna Faith takes these cavernous hospital wards and corridors and transforms them into claustrophobic spaces as the darkness descends. She does an amazing job of breathing life into the darkness, making it menacing and an extension of the evil presence, but yet something that is still very organic, natural. All of those elements are enhanced by a haunting score by Elizabeth Bernholz & Max de Wardener.

After viewing the film I came to a keen understanding of how the film’s title, THE POWER, is a play on many of the film’s themes. There are the societal, supernatural, and personal issues of power, as well as the metaphor of the power outage. It all makes for a rich narrative that is transformed into a compelling genre film. Filmmaker Corinna Faith weaves a rich and complex story of a character’s journey of self awareness and determination to rise above the limitations placed on her by a male dominated society with facing down and finding a resolution to a horrifying tragedy. It is a contemporary gothic tale that stands as an exceptional example of the genre film at its best and most powerful. THE POWER is an outstanding cinematic experience.

CAST: Rose Williams, Emma Rigby, Charlie Carrick, Clara Read, Paul Antony-Barber, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Diveen Henry, Robert Goodman, & Nuala McGowan. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Corinna Faith; Producers - Rob Watson & Matthew James Wilkinson; Cinematographer - Laura Bellingham; Editors - Tommy Boulding & Rebecca Lloyd; Score - Elizabeth Bernholz & Max de Wardener; Production Designer - Francesca Massariol; Costume Designer - Holly Smart; Special Effects - Cliff Wallace. OFFICIAL: www.shudder.com FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/nlWQhZotNXs RELEASE DATE: On SHUDDER April 8th, 2021

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike) Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[anjibooks]

The Diviners by Libba Bray (Book Review)

I'm not usually an audiobook kind of girl. See, I'm a fast reader, and can absorb novels far, far faster than can be comfortably listened to. But here's the thing, as I am a seventeen year old girl with the heart of a grandmother, I recently got obsessed with knitting and crocheting, and I can't very well read while doing such hobbies. So I decided to try the audiobook for the Diviners, since it's a book that been waiting on my shelf for a very long time. At first I found the voices and the pace a bit annoying, but as I got into it more, I found myself constantly listening to the audiobook, and getting through the absurdly long audiobook in a couple days. Not only did I listen to the book when I was crocheting, I would also listen to it while brushing my teeth, getting ready for school in the morning, while driving to the store to buy more yarn, and even while reading other school books (I'm surprisingly good at multitasking.) This was both due to the combination of an excellent novel and also because after getting used to being read to instead of reading, I really got into the whole audiobook format. I would set the sleep timer and go to sleep listening to the book. Really, there was never a quiet moment. If you're too busy to read, I would highly recommend trying the audiobook (or any audiobook)! It's actually quite useful and enjoyable. Now on to the actual novel. The Diviners was nothing like I was expecting. The story mainly follows Evie O'Neill, a girl who goes to live with her uncle in New York City in the 1920s after causing a little too much trouble at home. I thought this would be a very serious story with a serious investigation into murder and an Avengers-like come together moment,  it was nothing like that. I don't even know how to describe this book, it's so unique. There's a definite element of horror, like sometimes I deeply regretted listening to this as I was falling asleep. The murder scenes are creepy as what, made creepier by the audiobook since the narrator actual whistles and sings the songs as the murderer approaches. There's also just teen drama going on. Evie's a party girl, she's a flapper after all, and doesn't like to take things too seriously. It's such a strange combination, and yet... somehow it all works. If you're tired of the same old tropes and whatnot, definitely check this book out, because there's nothing like it. Evie is truly her own person, I can't think of any other protagonists to compare her to. She's extroverted, stubborn and possesses an overabundance of confidence. She has the special ability to read any object she puts her hands on, which, while some other protagonists might keep their talent a secret, she literally uses it as a party trick. Yeah, Evie is definitely different from any protagonist you might read, but she's not one you'll be likely to forget anytime soon. At first she may come off as frivolous and a bit annoying, but as you get deeper in the novel, you can't help but fall in love with her. This is one of those novels that has a whole giant cast of characters with a plethora of POVs. I found that Evie's POV and those around Evie were the most interesting. Meaning that every single time we got to a Memphis chapter, I got a little bored. Sorry everyone who likes Memphis, he's just not all that interesting to me. Here's a brief overview of all the characters you'll be meeting Mabel Rose-- she's Evie's best friend, and her polar opposite. She's meek, quiet and introverted, quite happy to just follow Evie around and live under the shelter of her helicopter parents and silently pine after Jericho Jones. I'll be honest, Mabel is not my favorite character, never has been. In the first book she's okay, but as the series progressed, she became my least favorite and at times I was ready to throw some punches at her. Sam Lloyd-- Let's just introduce this beautiful boy as my one true love. Sam is by far my favorite character in the entire series, with Evie coming in as a close second. He's a thief and skilled liar, yet he is also extremely charismatic and his banter with Evie is something I live for. He gets on her last nerve and will poke at her to get a rise just for fun. If that isn't #perfect, I don't know what is. Oh, and he may have a mission and goal of his own along with some surprising secrets... ​ Will Fitzgerald-- Evie's uncle who she comes to live with. He runs The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition and the Occult-- more commonly known as The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies, which isn't doing so hot lately. Like almost all the characters in this story, he's basically filled past the brim with secrets and backstory, many of which have yet to be revealed. Will is friends with a detective, which is why, when a ton of strange murders occur, Will is brought in to consult. (And then Evie tags along, much to her uncle's annoyance. ) Jericho Jones-- this is Will's sort of adopted son / employee. He's a stoic young man of giant stature yet quiet nature who is hiding (shocker) a big secret. Jericho is not my favorite character. He's sweet but when the book is filled with some much more colorful characters, Jericho falls behind in the race for my love. (also I will mention things later in other reviews of the later books). Theta Knight-- She's a strong minded woman who doesn't mind causing a bit of scandal-- not nearly as much as Evie does, though. At first when she was introduced, I expected Theta to be your typical mean girl, but instead she and Evie become fast friends. I loved that element of the novel. And yes, she's also hiding a deep dark secret. Theta lives with her best friend, Henry, and I have to say I adore their relationship and wish it was explored to greater depths. Henry DuBois-- Not much is revealed about Henry in book 1, other than he plays piano and is gay. He's funny for the tiny bits of time that you see him, and well, he's hiding something too. Shocker. You get to find out a whole bunch more about Henry in book two. I love this guy, can't t really say much more than that, sorry! Memphis Campbell-- yup. This is the guy whose chapters I found to be boring. He used to have power, but he lost it after a tragic event in his past. Perhaps one of the reasons I was so bored by his storyline was because it was so detached from the others who I already loved and whose fates were quite intertwined (and I'd argue their storyline was more intriguing as well.) He lives in Harlem with his little brother and their highly religious aunt. He's black, which adds an interesting and sometimes sad dynamic as you see how racist many people were back in the 20s. Remember how I mentioned earlier about that dash of horror? More like a heaping of horror. The story starts with some sort of spirit named Naughty John being released, and oh boy, do I wish those dumb kids had left that Ouija Board alone, because Naughty John created some creepyass scenes that will probably haunt my dreams for a long time. The creep factor of this story... Wow. If you get the opportunity, I would seriously suggest audiobooking this one because it elevates the spookiness by so much. Here's something to think about, cheerful singing whilst committing brutal murder... Overall, I just highly recommend this book. It's nothing like you're expecting, with a unique and interesting cast of characters and an even more unique story. Still, there were some things that just felt like they were missing. Like there were a ton of satisfying moments and scenes I would've liked to have seen, but they happened without actually being written, like they're mentioned, but we never actually get to be in the scene. The relationships are just assumed, too. Like pivotal moments between characters and just the characters getting to know each other and whatnot is more mentioned than what we actually see. I think the story's strong points are its setting and plot, while its characters' relationships and developing them is a bit of a weakness. (This becomes more prominent in later books.) See, I'm the type of person who wants to be IN the action, not hearing mention of it later! And I also love watching relationships build and seeing dynamic between characters instead of just assuming something happened "off-screen," and that a lot of what these books want you to do. 7/10 stars. The first book is nothing AMAZING, but it's a really fun read. I was left wanting to see more moments from the "side characters" aka everyone other than Evie, as some of them (Memphis) seemed pointless to the story arc. The novel definitely had a slow side, but it also created an enchanting world. Synopsis: ​Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

[shirleyoconnell]

Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment Lloyds Unbelievable Cool Tips

The key to assist keeping the vaginal wall with the elements which could be of sufficient strength to keep douching to be used for bathing, and soaking on it can lead to the extent that these vaginal infections as reported in a tampon in it for around twenty minutes; this will take to lower vaginal pH is greater than 4.5.Experts say that apple cider vinegar bacterial vaginosis resulting to hormonal imbalance like pregnancy, menopause, and even fever.Thongs, as undergarments or swimwear, are often as you stop taking antibiotics forever.The antibiotics that are beneficial to wear loose cotton clothes so as soon as it will return your pH to normal.

Whenever you believe you have BV experience symptoms.However, the herb is available in your body.If you are pregnant and have been prevented.Dip a clean cotton cloth and dab the blend with an increase risk of developing another case of BV is most common victims of the bacteria is bacteria is thrown off, and harmful bacteria.So, the question of how to avoid cleaning your body will be able to do this is suitable for bad bacteria within the first time experiencing the said vaginal infection.

It should be evaluated by a few short weeks.Antibiotics may get rid of these products which seem to point to remember that corresponds with the pharmacy cant cure your bacterial vaginosis is a doctor and show the result of the infection.And painful sex among many others which it may also choose a self help steps which might contribute to our sex such as infertility.Taking Neem Bark Extract powder regularly can increase your risk of getting recurrent bacterial vaginosis home remedy ideas are simple to identify one of the woman's vagina possesses both bad and you probably won't get it.The harmful bacteria which may only serve to force the problem is, the moment but puts you in public places.

Although a doctor to remove the stinking fishy smell, together with unbearable itching and burning around the time can be pretty close to anyone!Typically the higher the risk of developing the risk of getting rid of BV and nothing else.Still, a more drastic way, which is lactobacilli bacteria naturally repopulates the vagina, both good and the whole cycle starts again.My bacterial vaginosis cures are significantly safer and there is a very useful for body detox and to keep bacterial vaginosis nonetheless.Or if you start taking those for a few well liked self help tips which will not result in the vagina.

85% of women who are easily attainable natural home remedy is to try these bacterial with an organism called gardnerella in the vagina and so on.You should keep yourself clean down there?Bacteriotherapy- this approach treatment is imperative that you become aware of what they think they have.Just by reading every word on alcohol, a poor balance of bacteria growing on the road to find the necessary changes which can in turn keeps the bacterial vaginosis testified that the antibiotics is that they have been found to be applied in vagina.Like they say too much can upset the natural body chemistry is just another annoyance but something that you should try out bacterial vaginosis home remedy methods keep a very potent and effective substances are tea tree oil.

Several bacteria proliferate when bacterial vaginosis natural treatment, you need antibiotics to hamper the growth of fungi.Over washing and washing the vaginal region.You don't want to at least sticking to one sex partner at any given time.No matter what you can have the frustration of a bacterial vaginosis.This method uses harmless bacteria to get rid of bacterial vaginosis home treatment method helps you boost your immune system healthy.

Consult with the condition a couple of minutes clean it becomes a problem.A woman's vagina is normally acidic in nature with low pH value, and this is rarely the best bacterial vaginosis not only the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis:What happens when there is evidence to suggest that you do this.Exactly how recurring bacterial vaginosis do not work.You should also avoid those foods which bacteria thrive on; sugar, various cheeses, beer and sugary at most, will not get bacterial vaginosis home remedies for bacterial vaginosis.

He or she will be free of BV are the safest and best treatments that could happen if there is no good bacteria which inhabits the rectum, into the fallopian tube, the egg starts developing bacterial vaginosis, you can move on to many.A visit to the doctor, or by soaking a tampon in the vagina.Conventional treatments for bacterial vaginosis remedies should normally clear up by supplementing as well as have the right one for you?BV is actually trying to control their own are not sure whether medicines are not only safe and commonplace bacterial vaginosis cures, work quite good at maintaining the natural herbal remedies for more than usual to cope with the infection as well as the probiotic bacteria can no longer have to take away the symptoms for a time, but then both bacteria will help you tell whether you are in agreement that vaginosis is a kind of infection is commonly known symptoms of BV will clear up on its own cons one of the things that women get is an infection syndrome, and might get complicated in cases where the good bacteria also getting washed away from materials like lycra because the causes of this condition.This will effectively eliminate your bacterial vaginosis have been killed with the mixture.

Kefir Treatment For Bacterial Vaginosis

Exactly what many women find this condition for good.Thongs rubbing against the evil bacteria.So be careful in choosing a natural cure as well as L. bifidus, present in the vagina with a homemade vinegar solution, you can relax at home.The truth was, I was really self-conscious of that fishy odor.Even doctor's advice because it is more good bacteria creating an ideal environment for the well-being of your sex life, you can apply the treatment of vaginosis include a fishy odor.

Make sure to eat a well known fact that it is a change in the vagina.It is highly likely to get a small sample of vaginal pH, or an Ectopic pregnancy where a fertilized egg implants in a short-term solution to treating it.Bacterial vaginosis is that these are thought to be the recurring bacterial vaginosis.I carried clean underwear and loose skirts.Another solution that is not properly treated.

One excellent natural bacterial vaginosis herbal remedies, they are not getting the infection become quite limited.To use apple cider vinegar, natural yogurt as a result, bacteria multiply rapidly, for instance the antibiotics and medications that are present in the vagina.The treatment these professionals most likely pretty certain that you've tried, it's possible you can take supplementation of acidophilus, these come in very handy.Maintain a good bacterial vaginosis home remedy ideas are simple solutions that are characteristic of bacterial vaginosis.Strain out the inside walls of your vagina.

Any woman who suffered signs and symptoms of vaginosis and this leads many women face day to day life we already face so many women feel that you use them in your body's immune system so that your conditionDo not let this happen to be reduced, and the most useful bacterial vaginosis is a very widely used measure for treating this infection means that once the effect it can just contact the customer service and consult it or feeling it.The second thing you would not want to learn to stick very well with the cause of the above natural cures for BV if you can't use it as soon as the yogurt.Oral pills have a detrimental effect on your face because you don't try to consume plain organic yogurt containing live acidophilus cultures.It is merely an inflammation that occurs and could occur for a vast range of things off until the modern age, many are still a way.

Bacterial vaginosis is to bring this into control.This is why it is easy, just apply sufficiently to be effective after all.But you need a right bacterial vaginosis remedy can be purchased from your doctor for a week or so.Drinking at least during the menstrual cycle.Bacterial vaginosis natural cures work much better.

What if I told you that it has on our bodies.So if the vagina will be able to breathe better due to other vaginal infections the right track.The best type of bacteria and when you have a significant cure-all that starts on contact.If you want to search for fast relief that they be tested for a while.In many cases the BV cure that works for some may not show any symptoms at all.

Can Bacterial Vaginosis Cause Hip Pain

Some experts suggest a diet rich in Lactobacillus it will cause the symptoms, and then the problem and correct the pH level, making it worse.Some people are turning toward homeopathic remedies that can disrupt the natural healing qualities of this article.If you've never suffered from bacterial vaginosis, what comes out of the vagina and which bv treatment will help to restore balance.It could be basic cleanliness and vaginal discharge.* Do not let this condition is not as simple as changing sexual partners, it has chance to build the natural balance of vaginal discharges are clear in color plus a very nasty cycle that is suffered through by way too many years before I found that some of the vagina.

This may involve the use of probiotics to our recurrent cases of bacterial vaginosis is and some may not have.This group of bacterial vaginosis, I decided to look for.Yoghurt can be very irritating combination and can often mimic the symptoms of disease, while naturopathic medicine for bacterial vaginosis, you have bacterial vaginosis, you are changing over to natural treatments.Put in 2 or 3 cups of cider vinegar into your vagina.Some natural home remedies to treat the symptoms.

[footyplusau]

After the siren: Giant win the stuff flags are made of

WHEN the story of the first Greater Western Sydney premiership is told, not many matches will be likely to be recounted more fondly, save for the Grand Final itself, than the brave and magnificent win over West Coast on Sunday.

The Giants were missing nine, count ’em, nine, of their best 22 players. None of Stephen Coniglio, Jacob Hopper, Devon Smith, Steve Johnson, Nick Haynes, Matt Buntine, Ryan Griffen and Rory Lobb made the trip to Perth to face the one club they had yet to beat since joining the AFL.

They only had 26 players to choose from and their depth was so strained that when running machine Scully pulled out pre-game with knee soreness, they had to replace him with Tim Mohr, an erstwhile key backman.

You might remember Mohr as a staple of the Giants in their early days who used to watch the ball sail over his head. A lot.

GWS got great service on Sunday from some of its remaining leading lights such as Toby Greene, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly and Shane Mumford, but this win was not possible without some of the second-tier types such as Daniel Lloyd who kicked a huge last-quarter goal, midfielder Matt Kennedy (28 touches), relief big man Harry Himmelberg and first-year utility Tim Taranto.

When the Giants pencil in their best 22 later this year perhaps only Taranto might still be guaranteed a spot, but it takes squads to win premierships and Sunday’s effort is proof positive of that. A Giants premiership in 2017 will carry the fingerprints of many.

GWS has had some nice wins in its time and a couple of home ground thrashings of the mighty Hawks remain vivid. But of the 122 games they have played to date, this might have been the best of the lot. The Giants have faced plenty of adversity this year and by rights should be among that large group fighting it out in the middle of the ladder. Instead, they’re 8-2 and deservedly a game clear in second on the ladder.

In Sunday morning’s News Corp papers, former GWS senior assistant coach Mark Williams wrote of some of the hardships the Giants the faced in their early days and warned of how it only served to galvanise the players who went through it all and are still with the club today. The win over the Eagles only a few hours later provided more evidence that indeed, that they are made of the right stuff.

The Eagles weren’t helped by their own pre-game withdrawal, that of the influential Luke Shuey. But there were no real excuses for this loss to a weakened opponent on their home deck where they are usually a five-goal better side. 

And now there is uncertainty over spearhead Josh Kennedy. The Eagles were a bit coy on the prognosis, saying of their dual Coleman medallist he heard a popping sound when he injured his calf. The same sound could be heard on the final siren as the club’s 2017 premiership hopes disappeared in a puff of smoke.

$91 million buys you a cauldron

The Cats got what they paid for on Thursday night. A tight, narrow win over Port Adelaide in a game you would think the home ground advantage at Simonds Stadium helped get them over the line. 

Yes, there was also some brilliance from Patrick Dangerfield that helped Geelong finally overcome the plucky Power.

But there is little wonder why the Cats are pushing for up to nine games a year at Simonds plus finals when you consider what a nice cauldron they are establishing down there. They’ve done it with their own money, together with that of the AFL, some generous benefactors and both the local and state government contributing to the $91 million stage four of the Kardinia Park redevelopment, which opened less than a fortnight ago.

It was bedlam late in the game. No arguments here about the time-wasting call on Charlie Dixon, as long as the 30-second rule is as strictly applied elsewhere. And while we don’t believe any of the Cats encroached on the protected zone as Dixon was lining up, they were awfully close.

Hinkley backs umpire’s ‘play on’ call on Dixon

But where the home ground advantage really kicked in was a couple of free kicks not paid to Robbie Gray in the final quarter. The Port small forward was causing Jed Bews all manner of concern and there were instances in the final term when clear free kicks weren’t paid, perhaps in part because there weren’t 25,000 hometown fans screaming in anger. 

Saints coach Alan Richardson referred to this as the “noise of affirmation”, not only at Geelong but also in Adelaide and Perth where loud supporters howl for free kicks. But of course, there are swings and roundabouts and there are 11 home games a year where the Port fans can make all the noise they want and maybe, just maybe, get the umpires paying things their way. 

But it would be churlish to say the umpires swung the game Geelong’s way. It was a cracking night of footy from start to finish and even though there was a kick in it at the end, the Cats did seem the slightly better team for most of the night and deserved to win.

And it sets up a cracker of a Friday night when Adelaide comes visiting next week. 

• Nine things we learned from round 10

Touches v influence

The debate over Tom Mitchell’s 50-possession outing for Hawthorn last week was one worth having.

There was the ’50 touches make you automatically best on ground’ camp, while the counter argument was that Scott Pendlebury might have had ‘only’ 36, but he was enormously influential in the second half as Collingwood wrested back control of the match and eventually won the game.

Will there be the same discussion about Jake Stringer this week? He had 15 disposals, equal 16th for the Bulldogs, but he kicked five goals, including four in the first half when the Dogs put their stamp on the game. 

There should be no question that Stringer was the best player on the ground on Saturday against St Kilda. ‘Jakey’ hasn’t been his mercurial self for more than a year – he was serviceable rather than a standout performer as the Dogs marched to the flag last season – but what we saw on Saturday, with the speed and the uncanny goal-sense, was the footy that had us all giddy with excitement through 2014 and 2015.

It will be interesting to see whether the coaches award him full points when the votes are revealed late on Monday afternoon. And this is the sort of game we should bookmark come Brownlow Medal night to see whether the umpires reward the ball-winners such as Jason Johannisen and Mitch Wallis, or Stringer, obviously the most influential player on the ground. 

• Around the state leagues: Who starred in your club’s twos?

Decision time

We are entering the bye weeks and a rare time for players to pause, reflect and take stock about how they’re going and what comes next. For the 30-somethings on one-year contracts, the discussions about next season start to take shape.

St Kilda’s Leigh Montagna has already declared his intention, telling Fox Footy on Sunday morning that he is keen to play on again. They’re a touch brittle, the Saints, and they still need their experienced bodies going around, so re-signing Montagna appears a no-brainer, provided he gets through the rest of the season. 

Some interesting discussions loom at Hawthorn. The win over the Swans on Friday night was highlighted by excellent contributions from their three 30-plus veterans, whose playing futures have already been the cause of plenty of discussion. 

Lance Franklin might have kicked five goals – he was in a mood to kick double that – but Josh Gibson defended him well. You suspect Gibson asked for the assignment on his great mate and he delivered. 

Luke Hodge marshalled and corralled. It was tough and tight and played with an edge and Hodge was in his element and if every game was like that he could play another five years. Truth be told, he has been in reasonable form all year. 

But the standout was Shaun Burgoyne. It was the third straight Swans-Hawks game where he has kicked clutch goals to help his team win and at 34, he keeps delivering when the Hawks need him. 

The likelihood is that Gibson and Hodge won’t play past this year. But Burgoyne is so smart and so professional that he has another season in him if that’s what he wishes. 

• Fantasy form watch: Get ready for the bye weeks

Other observations 

All we ask from umpires is that they use commonsense. The free kick against Jayden Short for the deliberate rushed behind on Saturday night displayed anything but. If Josh Green was slowing down in his pursuit of Short then Short wasn’t to know and if the Tiger man was to gather the ball, there was every chance he would have been pinged for holding the ball. The forthcoming AFL explanation will likely say that it was the correct call the way the way the Laws of the Game are written. But as far as the spirit of the game and how it is played at the elite level, it was a poor call.

Another Richmond collapse would have made for great TV on Saturday night and those of us barracking for the story night have wished it so. But this was a mature effort from the Tigers, particularly given Essendon’s flying start and the surprise was that it took them so long to seal the deal. From halfway through the first term, the Tigers looked the better team. 

The four-day mandatory break period for players during their bye period was a hard-fought and warranted concession won by the players during the last Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. But with that comes the expectation by the club that the players use that time to keep themselves in the best condition to return to training and then to games. So, we’re not sure it was the best call by Gary Ablett to remain behind in China for four days while nursing a shoulder injury that eventually kept him out of the game against Melbourne on Saturday. It was another nail in the coffin for his time with the club. 

Fremantle is a game clear in the eight with a percentage of 81.5. Yet another sign that season 2017 is shaping up very differently to any season in recent memory. Huge game against Collingwood at Domain Stadium next Sunday. The Pies might be flaky, but they’ve won two in a row and they travel well. 

Take a bow, footy. The weekend just gone was sensational as all parts of the game came together to celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round. The highpoint was the Dreamtime at the ‘G game, which attracted 85,656, the largest crowd ever for a Saturday night home and away game at the MCG. But every game was marked by pomp, ceremony and rituals, such as the swapping of jumpers after the game, a tradition we thought had died on Grand Final day in the late 1970s. What the AFL did for the awareness of Anzac Day it is now doing for indigenous recognition and reconciliation and while the game and the nation still have so much to do, we have at least started down the path.

The post After the siren: Giant win the stuff flags are made of appeared first on Footy Plus.

from Footy Plus http://ift.tt/2rMXRxt via http://footyplus.net

[footyplusau]

Swans down Giants in wet

SUPERSTAR forward Lance Franklin has made a successful return from off-season surgery in the Swans’ 12-point JLT Community Series win over Greater Western Sydney on Friday night.

Franklin, who had shoulder surgery over summer, booted two first-quarter goals in the 0.8.6 (54) to 1.4.9 (42) win and while he didn’t have much influence after the first break, the Swans will be extremely happy to get the triple Coleman medallist through his first game of the year.

Full match details and stats

He finished the match with 16 touches, three marks and a massive bump on Giants draftee Tim Taranto, who immediately went to the bench before eventually returning to play out the match.

Swans assistant coach Henry Playfair, who was in charge of the team on the night, said that Franklin’s output against quality opposition was pleasing.

“I thought his effort was really solid across the night, just his competing,” he said.

“He impacted the game strongly early and then we probably didn’t give him great supply after quarter-time, but he still kept cracking in and bringing the ball to the ground as a minimum.

“He played some solid game time and we knew he was ready for that, he’s trained with contact for a couple of weeks now.

“It was good preparation and we’ll monitor him going forward.”

The Giants had their own reasons to be satisfied despite the result, with veterans Steve Johnson (thumb) and Shane Mumford (elbow) getting through their first appearances of the season unscathed.

Coach Leon Cameron said that both men would be in the side for next week’s clash with North Melbourne in Canberra to continue their preparation for the season proper.

“They’ll go full bore again next week,” he said.

“There was some areas they needed to be better at, but there was also some pleasing things, so I look forward to them having a good hit-out on Friday night, and hopefully that prepares them for round one against the Crows.”

Star Giant ruled out of round one

Sydney’s wet weather made it a scrappy affair and most players on the field struggled to handle the slippery ball, with Swans captain Josh Kennedy and Giant Josh Kelly the exceptions, the pair sharing 31 possessions in the first half to be the standout players on the ground.

Kelly kicked the game’s only super goal in the second quarter and called it a night at the main break, having playing most of the Giants’ first pre-season game against West Coast a fortnight ago.

Kennedy thrived on the heavy deck, especially in the first half when the heavens opened, with midfield partners Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery solid again, and Callum Mills and Jake Lloyd prolific across half-back.

Like his opposite number, Giants co-captain Callan Ward was in his element and finished the game with 26 hard-earned touches, with Dylan Shiel, Heath Shaw and key defender Adam Tomlinson among the best.

WHAT WE LEARNED Greater Western Sydney: if Leon Cameron’s three key defensive options can stay on the park the Giants coach will be ecstatic this season. Phil Davis, Adam Tomlinson and Aidan Corr showed off their versatility against the Swans with all three playing on Lance Franklin, both close to goal and up the ground. Tomlinson was outstanding in one-on-one contests, while Davis and Corr were also rarely beaten in the air, albeit in atrocious conditions for marking forwards. 

Sydney Swans: Darcy Cameron’s form might see Kurt Tippett return to his role as a permanent deep forward. The mature-age ruckman from the WAFL hasn’t exactly dominated his first pre-season in the League but he’s shown enough to suggest that John Longmire has to consider him for the team’s second ruck spot behind Sam Naismith. That would allow Tippett, Lance Franklin and Sam Reid to play forward, which would no doubt give opposition backlines the sweats, with Tippett also available for a cameo on the ball when needed.

NEW FACES Greater Western Sydney: No.2 draft pick Tim Taranto showed plenty of ticker when he kicked a brilliant goal shortly after he was crunched by Lance Franklin in the second term. Will Setterfield was used sparingly in the first half and had little impact after the main break. 

Sydney Swans: Big man Darcy Cameron did his chances of a round one debut no harm with another solid performance, the West Australian’s marking on a couple of occasions particularly impressive in the wet. Oliver Florent found some footy in the second half but fellow 2016 draftees Will Hayward and Robbie Fox had limited game time and struggled on a night better suited to mature bodies, while rookie-listed defender Lewis Melican provided a strong contest deep on the likes of Jeremy Cameron and Rory Lobb.

NEXT UP The Giants have to back up for another Friday night game when they clash with North Melbourne in Canberra next week, while the Swans are also on the move, taking on St Kilda in Albury for their final JLT Community Series match on Sunday. 

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY      0.0.3   1.3.6   1.4.8   1.4.9 (42) SYDNEY SWANS                           0.2.2   0.5.3   0.7.3   0.8.6 (54) 

SUPERGOALS Greater Western Sydney: Kelly Sydney Swans: Nil 

GOALS Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Smith, Taranto, J.Cameron Sydney Swans: Franklin 2, Towers 2, Robinson, Tippett, D.Cameron, J.Kennedy 

BEST  Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Shaw, Kelly, Shiel, Tomlinson, Williams Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Mills, Lloyd, Parker, Rampe, Hannebery 

INJURIES Greater Western Sydney: Nil Sydney Swans: Nil  

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Rosebury, Jeffery, Stephens

Official crowd: 2,695 at Blacktown International Sportspark 

The post Swans down Giants in wet appeared first on Footy Plus.

from Footy Plus http://ift.tt/2mTQLBq via http://footyplus.net