Can We Beat Port?

[midaro]

To be honest, the slightest thought hasn't even begun to speculate about the mearest poosibility of crossing my mind...

... but I've been a Swan supporter for way too long.

[midaro]

A dozen views and no-one flaming me for being a pessimist - I guess we've all penciled this one in as a drubbing! Now I'm just trolling. haha.

[desredandwhite]

Well... the answer is yes, we CAN beat port. No doubt about it. When we are good, we can murder ANY side.

HOWEVER. I'm not expecting us to win. Port are a top side and we have to travel to their ground. This will be a true test. We beat the best (Brissie) on our turf, now we have to prove we can go there and do it to.

If I had to put numbers to it, I would still say 65/35 Port's way. If we can limit our trademark slow period as much as possible, it's game on.

[Jon]

I dunno. But then again, Could West Coast beat Brisbane? Could Melbourne beat Port? Could St Kilda beat Adelaide? Not a chance...on paper.

YES we can beat Port. Won't make us any less of an underdog, though. Right now we'd be top 3 for form - probably behind the next two teams we play. In 3 weeks time we'll either be saying "what was all the worrying about?" (like we did after the Collingwood/Brisbane games) or "yeah...no surprises there then".

[Reggi]

I don't rate Pert at all, they are consistent more than they are good.

We have a good record - If Saddington was playing I would rate us a good chance, but without him we may struggle.

We can presume that the only likely change is Williams for Sudnqvist - we are a chance.

O"Loughlin and N Davis would need to both play well as would Ball and Goodes, they are the key. Will be interesting.

[SWANSBEST]

I have to disagree with Reggi on this one . I rate Port very highly and I believe that they have more depth than last year , in particular, Pickett , Brogan and Wilson. They seem to be tougher and more composed than previous years in the AFL and have a bit of hardness like some of the old time Port Magpie teams.

I think that we we can beat them but we would need to be on top of our form. Tredrea will be a major concern with his marking ability and I hope Saddo is fit as we will need height in the backline . Craig Bolton has beaten Chad Cornes previously so that will be a most probably match up . I expect Adam Goodes to have a big game as he seems to thrive on the bigger grounds . BBB will also appreciate the space available at AAMI Stadium.

I will be at the game and it could be a very lonesome experience as I could not imagine too many Swans supporters being there.

[NMWBloods]

I don't rate Pert at all

You must be just about the only one then, particularly at AAMI stadium!!

[liz]

Originally posted by SWANSBEST

I will be at the game and it could be a very lonesome experience as I could not imagine too many Swans supporters being there.

I'm planning a trip as well - will be my first away game since the Hawks final at the end of 2001.

[scurrilous]

If it was played on a neutral ground like the MCG in a Preliminary final, then yes, I would say we would beat them. (can anyone feel my elbow in their ribs right now?)

Only thing Port have going for them in 2 weeks time is their home ground advantage. But the Swans will give it a damn good crack, I bet.

edit: Oh, don't get me wrong, I think Port are a good side. I just think we are equally as good on our day that's all.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by Reggi
I don't rate Pert at all

I heard about this woman once, who used Pert and then she got a perm and her hair all fell out. True story.

[Xie Shan]

LOL - Nice story Sanecow, but back to Port -

I didn't rate them as highly at the start of the year, thought they might slip a few places, but these guys ARE in good form. A win is possible, but for some reason I'm not confident because it will be our first test against IN-FORM quality opposition away from home. But the Swans have passed just about every test so far with flying colours, and are in pretty good form themselves!
We'll need Goodes to have a big 100th game.

Oh..and make sure somebody's on Poulton in the last qtr

[TheHood]

Well done Lizz! Brave move given the consistent form of the SA teams. I struggle to go to the Swans Pies games in Vic, but I love the trip, but going to Adelaide (love it there just not to see us play).

As for our chances? I think Des picked is perfectly when he said we need to minimise our down times. We had about 40 minutes "downtime" during the Dogs game and if they were, say Port or the Eagles, an unassailable lead may have been built!

To play devil's advocate a little more, in the 3rd quarter, we should have kicked 10 goals, we had an overwhelming amount of posession and we mucked several opportunities.

Plenty of positives, the BIGGEST being Jude but we need to learn how to really crunch opposition when we get the chance.

WCE and PA have to be beaten to take a flag. I have said this before but winning at home is simple. We need to become ROAD WARRIORS!

[Cheer Cheer]

I just hope the break doesnt dent our momentum in any way, I'm confident it wont, probably be more of a good thing than anything, we will go over there with confidence, we play aami staduim and port adelaide pretty well, so look we are a chance probably the home ground location has decided who the favourite is but we need to be at the top of our game across all areas, no downtime - anywhere.
Anyway lose , win or draw it will give us a good picture where we are at and what we need to do to improve if need be.
Make no mistake Port adelaide are one of the equal best teams in the afl - I rate brissy, port and the eagles all as equal no.1 atm.

[Damien]

If the top 4 stay the same ( I will have a heart attack that we are that high, but anyway) - this will be a preview of the Qualifying Final!! hehe

If we stay the same, the first week of finals would be:

Port Adelaide V Sydney (1 and 4)

West Coast V Brisbane (2 and 3)

Fremantle V Collingwood (5 & 8)

Kangaroos V Adelaide (Bet the AFL are praying for this final! and a fit Wayne Carey of course!) (6 and 7)


So we would win, then play West Coast or Brisbane at the MCG in the Prelim!!! (no home final unless the AFL decide to p*ss off the higher placing WC or BR, if a Melb team get through)

They better keep winning, I am becomming far too optimistic for a swans fan!

[Jimmy C]

A game against a quality side like Port will serve to show us where the team is at in skill and consistency. We've still got West Coast yet, not to mention the rest of the season. If we play well enough, as the team's been saying, and match the opposition then we should be alright. I'm looking forward to a great match.