What are our chances against the Weagles?

[TheHood]

I don't know too much about WCE injury situation.
We played in the tough wet last week.
We got a 7 and a half day rest.
Eagles have a long trip, although Brisbane is longer and that made them stronger.
Their ruck division is on song and ours was found wanting last week.

WHAT ARE OUR CHANCES?

I think I like our chances down back better this week but their midfield is in outstanding form.
I have never heard Cressa so annoyed after last week's loss, I am expecting a very committed Swans outfit.

[Swansinger]

Though we beat them by six goals in the wet at the SCG last time , I prefer our chances if the rain holds off.
If it does rain , watch out for Crezza - rarely has a 'dirty day' in dirty weather.

Not fussed if Gardiner gets 30-40 hitouts : like Lou Richards said 'It's us little blokes who make the big blokes look good'.
But yes we will be challenged by their on-ballers so I see Kirk needing to have a big game on Cousins and Jude Bolton continuing his recent good form.

I'm looking forward to seeing the likes of Sampi , Judd and Wirrpunda playing , but I think we can win.

[RogueSwan]

For some recent (and not so recent) results http://www.footyform.com.au/sydvwce.htm

Looks like we have had their number recently, but with the form they are showing it should be a tight game. I am looking forward to a really close game that we win in the last minutes.

[boroboy]

I think we'll loose...they are absolutely ruthless, and I suspect that if any self-doubt creeps into the Swans (possible after last week) we'll be punished...Gardiner could have a field day and we'll find the ball continually pumped quickly into our 50.

It may not be a bad thing - it would certainly take most of the (false) expectations off us to finish in the Top 4 - we can then concentrate on just making the 8 which would be a fantastic achievement..

Having said that - if Kirk can keep Cousins quiet, the midfield fires on all cylinders and we are at least competitive in the ruck - then we are a chance...

[NMWBloods]

The word is lose!!!!

I think it will be a very tough game, and given our guys were pretty exhausted after the Port game, it will be pretty close.

[floppinab]

We played in the tough wet last week.

The Eagles had it similar at Subi and a similarly hard fought and closer game against the Roos.
This will have a bigger effect than the travel, which the Eagles handle better than anyone else.

[snajik]

WCE should be even more stuffed. Conditions in the North - WCE looked worse than Footy Park and they have had one less day to recover, and a far bit further to travel. No reason why we can't win this one. We bounced back impressively after the North defeat and I'd like to think the days of "The mid-season Slump" are over. need a big game from Goodes though. He has been a tad quiet in the past two.

[Dpw]

This game(apart from finals) is the most important game of the year in my house with my wife and middle child surpporting the Eagles and myself and oldest and youngest surpporting the Swans the winner has bragging rights untill next year.

As I see the Eagles every week heres my view they are very beatable if they are played the right way we are lucky because we can play a brand of footy they don't like. They are blessed with a great midfield which is there strength with Kerr, Cousins, Judd and Chick for starters they have a midfield that is or as good as the best in the land.

Imo Its with there injurys up foward and there very weak defence that lies the key to winning this game with our inform fowards, the different brand of defence we play and our tackling that is the key to beating them.

[Syd Swan]

We will win, no probs.

[Cheer Cheer]

Well I was pretty close woth my tip last week saying we would lose by 48 points ( We lost by 39 )

This week my prediction is...

Sydneys first close finish for the season, with the result being decided by less than 6 points...

With the Swans to get up !

[NMWBloods]

I was pretty close too - I had Swans to lose by 29. And I reckon Swans by less than a goal looks a good pick for this week!!

[penga]

according to herald sun:

SYDNEY
Stephen Doyle (knee) 3-4 weeks
Brad Seymour (hamstring) 3-4 weeks
Ben Fixter (hamstring) 2 weeks
Ben Mathews (ankle) 1-2 weeks
Daniel McPherson (hamstring) test
Jason Saddington (quadricep) available

WEST COAST
Travis Gaspar (foot) 4 weeks
Chad Morrison (knee) 4 weeks
Phil Matera (knee) 1 week
Ashley McIntosh (hamstring) 1 week
Kane Munro (shoulder) available
Daniel Chick (shoulder) test
Daniel Kerr (ankle) test

we cant play a tagging game on their midfielders as we just cant cover em all... with mathews out now as well, it gives us less tagging options... however with the injury to matera it frees up crouch to go on fletcher, i see it like this:

gardiner will flog us in the middle and id say push back to cover their short defence, so rather than let him play loose man in defence have ball stand right next to him wherever he goes... hopefully ball might pick up a couple of goals to negate gardiner's presence

midfield:
kirk on cousins ("run-with")
crouch on fletcher (tag)
maxfield on judd (toe to toe)
j. bolton on kerr (when kerr is in middle, toe to toe)
cressa on chick (toe to toe)
would they tag williams?

defence:
c. bolton on embley
schauble on jakovich
barry on sampi
kennelly on haynes

attack:
wirrpunda on davis
??? on o'loughlin
??? on hall
??? on goodes
??? on schneids

our attack looks a lot stronger than theirs!!!

[NMWBloods]

I think Chick and Kerr may not play, however Matera is a chance. They will need to dominate Inside 50s to win this (which they could very well do) as their backline will struggle against our forward line.

[Charlie]

The answer to the question of whether or not we can beat the West Coast Eagles is...

37.

[TheHood]

Got to watch out for a little fella called Jones, very underrated and very capable indeed.

I just hope we drop Warfe, do not bring Frosty in, bring Powelly back and Saddo returns!