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Saints coach wraps Swans
12jul03
SYDNEY coach Paul Roos does not like to utter it, but his St Kilda counterpart Grant Thomas has no problem using the words "Swans" and "finals" in the same sentence.
Although there's still eight regular season games remaining, Thomas rates the Swans as finals certainties this year.
Thomas, whose struggling Saints are facing a make or break game against Sydney at the SCG tonight, believes the Swans should face up to the fact they'll be playing in September.
"Sydney are going to be there in September ? how well they go is about all that's up for conjecture I suppose," Thomas said.
"It's very hard to keep playing well for 22 weeks and then the whole finals series.
"The Swans had a bit of a slump early in the season when they lost three in a row, but that was a long time ago now.
"However, with a bit of luck we can upset their apple cart [tonight] and come away with a win to keep our finals hopes alive.
"But Sydney are obviously on track to make the finals and I'm expecting them to obviously equip themselves well when they get in there."
While Thomas is confident about the fifth-placed Swans' finals campaign, the Saints coach says tonight is a must-win game for his team.
Despite claiming the scalp of premiers the Brisbane Lions four weeks ago, moving them within a game outside the top eight, the Saints stumbled badly to lose their next three matches.
After free-falling to 12th after losses against Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Essendon, the Saints run into an in-form Swans side.
The Swans are facing a potential setback, however, with captain Stuart Maxfield under an injury cloud. The club will not risk Maxfield if the veteran midfielder's knee pulls up sore this morning.
But with the return of key Sydney defenders Jason Saddington and Ben Mathews to the line-up that beat West Coast last Sunday, the Swans will be hard to topple, especially at home.
"Every week is a major game because you're facing different challenges," Thomas said.
"If you're going well you're trying to maintain the momentum and if you're not then it's all about trying to get back on track.
"But tonight is pretty much a a defining time for St Kilda. If we lose this whilst mathematically we can still get in the finals realistically it makes our chances very, very slim.
"You don't have to be Einstein to work out the circumstances. It's a must-win game and the players know the importance of it."
Unlike a lot of people in Melbourne, Thomas is not surprised by the Swans' success this year under Roos.
"I always thought they had a very good and exciting list," he said. "Sydney has some youthful enthusiasm and quality mid-term players and I think they are extremely well coached.
"I'm a former teammate of Paul Roos [at Fitzroy] and I know him reasonably well he's a very good manager of people.
"Roosy is an intelligent guy and obviously has a very good game plan and I'm certain that the Swans are playing for him."
12jul03
SYDNEY coach Paul Roos does not like to utter it, but his St Kilda counterpart Grant Thomas has no problem using the words "Swans" and "finals" in the same sentence.
Although there's still eight regular season games remaining, Thomas rates the Swans as finals certainties this year.
Thomas, whose struggling Saints are facing a make or break game against Sydney at the SCG tonight, believes the Swans should face up to the fact they'll be playing in September.
"Sydney are going to be there in September ? how well they go is about all that's up for conjecture I suppose," Thomas said.
"It's very hard to keep playing well for 22 weeks and then the whole finals series.
"The Swans had a bit of a slump early in the season when they lost three in a row, but that was a long time ago now.
"However, with a bit of luck we can upset their apple cart [tonight] and come away with a win to keep our finals hopes alive.
"But Sydney are obviously on track to make the finals and I'm expecting them to obviously equip themselves well when they get in there."
While Thomas is confident about the fifth-placed Swans' finals campaign, the Saints coach says tonight is a must-win game for his team.
Despite claiming the scalp of premiers the Brisbane Lions four weeks ago, moving them within a game outside the top eight, the Saints stumbled badly to lose their next three matches.
After free-falling to 12th after losses against Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Essendon, the Saints run into an in-form Swans side.
The Swans are facing a potential setback, however, with captain Stuart Maxfield under an injury cloud. The club will not risk Maxfield if the veteran midfielder's knee pulls up sore this morning.
But with the return of key Sydney defenders Jason Saddington and Ben Mathews to the line-up that beat West Coast last Sunday, the Swans will be hard to topple, especially at home.
"Every week is a major game because you're facing different challenges," Thomas said.
"If you're going well you're trying to maintain the momentum and if you're not then it's all about trying to get back on track.
"But tonight is pretty much a a defining time for St Kilda. If we lose this whilst mathematically we can still get in the finals realistically it makes our chances very, very slim.
"You don't have to be Einstein to work out the circumstances. It's a must-win game and the players know the importance of it."
Unlike a lot of people in Melbourne, Thomas is not surprised by the Swans' success this year under Roos.
"I always thought they had a very good and exciting list," he said. "Sydney has some youthful enthusiasm and quality mid-term players and I think they are extremely well coached.
"I'm a former teammate of Paul Roos [at Fitzroy] and I know him reasonably well he's a very good manager of people.
"Roosy is an intelligent guy and obviously has a very good game plan and I'm certain that the Swans are playing for him."
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