We Are A Big Game Club

[TheHood]

This time last week I was struggling to find RWOers optimistic enough to think the Swannies could get up over the Lions and now there is not a soul who dare think we will lose on Sat night.

How did this happen in the space of a week?

I think most of it is linked to a win that will go down in the record books as one of the best ever. I mean I was on a high on Sunday night but seriously, the tremors of that win are still reverberating hard right now.

Am I wrong or have we not disgraced ourselves under pressure at any time this year?

Carlton (game one, needs an impact)
Collingwood
Brisbane (sent them on a losing streak)
Richmond (ditto)
Eagles (ditto)
Freo
Crows (what a game)
Brisbane (again killed a giant killer)
Collingwood ???

The games dropped this season have been uncharacteristic. We haven't lost a big game this year.

[midaro]

I'm pessimistic about this week's game.
I reckon we might get done badly.

We look inexperienced: Sunny, MJ, James, LRT etc

...and although I think Collingwood is over-rated as a team, they are very even all over the ground and basically injury free (exc Presti, Lockyer).

It's amazing to me how the mood changes so rapidly around here. After the Hawks aberration it was all doom and gloom, now after Brisbane it seams that no one is in any doubt that we will destroy the Pies. Fact is it is going to be a tough game.

I hope the players are a bit more moderate!

[TheHood]

Don't get me wrong, I know we are capable of losing games, however all I am saying is that we have not disgaced ourselves at any point during BIG games this season.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

When people were all gloom and doom after the Hawthorn game I still quietly knew they'd put in a far better effort against the Lions. Deep down it wasn't really a surprise to see how well they played against the Hansons. We have put in similar efforts all year.

This week, well it's be touch and go. I'd be happier on a dry track, but we have won in greasy wet conditions against Brisbane as well as Richmond earlier this year. I think the Pies are overrated, but on the other hand fear all the flak we'll cop if we stuff up on the biggest night for AFL in Sydney in the game's history.

The game against the Dees next week is of more concern than tomorrow night. I know we'll be excited tomorrow. But next week in a near-empty MCG I don't know... (We'll have to cheer them home you Melbourne-based fans!)

Prove me wrong Swannies. Like you have done all year!

JF

[liz]

Re: We Are A Big Game Club

Originally posted by TheHood
now there is not a soul who dare think we will lose on Sat night.

Disagree - I'm pretty nervous about tomorrow. The two teams look pretty closely matched and while I have no doubt we can win, even should win with the home ground advantage, I am far from confident that we will. I think the edge that the Maggies have is their experience of high pressure, big crowd games. They've been there enough that it shouldn't be a factor for them, but I have no idea what impact it will have on the Swans.

Still, good to get some experience under their belts now rather than face it for the first time in a fortnight's time.

[TheHood]

Re: Re: We Are A Big Game Club

Originally posted by lizz
Disagree - I'm pretty nervous about tomorrow. The two teams look pretty closely matched and while I have no doubt we can win, even should win with the home ground advantage, I am far from confident that we will. I think the edge that the Maggies have is their experience of high pressure, big crowd games. They've been there enough that it shouldn't be a factor for them, but I have no idea what impact it will have on the Swans.

Still, good to get some experience under their belts now rather than face it for the first time in a fortnight's time.

Are you telling me that you have the identical apprehension as you did last week?

Now tell me, while we are confessing Miss Lizz, did you tip the Swans this week (as I did)? Of did you tip against them as you did last week (as I did)?

This will tell me if my first statement is closer to being correct than you seem to think it is.

Yes I am nervous about tomorrow, even more so than any exam result in my life! Not that I am a genius, just a lazy lazy man!

[liz]

Hood

I wasn't apprehensive about last week - I just thought we'd lose. Almost no neutral supporter would have picked us to win against the Lions, in Brisbane, with no Jason Ball and coming off a pretty ordinary performance the week before.

This week I'm apprehensive because I believe we are just slightly better than 50/50 to win. We can win, we should win, we need to win and I'll be devasted if we don't.

And yes, of course I've tipped us to win.

(only 3 times I've ever tipped against us have been against the Crows and Lions this year in away games, and Essendon a couple of years ago in Melbourne. I always tip us at home, and nearly always tip us even when I think we're unlikely to win)

[CureTheSane]

We will win for one reason....

I won't be there to see it live
Couldn't find an airfare under $380 return (wanted to have a Fri night there too).

So I will be sitting watching it on TV thinking "I wish I was there"

If I was there watching, we would lose.
I'd be sitting in the stand thinking "what a *#%@ing waste of money and time"

lol

[Angelic Upstart]

Re: We Are A Big Game Club

Originally posted by TheHood
Am I wrong or have we not disgraced ourselves under pressure at any time this year?...The games dropped this season have been uncharacteristic. We haven't lost a big game this year.

I would've thought the game against Hawthorn - Heritage Weekend, day after the Team of the Century Night with so many former champions in town, and the Swans looking to set themselves up for a 2nd place finish - was a pretty big game. I think there are still question marks on whether the team handles pressure well, and that's why Roos focused on the players relaxing and enjoying themselves in the build-up to the Lions game.

Anyway, tonight should be a good guide on how the team goes in an almost-finals like pressure situation.

[Angelic Upstart]

Originally posted by TheHood
Am I wrong or have we not disgraced ourselves under pressure at any time this year?...The games dropped this season have been uncharacteristic. We haven't lost a big game this year.

I would've thought the game against Hawthorn - Heritage Weekend, day after the Team of the Century Night with so many former champions in town, and the Swans looking to set themselves up for a 2nd place finish - was a pretty big game. I think there are still question marks on whether the team handles pressure well, and that's why Roos focused on the players relaxing and enjoying themselves in the build-up to the Lions game.

Anyway, tonight should be a good guide on how the team goes in an almost-finals like pressure situation.