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There are those who say that the season begins on the second last Saturday in September so that would make these next two weeks the pre-season. Two teams will advance to the final four this weekend and other two in elimination finals next week.
The Swans have their work cut out for them against Port Power. A Port side who is busting its gut to make up for Septembers past. One who has been taking the last couple of weeks easy but yet has still been winning.
After Mark Williams has held the reigns and resting players in the past few games, he will unleash them on the Swans this Sunday and they will come out with the gloves off. This is more than a game for Port, it?s an attempted exorcism where they remove demon?s past. A win here gives them a home preliminary final and they want that badly. They even made a vow after the Showdown to re-confirm that. They will be taking no prisoners against the Swans.
In some ways, Port coming at the Swans early isn?t such a bad idea with ?rope-a-dope? maybe being their best tactic of claiming a famous victory. Port plays all its cards early only to find itself behind and fatiguing late in the game.
You can?t see the Swans flogging Port, nor can you see the Swans winning a tight goal for goal tussle. Rather the Swans need a carbon copy of the Brisbane game where the Swans slow start let the Lions go complacent only to stun them with a third quarter onslaught. Like a horse who suddenly finds itself behind, Port will surge in vain, but they will both know that its too little, too late.
The thing about an unbackable favourite is that if during the heat of the battle, it can sense its mortality and that it may lose and the unthinkable may happen ? it starts to panic. Think 1999 Preliminary Final when Carlton basically denied the Bombers a certain flag.
Port will throw everything at the Swans and then some. On paper, they are a fearsome squad and are laden with class players who can break the game open in an instance.
Burgoyne x 2, Cornes x 2, Dew, Montgomery and then the Rolls-Royces in Wanganeen, Tredrea, Nick Stevens and Pickett.
But the Swans have to hold firm. Be resilient. Never stop digging deep because the moment and instance they relax, they are Port's.
The season is synonymous with a game and this is somewhat like three quarter time. (In conflict with the season starts now metaphor but both hold true in their own way). You are tired and sore and exhausted but you have to go out there and play like there is no tomorrow. Most of the Swans would be carrying some sort of injury but they have to put that to one side and play as one. United in mind, united in body and united in spirit.
Like Carlton when they had the better of Essendon in that final and in 2001 when Silvangi and Bradley and whoever else was out - all 22 Swans have to play the most accountable football they have ever played in their life. They need 22 taggers.
A player such as Lewis Roberts-Thomson has to play football he never knew he was capable of producing if the Swans are to prevail. The midfielders must kick goals and never stop running. The defenders have to hold firm under siege. The forwards need good hands and accurate feet.
Ok Magic and Cressa and all the others are out but Collingwood went there last year without Buckley and the legend of Licuria was born. Now is the time for the other Swans to step out of the shadows and stand tall. They can create their own myths this weekend, a performance which will never be forgotten.
For that to happen, some boys will have to become men and come of age during the course of the game.
There they will join the likes of Wayne Johnston, Peter Matera, Gary Ayres, Dermott Brereton, Andrew McLeod and Kevin Bartlett who performed when it mattered most.
Heck, Ted Hopkins is famous even today for the tiniest of cameos which happened 30 years ago in one of the biggest games of them all.
The Swans can win this final but it will need something extraordinary. They haven?t won a final outside of Sydney since Bob Pratt was threading them through.
In 1997 and 1998, the Swans underachieved in finals after great home and away performances. They can atone for that this weekend. If they can do it, it will be one of the most famous victories for this famous club and one only for the True Believers.
The Swans have their work cut out for them against Port Power. A Port side who is busting its gut to make up for Septembers past. One who has been taking the last couple of weeks easy but yet has still been winning.
After Mark Williams has held the reigns and resting players in the past few games, he will unleash them on the Swans this Sunday and they will come out with the gloves off. This is more than a game for Port, it?s an attempted exorcism where they remove demon?s past. A win here gives them a home preliminary final and they want that badly. They even made a vow after the Showdown to re-confirm that. They will be taking no prisoners against the Swans.
In some ways, Port coming at the Swans early isn?t such a bad idea with ?rope-a-dope? maybe being their best tactic of claiming a famous victory. Port plays all its cards early only to find itself behind and fatiguing late in the game.
You can?t see the Swans flogging Port, nor can you see the Swans winning a tight goal for goal tussle. Rather the Swans need a carbon copy of the Brisbane game where the Swans slow start let the Lions go complacent only to stun them with a third quarter onslaught. Like a horse who suddenly finds itself behind, Port will surge in vain, but they will both know that its too little, too late.
The thing about an unbackable favourite is that if during the heat of the battle, it can sense its mortality and that it may lose and the unthinkable may happen ? it starts to panic. Think 1999 Preliminary Final when Carlton basically denied the Bombers a certain flag.
Port will throw everything at the Swans and then some. On paper, they are a fearsome squad and are laden with class players who can break the game open in an instance.
Burgoyne x 2, Cornes x 2, Dew, Montgomery and then the Rolls-Royces in Wanganeen, Tredrea, Nick Stevens and Pickett.
But the Swans have to hold firm. Be resilient. Never stop digging deep because the moment and instance they relax, they are Port's.
The season is synonymous with a game and this is somewhat like three quarter time. (In conflict with the season starts now metaphor but both hold true in their own way). You are tired and sore and exhausted but you have to go out there and play like there is no tomorrow. Most of the Swans would be carrying some sort of injury but they have to put that to one side and play as one. United in mind, united in body and united in spirit.
Like Carlton when they had the better of Essendon in that final and in 2001 when Silvangi and Bradley and whoever else was out - all 22 Swans have to play the most accountable football they have ever played in their life. They need 22 taggers.
A player such as Lewis Roberts-Thomson has to play football he never knew he was capable of producing if the Swans are to prevail. The midfielders must kick goals and never stop running. The defenders have to hold firm under siege. The forwards need good hands and accurate feet.
Ok Magic and Cressa and all the others are out but Collingwood went there last year without Buckley and the legend of Licuria was born. Now is the time for the other Swans to step out of the shadows and stand tall. They can create their own myths this weekend, a performance which will never be forgotten.
For that to happen, some boys will have to become men and come of age during the course of the game.
There they will join the likes of Wayne Johnston, Peter Matera, Gary Ayres, Dermott Brereton, Andrew McLeod and Kevin Bartlett who performed when it mattered most.
Heck, Ted Hopkins is famous even today for the tiniest of cameos which happened 30 years ago in one of the biggest games of them all.
The Swans can win this final but it will need something extraordinary. They haven?t won a final outside of Sydney since Bob Pratt was threading them through.
In 1997 and 1998, the Swans underachieved in finals after great home and away performances. They can atone for that this weekend. If they can do it, it will be one of the most famous victories for this famous club and one only for the True Believers.
I'm not sure what this post is supposed to mean, but if you have a problem with me Nico, then PM me, or better yet, keep it to yourself. Please don't further pollute the board with it.
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