The media is still writting us off. I can't believe it...........
Swans win a bonus for Lions
8:33:06 PM Sun 7 September, 2003
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Reigning premiers Brisbane are the big winners as a result of Sydney?s shock qualifying final win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
Just one day after the Lions? bid to become the first team in 46 years to win a hat-trick of premierships looked to have received a fatal blow after they lost to Collingwood in the qualifying final ? the Swans did Leigh Matthews? team a huge favour.
The Swans shock 12 point win over Port has now put the Lions into what appears the weaker side of the finals draw.
The Lions now not only have home advantage against Adelaide in next week?s knockout semi-final at the Gabba (where Brisbane is unbeaten in finals) but if they win that they would then make the less daunting trip to Sydney rather than to Adelaide for the preliminary final.
Brisbane will meet Sydney at Telstra Stadium for a place in a third successive grand final, should they defeat the Crows, and while the Swans did beat the Lions on both occasions during the home and away season they are battling a mounting injury list.
While Paul Roos? gallant side deserves the highest praise for its gutsy win over Port at AAMI Stadium in the qualifying final ? the win came at a huge cost.
Already missing star trio Jason Ball, Jason Saddington and Michael O?Loughlin to injury, the Swans have lost defender Brad Seymour for the rest of the finals series with a strained medial ligament while Stephen Doyle (ankle) and Tadhg Kennelly (corked thigh) also copped injuries.
However that pair will benefit from the week off next week as will O?Loughlin, who is now rated a chance to recover from the hamstring injury he received in round 22 in time for the preliminary final in a fortnight.
In contrast to the Lions, Essendon now looks to have a much tougher finals draw following Port?s sixth loss in seven finals matches.
Instead of travelling to Sydney to meet the Swans in the semi-finals next week, the Bombers will now meet the fired-up minor premiers on the rebound at AAMI Stadium.
It is the second year in a row Essendon has been forced to meet Port at AAMI Stadium in the semi-finals as Port, for the second successive year, blew the chance to advance directly to a home preliminary final by losing a qualifying final on home soil.
The winner of the Port-Essendon semi-final ? which will be played next Saturday night ? will meet Collingwood in a preliminary final at the MCG the following week.
The other preliminary final will now be played at Telstra Stadium in Sydney?s western suburbs with the Swans to host the winner of the Lions-Crows? semi-final, which will be played at the Gabba next Friday night.
Swans win a bonus for Lions
8:33:06 PM Sun 7 September, 2003
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Reigning premiers Brisbane are the big winners as a result of Sydney?s shock qualifying final win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
Just one day after the Lions? bid to become the first team in 46 years to win a hat-trick of premierships looked to have received a fatal blow after they lost to Collingwood in the qualifying final ? the Swans did Leigh Matthews? team a huge favour.
The Swans shock 12 point win over Port has now put the Lions into what appears the weaker side of the finals draw.
The Lions now not only have home advantage against Adelaide in next week?s knockout semi-final at the Gabba (where Brisbane is unbeaten in finals) but if they win that they would then make the less daunting trip to Sydney rather than to Adelaide for the preliminary final.
Brisbane will meet Sydney at Telstra Stadium for a place in a third successive grand final, should they defeat the Crows, and while the Swans did beat the Lions on both occasions during the home and away season they are battling a mounting injury list.
While Paul Roos? gallant side deserves the highest praise for its gutsy win over Port at AAMI Stadium in the qualifying final ? the win came at a huge cost.
Already missing star trio Jason Ball, Jason Saddington and Michael O?Loughlin to injury, the Swans have lost defender Brad Seymour for the rest of the finals series with a strained medial ligament while Stephen Doyle (ankle) and Tadhg Kennelly (corked thigh) also copped injuries.
However that pair will benefit from the week off next week as will O?Loughlin, who is now rated a chance to recover from the hamstring injury he received in round 22 in time for the preliminary final in a fortnight.
In contrast to the Lions, Essendon now looks to have a much tougher finals draw following Port?s sixth loss in seven finals matches.
Instead of travelling to Sydney to meet the Swans in the semi-finals next week, the Bombers will now meet the fired-up minor premiers on the rebound at AAMI Stadium.
It is the second year in a row Essendon has been forced to meet Port at AAMI Stadium in the semi-finals as Port, for the second successive year, blew the chance to advance directly to a home preliminary final by losing a qualifying final on home soil.
The winner of the Port-Essendon semi-final ? which will be played next Saturday night ? will meet Collingwood in a preliminary final at the MCG the following week.
The other preliminary final will now be played at Telstra Stadium in Sydney?s western suburbs with the Swans to host the winner of the Lions-Crows? semi-final, which will be played at the Gabba next Friday night.
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