Carlton or Brisbane

[TheHood]

Last season we opened the account in emphatic style against Carlton, the 2002 Wooden Spooners. We then went on to lose 3 in a row.

Talk about extremes, this year we play the premiers of 2003.

I reckon we are better to face the benchmark in Round 1 so we don't lull into any false sense of brilliance like I think we did last season.

If we lose first up, then we know what we have to do to be in a winning position for Round 2.

If we win, then it's a huge "real" confidence boost and not a false one ala the Carlton game.

Is my thinking flawed, what does everyone else think?

[Doctor J.]

Agree with you would rather play Brisbane.

Although the chance to flog a Melbourne or Carlton in round 1 is appealing if only for the opportunity that it gives you to sit on top of the ladder. Albeit for one week only.

Bring on Brisbane I say. They hold no fears for us despite the prelim final result. Round 1 is a perfect time to play them, and even on their home dung heap, just hope its not to hot thats all.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Doctor J.
Agree with you would rather play Brisbane.

Bring on Brisbane I say. They hold no fears for us despite the prelim final result. Round 1 is a perfect time to play them, and even on their home dung heap, just hope its not to hot thats all.

Agree, a big win over Brisbane away from home where most people are watching on the tele will be fantastic for publicity for the team.

I reckon we are more than a good shot at knocking the Brions off up there, again. Revenge for the Preliminary Final is definitely on the cards, and the players are filthy about it.

Plus the bigger they come, the harder they fall. Kind of like the way i feel with FC Bayern playing Real Madrid in the Champions League. we will be pumped up beyond belief and really have nothing to lose.

Go Swannies, prove them wrong again fellas!

JF

[jixygirl]

Brisbane would have to be the way to go. Playing against Brisbane (and beating them ) would tell the club a lot about their game plan against top teams, beating a team to the pulp when it's kind of like expected this year (how can you expect to win games straight away when half of your starting 22 are from other clubs). The satisfaction of being on top of the ladder at the end of the early rounds isn't much of a satisfaction. I remember that in 2002, we were at the top of the ladder in one of the early rounds because we beat poor opposition. We all know how that season went.

[Sanecow]

I still have the ladder from round 1 last year on my office door. It still gives me some small satisfaction.

[sharpie]

What better time to play Brisbane than with J Brown out of the match

[Bart]

Originally posted by sharpie
What better time to play Brisbane than with J Brown out of the match

and Voss more than likely

[Ajn]

Strange that we get the reverse of last year:
Carlton round 1 2003
Brisbane round 1 wizard cup 2003

Brisbane round 1 2004
Carlton round 1 wizard cup 2004

Brisbane to win the wizard cup and injure all of the fab 4 in the process, I'd like to see that!

[robbieando]

Originally posted by sharpie
What better time to play Brisbane than with J Brown out of the match

Well if last year is anything to go by, Brisbane with their 4 talls (Lynch, Brown, Leppitish and Michael) in the side beat us, when they had one of them missing (Brown in Rd 7 and and Leppitish in Rd 20) we beat them.

[dendol]

Originally posted by robbieando
Well if last year is anything to go by, Brisbane with their 4 talls (Lynch, Brown, Leppitish and Michael) in the side beat us, when they had one of them missing (Brown in Rd 7 and and Leppitish in Rd 20) we beat them.

Those 4 players play FF, CHF, CHB, FB. - Brisbane's spine. Each one of them plays their position so well, but what I really want to see, even if we lose, is that our midfield can match it with Brisbane's. That will go a long way to easing my fear that our midfield is going to be our downfall this year.

[Cheer Cheer]

If we win against Brisbane in the 1st round - watch the football public go wild about the Swans.

The general concensus at the moment is that we over achieved last year and we will fall into the bottom half of the ladder where we belong according to the football public.

However if we beat Brisbane @ the Gabba - one match beating a high quality opposition will be all needed to convince the football public that we are the real deal this year.

Watch our premiership odds go from around ranked 6th or 7th right into the top 3.

[liz]

If we were able to knock off the Lions at the Gabba it would be fantastic but I don't think we should get over-excited yet. Even without Brown they will be formidable opposition - last season they won their first 6 games and they don't lose at home very often.

We look like we'll start the season with several key players having had little pre-season match time and a steady, competitive start is all I'm looking for. Would much rather we are in a position to beat the Lions in September than in March.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by lizz
Even without Brown they will be formidable opposition - last season they won their first 6 games and they don't lose at home very often.

No, but I do recall a certain match (and CULT weekend) where a certain team to their gteam happened to upstage them in a classic game of footy!

Man, will I ever forget that day!!!!!????

JF