The Run home.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by Jeffers1984
The Brisbane game ain't no gimmie either. They do have experience at Telstra Stadium and we all know what happened there. This is the game i'm most worried about.

Brisbane are currently crippled with injuries to a number of their best players, hopefully continuing that weekend too (eg Aker, Brown, Leppitsch and Voss). That being the case, they dont worry me too much.

[punter257]

man i hope we play the west coast in the first week of the finals. every game they win at subi makes it one step closer to losing one and what better time to achieve this. they will be the ones under all the pressure and we have nothing to lose.

we obviously have to adapt to the big ground but i see no reason why we couldnt beat em. shut down their midfield (derrrrrrrr) and we are a massive chance as their defence isnt the strongest matchup wise on us (BBBH, magic, nicky d, ROK, buchy, schneids) and their forward line is very iffy IMO. crouch to stick to the smurf like super glue!

and it all boils down to what sydney team shows up. if its good sydney and we got on top early and silence the crowd then we are good things. if the WC get on a roll early and fire up the crowd its gonna be hard work. and we have to watch out for those quick bursts of goals that we are susceptible to which will also pump up the crowd - see last weekend

[punter257]

and im more worried about the hawthorn game

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by cruiser
Its a long trip to Perth, especially if they lose. I'm gonna keep an eye out for specials on Qantas and if something comes up, maybe take a punt as 4th really does look most likely. It will certainly be clearer after this Saturday night.

Ugh, another trip to Perth. Lucky I have just got my tax back and have a bit I can keep for a trip over there.

It is a bloody long way. And you feel like complete crap the day after, wondering why you have spend several hundred $$$ watching a generally terrible performance.

But still, remember the Port final in 2003. We have the power to turn the footy world on its head.

But first we have to get past Essendon first on Saturday. That match will NOT be an easy one. I fear the horror physical toll of the last 2 weeks may affect our performance on Saturday night.

JF

[NMWBloods]

I worry about all four - we have the potential to win anywhere between 0 and 4 (with my guess at 3 or 2).

Our best run into finals in the past 20 years was 3 in a row (4 of 5) in 2004 and 4 of 5 in 1996 (1 in a row). Other than that we generally finish the last few games of the H&A season before finals average to poor.

Can we change that tradition ?

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by punter257
man i hope we play the west coast in the first week of the finals. every game they win at subi makes it one step closer to losing one and what better time to achieve this.

we obviously have to adapt to the big ground but i see no reason why we couldnt beat em.

Is there a large dimensioned ground that we could maybe train on to get more practise on bigger playing surfaces? Macquarie Uni? Henson Park? Are any grounds in Sydney bigger in dimension than the pudgy little SCG?

JF

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Join the rush and wory about all of them.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Mr Fingernailless!!!!

[banjogirl]

Well, Roosy reckons all they need is a bit of warmth and an afternoon to frolick in the sun:

"Sydney coach Paul Roos is hoping the warm weather will help his players recover from a gruelling fortnight, in which they encountered the top two teams - West Coast and Adelaide - in consecutive weeks.
Roos has no doubt the sunshine bestowed upon the harbour city this past month has helped the group, but wary of mental and physical fatigue following their seven-point loss to the Crows, he gave the players Monday afternoon off to freshen-up"

[cruiser]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
Is there a large dimensioned ground that we could maybe train on to get more practise on bigger playing surfaces? Macquarie Uni? Henson Park? Are any grounds in Sydney bigger in dimension than the pudgy little SCG?

JF

Telstra Stadium.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by punter257
man i hope we play the west coast in the first week of the finals.

Of course you do, you live in Perth.

[punter257]

well yeah thats part of it but it means we wouldnt have to play them in a prelim if we get that far

[cruiser]

Originally posted by punter257
well yeah thats part of it but it means we wouldnt have to play them in a prelim if we get that far

Well make sure you cheer really loudly for all of us who cant make it there.

[snajik]

If we do make the top four I reckon finishing third and meeting the Crows would be our best bet. Beat them then we get a home Prelim with a week's rest.

WCS is heading to Perth in week one, losing, dealing with the travel to Perth factor the following week in a home final. Even if we were to win that home final we'd be exhausted for a trip to Adelaide in week 3. Making the GF via that route looks particularly daunting.

Ideally, we need to win our remaining games first and hope that St Kilda drop a game to North, Freo or Brisbane.

[j s]

Possible scenarios based on finishing position:

3rd: Play Crows at AAMI
Win: Home PF - Very good
Lose: PF at Subi - Very bad

4th: Play Weagles at Subi
Win: Home PF - Very good
Lose: PF at AAMI - not as bad as Subi

Depends on whether really would be easier to beat Crows at AAMI than Weagles at Subi in the QF. If so then 3rd is best. If not then 4th is best.

[NMWBloods]

Of course, the other issue to factor in if losing is who we will play in the SF - we still have to win that to actually worry aboutthe PF!