The good thing is that the Swans have not peaked yet.

[NMWBloods]

I think Adelaide don't rely on superstars. Sure McLeod and Ricciuto are outstanding, but they can win without them. Their team consists of a lot of 'no-name' hard workers who also have decent skills.

[Sanecow]

Ricciuto has been recently demonstrating an unholy ability to kick a huge, ridiculously unlikely goal at exactly the right moment.

[connolly]

Be interesting to see the outcome of the match ups between the Crow and Eagle midfields. Crows midfielders are physically very strong while the Eagles very quick. Swans perhaps something of both

[hammo]

We are playing well enough to beat the Crows or Eagles - I am sure they hold no fear for the players, especially after our recent games against them.

I agree the Crows defence is scary but we should consider this:

A win in the first week of the finals will mean a much easier path to the GF, with a PF at home against an injury depleted St Kilda or some other Melbourne pretender.

Adelaide and West Coast would end up on the same side of the draw.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Ricciuto has been recently demonstrating an unholy ability to kick a huge, ridiculously unlikely goal at exactly the right moment.

Riccuito is perhaps the least appreciated football genius of our time. He never manages to surprise me simply because I know that whenever he gets the ball, anything is possible.

[Jeffers1984]

Originally posted by Charlie
Riccuito is perhaps the least appreciated football genius of our time. He never manages to surprise me simply because I know that whenever he gets the ball, anything is possible.

I know it's not part of the topic, but does anyone see a lot of Riccuito in Ablett? Both Powerfuly built runners and Long kicks who have an uncanny knack of clearing the ball with a big boot.

Riccuito of course is more acomplished but Nog has the time to become the enforcer that Roo is.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by hammo
We are playing well enough to beat the Crows or Eagles - I am sure they hold no fear for the players, especially after our recent games against them.

I agree the Crows defence is scary but we should consider this:

A win in the first week of the finals will mean a much easier path to the GF, with a PF at home against an injury depleted St Kilda or some other Melbourne pretender.

Adelaide and West Coast would end up on the same side of the draw.

Its salivating stuff. I am trying not to get too excited about our prospects but its difficult not to after yesterday's game. I'm having trouble focussing at work as my mind is obsessed about football. I fear that if we dont make the GF, my crash is gonna be huge.

I agree with Charlie re Ricuitto although his genius was appreciated in 2003 with the Brownlow and it may be appreciated the same way again this year.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Jeffers1984
I know it's not part of the topic, but does anyone see a lot of Riccuito in Ablett? Both Powerfuly built runners and Long kicks who have an uncanny knack of clearing the ball with a big boot.

Riccuito of course is more acomplished but Nog has the time to become the enforcer that Roo is.

How good was it when Ablett ripped the ball out of Archer's hands and then walked over the top of him to get the ball out to Buchanan and then to Davis for a goal.

(BTW - as well as Davis' good form, it was great to see us finding him in space finally and making the most of his goal kicking. I also like that when Davis kicks for goal he never pokes at it - he kicks through it all the time).

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by cruiser
Its salivating stuff. I am trying not to get too excited about our prospects but its difficult not to after yesterday's game. I'm having trouble focussing at work as my mind is obsessed about football. I fear that if we dont make the GF, my crash is gonna be huge.

You're only having trouble focusing on work? Lucky you. I was having trouble focusing on sleep. I kept finding myself doing stuff like counting the number of days to the Grand Final (33).

The ABC had an interesting take on next week's West Coast - Adelaide game. There's more than top spot up for grabs - the loser has to play Sydney in the first week of the finals. Fear us!

The premiership odds also came out yesterday afternoon. Adelaide and West Coast are now equal favourites, the Saints have drifted out and the Swans have come in a lot.

Adelaide 3.25
West Coast 3.25
Sydney 4.50
St Kilda 5.50

[Snowy]

One of the experts who watched the Eagles live at the weekend suggested they have a lot of youngsters who are very tired.

[Sanecow]

Maybe they should take a nap in the early afternoon?

[giant]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Maybe they should take a nap in the early afternoon?

Good luck to them if they can get them down! Never works with my little blighters...

[ScottH]

Originally posted by giant
Good luck to them if they can get them down! Never works with my little blighters...

Maybe you need some advice from Ball.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by Thunder Shaker
The ABC had an interesting take on next week's West Coast - Adelaide game. There's more than top spot up for grabs - the loser has to play Sydney in the first week of the finals. Fear us!

The premiership odds also came out yesterday afternoon. Adelaide and West Coast are now equal favourites, the Saints have drifted out and the Swans have come in a lot.

Adelaide 3.25
West Coast 3.25
Sydney 4.50
St Kilda 5.50

I was gonna put $10 on Sydney when they were offering $14 just 3 weeks ago but didnt - doh.

The newspapers and online media are full of stories about how hot Sydney are at the moment. Over on Big Footy, it appears that neither Crows or West Coast supporters want to play us in the first week and would rather play the Saints - what a difference a weekend makes.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Snowy
One of the experts who watched the Eagles live at the weekend suggested they have a lot of youngsters who are very tired.

This is a key problem for younger sides. Combined with a struggling forward line, I can't see WC winning the flag this year.