Does anyone believe this line?

[RogueSwan]

David Parkin: "I'm concerned that Adelaide and Sydney can't go to another level, whereas St Kilda has the body of talent and so does West Coast ... "

taken from What it takes to win.

The team has been playing great footy over the last couple of months. Personally I think there are a few Swannies that would could still take our game up a notch (not to discedit their current form which has been very solid).
- Willo: He hasn't been in the great form that we know he is capable of
- Tiger: Only one goal from him this year! He is capable of producing running goals regularly.
- Pebbles: just kick straighter. How did he thread that goal through two Roos and then miss the easy set shot???
- Noggy: If only the umps would give him a chance from 60m

[NMWBloods]

This was interesting (mainly in relation to negative comments here about West Coast).

But Blight said experience, specifically previous finals experience, was an overrated commodity.

Also,

Blight rates the ability of the current Adelaide team to play "almost exactly the same every week" as its outstanding strength.

"I do think you need a touch of luck," Blight laughed.

[SXP]

I believe. Nobody here in Melbourne that I spoke to rate Swans to win the flag. Everybody belives it's going to be either WC Eagles or St. Kilda. For the same reason as Parkin explained in the article. According to my friends here in Melbourne, Adelaide and Swans will fold no later than in PF against a classier opposition. Maybe one of them might reach the GF, but not win it.
Go and figure out that one...

[hammo]

That article was written before half of St Kilda went down with injuries. As for West Coast, we will find out on Saturday exactly how good they are. If they are as poor again as what they were against Geelong then you can just about write them off.

Neither Parkin or Blight mentions the fact that West Coast doesn't have a structured forward line, as opposed to ours which is probably the best in the league aside from a fit St Kilda.

Swans have been playing at the same level for a few weks now and who's to say we can't go up a further notch. The way we play - hard tackling, tough at the stoppages - is suited to finals footy. When put under that pressure in the past couple of months West Coast have come up short.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

These are the sort of comments i love to hear come finals time, the swannies thrive on being the underdogs and it can only help spur them on even more.

[giant]

Keep in mind that as little as 5 weeks ago, a lot of the pundits had us as being likely to fall out of the 8, making way for Lions & Port. The critic's crystal ball is usually no better than ours & as Blighty noted you need a bunch of luck to win a flag, especially in a season as open as this one.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

The following players could all step up a couple of notches:

Goodes
Leo Barry
Schneider
Davis (which he has allready started to)
Ball
Fosdike
Williams

The rest are probably close to top of their game at the moment but the above players stepping up would make a considerable difference.

[Newbie]

Originally posted by BayseysLeftBoot
The following players could all step up a couple of notches:

Goodes
Leo Barry
Schneider
Davis (which he has allready started to)
Ball
Fosdike
Williams

The rest are probably close to top of their game at the moment but the above players stepping up would make a considerable difference.

Dont forget our one and only LRT. That man still has a huge room for improvement .

[BayesysLeftBoot]

Originally posted by Newbie
Dont forget our one and only LRT. That man still has a huge room for improvement .

A week ago his name would have been in there but after the roos game if he could go up another notch he'd be an absolute superstar.

[OldE]

Originally posted by BayseysLeftBoot
The rest are probably close to top of their game at the moment but the above players stepping up would make a considerable difference.

I think Kennelly could still improve. He's been better in the last few weeks, but I think there's significant room for improvement.

[Go Swannies]

That Parkin article could be summarised as "a team of champions will beat a champion team". I'm not convinced that the Eagles and Saints have proved that they have the team spirit to win. Great players (though that's almost past tense for the Saints) but not the espirit de corps (du?) that a great team like the Lions had. If there is any hole in that team play, finals pressure will expose it. That's what the Swans did to Port in 2003 (rather than any mythical "choking") and Port did to the Lions - break the team structure and the game is yours.

For that reason, I think the Crows are the hard ask - they have been rock solid for much of the season. (Though we outplayed them but didn't keep momentum and kicked badly.) The Eagles and Saints have recently dropped their guards, the Crows haven't.

And the Swans are the second hardest team to get past from the way we've played the past few weeks.

Think of the Swans as Roos' Army. If they stay in step and don't deviate from the plan under the greatest pressure, they have a good chance.

[ScottH]

This is the important Stat

3. MARKS INSIDE 50m

Three of the past five premiers have been among the competition?s top-two marking teams inside 50 metres during the home-and-away rounds. In 2003 and 2001, the Lions increased their effectiveness so dramatically in September that they eventually topped the average marks inside 50.

Competition rankings for average home-and-away-season marks inside 50

2000 Essendon No. 2
2001 Brisbane Lions No. 5
2002 Brisbane Lions No. 2
2003 Brisbane Lions No. 6
2004 Port Adelaide No. 2

2005 (before round 21)
St Kilda No. 1
Sydney No. 2
Adelaide No.7
West Coast No. 13

You have more chance of winning if you are 2nd at Marks Inside 50

[Provost]

Originally posted by BayseysLeftBoot
The following players could all step up a couple of notches:

Goodes
Leo Barry
Schneider
Davis (which he has allready started to)
Ball
Fosdike
Williams

The rest are probably close to top of their game at the moment but the above players stepping up would make a considerable difference.

MOL has room to step it up a notch . I wouldn't say he is playing at the top of his game.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by ScottH
This is the important Stat

You have more chance of winning if you are 2nd at Marks Inside 50

And here I thought you had a better chance of winning if you scored more points than your opponents.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by Mike_B
And here I thought you had a better chance of winning if you scored more points than your opponents.

Not if they score more goals.