Does anyone believe this line?

[RogueSwan]

Originally posted by sharpie
but what are those dashes everywhere strayans dont know how to use punctuation

Not dashes, postrafees

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by sharpie
Please. Far too many vowels. Its unstrayan.

True - good call!

[craigusvegas]

c,mon guys, get your garry reilly aussie sit-coms right. your mixing 10 years together. "not the kingswood" spoken by the inimitable ted bulpitt was on "kingswood country" circa 76-79 "hey dad" with a much more refined architect dad was mid-80's
now what was the point people were trying to make?

[cruiser]

Originally posted by craigusvegas
c,mon guys, get your garry reilly aussie sit-coms right. your mixing 10 years together. "not the kingswood" spoken by the inimitable ted bulpitt was on "kingswood country" circa 76-79 "hey dad" with a much more refined architect dad was mid-80's

I wish I could lie and say that I'm too young to know what you are talking about.

[craigusvegas]

I think it is no coincidence we have been succeeding is because the '2nd tier' have been thriving. willo, goodes, B1and tiger are always going to get uber-tagged, they will shine through at small moments but hard to see the shining for a whole game. especially come finals time where it does go up a notch. so with bucky, nog, ROK and LRT going up a notch also, we wish real hard they will virtually carry the lion's share forward with confidence.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by RogueSwan
What's a kingswood?

Leave your money on the Fridge!!

[ScottH]

Originally posted by craigusvegas
c,mon guys, get your garry reilly aussie sit-coms right. your mixing 10 years together. "not the kingswood" spoken by the inimitable ted bulpitt was on "kingswood country" circa 76-79 "hey dad" with a much more refined architect dad was mid-80's
now what was the point people were trying to make?

Thx for the TV history lesson.

Remember, I'm only a little kid.

[Provost]

Originally posted by ScottH
Thx for the TV history lesson.

Remember, I'm only a little kid.

Argh, so your the fat little kid from Hey Dad. I soo want to puch you.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Provost
Argh, so your the fat little kid from Hey Dad. I soo want to puch you.

I'm hiding behind Nudge!

[Schneiderman]

To answer the question:

I dont think this year it is about "going up a notch". This year is rare because its highly likely that both of ast year's Grand Finalists, and winners of the last five years are out of the eight. At the very least they have been and will be little by way of contest.

So that creates a void. There will be no hardened, experienced teams contesting the big games. Virtually every team that is realistically in contention (say the top 6) has either got limited "experience in finals" (read - 22 bruising H&A rounds + elimination pressure), or a "hoo-doo" about finals adding a specific twist to their campaign.

Being an avid student of sports psychology, I dont buy into the "momentum is irrelevant" or "finals experience is irrelevant" hyperboles. Of course its relevant. Sport at the highest levels is as much about mental toughness and attitude as it is about skill and talent. So my break-down based purely on the mental approach to the Finals is as such (and the teams are in order of chance to win it by this method):

1. Sydney - Toughened by both 2003 and 2004 Finals experience. From the shattering of the "dream run" in 2003, to the humiliation of the SF in 2004, the tough lessons from losing came thick and fast. Both years the teams started the year as underdogs, and finished in a flurry, even winning their first final in a classy display. Both times they were undone the following game by a more classy and determined team, and injuries played a major role at the death. Whereas last year they had to be reminded by the coach regularly about the importance of teamwork, it seems there has not been a whisper of it since Round 10. They are focussed, blending beautifully as a team, and gaining in confidence every game - both in each other and the game plan. Even the "rotating captaincy" policy seems to have been a boon to the team, as the team now has six players who know what it takes to lead the team to victory.

2. WCE - There is precious little experience in finals for this team. There is heaps of talent, plenty of belief and some true game-breakers. This team cannot be denied a couple of important finals wins, and since they are likely to be at home, even the massive pressure of expectation wont prevent them from making the Big One. But by then the pressure and exhaustion of it all will get to them. Too many young players with softer bodies and weaker minds, coupled with massive public pressure, will be their undoing. The last few weeks have shown the strain, and a committed, more hardened, more experienced side like Sydney should be confident they can deal with them if they happen to be the ones facing off on the special day.

3. Adelaide - Similar to WCE in so many ways. Importantly they lack the X-Factor that Judd, Kerr, Cousins and Cox bring to each game. Too many young players, too many niggly injuries, so much public pressure. So similar also to Sydney's 2003 campaign, they may well fold the same way. If the Round 18 game is any indicator to how a contest with the Swans would pan out, then only luck would grant them a victory. Their only hope is that Neil Craig has given them a true edge with his famed training "regime", but only if his players gain confidence from it during the first game of the finals campaign. I am tipping them to lose their first game, win the second, and bow out in the PF.

4. St Kilda - Too many injuries, too many scars. Not helped by the buffonary of GT's machinations - right or wrong, his comments are poorly timed for so many reasons. They dont look like they are focussed on September, but look fragile and unconvincing. IF they get their star side on the park on GF day they will surely be a force to be reckoned with, but that day is SOOOO far away right now. Still a Saints v Swans GF would be kinda special in any case, so good luck to them.

[Xie Shan]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
4. St Kilda - IF they get their star side on the park on GF day they will surely be a force to be reckoned with, but that day is SOOOO far away right now. Still a Saints v Swans GF would be kinda special in any case, so good luck to them.

Very good summation Schneiderman. Even despite St. Kilda's injuries, I still have to say I DON'T want to meet the Saints in a GF- why?

1) History. The only times they've really threatened us in the last few years - the draw in 2002, the finals last year, the 'watershed' game this year - each time they have either been injury-ravaged (2002) or out of form (coming off a thrashing to the Lions last year, inconsistent this year), and we've arguably been expected to win. If we met them in the finals, I'm worried the same thing might happen again, as we'd probably be favourites given their injuries. I would actually have preferred to have played them when they were full steam ahead - we would have rolled them just like Round 11 last year (IMO).

2) Side issue, I know, but the $20,000 fine to GT this week. Sure, it's clutching at straws, but look what happened to the Bombers last year after Hirdy's comments! If the Saints met the Swans in the finals, knowing the umpires' bias against the Swans, who knows what could happen?

[Tuesday]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
'Hey Dad'!

I saw Betty the Sechetary at the bus stop at Eddy Avenue earlier in the year. She hopped on a bus to Elizabeth Bay.

Also went to school with Jenny mk II. What a prima donna!

[NMWBloods]

I think finals experience can be overrated. Look at us against StKilda last year.

In any event, in the past 3 years the Swans haven't played in particularly more finals than all the other top 4 sides I don't believe.

[craigusvegas]

last year I reckon if it had been a dry track at the mcg against the saints it would have been different. the rain - although not as bad as the scg swimming pool against adelaide in '98 were not good for our teams in those years. this year the skill level has gone up (a notch) - although playing on a freezing wind blown AAMI doesn't fill me with confidence. but this year I'd say the '05 model swans can get up against anyone in any conditions - as they are a tight hardened team.