Our Chances Against Brisbane

[penga]

i dont think nicks is key to our success this weekend, i think that the forward line and back line performed very well without him... wouldnt be a loss to play him off the bench though

[liz]

Gee, its a big call to suggest we'll beat the Lions. Of course it's possible, but a lot of things would have to go our way.

While not trying to downplay the achievements in the last two weeks, both times the opposition hasn't really been up to much. Melbourne should have killed us up to 3/4 time - we were that bad, especially in the 3rd quarter. If they had more than one decent forward they would have ripped our defence apart, such was their midfield dominance. And then their entire team went to sleep in the final quarter. Sure, the Swans played a brilliant final term, but it shouldn't have come down to that.

The shape of the Collingwood game was obviously very different - with the Swans being clearly the better team for the first 3/4 and then slightly running out of legs themselves in the final term. But at the moment the Pies are definitely looking like a team that played above themselves last year and they rely far too much on a couple of superb players. We were able to keep Buckley's and Tarrant's influence to moderate levels until 3/4 time, and there was no-one else really able or willing to step up into the breach.

The huge difference with the Lions is how many potential matchwinners they have. Even if someone is able to keep Voss relatively under control, there are another dozen or so players with the ability - and just as importantly, the self-belief - to win the game themselves.

I'm not trying to be too negative here - it will be a fascinating game and great to see how competitive we can be. The Lions can be beaten but only if they're not mentally switched on. For their last two matches they seem to have played one great quarter and then slipped into cruise control. I suspect that they would have stepped up a level had they needed to.

Our best chance is to stick with them for 3/4 and then unleash another awesome final quarter, so that they don't have time to respond. We also need to continue with the recent accurate kicking at goal so that every opportunity is made to count.

[Bas]

Originally posted by Cher

Mothers Day in Sydney? Doesn't that usually mean everyone stays home with their mothers. Where as in Vic everyone takes there Mums to the game.

"She who must be Obeyed" has banned me from going and I'll have to watch it on telly.

Mike Sheehan on the radio last Sunday said if Sydney get within 20 of Brisbane then that would be good.

We can only hope that the Lions have overdosed on Pan vitamins!!

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by lizz

Our best chance is to stick with them for 3/4 and then unleash another awesome final quarter, so that they don't have time to respond.

Lizz I agree with your hole post, just on this part here, I reckon if we are close to brisbane at 3/4 time we would have spent all of our petrol tickets and they will probably steam roll us in the final quarter.

[swan_song]

It is really quite silly to even be suggesting there is any other answer but 'of course we have a chance'. For if the answer is anything else, what is the point of playing at all...
Seriously though. I think that somehow something seems to have clicked in the team brain again, and we are playing running, attacking football, a la the last 5 matches last year and the first this season.
This, coupled with what appears to be an improvement in kicking (touch wood) and a reduction in the number of serious 'goal-leading' clangers AND the fact that Brizzie, although winning, aren't looking to be on the boil right now, gives us the best chance in beating them in years.
I think Lynchie may be in for this game (probably wants to come down and see roosie) but he's underdone...and hey, Acker wants to come and play here next season

[penga]

Originally posted by swan_song
I think that somehow something seems to have clicked in the team brain again, and we are playing running, attacking football, a la the last 5 matches last year and the first this season.

I think Lynchie may be in for this game (probably wants to come down and see roosie) but he's underdone...and hey, Acker wants to come and play here next season

maybe the game plan has finally clicked and they are not only streaming in numbers up and down the field but arent waiting for the perfect opportunity to get into the forward line, rather, getting it down there quickly, which worked very well in the last couple of games and even when we were playing adelaide, as soon as it came quick delivery, we came back... it helps with schneider and magic being down there now, marking and crumbing players... i even noticed that hall's goals came from crumbs

we gotta be seriously worried about lynch if he plays, of the 5 minutes of the geelong - lions game i watched, i saw that their game plan was falling over a bit without lynch down there as a focal point, they were still bombing it long without anyone down there... i think we need ball on him and use schauble as a spare man to come over the top... we shut him down, we will have a serious chance

[TheMase]

This on the Swans site today

"Courier Mail: Brisbane key position players Justin Leppitsch (groin) and Jonathan Brown (jaw) are considered doubtful for Sunday?s SCG clash with Sydney."

That gives us a HUGE boost. If Brown is missing, let Lynch kick his 5 goals and lets just stop the rest of them (if he plays).

Leppitsch missing will REALLY stretch them down back. To try and contain Hall, O'Loughlin, Davis, Schneider, Goodes (when he goes down) Ball etc

If Lepp doesn't play and we get decent delivery down forward, we are in with a damn serious show here!

Also if Brown misses, that will ease pretty on our defense by a heap!!

[penga]

Originally posted by TheMase
This on the Swans site today

"Courier Mail: Brisbane key position players Justin Leppitsch (groin) and Jonathan Brown (jaw) are considered doubtful for Sunday?s SCG clash with Sydney."

That gives us a HUGE boost. If Brown is missing, let Lynch kick his 5 goals and lets just stop the rest of them (if he plays).

Leppitsch missing will REALLY stretch them down back. To try and contain Hall, O'Loughlin, Davis, Schneider, Goodes (when he goes down) Ball etc

If Lepp doesn't play and we get decent delivery down forward, we are in with a damn serious show here!

Also if Brown misses, that will ease pretty on our defense by a heap!!

thats great news!!! if lynch doesnt play they have a seriously short team

[floppinab]

One other red herring thrown into the mix reminded at least 5 times in various media by Robert Walls is that it will be Marcus Ashcroft's 300th game.

That is going to make it very very tough.

[penga]

heres the full story:

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6387493%255E10389,00.html

Lions facing firepower loss with Brown injury
Darren Cartwright
06may03
UNCOMPROMISING Lions forward Jonathan Brown is in doubt for Sunday's AFL clash with Sydney because of a badly swollen jaw and key defender Justin Leppitsch concedes a persistent groin injury may sideline him as well.

While Leppitsch's condition will be clearer as the week unfolds, Brown is a bigger concern for the Lions, who are only being held together by surgical tape and a steely resolve.

Brown has been unable to chew food and failed to complete yesterday's recovery session, although X-rays late yesterday have cleared him of any structural damage.

The 21-year-old was struck down by friendly fire after a clash of heads with teammate Jamie Charman during the third quarter of last Sunday's clash against Geelong.

Despite obvious discomfort, Brown played out the remainder of the match before packing the left side of his face in ice at game's end.

Brown has already braved five of the first six matches with a sore hip, missing the round three encounter against the Kangaroos and any weeks on the sideline would water down the side's firepower.

There could be a problem with his back-up Shane Morrison, who was reported for striking in the reserves and faces the AFLQ tribunal tonight.

Leppitsch admits a nagging groin injury may get the better of him after failing to finish a match for the second week running.

Believing he had shrugged off the injury, Leppitsch declared himself fit for the Cats clash but sought the refuge of the bench late in the third quarter and didn't reappear.

"There is no difference to last week, but I know what the week entails for me," Leppitsch said.

"I was always worried about the endurance of the injury more than the injury itself and how long it would last into the game. You don't want to be playing three quarters of a game every week.

"It's no worse, but it's definitely no better. It's muscle tightness and halftime really brought it on because you cool down."

Leppitsch said it would be a more cautious approach to this weekend's clash and he may have to undergo a more searching test before making himself available.

"You don't train for 120 minutes during the week, so you can't fully test it," he said.

Even though the Lions are undefeated they are not without problems.

Vice-captain Chris Scott is troubled by hamstring soreness, midfielder Jason Akermanis requires mid-match treatment for a thigh problem, Nigel Lappin is slowed down by a virus and forward Alastair Lynch has missed half the games played because of illness.

It's been a factor in Brisbane failing to bury sides on the scoreboard and Geelong would be foolish to think its honourable loss on Sunday could trigger a rise in fortunes.

Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs had honourable losses in rounds four and five, and the Kangaroos were highly praised for drawing with the Lions in round three.

Yet none of these sides has won since playing Brisbane and Geelong is highly unlikely too either this weekend against West Coast in Perth.

AFL Players' Association chief executive Dr Rob Kerr has questioned the media's reporting in the lead-up to tribunal hearings.

Kerr said there was the potential to prejudice the outcome by referring to past incidents, especially when a player had no way of defending himself publicly because he was prohibited under AFL regulations from commenting on the matter.


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therefore, there is problems with:
leppa
brown
c. scott
aker
lappin
lynch
morisson

our injury/worries are non existant in comparison

however ive always believed that the swans play a full side better than an injury plagued one, they normally get too complaicent!!! this is the lions however, slightly different story! it is good news however

if leppa, brown, morisson and lynch dont play, it might be a good idea to give schauble a rest, it seems he needs it

[penga]

if all the KPP above are omitted, their KPP would consist of:

michael
white
charman
brennan
bradshaw

still not that bad

[TheMase]

Originally posted by penga
if all the KPP above are omitted, their KPP would consist of:

michael
white
charman
brennan
bradshaw

still not that bad

Michael will take Hall

White will probably take Goodes/O'Loughlin
Charman, well he is a ruckman isn't he? Jason Ball perhaps?
Brennan, is young and will be inconsistant, might take

Bradshaw could play forward, but without Lynch and Brown will be much easier to match up on. Saddington could probably take him.

I dont think those players are that fantastic to be honest. Their best 3 are probably Brown, Leppisch and Lynch (and Michael)... so with 3 of their best out, this is our best shot at beating them in a long time.

We are NOT going to win the midfield I dont think so we are going to have to use the defense as our attack.

With their lack of height down back, we should be able to rebound off the defense VERY well, and push up the ground. A small ground the SCG, that means the faster we move the ball up the ground, the more chance our forwards have of making an impact.

This could work extremely well, we just need good delivery.

[penga]

half back will be the key! somebody else said that we should put bolton on bradshaw as he'd know his tricks... i agree with that call... i reckon leo wouldnt be too bad on bradshaw either... aker will be in the forward line and will be getting all the crumbs, we may need kirk on him so that every time he touches the ball there will be so much pressure on him that it will hopefully negate his influence...

matchups at this point in time seems to be falling in our favour...

we should play our wings at half back, ie at centre bounce have a 5 man hb line and wait for the clearance and work hard back up the ground

[Rizzo]

I saw Goodesy interviewed on Rex Hunt's Promo World who said that if the whole team played well we would be in for a chance and that the Lions are the benchmark of the compeition and it will be an indicator of how well the Swans are really travelling.

Can't argue with that and can't wait for Sunday!

[TheMase]

It has been confirmed now that Johnathon brown will DEFINETELY miss this weekend.