How important is Saturday's match to 2006?

[Matt79]

I think this is a huuuuuuge game in the context of our season. I know it is only round 5, however, losing 3 home games in a row is not something I want to contemplate.

Should be a ripping game.

Your thoughts?

PS My crowd estimate is 39, 598

[Plugger46]

MUST win.

[NMWBloods]

1-4 would be our worst start since 1999 and before that 1994!!

(Lockett missed 3 of our losses in 1999, so understandable to a degree).

We'll be in big trouble and have a long long way back.

[ROK Lobster]

Big game. Will give an indication of where we are at mentally I think.

[Agent 86]

We'll be at longer odds than $34 if we lose. We need some hair of the cat for a hangover cure.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Agent 86
We'll be at longer odds than $34 if we lose. We need some hair of the cat for a hangover cure.

If the Swans win do not be surprised to read a version of 86's 'hair of the cat cures hangover' quip on a back page Sunday. Very nice.

[Agent 86]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
Very nice.

Thanks Chief!

[SimonH]

Agreed with all of the above. The common thread of the slow starts of 2003, 2004 and 2005 is that the W:L ratio was never more than 2 on the wrong side.

Not that we don't flirt perilously with disaster. Each time, have a look at the crunch game that would have seen us go 3 losses to the ill, and probably out of serious contention.

More than 3 goals down to Melbourne at 3/4 time in the round 5 2003 clash, ready to go 1:4. And there would have been no qualifying final Footy Park heroics vs Port Adelaide from 1:4. An unheard-of (especially for Sydney) 10 goal final term, turned the year around.

Then, as if we enjoy riding our luck, in 2004 round 9 we beat cellar-dwellers Hawthorn by 1 point, playing appallingly, in a game we deserved to lose but Hawthorn weren't good enough to take from us. 3:6 and 5 losses in a row would probably have crushed us. As it was, the win gave us enough confidence to stun the undefeated Saints a couple of weeks later.

But wait... you want more? I'll never forget the channel 10 ad for our round 7 2005 clash with Essendon, after we'd been flogged 3 weeks in a row to go 2:4. "This is one match we're expected to win...". (Essendon were playing even worse than us at the time.) How apologetic can you get? It was like they were embarrassed, being forced to sell a faulty product. And then... out at Homebush, we snatched a heartstopping 6 point win after being down 16 points at 3/4 time. Can't recall what happened with the rest of the 2005 season after we narrowly avoided being 2:5 on the back of 4 straight losses; but I've been told it was something better than watching Mattie Lloyd throw grass around under a closed roof.

So: can we go back to the well a 4th time, or will it finally run dry? One way or t'other, history is well and truly on my side when I predict that Saturday night's game will be a cracker, with no shortage of drama.

[NMWBloods]

Nice work Simon!

[ScottH]

Need to prove that last years win was deserved. Oh, and to stay in the hunt for 2006.

BTW the Hawks are ahead of us in the flag betting.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Agent 86
Thanks Chief!

I'm Laramy. BTW Simon, you should write the promos for Ch 10.

[Wardy]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
I'm Laramy. BTW Simon, you should write the promos for Ch 10.

dont mean to be picky ROK but its "Laraby" - or you could be "13" the guy who is always hidden in a wall or a letter box.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Wardy
dont mean to be picky ROK but its "Laraby" - or you could be "13" the guy who is always hidden in a wall or a letter box.

OK, keep in mind I was only 7 when it stopped going to air . Is Laramy the brand of cigs on the Simpsons.

Oh yeah, and so as not be be seen to derail the thread, Sat night's game is important to 2006, but not fatal to our finals chances. A loss should be fatal to a few careers but I do not expect that will happen either.

[Wardy]

The adds they have been running saying "are you tired of seeing this" being the Nick Davis goal - the thing is that whilst it is a game I (personally) never tire of seeing, I fear that the result this weekend will be reversed and it will be a slaughter. I do hope that I'm wrong.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Wardy
dont mean to be picky ROK but its "Laraby" - or you could be "13" the guy who is always hidden in a wall or a letter box.

Yes, Laramie was a fort in Rin Tin Tin.