2024 Grand Final, vs Brisbane at MCG, Saturday 28 September, 2:30 PM

[Blue Sun]

I am so nervous, I don't know how I'll make it to tomorrow.

[SwanSand]

Only 3 teams have beaten us that we haven't turned around in the season. Richmond, St Kilda and Brisbane. We get a chance to correct the record against Brisbane this week. In total against these 3 teams we lost by 5 points.And all three of these have been due to variety of reasons more so against Brisbane with the injuries in the match. We still were fine on their home ground. I am sure we have the game plan to beat them. Its the nerves and the extra effort that we need to focus on. Hopefully the coaches box is also better for the experience of 2022. Bobby Hill got off the leash last time, can we get a rotating player to get off the leash - combination of Hayward, Papley, Heaney and Chad. If Zorko goes berserk - maybe put gulden in the the half forward role on him. Hopefully they played their GF last week. Lets run them off their feet.
Lets go boys !

[Daisi]

I'm sure the AFL media will find a way to diminish a victory. I honestly don't understand why they do this- Sydney is the biggest potential market in the country, (Melbourne is AFL saturated) yet they seem to act purposefully to piss us off..

Anyway, I'm going to forget about them- Let's hope for a big win tomorrow with no nail biting finishes, no last minute kicks after the siren, no dodgy free kicks for the win- just a really big decisive win so we can all cheer cheer without having heart palpitations.

C'mon Swannies- bring it home.

[dejavoodoo44]

Won't be an afterthought when we lift the Cup tomorrow!

Yes, I'm personally feeling increasingly confident, but that might not be a great thing, as the most confident that I've felt before a grand final was back in 2014.

[mcs]

Won't be an afterthought when we lift the Cup tomorrow!

[Daisi]

Gee- watching the Kayo coverage of the Grand Final Parade, and all they are talking about is Brisbane/Fitzroy. We are an afterthought...that sux.

[UUaswan]

Adams needs to look at Parker's year for what the future could bring.
Parker needs to look at Adams move for the possibilities of his move

These are the things you need to consider when your past 30, nothing is guaranteed and your previous standing doesn't automatically select you elsewhere.

One thing I would say is that no one is getting surprised here, frank discussions are had daily, players know where they sit.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Taylor Adams, I find this a little insulting to him:

"Sydney midfielder Taylor Adams has missed the extended squad of 26, with Peter Ladhams, Caiden Cleary and Aaron Francis the Swans' emergencies."

I don't see the insult. Different threshold I guess.

[SwanSand]

We are in the business of winning grand finals. And yes Taylor Adams played well for 19 games. But he still was not the best midfielder in those. Within the midfield group he probably was the lowest ranked with no flexibility. It’s the hard truth. Cleary and Parker showed that they were more flexible and passed him easily. Our team is built on flexibility and his future is in dire straits at Swans given we have Sheldrick, Cleary, etc waiting. Adams played one season for us compared to many for Collingwood and should have been upset with the magpies given the length of service he provided. He is entitled to be upset with the fact that he misses out again. But not with us.

[Maltopia]

I think you can safely assume that if Ladhams, Francis & Cleary are ahead of Adams then the coaches have a good reason for it. It's a big game, no free passes.
It's more bad luck for Mills. He is a long-time soldier for us and his exuberant reaction after we won last Friday said it all. Millsy is a good egg. Hopefully the Lions are
spent after sneaking thru two weeks in a row. If we show up, we should win.

Only Cleary is ahead of Adams.

Ladhams is there as a back up for Grundy or possibly McLean/Amartey getting injured in the warm up. Francis is a backup for Rampe, Melican, McCartin and possibly Blakey getting injured in the warm up.

Lions came back last week from 44 points down vs a fresher opponent, so I will be nervous even if we are leading by four goals at the start of the last quarter!

[KTigers]

I think you can safely assume that if Ladhams, Francis & Cleary are ahead of Adams then the coaches have a good reason for it. It's a big game, no free passes.
It's more bad luck for Mills. He is a long-time soldier for us and his exuberant reaction after we won last Friday said it all. Millsy is a good egg. Hopefully the Lions are
spent after sneaking thru two weeks in a row. If we show up, we should win.

[Syd76]

Totally agree StevoSwan. I feel the selection of the GF team is spot on (with no Mills or Adams).. but I agree wholeheartedly that Adams has been somewhat let down .. unless his head just wasn't in the right place and didn't train the way the coaches wanted him to. It would be pretty difficult to have this heartbreak two years running. I hope that this does not have a long term effect on him...

For what its worth, I would include Fox in the run on team.. and have the lever of Braeden Campbell as a sub .. as a in case of emergency break glass situation (as in the Giants game).

[stevoswan]

While I agree with the GF team selection and the non selection of Taylor Adams, I find this a little insulting to him:

"Sydney midfielder Taylor Adams has missed the extended squad of 26, with Peter Ladhams, Caiden Cleary and Aaron Francis the Swans' emergencies."

Team balance etc etc, blah blah.....but still, he's probably not feeling too great or appreciated at the moment for his 19 games of service that helped us win the minor premiership.

GF TEAMS: Brisbane Lions make Oscar McInerney call as Grand Final teams drop (afl.com.au)

[mcs]

I can see the value of Fox starting, but not as a defensive forward on Andrews. I imagine that after modest success in a similar role on Aliir last weekend, they will start with Parker trying to keep Andrews occupied. He has the benefit of being a forward threat himself, in way that Fox really isn't, which might help in keeping Andrews somewhat accountable.

If Fox starts its because we need a medium forward to play on Ah Chee (though he may try to keep Blakey quiet) or Rayner or Bailey or Lohmann, alongside Rampe and Roberts. I'd rather have Fox in such a role than having to push Lloyd or Florent back. They've thrived this year playing further up the ground. And if they're further up the ground, that probably pushes Campbell out to be sub.

I guess there are lots of possible permutations.

I agree it's not a preferable option, but it wouldn't surprise me, that's all. I much prefer him playing as a defender, as you say.

Going to be fascinating to see how all the magnets line up at the first bounce on Saturday!

[imuninformedtwo]

Instinct tells me we won’t have a say in Ah Chee on Blakey. I suspect he will stick to him like @@@@ on a blanket