Adelaide the team for Sydney to beat..

[BigBadBarryNo1]

Lets get it right, injury wise we've had a pretty good run, but it would be nice to have some rookies like Schmidtty come off the ranks to pull something in.

As long as we firm up on the defensive 50m arc, then I'm sure that we'll do okay.

Eagles have had a "mildly" lean patch without Judd, but we have big reasons to fear the Crows..

My reasons to fear Adelaide:
1. We didn't beat Adelaide all year last year - they were probably the team I was worried about last year to meet in the finals. Given the Eagles have been exposed without Judd, they are really the team to beat this year.

2. Defensively the best - Rutten et al have been performing superbly over the past few years, and they have maintained their good defensive record for the 2-3 years right now

3. Newly found attack - it could be argued that Swans have switched numbers to attack and therefore they have been leaking a few more (not just from Leo's overconfidence) than the past years prior. This is not the case for Adelaide right now - a good all round attack, a golden midfield and a solid defence.

[satchmopugdog]

They looked awesome on Friday night.

[Carolyn]

They're at the top of the ladder now. Come Grand Final time, they might be really hard to beat.

[R-1]

At the SCG the Crows tight defence could strangle us.

You know, like we used to do to other teams...

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by Carolyn
They're at the top of the ladder now. Come Grand Final time, they might be really hard to beat.

Same thing people were saying about the Eagles this time last year. A few injuries, and some close losses, and they may well come right back to the pack.

[NMWBloods]

At Grand Final time the Eagles were really hard to beat!

[573v30]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Same thing people were saying about the Eagles this time last year. A few injuries, and some close losses, and they may well come right back to the pack.

If that happens to the Crows this year, I don't think the impact would be as big as Neil Craig has coached them superbly so far. Let's not forget who started the Eagles' form "slump" at the latter half of the 2005 season...

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
At Grand Final time the Eagles were really hard to beat!

We still beat them though.

I agree that the Crows look to be an even tougher proposition. We can only hope that they get tired later in the season, and that the Swans find that steely, consistent reserve that they developed in the second half of the year.

The main difference between the two teams, IMO, is that the Eagles rely more heavily on their top 3 or 4 players. If you can somehow contain Judd, Cousins, Kerr and Cox (easier said than done, I realise) I reckon any of the top 10 teams is some chance against them.

The Crows' second tier (or "backbone" as they like to call themselves) seem able to step up to a greater degree than their Weagles equivalents.

[ihamilto]

I have to say Melbourne still worries me a bit when they are running hot they are an impressive outfit, and while I expect the bulldogs to run out of puff you have to hand it to Eade their improvement has been dramatic this year especially considering they have been knocked about by injuries.
cheers Ian

[BigBadBarryNo1]

We beat Eagles @ their best last year, kicked them outta the finals the year before. We also made a good effort 2 years ago against a 10-in-a-row rampaging Saints.

But not so the Crows all year last year, and they do seem to be the real deal now with an improved forward structure, whilst not taking that away from the midfielders or backs. This has been a big part of the Eagles problems (no real forwards), and the Swans (increased forward firepower, but Leo's getting smacked in the backs).

I remember seeing C Bolts too scared to do a 20 metre run in the past couple of games, perhaps we're carrying him injured, I dunno, but I hope that Leo and him rough it up better. Giving away frees just shouldn't be an excuse anymore.

Overall, it's obvious that we haven't been firing on all cylinders in 4 quarter effots for around a month or so now, so it's really time to start.

Perhaps some youngster pace (Schmidt, Moore) and a BIG senior selection (Matthews? Mickey? Davis?) drop may help jolt the boys into action coz as valiantly as they have played over the course of the past few weeks (even the Saints game), we need to stop playing mechanical robotic footy.

We need to beat those stupid Crows.

[Chow-Chicker]

Judging by our lousy game plan, we won't make the 8. We need to be more consistent and forthcoming in our disposal to the forward line. We cannot dwindle in the wilderness.

[motorace_182]

Originally posted by Chow-Chicker
Judging by our lousy game plan, we won't make the 8. We need to be more consistent and forthcoming in our disposal to the forward line. We cannot dwindle in the wilderness.

yeah, its not like its ever going to win us a premiership or anything aye. Good point...