Top four still likely.

[yoshi]

more then likely we'll get into top 4
and then the swans will come out fighting.
a windy cold geelong is just a terrible place to play afl.

i wouldnt worry about how they played..
just have to turn it on for the finals.. and the swans have been pretty good at doing that over the last couple of years

[SimonH]

Playing a shocker at Geelong is no impediment to having a go at the premiership. See Weagles 2005, or Weagles for half-and-a-bit of the game 2006. While Roos' comments about the ground were pretty bizarre, it is a difficult oval to just turn up and play at, if you don't play there often.

The draw, fortunately or unfortunately, has us playing only 2 sides of substantial quality in the last 7 weeks of the year; and we've gone 1:1 against them. So in working out our form going into the finals we can't benchmark ourselves against the opposition; we have to benchmark ourselves against our own performances. Which is a fancy way of saying, what's important in the next 2 weeks is not merely getting the 4 points against Blions and Blues (although of course we're rooted if we don't get them); it's how we go about the task.

[Schneiderman]

I am not concerned about that loss, as I had always pencilled in either a Melbourne or Geelong loss (with fingers crossed it wouldn't be both).

Add to that the fact that the Swans never win more than 4 or 5 in a row, obviously needing a shock loss regularly to remind them that they cant just turn up for any game.

Furthermore, it was a tough hit out with no injuries. This should be the right sort of wake up call and fine tuning exercise we need so close to the finals. Admittedly a close win would have been so much better, but then I'd rather lose a game at Skilled than the MCG so close to the finals.

[hammo]

I don't think there's any doubt the Swans will win their last two matches.

However I am less confident that the results we need will go our way.

Fremantle are on a roll and it wouldn't surprise me if they got over the Eagles.

Melbourne can lift when required and the Crows are in a hole. However I have my fingers crossed that Neil Craig will have them in the right frame of mind for round 22 and about going into the finals in top form. Of course Geelong could just beat them on Saturday which would be enough.

The team we need to avoid in the finals is the Bulldogs. They could run us off our feet and have absolutely nothing to lose. If we do finish 5th a clash with the Dogs beckons.

[Dave]

Originally posted by Dr Diabolical
Injuries to other sides may again help us.

However, without Mooney Geelong won't beat Melbourne, so those whinging about the possibility of him not getting rubbed out for hitting Buchanan are being very short-sighted.

But the Dees now have injury concerns of their own. From the Hun:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20194767%255E20322,00.html

The Demons said Neitz has a sore hip-flexor, while Bate and Rivers both had to be helped from the field with jarred knees.

So who knows how it might go.

[giant]

Originally posted by Dave
while Bate and Rivers both had to be helped from the field with jarred knees.

"Jarred knees"? Pffft. Sounds like AFL-speak for "they've had season-ending ACL injuries but we don't want to 'fess up to the fans yet."

[ScottH]

Originally posted by giant
"Jarred knees"? Pffft. Sounds like AFL-speak for "they've had season-ending ACL injuries but we don't want to 'fess up to the fans yet."

Bate was walking on his later in the game, with a huge icepack, strapped to it. Not sure about the Rivers.

[barry]

Ideally I'd like to see Freo beat WC, and Adelaide beat Melbourne.

An all non-vic top 4. I feel myself gravitating towards the Freo bandwagon......as a 2nd team of course.

[hammo]

Originally posted by barry
Ideally I'd like to see Freo beat WC, and Adelaide beat Melbourne.

An all non-vic top 4. I feel myself gravitating towards the Freo bandwagon......as a 2nd team of course.

Although there would be benefit in say Melbourne making the top 4 and causing an upset in the first final as St Kilda did last year.

A PF at the MCG would be better than Subi or AAMI (given we lose in week 1 which may not necessarily be the case).

[Dave]

Originally posted by barry
I feel myself gravitating towards the Freo bandwagon......as a 2nd team of course.

Same here. I genuinely feel really excited for them. The Derby will be a passionate affair this weekend no doubt!

[Eala ?ireann]

Will Farmer keep his temper? Will Kerr keep his temper? Who knows...

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by Dave
The Demons said Neitz has a sore hip-flexor, while Bate and Rivers both had to be helped from the field with jarred knees.

Hmm. I wonder if this Jarred Knees can play. Should we risk adding another spelling of Jared to our list?

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Thunder Shaker
Hmm. I wonder if this Jarred Knees can play. Should we risk adding another spelling of Jared to our list?

[Xie Shan]

We already have a Jarred Moore, so we've got that particular spelling covered.

[bigswan]

I agree with Yoshi. Geelong is a hard ground to play in the wind. Geelong played well and were fired up. They would have beaten anyone last week. Surely Melbourne will lose one of their last two and Freo can't beat WC. It's a different ball game once the finals start.