Reasons why we should win?

[dawson]

Karma

[Damien]

Originally posted by dawson
Karma

Don't you start

[dawson]

Originally posted by Dr Diabolical
What karma could we possibly have left?

When you go 50 years without winning a final and 70 without winning a Premiership you are owed plenty!

[dendol]

Originally posted by Dr Diabolical
What karma could we possibly have left?

you had to ask, didnt you...

[Zlatorog]

So, far everybody is tipping WCE to win. I was just watching the WLF and everybody was tipping them, so it looks to me that the punters still don't rate us.

[Big Al]

Karma: Its been 8,760 hours since our last premiership. This drought has to end soon. We deserve to win on Saturday.

[Carolyn]

Just to see the looks of depression on the Weagles' faces.

[Bas]

My head tells me that it will be a wee-girls win.

When you think that they have had quite a few players out on the last two occasions that we played them.

Kerr was very good in last years GF and I couldn't believe how he came back on after being injured.

Although we remember Micky's missed goals last year, they missed quite a few as well.

Their forward line has improved and as everybody says they have the best midfield.

Having said that, the pressure will be on them to win. If Swans lose everyone will say that atleast we won it last year.

It will be a battle of the midfields. Whoever wins that, wins the game I think. Weagles get alot of drive of handballs and they always finish stronger in the 2nd half.

I've noticed Roosy emphasising this week how you stick to basics and you don't change things in a Granny. Goodesy too was saying he'll do the same thing he's done last 24 games this year. I get the feeling in my bones there's something brewing there. We might just see something different again this time.

Infact I'm sure he has something in mind after last weeks prelim. If Biglands hadn't gone down so early in the game, I'm sure Crows would have held them out.

Ah it's grand being in a grand final, isn't it? I'm missing a 30 year school reunion because of it and I don't care!

[liz]

We've seen enough contests between the two sides to have some idea of how it will unfold.

We know there will be periods during the game when their midfield will dominate. There is no point hoping that Judd, Cousins and Kerr won't have good games - it ain't going to happen. What we have to hope is that our defence can withstand the barrage when it comes. If they get decent return on the scoreboard during these periods, they will probably win.

That said, evidence suggests that good though their midfield is, it will not be able to dominate for the whole game. There will be periods when our boys are able to get back onto level terms or even slightly on top, and then it will come down to whether our forward line can operate at its most efficient.

If we accept that their midfield is fantastic and our forward line is fantastic, and both teams have more than competent defences, it will probably come down not so much to the stars as to some key match-ups lower down the chain.

Embley, on song, can be dangerous but can also be kept quiet. Dempster is an almost ideal match-up for him. We don't really need Dempster to contribute anything offensively if he can keep Embley's contribution to close to nil. That said, one or two of those nice 60m bombs towards, or through, the goal posts would be very nice Sean!

Braun missed last year's GF and was pretty ordinary against us a couple of weeks ago. He'll be desparate to have a good game this GF. He can get lots of ball fed out to him and while his disposal is not the most deadly, he can do damage through sheer quantity. He's the ultimate receiver, though, and even though most of the focus will be on containing the Big Three, Roos will make sure someone is responsible for not letting Braun get easy ball. He doesn't seem overly keen on contested possession so one of our tough nuggets (eg Buchanan) could make him look ordinary and hurt him badly in the opposite direction.

Hansen isn't a gun and he's still learning the game, but structurally he is important. LRT played on him last year and is the obvious choice to get him again. The key must be to push him wide and force him to make his leads long and towards the boundary line. Do this and the Eagles will try chipping the ball into the pockets, where our defence ought to be able to cope reasonably easily.

Where I think we have it over the Eagles is in our bottom few players. Last year we got more out of them than they did, and so it was again in the QF. Sadly it looks as if one of our best players from last year's GF - Brent Staker - will miss, but they do have the likes of Graham, Armstrong and the Joneses who may find the pressure get to them. Don't know why but I am quietly confident that Macca and Mal won't let the pressure get to them. They've worked their way into the team the hard way and they seem to have mature heads on inexperienced bodies.

Seaby and Doyle are an obvious pairing and how these two pan out could be critical. Seaby has the advantage of experience from last year but he's not been in great form in recent weeks. I wouldn't like to predict how Doyle will respond to the pressure but we can only hope that he can hold his own against Seaby. An early towering mark right in front of goal - and I mean right in front, so he can't miss - would do wonders for his confidence.

Every year the GF throws up surprise packages from the mid-range players who may not win the NS but can be the difference. Last year it was Fosdike and Monty for us. Can they do it again? I won't be surprised if Monty does, but Fosdike? Who knows. For him it will come down to whether he has a good or crap disposal day. Seems to be a toss of the coin.

The one I'm hoping can really step it up and play his best game of the season is Kennelly. He has the tools, he has the speed. Does he have the utmost focus to really stamp his name at the highest possible level?

[Bart]

Originally posted by liz
Sadly it looks as if one of our best players from last year's GF - Brent Staker - will miss

Originally posted by liz
I wouldn't like to predict how Doyle will respond to the pressure but we can only hope that he can hold his own against Seaby. An early towering mark right in front of goal - and I mean right in front, so he can't miss - would do wonders for his confidence.

[AnnieH]

Originally posted by Zlatorog
So, far everybody is tipping WCE to win. I was just watching the WLF and everybody was tipping them, so it looks to me that the punters still don't rate us.

I seem to recall a time when the swans performed best going in as the underdogs.

[barry]

If the game follows the usual trends. ie we get out to 15-20 points up at half time, then in the last quarter the eagles come back at us, it will be great.

The eagles wont have the legs. Too much travel, 2 weeks in a row. I tell ya, this grand final will be a breeze. Swans by 30 points or more. We'll kick on from at 15-20 lead and blow it out early in the last quarter. It will be like the Freo game all over again.

[dimelb]

Originally posted by liz

Sadly it looks as if one of our best players from last year's GF - Brent Staker - will miss

Affectionately known at WC as Mistaker...

[Freo4eveR]

You just have to win to save us poor Freo supporters here in the West putting up with all the smug relatives, workmates and friends if the evil weagles won. Its bad enough this week
GO SWANNIES!!!!!!

[Go Swannies]

I went to practice today and was impressed by how relaxed the players looked. Then I cam home and heard Judd say that they had to find ways to keep their minds off the game.

I'm surprisingly confident. The Eagles put on an awsome turn of speed against the Crows at the end of the PF. But we have a slight mental advantage - if we lose it'll go one all - they lose and it's two to zip. And considering the likely pace of the game we have three physical advantages - an extra week off and an extra day to recover from an easier game last weekend.

I expect the game to start at breakneck speed. It'll be a matter of scoring when we have the momentum (unlike v Freo) and not letting them score on the rebound.