the month ahead...part 2/we will bounce back and win 4 in a row (merged thread)

[ernie koala]

Without Hall, can't see us beating the Bombers, Blues and Kangas are 50/50 Melbourne is the only probable at this stage.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

another way to look at the North game is that if you can't beat them at the SCG, then really you don't deserve to play in the finals....

North aren't exactly the benchmark. We already know we probably wont make the finals, has nothing to do with the result against the Roos this weekend. To be honest we should just give our kids as much game time as possible, and weed out the dead wood as the season comes to an end.

[matthew]

The next four are winnable, bombers and blues are 50/50, remember last year hall did not play against essendon and thumped them. with some key players returning it's still not too late to turn it around, why Port are above us is a joke, Hawthorn are struggling, it depends what happens to the teams above us for the rest of the season

[Claret]

..... and maybe a debut from one of our younger guys I think we stand a good chance.

I still don't understand this theory. I'm all for playing the kids and seeing who is up to it, but there is no way known it would improve our chanes of winning. Jack Watts anybody?

The Kangas were not in good form

Edited for accuracy, my bolding. Beware the new coach - they pushed the Bulldogs yesterday and did so by playing good footy.

..and although Essendon beat Carlton quite convincingly, Carlton have been in terrible form and it shouldn't have come as a shock.

Suggest you do some research or watch more footy or something. The week before they almost beat St Kilda at Etihad, coming closer than anybody else in the 13 rounds played so far. The week before they beat Brisbane at the Gabba, something we couldn't get close to doing.

I'm sorry but to suggest their form was "terrible" is just plain wrong.

As for the rest of what you said I reckon you're pretty much spot on!

FWIW I agree that we should play a reasonable amount of kids and hopefully give them the experience in some close, pressure-cooker style games. The results matter little, other than to say a winning culture is better than the alternative.

Frankly, I'm not really fussed whether we make up the numbers in September this year or not, but with Port going backwards and Hawthorn having a horror draw (after what seemed like an easy last 6 or 7 weeks) then we're not without a chance.

[ernie koala]

The next four are winnable, bombers and blues are 50/50, remember last year hall did not play against essendon and thumped them.

Difference is, Swans were better last year than this, Bombers are far better this year than last. I love watching them play, daring, fast and exciting. We'll try our usual suffocating stategy, but I'll be surprised if it works this time around, even at the SCG. Either way it's a game I'm looking forward to.

[staple]

if we can get craig bolton back and mcveigh, we have the class over north. same as essendon, blues, demons. need to win all four to be a shot, also need a bit of percentage. if we win 3-4 the season is still alive, at least for the young players to keep a competitive edge. if they lose hope as quickly as fans on this forum, then we really are in trouble.

[10Totti10]

I still don't understand this theory. I'm all for playing the kids and seeing who is up to it, but there is no way known it would improve our chanes of winning. Jack Watts anybody?



Edited for accuracy, my bolding. Beware the new coach - they pushed the Bulldogs yesterday and did so by playing good footy.



Suggest you do some research or watch more footy or something. The week before they almost beat St Kilda at Etihad, coming closer than anybody else in the 13 rounds played so far. The week before they beat Brisbane at the Gabba, something we couldn't get close to doing.

I'm sorry but to suggest their form was "terrible" is just plain wrong.

As for the rest of what you said I reckon you're pretty much spot on!

FWIW I agree that we should play a reasonable amount of kids and hopefully give them the experience in some close, pressure-cooker style games. The results matter little, other than to say a winning culture is better than the alternative.

Frankly, I'm not really fussed whether we make up the numbers in September this year or not, but with Port going backwards and Hawthorn having a horror draw (after what seemed like an easy last 6 or 7 weeks) then we're not without a chance.

oops yeah ur right. I got confused with a different team.

[10Totti10]

Difference is, Swans were better last year than this, Bombers are far better this year than last. I love watching them play, daring, fast and exciting. We'll try our usual suffocating stategy, but I'll be surprised if it works this time around, even at the SCG. Either way it's a game I'm looking forward to.

Were they? Swans only made the finals cauz they JUST beat Fremantle, Carlton, etc and beat other sub-standard teams. IMO the Swans r better this year its just that certain individuals have cost us games and the competition has clearly improved. Ur not going to tell me that this years effort against Collingwood was worse than last years effort. Same with Adelaide. Plus Collingwood and Adelaide r better than last year. I'd say we stand a huge chance and im pretty confident.

[Bas]

I'd say we stand a huge chance and im pretty confident.

Only time will tell.

[msb]

I wish I had the confidence like some people in this thread! I am not at all confident in any of the next 4 games, the season is gone and even so, what is the point finishing 7th or 8th? The time has come after 6 great years to take a tumble, have a clean out and start again. Keep playing as many kids as possible roosey!

[Plugger46]

I wish I had the confidence like some people in this thread! I am not at all confident in any of the next 4 games, the season is gone and even so, what is the point finishing 7th or 8th? The time has come after 6 great years to take a tumble, have a clean out and start again. Keep playing as many kids as possible roosey!

I'd much prefer to finish 7th or 8th than 9th of 10th, for the sake of being 2 or 3 spots higher in the draft. The bulk of our kids are injured, so I think as many as possible are playing.

Sure, we'd be making up the numbers but there's nothing like being involved in September.

[AnnieH]

Without Hall, can't see us beating the Bombers, Blues and Kangas are 50/50 Melbourne is the only probable at this stage.

Without Blind Barry, we tend to average at least 10 different goal kickers per game.




(PS: I pulled those figures from my rear end!!)

[msb]

I'd much prefer to finish 7th or 8th than 9th of 10th, for the sake of being 2 or 3 spots higher in the draft. The bulk of our kids are injured, so I think as many as possible are playing.

Sure, we'd be making up the numbers but there's nothing like being involved in September.

2 or 3 spots higher in the draft could be the difference in landing someone like natinui! Yeah of course september is great, but there is nothing enjoyable about watching your team get flogged in a cut throat final at the G like I have in the last couple of years! It would just happen again! May aswell finish towards the lower end and hopefully get rewarded.

[Plugger46]

2 or 3 spots higher in the draft could be the difference in landing someone like natinui! Yeah of course september is great, but there is nothing enjoyable about watching your team get flogged in a cut throat final at the G like I have in the last couple of years! It would just happen again! May aswell finish towards the lower end and hopefully get rewarded.

Realistically, we're not going to finish any higher than 7th or 8th and no lower than 10th or 11th. We've won 5 games and we'll win more games so we're not going to finish bottom 4.

I just think while you're still in finals contention (one game out) you should be having a crack at making them.

[Jewels]

2 or 3 spots higher in the draft could be the difference in landing someone like natinui! Yeah of course september is great, but there is nothing enjoyable about watching your team get flogged in a cut throat final at the G like I have in the last couple of years! It would just happen again! May aswell finish towards the lower end and hopefully get rewarded.

Only if your in the bottom two and we clearly are going to be higher then that.

Realistically, we're not going to finish any higher than 7th or 8th and no lower than 10th or 11th. We've won 5 games and we'll win more games so we're not going to finish bottom 4.

I just think while you're still in finals contention (one game out) you should be having a crack at making them.

I think finals experience is a huge bonus for the younger players.