Swans V Cats

[andyn]

It's a case of what Geelong will turn up. I watched them lose to Melbourne and thought 'yes, cats era finally coming to an end like we've been predicting (or should I say hoping for).' It is true Richmond are probably closer to our reserves than any other team in the AFL, but watching a weakened Cats team carve up yesterday, with Scarlett and Ablett set to return next week, does give you a lot to think about. I'm glad we weren't playing them yesterday.

If I've had a criticism of the Cats over the past few years it would have to be that they are sometimes all class with less passion.

Heart can win us this game, but we need to rattle them early, get the crowd quiet and hopefully some of their stars will go into their shells. I wanted to be 7 and 3 at least after the Hawks game and we're on track for that. This was a game that I'd afforded to lose simply because nobody has beaten them at Skilled since 2007, so for that reason I'm seeing this as a bonus chance.

All depends on how we pull up over the next few days. They say day two after a big game is the hardest, so let's see who is standing after today.

[i'm-uninformed2]

A little birdie tells me we should be thinking of a long-term replacement for Seaby as his ankle problem is that it's broken and will be announced later today

[ugg]

Mooney - LRT
Pods - Grundy
Hawkins - Ted
Johnson - Smith
Chapman - Kennelly
Ablett - McVeigh
Bartel - Kirk

Kirk's latched onto Selwood the past 4 times we've played. Selwood plays almost exclusively in the midfield whereas Bartel can be situated on either half-back or half-forward so Selwood would be the better matchup for Kirk.

[mocaholic]

Good point DA. Every single commentary on the Swans prior to yesterday referenced that we'd only beaten bottom sides. No-one seems to have noticed the Cats' record. The 5 sides beaten by Geelong have won just 4 games between them.

Just to point out we haven't been anybody above us either...

[mocaholic]

Mooney - LRT
Pods - Grundy
Hawkins - Ted
Johnson - Smith
Chapman - Kennelly
Ablett - McVeigh
Bartel - Kirk

in my view:
Grundy - Mooney (further up the ground better for Reg)
LRT - Hawkins (The twin towers. Hello? Statue?)
Pods - Teddy (mobility and speed on the lead)
Johnson - Kennelly (whilst it would be better to play Mattner on him to nullify him, I reckon put Tiger on him and we play out through him - Johnson not know for defensive skills)
Chapman - Mattner (we're going to lose this contest probably, Mattner will probably do better as he's better in the air)
Ablett - McVeigh / Jack to rotate (again, we'll need to run off him. The cats rucks / onballers really look after Guddy too)
Selwood - Kirk (good tough match-up)
Bartel - Smiff (will be interesting! Smiff to learn a lot.)
Ling - Goodes (I don't think we'll have much choice here)

Please please please I hope Corey doesn't play. I'm less concerned with Scarlett!

[hammo]

Roos would be better off ignoring the Geelong-Richmond tape altogether and refer to the Carlton game. It's a cliche but defensive matchups will take care of themselves if we're on top in midfield.

To beat Geelong we will need to beat their midfield, I don't think breaking even is enough. Carlton showed the importance of speed against them so I think Rohan is just about a shoo in to debut this week.

[SwansFan1972]

Just to point out we haven't been anybody above us either...

Hopefully there won't be any opportunities to change that stat in coming weeks!

Cats mids look to have lost a step or two in pace, while it is undeniable we've picked up a lot in that area. The voodoo dung-heap that passes for a footy stadium at Kardinia Park is the biggest hurdle to overcome - play this game anywhere else and it would be regarded by all as a much more even contest.

Coaches need to get in the player's heads that it is just another ground - and they gotta lose there sometime! With Bomber's backhander about playing as good as we can possibly play, it would be good to smack down that arrogance (or maybe it is a bit of false bravado) this week! I reckon Bomber has a few concerns with his team not travelling as well as he'd like - and the Gazza distraction keeps em dangling week to week.

Will be interesting to see if (a) Gazza does go to GC, and if so (b) whether the cats will fracture from within as a result.

[Go Swannies]

Roos would be better off ignoring the Geelong-Richmond tape altogether and refer to the Carlton game. It's a cliche but defensive matchups will take care of themselves if we're on top in midfield.

To beat Geelong we will need to beat their midfield, I don't think breaking even is enough. Carlton showed the importance of speed against them so I think Rohan is just about a shoo in to debut this week.

We certainly made the Brions look slow last weekend. I'm still trying to adapt to our speed - does Foxtel have a slow motion option so it's like watching a normal Swans game?

[swansrob]

A little birdie tells me we should be thinking of a long-term replacement for Seaby as his ankle problem is that it's broken and will be announced later today

Who comes in? I would think Pyke probably; was BOG on the weekend in the ruck. Maybe Currie?

[goswannie14]

We certainly made the Brions look slow last weekend. I'm still trying to adapt to our speed - does Foxtel have a slow motion option so it's like watching a normal Swans game?

You could just watch a St Kilda game and forget about the black in their jumper.

[Trickster]

i got a feeling we will beat geelong, but then will probably lose to the dogs once the world decides we are great

Not going to lose to the Dogs, Bradshaw will quietly and calmly out class BBB and Aker.
We just need to keep the injuries down and sent the boys to Manuka wearing healmets jst in case BBB gets frustrated

[Dalai Lama]

Geelong - Forecast for Sunday

Sunny. Winds northwesterly averaging 10 to 20 km/h.

Mostly sunny. Min 9 Max 19

Nice weather for Ducks!

[ScottH]

A little birdie tells me we should be thinking of a long-term replacement for Seaby as his ankle problem is that it's broken and will be announced later today

Dud recruit of the year!!

I guess it opens the door for Pyke (assuming Seaby goes on the LTI) or Currie.

[neilfws]

Let's see what the press are saying:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/in-form-swans-face-tough-test-20100502-u1gy.html

OK - let's not see what the press are saying...not sure why they even bothered running that one...

[Bas]

It would have to be a small break because he was on the bench for most of the game and on the sideline at fulltime, on crutches but nothing on his ankle. Wasn't strapped or anything. Did look swollen through the binoculars but not overly.

Broken bone is better than a torn ligament.

We could call Pyke the "Mountie" and have a Mountie-Mummy combination. Don't anyone call him "Mountain" though