Finals gone. What's next?

[aardvark]

Time to tank for draft picks....whoops, thats right there isnt any... DOH !!

[Melbournehammer]

I'd be pretty shocked if Horse didn't shake things up a fair bit next year, he will want to make his mark, just as Roos did after he was Eade's Assistant Coach. Longmire is only human, I am sure there are times where he has to bite his tongue or be involved in a plan that he feels doesn't quite hit the mark.

Hopefully there is a bit of a change in the overall coaching staff, we need some tactical innovation and reinvention, we just feel and look so predictable.

Sigh, this week is beyond a must win, if we don't win I'll agree with the title of the thread. We wont beat Geelong, Freo, Hawthorn and probably not Carlton, so we have to beat North, Melbourne and Brisbane, then hope and pray for some results to go our way.

I confess to some concerns that every time he went for a contested poisition he didn't get it - the saints job being the most obvious

[Damien]

I confess to some concerns that every time he went for a contested poisition he didn't get it - the saints job being the most obvious

The Saints wanted to be the Swans during that time and Lyon is much more "Roosy" than Longmire is (and don't forget Wallsy was on the selection panel!). I think he (Longmire) has probably been a bit unlucky and deserved an opportunity, the general word on the street is that the Kangas would have appointed him last year had Roos and the Swans not moved.

[andyn]

I think even the most optimistic among us would realise that if we do manage to scrape into the finals, we probably won't make much of an impression. The thing that really gets to me is watching a poor performance, and watching us lose a 33 point lead yesterday was among the worst I've seen. From now on I'm going to view this season on individual match performances rather than a 'season' basis. I'll be happy to see some promising performances that point towards another crack at the top in 2 or 3 years. Everyone thought we'd slide down the table for years ... and that might still happen, but at least our younger players like Rohan, Hanners, Jetta, Jack, Smith etc have come on quicker than expected and look to be long term players ... more than can be said for the past two years. Perhaps we should take something for those tiger fans ... learn to appreciate the smaller things in tough times.

[Damien]

I think even the most optimistic among us would realise that if we do manage to scrape into the finals, we probably won't make much of an impression. term

Don't know, but after some sleep and sedatives lol, I couldn't help but think about the leadership say a Seaby and Bolton could show in yesterday's situation where a game just starts falling apart and a young side buoyed by a loud crowd start coming. IF we can make the finals and IF we can get our best team on the park (whatever that is), MAYBE we can win a game.

I don't care about what impression we make, but I do think it's important we get into the finals and give our younger brigade that experience now.

[ugg]

Bailey Ladder & Finals Predictor - AFL.com.au

Hard to see us finishing anything above 7th. The two games against North and Hawthorn will be very important!

[Midfield]

Who thinks the finals are still gone? Win next week and we'll be in the hunt for a home final. Gee that Paul Roos is a shocking coach, i mean, why would we want to play in september?

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Finals still definitely on the cards, and if nothing else it'll be an important experience for the young players.

[Lucky Knickers]

I think we can definitely take it up to Carlton and the Dees. We need those wins. If we can bank those we might be able to ride out the challenges of the Cats/Dawks.
Selection will be interesting this week. Jessie dominated the ressies. His hands were like a vice (all one grab marks) and timing was good as took a few contested/riding type marks.

[Peace]

we will go into 6th place just on percentage if the dogs beat carlton by more than 60points

[top40]

Looking at the current ladder and the draw ahead, I actually believe that the team finishing 8th could get away with a 10 wins, 12 losses scenerio.

Bearing in mind, Sydney is presently at Round 15, one win and a healthy percentage ahead of 9th place North- effectly two games. And although the Swans have a tough draw ahead, so does North Melbourne and Adelaide immediately below on them on the ladder.

The Swans will really improve with Craig Bolton, Seaby, and Bradshaw back and fit, (and hopefully no further injuries with existing fit players)

At this stage, ( and things change very quickly):

Likely wins- Melbourne (away) and Brisbane (away). If I am right, that's 10 wins, just about there as I indicate above.

In the mix- Carlton (away) and Hawthorn (home). Win either of these games with the two likely above, and September here we come.

Tough but not impossible-Western Bulldogs (home). Don't let the Canberra lost last May influence you here. Sydney had no ruckmen, no top forwards, and no number one defender on that particular game. Swans should have Seaby back along with Mumford, who was very unfairly suspended for the Manuka game. McGlynn, Bradshaw and Craig Bolton also didn't play that day.

Mission virtually impossible- Geelong (home) and Fremantle (away). That said, the Swans were very competitive last year with a weaker team against the Cats at Homebush. Dockers are now really missing Barlow, and starting to tire.

[Bloody Hell]

I can't image, given his background, that Horse wouldn't have a vastly different opinion on the whole strategy of our forward setup.

[goswannie14]

Is this a case of premature evaluation?

[Go Swannies]

I posted this thread in the bitter disappointment after the Tigers' loss. It's strange to see how close they are to the bottom of the ladder - it's a measure of how quickly they have improved.

The evaluation is not really premature - the season is 2/3 gone and we have a fair idea where we stand. We probably need three wins - and we only have two "easy" games left. That's why I was so disappointed v Richmond. But the need for desperation isn't a bad thing either - is there a worse sight that the Swans with cruise control on?

I'm heading down for the Blues game. That would be such a nice one to win and put them back in their box - as we did early last year.

[Jewels]

I'm heading down for the Blues game. That would be such a nice one to win and put them back in their box - as we did early last year.

Unfortunately they emphatically put us back in ours late last year!