The Run Home

[Plugger46]

I would love to see Melbourne turn on yesterday's performance again for the next 5 weeks in a row. Regardless of what it did to our final 8 prospects. It would just be magic to watch, and a Cinderella story for the finals.

I hope they lose their last five matches. They're going to be a good side and I had a reminder of just how painful Melbourne supporters are when they're up and about. Every club's got supporters that drop off when their side is struggling but the Dees have more than any club.

[SimonH]

Either happily or sadly (the latter for those who think you should earn a final 8 spot on form), results so far this round have done little to hurt us (unless you're a believer that the Dons or Port are the real deal and will win all of their remaining matches). Melbourne did get the 4 points vs Brisbane at the Gabba, but a 10-point margin (and a game they could plausibly have lost in the final minutes) indicates that their performance was a minimum 10 goals down on how they played against us. Despite an easy draw, I simply don't believe that they have the consistency in the playing group to get the (minimum) 3 wins from 4 matches that they need to have a chance at making the 8.

The Hawks' shock loss to Port means that, really, if we beat the Hawks this weekend it's pretty hard to construct a scenario where we miss the 8 (provided we ensure we beat Brisbane in R22). In all of the increasing mess around the lower reaches of the 8, one thing is pretty sure unless North Melbourne get a real rattle on (e.g. beat the Dogs tomorrow): if we finish on the ladder above one of Hawthorn or Melbourne, we'll make the 8. (I've written off Adelaide despite the fact that if favourites win, they should be 9th by the end of the weekend, because their final 4 matches involve 3 nightmarishly hard games.) So beat the Hawks next week and we go ahead of them on the ladder, and the week after that, Hawthorn play Melbourne, in a game that would either make it near-impossible for Melbourne to get ahead of us, or put the Hawks way on the back foot (needing to conclude by beating both Freo and Collingwood, off the back of 3 losses in a row to lesser sides). The Hawthorn/Melbourne situation gives us a chance to book our spot in September regardless of what Carlton do.

Big, big game coming up this weekend. And don't write us off. Even leaving aside the fact that the Hawks have now wobbled, the form turnaround required for us to win this one is minor compared with the form turnaround already exhibited by about 6 other teams (Essendon, Richmond, Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, and Hawthorn themselves) through the course of 2010.

[Cheer Squad]

I'm actually quite confident about our chances against Hawthorn this week. The guys really tried hard last night and pressured the Cats into making some uncharacteristic skill errors. It was quite tense at the ground during that first quarter.

One player we really missed last night was Nick Smith. Everyone's been preoccupied with the absence of Bradshaw, Seaby, Craig Bolton and LRT, but Nick has become quite an important part of our structure. We need him back ASAP.

Despite the last two weeks, we can still finish 6th, believe it or not. It's up to the players and how much they want it.

[top40]

I'm actually quite confident about our chances against Hawthorn this week. The guys really tried hard last night and pressured the Cats into making some uncharacteristic skill errors. It was quite tense at the ground during that first quarter.

One player we really missed last night was Nick Smith. Everyone's been preoccupied with the absence of Bradshaw, Seaby, Craig Bolton and LRT, but Nick has become quite an important part of our structure. We need him back ASAP.

Despite the last two weeks, we can still finish 6th, believe it or not. It's up to the players and how much they want it.

I agree about the Swans' performance against the Cats. Even allowing an historical truly great side that Geelong (2007-) is, and allowing for their very high standards, they were freakish extraordinary in relation to inside 50 (or should I say 55) efficiency against Sydney, particularly Steve Johnson's performance. (What is it about visiting teams having such a good goal kicking record at Homebush?)

The real challenge against Hawthorn is mental. The Swans have now played back to back games against two really hot sides, (the Dees and the Cats). The test is whether or not these games/beltings will set their confidence back, or hopefully playing such quality opposition will naturally lift them to themselves reach a higher level. Figures cross it will be the latter.

[Cheer Squad]

The real challenge against Hawthorn is mental. The Swans have now played back to back games against two really hot sides, (the Dees and the Cats). The test is whether or not these games/beltings will set their confidence back, or hopefully playing such quality opposition will naturally lift them to themselves reach a higher level. Figures cross it will be the latter.

Well, let's just hope we're up to the challenge, because there's quite a lot at stake in terms of how far we go this year. If we finish 6th, that means we'll get a home final, most likely against Hawthorn, Carlton or North. I'd back us against any those teams, particularly if we can field as near full strength a side as we've been able to all year. To reach the semis would be a real achievement.

[Matt79]

Well, let's just hope we're up to the challenge, because there's quite a lot at stake in terms of how far we go this year. If we finish 6th, that means we'll get a home final, most likely against Hawthorn, Carlton or North. I'd back us against any those teams, particularly if we can field as near full strength a side as we've been able to all year. To reach the semis would be a real achievement.

Agree. To simply make the finals in 2010 is probably more than most of us hoped at the conclusion of last season. Injuries have hit hard...take the full back, ruckman and full forward out of most teams and they would struggle. Cannot wait for Saturday's game! Really hope there is 35,000 on a fine Saturday afternoon. If we get on the board early, the crowd and atmosphere could really get us going!

[annew]

I am an avid Swans supporter and am guilty of criticising and getting angry at performances but that is usually in the heat of the moment. The commentators and media say we are a rabble but consider this we do have injuries, we are re-building, we haven't tanked in the past few years to gain high draft picks, we are missing a key forward but we are still in the 8 with much superior percentage to those below us and most of those teams do have key forwards - in retrospect we are not doing that bad!!!!