The Road Ahead

[Captain]

We have a very tough run into finals over the next 5 weeks. In terms of number of wins, what do we expect and what's a good result?

2/5 might actually not be a bad result and 3/5 would be fantastic. I think we are no chance of 4/5 or 5/5.

Carlton - Blues have hit form, no Judd will help, still a toss of the coin game
Collingwood - We are a great chance, haven't beaten the Pies in years
WB - Should win. Still a danger game.
Hawthorn - This is the game we must win for that vital 3rd win
Geelong - No reason why we can't win, will go in underdogs, rightfully so too

So if we win 2 of the remaining 5 games we should still make top 4. If we win 3 then we are a good chance of making top 2.

[swans32]

I don't agree that Carlton have hit form they were lucky to beat the tigers I am confident we will beat them and the dogs although I think our form has dropped off the last two weeks collingwood is hard to call hawks at scg is handy for us and Geelong down there will be tough I will be happy with three but not ruling out all five if we play true to our best

[wolftone57]

I think the Blues were very lucky to get over a very young Tiger team on the weekend. They are suspect and I think a good side will crush them.

I also think after seeing the Pies in the last few games that they are not the real deal either and are very beatable.

Bullies should be an easy win

The Hawks are the best team going around at the moment and if we beat them then we can win the Premiership but if we don't we won't. I actually think they are a class above us this year but next year we are going to kill all!!

Geelong are a spent force trying to prove they aren't but they are and don't yet know it!! We will kill them on their own dunghill!

[albrotha]

If the fairy godmother granted supporters just one win in the next five games I would be confident the overwhelming nomination would be the Pies. I am flying back from the USA on the morning of the game as would not forgive myself if I missed the opportunity to see them go down. The Hawks are looking formidable and would be out for revenge after the big win we had in Tassie. GO THE SWANNIES.

[wolftone57]

I think we have to think out of the square and look at playing Mitch Morton against the Hawks. We will need all the goal scorers we can get against them and I believe he can get a bag!! We need to look at who gets to follow Rioli around. I think because of Sam's injury we need to look at a different forward set up. Hopefully Mummy will be back next week and we need to bring Morton in. Give the bloke a chance to kick a few in the big league as he has before. He is not a novice and knows what is required. Goodes cannot be a key forward but might have to be but if Morton came in we could have two leading HFFers TDL & Morton who can kick goals. I have watched these two working together and they do it so well. If one doesn't get you the other does!!! Be wary they can the the catalist to a big win!!!

[Beerman]

If the fairy godmother granted supporters just one win in the next five games I would be confident the overwhelming nomination would be the Pie.

That would be a tough decision. Hawthorn look much more dangerous thn the pies, who we are a reasonable chance to beat without supernatural assistance. But the chance of a guaranteed win against Collingwood would be very hard to pass up.

I'll be satisfied with 1 win from 3 of our tough games coming up. More would be very good, fewer would be disappointing but not the end of the world.

[Auntie.Gerald]

you have to win against all these sides if you want to come into the finals series with the aura of no.1 !!!

i honestly think we are good enough.........Hawks are the only team that with Franklin and Roughead are the toughest to beat

[liz]

you have to win against all these sides if you want to come into the finals series with the aura of no.1 !!!

i honestly think we are good enough.........Hawks are the only team that with Franklin and Roughead are the toughest to beat

More to the point, you have to bank on being able to beat all these teams if you want to win the Grand Final. At the start of the year, I'd have been pretty satisfied with a top four finish and a competitive PF performance. But right now the Grand Final beckons if they can keep it all together, and only the form of the Hawks looms as an obstacle to me thinking they can win the damn thing.

If we can't beat the Pies in a fortnight given our form and evenness, I am not sure we ever will. Their top three or four mids are great - and in great form - but they are getting nothing like the same even contribution across the team that they have in the last couple of years, and that the Swans are delivering right now.

[Captain]

Remember Reid is likely to miss a couple of weeks, that won't help us beat the Pies.

[liz]

True, but it is not like we've been relying on Reid to kick winning scores. He is important structurally, and could become a true match winning forward in the future, but at the moment he is just one small part of the puzzle. It will be the ability of Jack, Kennedy, ROK, Macca et al to win more (or as much) of the ball as Pendlebury, Swan and Beams, and to use it well, that will determine whether we can beat the Pies or not.

[Industrial Fan]

Peversely, the one team I would be confident of beating in a GF is Hawthorn. I think Adelaide or Collingwood would smack us on the MCG, so we need to secure a home final or hope that West Coast jag a top four spot as we'll beat theam anywhere we play them.

Collingwood is a worry without Reid and potentially Mummy who should be rested this week to give him the best chance of being right for the Pies.

[swanspant12]

We will beat carlton. We will lose to collingwood. We will flog the bulldogs, how can you say thats a danger game? Hawthorn, not sure. Geelong, not sure.

[Cheer Squad]

Have a look at "The Run Home" on the AFL's website - they're casting doubt on whether we'll even finish in the top 4.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/142966/default.aspx

The AFL establishment don't appear to believe we're a realistic chance against Carlton, Collingwood, Hawthorn or Geelong.

If I were a member of the team, that would be pretty powerful motivation for me to go out there, and prove everyone wrong.

[erica]

Have a look at "The Run Home" on the AFL's website - they're casting doubt on whether we'll even finish in the top 4.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/142966/default.aspx

The AFL establishment don't appear to believe we're a realistic chance against Carlton, Collingwood, Hawthorn or Geelong.

If I were a member of the team, that would be pretty powerful motivation for me to go out there, and prove everyone wrong.

The AFL doesn't know our team like we do. We have the faith (even though I get an attack of anxiety before every game!).

[barry]

Carlton are playing at the level of a 10th place side. We will win.
Collingwood is the same as us. We are at home, We should win. Reid is exciting, but isnt dominating games. He's coverable.
Hawthorn is the form team of the moment. 50/50.
Geelong at the cattery is hard. Hopefully we have sown up top 2 by then.

Its time to release Mitch Morton.