Rnd 17 MDT. Sydney V Hawthorn. SCG. 19.20 pm.

[stevoswan]

Based on our form this year, I currently think it is 50:50 chance of us by 17 points, or them by less than 10 after we let them back into the game in the third quarter. Desperately hoping for the first result!

I'm basing our form on last week, and of course, hope we bring it tonight. If we don't, we'll be in trouble. My take on Clarkson's 'bravado' during the week is that they're genuinely worried about our form and talent, but we have to bring it every week! I suspect our team doesn't fear the Hawks as much as some do, and I know they hate them, so the script hopefully writes itself!

[dejavoodoo44]

I'm basing our form on last week, and of course, hope we bring it tonight. If we don't, we'll be in trouble. My take on Clarkson's 'bravado' during the week is that they're genuinely worried about our form and talent, but we have to bring it every week! I suspect our team doesn't fear the Hawks as much as some do, and I know they hate them, so the script hopefully writes itself!

Of course, if I was writing the script, the allegedly accident prone Mitchell and Hodge would injure each other. Instead of the usual scenario, where one of their little 'accidents' has an opposition player leaving the field.

[Zlatorog]

No late changes, reported on the AFL web site.

[tasswan]

I think the consecutive 6 day breaks will be telling. That said would love a win!

[neilfws]

Members line is out to the lake and back again. Don't recall last time I saw that. Biggest crowd this year?

[barry]

The squiggle predicts us to win by 20. Good enough for me.

[swanwolf]

Out of hospital just in time for Horforn. That'll do my recuperation the world of good! Those nurses though...

Now, where was I? Ah, yes... #lolhorf

Our form is irrelevant. Our capabilities are irrelevant. This game plays out in one of two ways; the Hawks play poorly and we scrape over the line by 2 goals, or the Hawks play well and thrash us by around 10 goals.

My hope for tonight is that we can escape this time loop we've been mired in over the past olympiad. To forget who we are and become something new. It's now or never.

[Blue Sun]

Super nervous tonight. Go Swannies!

[dejavoodoo44]

Go the ginger ninja!

[Flying South]

How good is Naismith playing.

[Blue Sun]

A wasteful quarter but the men are here to play! Can't fault their endeavour. Papley is a star in the making, just needs to tighten up those disposals.

[bloodsbigot]

17ds1o.jpg

I don't think I've ever flipped the bird at a monitor as much as I have to #freekickhawthorn players.

[mcs]

A good first quarter, but we haven't got near true value for our dominance. Wasteful in our forward fifty - we should really have 2 or 3 more goals then we did. If we keep dominating the centre clearances and hitouts like that, we will be tough to beat tonight, but the Dawks look like they are going to have one of those nights where they are going to kick just about every chance they get.

The one real let down with Papley at the moment is his use of ball by foot. Did brilliantly to rove the ball and then missed on the run from 15 out, missed that set shot, and also blew a great chance when he kicked short to buddy instead of going deep to a 1 on 1 - made worse by the fact he missed Buddy by a mile. I really like the kid but we can't afford to waste chances against the best teams.

Naismith has started really well - impressed with how hard he is working and hope he can keep it up all night.

Come on Swannies!

[Mel_C]

Really wish we made more of our chances because we know the hawks will get on top at some stage.

[Blue Sun]

I hate Hawthorn and Puopolo. They don't miss.

EDIT: dumb from Naismith, had to punch that away. Shocking.
Can't believe no free from Hodges tackle on Sinclair. Sling tackle, head straight into the turf. The umps clearly don't care about the players safety.