Rd 18 vs Fremantle Dockers @ Optus Stadium

[Agent 86]

I’d say it’s less costly now.

In fact, based on the fixture of the last 5 weeks, we should finish top 4.

That is if we can stop losing games we’re favorite to win, because we’ll start favorites in all 5 games.


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Spot on about losing games we’re ‘expected’ to win. But I’m well and truly on the Horse wagon when he says that top 4 talk is ‘not relevant’.

Next task is ‘Beat Adelaide’ and don’t look beyond that.

We’ve been brilliant at times, but at our worst any team can knock us over. Consistency means bringing our best effort and energy every week - and it’s clearly bloody hard.

Do that and the rest will look after itself.

I prefer to let the media talk up/down the relative chances of each team’s finals chances. They were writing us off a few weeks back and talking up Carlton, Richmond and ‘Flagmantle’ (flagmantle really? Whoever came up with that needs to be renamed flogmantle). Now they’re talking up Collingwood.

They flip and flop each week based on 1 weekend, but 1 round does not a season make.

[Blood Fever]

Off the footy for a moment, it's the first time in a long time that I haven't sworn at the commentators. A decent job I thought (although it's a fairly low bar)

Dunstall and Lewis are good analysts. Especially when you win!

[MattW]

He's a winner, oozing with champion attributes.

Yes, exactly. In him and Warner, the future is in excellent hands.

With Errol, I love how consumate he is in all of the game's skills. For example, he has a fair leap and is an excellent overhead mark, so his comparatively small stature is rarely an issue.

[neilfws]

Next task is ‘Beat Adelaide’ and don’t look beyond that.

My joy at last night's terrific win is slightly tempered with trepidation for next week. I've seen the team go flat after a big win and lose unexpectedly the next week once too often. It's a home game at least, and the Crows often struggle when they travel here, so let's hope it goes more to script than some other recent games.

Back to last night though - so good! Love how they just kept at it, didn't panic, executed the plan, denied Freo the ball and came home strong. Good performances all round, but I'd highlight Fox who brings real calm and composure to the backs.

A real feel-good win and plenty of hope for the run home now.

[dejavoodoo44]

Just out of idle curiosity, I went and had a look at what was being said about Chad, before he was drafted. Draft Central didn't have him in their top 60, but they did have this write up.

Chad Warner Draft Profile - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central (formerly AFL Draft Central)

Apparently his weaknesses were lack of explosive speed and not much kicking penetration. Hmm.

[Danzar]

I guess. But if we won it we’d be looking down a certain top 4 finish.

Also, anyone else think Heeneys carrying an injury? Seems to be hobbling a fair bit between plays or after being tackled

Agree, no certainty that the Dees will beat Freo at home in two weeks. One risk for Freo is Tigers next week, a danger game for them, Tigers have more to play for. We still need Freo to drop another game to secure top four and we now have Pies in contention for that spot. And we play the Pies before season end. If we'd held on against the Dons we wouldn't have that pressure.

I thought Heeney had a minor issue in the first quarter that he carried through the game.

[TheBloods]

Just out of idle curiosity, I went and had a look at what was being said about Chad, before he was drafted. Draft Central didn't have him in their top 60, but they did have this write up.

Chad Warner Draft Profile - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central (formerly AFL Draft Central)

Apparently his weaknesses were lack of explosive speed and not much kicking penetration. Hmm.

You can take more out of what happens on a training track than in games sometimes . Colts coach wasnt using him effectively . Chad came in 1st season and Longmire saw the speed Chad had , penetration through the legs in training drills , he 'd just never been able to use it . I reckon thats why Longmire loves him so much , he would be proud that he saw something in Chad and helped made him into the player that no one else saw him be . Dont see that often

[Thunder Shaker]

The dons loss is looking costly now

Also Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide. If the Swans had won all of those, we would be two games clear on top of the ladder.

However, it's been a defining feature of this season that upset losses are not unusual. Melbourne is the only top-8 side that has not lost to a side outside the top 8 this season. GWS is the only side outside the top eight without a win over a current top-8 side.

So I would not get too upset about such losses because the competition is very even this year. Even the bottom two sides have had some impact despite percentages in the fifties, with North joining the party after their win over Richmond.

[TheBloods]

Hickey is a worry isnt he , last 2 games hes played he has been destroyed . Darcy last night , Draper few weeks back . Darcy ok you could forgive , but that big dill Draper ? And even Darcy , great ruck but is that what we can expect from him against top rucks now ? What happens if we play Melbourne in a final ? Or Collingwood ?

[Agent 86]

Also Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide. If the Swans had won all of those, we would be two games clear on top of the ladder.

However, it's been a defining feature of this season that upset losses are not unusual. Melbourne is the only top-8 side that has not lost to a side outside the top 8 this season. GWS is the only side outside the top eight without a win over a current top-8 side.

So I would not get too upset about such losses because the competition is very even this year. Even the bottom two sides have had some impact despite percentages in the fifties, with North joining the party after their win over Richmond.

Absolutely. All of bottom third teams have become more competitive towards the pointy end (except GWS who’ve gone backwards). Nothing like contact renewals and trading opportunities to get motivated, perhaps?

Not a single win to be taken for granted at this point.

3 of our last 5 have been (well earned) 8 point wins - which has been fantastic. Yet we dropped the other 2 which the pundits say we should’ve won (hence they write us off).

Let’s get our ar$es to the SCG next weekend. A massive game for us & The Crows are a-coming.

[Aprilbr]

Hickey is a worry isnt he , last 2 games hes played he has been destroyed . Darcy last night , Draper few weeks back . Darcy ok you could forgive , but that big dill Draper ? And even Darcy , great ruck but is that what we can expect from him against top rucks now ? What happens if we play Melbourne in a final ? Or Collingwood ?

I think Hickey is carrying an injury that he cannot shake. Perhaps that toe injury is still persisting? I think its impacting his running and jumping capacity over a game.

[AB Swannie]

Hickey is a worry isnt he , last 2 games hes played he has been destroyed . Darcy last night , Draper few weeks back . Darcy ok you could forgive , but that big dill Draper ? And even Darcy , great ruck but is that what we can expect from him against top rucks now ? What happens if we play Melbourne in a final ? Or Collingwood ?

He looks to be carrying an injury or may be not as fit due to ongoing niggles and illness.

[Aprilbr]

Just out of idle curiosity, I went and had a look at what was being said about Chad, before he was drafted. Draft Central didn't have him in their top 60, but they did have this write up.

Chad Warner Draft Profile - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central (formerly AFL Draft Central)

Apparently his weaknesses were lack of explosive speed and not much kicking penetration. Hmm.

"Lack of explosive speed and not much kicking penetration." [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]

[Agent 86]

"Lack of explosive speed and not much kicking penetration." [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]

Haha. They do say:
“…Warner doesn’t have as much finesse by foot. However, once he is in an AFL environment, this aspect of his game should improve.…”

[Mel_C]

I'm worried about next week. Not just because we are playing a lower team but also because it is a day game. We haven't played well during the day this year.