- Apr 3, 2011
- 695
- 737
- AFL Club
- Sydney
[I know this is late but I noticed no one had done the full preview so thought I'd try my hand (Mods feel free to merge this thread with the other one)]
In 2016, the Swans won the minor premiership and found finals favouritism. With main rivals GWS humbling them in Week 1, the Swans rebounded to humiliate Adelaide and Geelong in successive weeks to set up what ought to have been one small step for Sydney, and a Giant leap for AFLkind: an all-NSW grand final. But alas, Gillon's friends from VFL-land had other ideas. So Gillon spoke to Luke Ball, and Ball spoke to Matthew, Jason, Simon and Scott, and the ball was given to the dogs. And so, the premiership cup was handed to the heroes of the pantomime; the Bravedogs were born.
Ever since then, the other 17 teams have done their best to show the Bravedogs up for the pretenders they are. And despite the Swans enjoying ladder superiority for much of that time, the ledger is tied at two wins apiece. Indeed, the Swans have not faced the fleabags since Round 1 of 2019, when Aaron Naughton starred as the Dogs held off their fast-finishing opponents.
The Bravedogs enter this clash on the back of a fine win in last week's melee against the Giants. They have lost through injury Sydney's father-son Josh Dunkley and have chosen to replace him with their own mongrel-pup, Rhylee West, who will take a well-earned break from spelling his name. The Swans, meanwhile, have omitted serial underperformer Colin He's-Not-Tadgh O'Riordan as well as the latest in their proud tradition of failed forward-line recruits, Sam Gray. They welcome back Justin McInerney and Ben Ronke, who will be keen to rediscover his form from That-Game-When-He-Kicked-All-Those-Goals-Against-Hawthorn. Sam Naismith will also have a chance to reclaim the mantle as Swans' No. 1 ruckman, while Tom McCartin takes the week to recover from his head-on collision with the turf at Docklands.
In what must surely be a sign of the times, the AFLUA have yet to announce their support team for the Dogs, as Gillon has clearly been too distracted by viral news to communicate his expectations for this game.
Bulldogs OUT: Suckling, Dunkley, Jong
Bulldogs IN: West, Lipinski, Butler (deb)
Swans OUT: O'Riordan, Gray, McCartin
Swans IN: Ronke, McInerney, Naismith
Significant match-ups: Sydney vs the SCG.
Prediction: Bulldogs by 11 free kicks
In 2016, the Swans won the minor premiership and found finals favouritism. With main rivals GWS humbling them in Week 1, the Swans rebounded to humiliate Adelaide and Geelong in successive weeks to set up what ought to have been one small step for Sydney, and a Giant leap for AFLkind: an all-NSW grand final. But alas, Gillon's friends from VFL-land had other ideas. So Gillon spoke to Luke Ball, and Ball spoke to Matthew, Jason, Simon and Scott, and the ball was given to the dogs. And so, the premiership cup was handed to the heroes of the pantomime; the Bravedogs were born.
Ever since then, the other 17 teams have done their best to show the Bravedogs up for the pretenders they are. And despite the Swans enjoying ladder superiority for much of that time, the ledger is tied at two wins apiece. Indeed, the Swans have not faced the fleabags since Round 1 of 2019, when Aaron Naughton starred as the Dogs held off their fast-finishing opponents.
The Bravedogs enter this clash on the back of a fine win in last week's melee against the Giants. They have lost through injury Sydney's father-son Josh Dunkley and have chosen to replace him with their own mongrel-pup, Rhylee West, who will take a well-earned break from spelling his name. The Swans, meanwhile, have omitted serial underperformer Colin He's-Not-Tadgh O'Riordan as well as the latest in their proud tradition of failed forward-line recruits, Sam Gray. They welcome back Justin McInerney and Ben Ronke, who will be keen to rediscover his form from That-Game-When-He-Kicked-All-Those-Goals-Against-Hawthorn. Sam Naismith will also have a chance to reclaim the mantle as Swans' No. 1 ruckman, while Tom McCartin takes the week to recover from his head-on collision with the turf at Docklands.
In what must surely be a sign of the times, the AFLUA have yet to announce their support team for the Dogs, as Gillon has clearly been too distracted by viral news to communicate his expectations for this game.
Bulldogs OUT: Suckling, Dunkley, Jong
Bulldogs IN: West, Lipinski, Butler (deb)
Swans OUT: O'Riordan, Gray, McCartin
Swans IN: Ronke, McInerney, Naismith
Significant match-ups: Sydney vs the SCG.
Prediction: Bulldogs by 11 free kicks
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