Swans 7th about right for 2010

[Stevie Ray Swan]

With Collingwood, Geelong, Bulldogs, Freo, Saints and Carlton above us, sitting 7th is about right for us at the moment, as i doubt we could beat any of those above us just yet, even considering the major injuries we are currently experiencing. It's realistically where we are at, which is still alot better than most others had us this year. I think we will be a force again come 2012/2013.

 

[swansboy]

Seeing as we usually beat Freo at home and Carlton hardly ever beat us anywhere, i think we have a chance of cracking 5th at best and a home final would be nice. I just hope these guys don't take these two losses to much to heart and let it derail the middle of their season, because we can compete with the best when we are at our best (E.G. Saints round 1).

I think another huge factor in where we finish, is how we play soon against Collingwood. They run absolute rings around us and we just don't seem to be smart enough to stop their ball transition. If we compete, even if we lose and were close i think that could be the key indicator of where we finish.

 

[swans16]

We can beat carlton easy.

 

[disgruntled goat]

We can beat carlton easy.

That's the kind of inane comment that infuriates me on this board.

Why would you make such a statement today? I can imagine several "reasons" you or anyone else might put forward but right now they're all hypothetical. And meaningless.

Seriously, if Carlton and Sydney played tomorrow, who would you tip if your life depended on it???

I know this is Big Footy, everyone's entitled to whatever ridiculous opinions they want, but if you (or anyone else) is going to post such crud, at least explain yourself, or you'll leave yourself open to the kind of scathing criticism such curmudgeonly fckwits such as myself are liable to dish out.

 

[Dangas]

Carlton beat us last year in Melbourne, that is where we play them this year.....Freo beat us a Subi also, and if i do recall the last time freo were at the SCG we won by less than a kick, a Bazza special, so those two arent really a given, the others, no doubt we are off the pack

 

[disgruntled goat]

If we have to field the same sort of side that faced the Dogs (no first-string rucks, no Bradshaw, no C Bolton, no sign of anything resembling a structure), there are NO gimme games for us (Richmond included) ... anyone suggesting otherwise is a fool.

 

[legend166]

Carlton beat us last year in Melbourne, that is where we play them this year.....Freo beat us a Subi also, and if i do recall the last time freo were at the SCG we won by less than a kick, a Bazza special, so those two arent really a given, the others, no doubt we are off the pack

Bazza special?

Last time we played Freo Goodsey kicked 8.

Goodsey special.

 

[Dangas]

Bazza special?

Last time we played Freo Goodsey kicked 8.

Goodsey special.

A Bazza Special, the goal itself, yes I do remember Goodesy and his 8 BOG performance

 

[bedford]

If we have to field the same sort of side that faced the Dogs (no first-string rucks, no Bradshaw, no C Bolton, no sign of anything resembling a structure), there are NO gimme games for us (Richmond included) ... anyone suggesting otherwise is a fool.

Have to agree PB . stupid thread ! Lets just win !

 

[Stevie Ray Swan]

Have to agree PB . stupid thread ! Lets just win !

why do you say stupid thread. Its just a conversation as to where we are at in terms of ladder pozzy, and I was interested in others thoughts. I wasnt saying we could beat everyone below us or that any team is an easy beat, so how bout you just contribute without the derogatory comments, otherwise what's the point of discussing anything here.

btw I hope we smash Freo. I think we can

 

[bedford]

How do we know how other teams will finish up, its not derogatory it just common sense. We should just be happy to finish in the eight as that is an improvement on last year. So i don't know how you can say 7th is about right as we can will 9 out of our last 14 we can finish top four, if we win 6 we might miss, we don't know.

 

[Stevie Ray Swan]

How do we know how other teams will finish up, its not derogatory it just common sense. We should just be happy to finish in the eight as that is an improvement on last year. So i don't know how you can say 7th is about right as we can will 9 out of our last 14 we can finish top four, if we win 6 we might miss, we don't know.

I can say it because it is just an opinion, not gospel. You'll also notice that I said 'about' 7th. Sure we can finish top 4 if we win enough games, just like anyone. I am sure that with Brads, Bolts, Seabs, Mummy, McGlynn & co in, and no-one else out, things might look alot different.

How about I come back in round 22 and state the obvious.

 

[bedford]

Okay, i will wait for your next post on Sunday August 22

 

[GoTheSwannies]

injuries have really derailed our run...hopefully we get mcglynn & bradshaw back against freo...mumford in against the hawks...looking forward to bird coming back...seabs & bolts quite a long way off...

these injuries have really exposed our lack of depth, I'm sure most of us thought our depth was a bit better than it actually is...with the exception of maybe 2 or 3 players outside our 22 (with a fully fit team) we really are lacking in the depth dept...i think 2011-2013 is more a realistic window for us, but in saying that, during the same period we'll be losing alot of experience...so who knows where we'll be...all i know is we definitely need to keep our list fit come september to have any chance...

if we don't win both games against freo & hawthorn i really think a top 4 finish is out of the question...particularly freo...as we're directly competing with them for a top 4 spot...we've got a tough run from rnd18-22...get another crack at freo at that time as well...who knows if they'll still be in the top 4 then though...

carlton are definitely in the running for a top 4 finish...they'll be a massive test...i definitely underrated them this season...considering we accounted for them quite easily in the nab cup...but they've improved quite a bit since then whereas we've taken a step back with all our injuries... carlton's in a very similar position to the swans in 2010, to write them off is definitely a mistake...

also, on the topic of competition, st kilda (without roo) are pretty much an average side...in comparison to the top 8...we would've beaten st kilda without roo in rnd 1...

geelong, collingwood, bulldogs are all well above us atm...st kilda, carlton & freo are all dangerous but beatable...the rest you'd like to think we'd be able to account for...so i think the top 4 is a toss up between us and those 3 teams...freo & carlton both looking pretty good atm...
port & brisbane are also dangerous although inconsistent...and then you've got hawthorn & adelaide who are playing poorly now but are quite capable teams...

apart from richmond there are no real easybeats this year...especially with out current form/injuries...however when we're up and running with a full squad i'd be confident against most teams

 

[bedford]

Good summary and we have to remember we have played top 4 sides the last 2 weeks, the Bulldogs should have beaten the scum 3 games ago which would have had them in third spot.

 

[Skystyler]

as far as our depth goes, the blokes that have come in have been very disappointing. Barlow, Bevan, Rohan, Pyke, Playfair...none of them stepped up and siezed their chance to grab a spot in the top 22. The exception is Nick Smith, who has been great.
I dont think we are as good as we looked 2 weeks ago when we were on top of the ladder, but nor do I think we are as bad as we've looked against the cats and dogs. I think we can beat Freo at home and Carlton away IF we bring our A game. I think the coaching team haven't done a good job the last 2 weeks. The team has looked flat and low on confidence. I'm still hopeful we can finish 5th - maybe even 4th if the saints continue to stumble.

 

[Stevie Ray Swan]

I would agree that with a fully fit team playing at our best, we could trouble anyone barring Cats and Pies at this stage. Having said that, consistency over 4 quarters has been our biggest enemy over the past 2-3 seasons, and without that, we could just as likely get rolled by any team, Richmond included.

 

[MVP_PaulRoos]

The Saints are in some trouble this year without Riewoldt. No team in the AFL is as reliant on one player as the Saints are on Riewoldt. If we played them next week, I would expect us to do well aginst them. Collingwood have had the measure of us for a while, and they've only improved over that time, and Geelong and the Bulldogs are top tier. I would give us a good chance against anyone else. This current run of games is making us look worse than we are in my opinion. It was always going to be tough for us to take a lot of wins over this three or four week period. I think fairly soon a winning streak is going to happen. I'd be looking at 5th or 6th.

In a strange way, our awful run of injury, and that terrible call at the MRP, came at the least damaging time possible. It could have really hurt us if we had an easy run of games, and lost them because we were missing key personnel. Realistically, beating Geelong at Kardinia Park, and the Bulldogs at Manuka (where Hall has always played well), was always going to be a big ask, even with a full strength team.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

i must admit, the injuries have come at a time where we weren't really expected to win...although we possibly could've won against the dogs with a fully fit side < that's arguable though...

i guess it also means we're underrated as a team...which suits us fine...so hopefully we have everyone up and running by rnd 18 where we take on the big boys again and we really show what we can do...

I just hope we win our next 2...that'll set us up nicely going into our "easy" run