TheMase
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- Sydney Swans
SYDNEY coach Paul Roos wasn't talking up the Swans finals aspirations yesterday, but knows the next two weeks are crunch time if they are to be considered top four contenders.
The Swans meet the top two teams - Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night and West Coast at the SCG the following Sunday.
With 10 rounds before the finals, the fourth-placed Swans need to win against the two other interstate premier aspirants to consolidate their current position.
Consecutive defeats will put the high-flying Swans back in the mix for a finals spot and in the run home need to win four of their last six starts to make certain of a top-eight finish.
"I'm not talking about finals," a guarded Roos said yesterday.
"Definitely not whether our performance in the next two weeks places us in the contenders or pretenders position for the top four.
"Every game is a test to make the finals - it doesn't matter whether it's Port (first), West Coast (second) or the last-placed team.
"We'll take on Port in the same way which has won us eight games this season.
"Our style has been one of every one of the 22 players making a contribution. If we don't get that, then we will not win."
The Swans do not have Port's individual brilliance of outstanding players of the calibre of Gavin Wanganeen, Warren Tredrea, Nick Stevens, Matthew Primus and the Burgoyne brothers, Shaun and Peter, to name just a few in their glittering array of stars.
But the Swans have shown that - with their total team commitment, fierce tackling, chasing and one of the best running defensive units - that a champion team can beat a team of champions, as they showed against last year's grand finalists, Brisbane and Collingwood.
"Port virtually don't have too many weaknesses," Roos said.
"They have strength in defence (Wakelin, Hardwick, Paxman), midfield (Wanganeen, Stevens), forwards (Tredrea, Cornes, the Burgoynes) and ruck (Primus, Brogan).
"They don't rely on one individual and that is why they are so good."
Swans midfielder Paul Williams is expected to resume on Saturday after his late withdrawal against the Western Bulldogs with a calf strain.
Defender Jason Saddington will not be considered for senior selection and will have to ease his way back in the reserves after missing the last five games with a quad injury.
Daniel McPherson (hamstring), like Williams and Sadddington, will have to pass a fitness test.
Stephen Doyle (knee), Ben Fixter and Brad Seymour (hamstrings) are several weeks away from a comeback.
The Swans went through a 35-minute skills session yesterday which will be followed with a weight session today and skills tomorrow.
They will have a final training run in Adelaide on Friday afternoon.
The Swans meet the top two teams - Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night and West Coast at the SCG the following Sunday.
With 10 rounds before the finals, the fourth-placed Swans need to win against the two other interstate premier aspirants to consolidate their current position.
Consecutive defeats will put the high-flying Swans back in the mix for a finals spot and in the run home need to win four of their last six starts to make certain of a top-eight finish.
"I'm not talking about finals," a guarded Roos said yesterday.
"Definitely not whether our performance in the next two weeks places us in the contenders or pretenders position for the top four.
"Every game is a test to make the finals - it doesn't matter whether it's Port (first), West Coast (second) or the last-placed team.
"We'll take on Port in the same way which has won us eight games this season.
"Our style has been one of every one of the 22 players making a contribution. If we don't get that, then we will not win."
The Swans do not have Port's individual brilliance of outstanding players of the calibre of Gavin Wanganeen, Warren Tredrea, Nick Stevens, Matthew Primus and the Burgoyne brothers, Shaun and Peter, to name just a few in their glittering array of stars.
But the Swans have shown that - with their total team commitment, fierce tackling, chasing and one of the best running defensive units - that a champion team can beat a team of champions, as they showed against last year's grand finalists, Brisbane and Collingwood.
"Port virtually don't have too many weaknesses," Roos said.
"They have strength in defence (Wakelin, Hardwick, Paxman), midfield (Wanganeen, Stevens), forwards (Tredrea, Cornes, the Burgoynes) and ruck (Primus, Brogan).
"They don't rely on one individual and that is why they are so good."
Swans midfielder Paul Williams is expected to resume on Saturday after his late withdrawal against the Western Bulldogs with a calf strain.
Defender Jason Saddington will not be considered for senior selection and will have to ease his way back in the reserves after missing the last five games with a quad injury.
Daniel McPherson (hamstring), like Williams and Sadddington, will have to pass a fitness test.
Stephen Doyle (knee), Ben Fixter and Brad Seymour (hamstrings) are several weeks away from a comeback.
The Swans went through a 35-minute skills session yesterday which will be followed with a weight session today and skills tomorrow.
They will have a final training run in Adelaide on Friday afternoon.
