swannies
Brownlow Medallist
10k Posts
Armchair Endzone Minor Comp Winner
Armchair Endzone Participant
Well, the matches are getting bigger and the heat more intense as 6 clubs, maybe 7, vie for 4 spots. There are a couple of matches that take on enormous proportions this weekend, but all impact on the top 4.
Tigers v Demons - many would say the Demons rightfully moved off the bottom of the ladder last week, beating second placed swans, now they have the runaway ladder leaders.
The Tigers have it all, run, speed, goal kicking, reserves that would play league elsewhere, they have all bases covered. Just to think Thomson hasn't played since round 5 or 6 and was looking to be one of the best defenders in the league, just pick Jess Laurie or Franz or Wilkes to take his place. The only slight worry for the Tigers is that C Jones might miss with his injury, but then they could put me at FF and still get a few goals out of me, so it won't matter who's there. Ninyette has become a favourite of mine to watch and he just keeps performing. I know he's 23 and that's probably why he can keep the consistency, but it's a great effort in his first year.
The Demons on the other hand are developing a young side, which has shown a lot of positives in the past month. Jars has got a decent bunch of kids, like Sneeuwajt, Elari, O'Sullivan, Fiegert, Hodge, plus the AFL listed boys and then Armstrong, Young, Moody, Ferguson, McDougall, so a good mixture. They will need all the run they can get from that young midfield brigade, plus the old heads of Young, Armstrong, Lang, Siekerka, Mzungu to pull this one off though. There is a lot of talent on the park between these 2 clubs, so I hope it's an entertaining match and it should be closer than many anticipate.
Claremont by a few goals.
Falcons v Lions - HATE is such a strong word, but these 2 teams (or more correctly their supporters) have that feeling for each other, and with a top 4 spot being on the line, it could be a cracker!
The Falcons were towelled up in the wet by the Dogs, so they'll want to make a quick statement. It's in these games that I notice that Salecic usually makes a very strong statement from the get go. The Falcons will need to curtail Broadhurst and then use their run through the middle to expose the Lions. I would put Tedesco in a run with role on Broadhurst. If he falls over with exhaustion, send the next guy after Broady. You must keep running with this guy. Andrews and Keunen should be a good duel with Rix and Sideshow Bob. Defensively, the Falcons have the cattle to stifle the Subi forwards and someone with explosive pace off the mark needs to mark Ali.
The Lions will need to make sure they stifle the run, control the ball and hit their targets with precision, which is usually how they pick these teams off. As I said above, Broadhurst is increasingly becoming the key, his work rate is usually exemplary. Rix, Cossom, Keevers, Randall, Hilde have also been very good, consistent performers this year. Add Kerr, Blechynden and Martin to the mix as some of the younger guys starting to come through and there's a nucleus of a decent team again. This game should really be a cracker.
Falcons to bounce back and win by 1-2.
Royals v Sharks - another massive game because I guess the Royals still have a mathematical chance, but are now 2 games out of the 4. The Sharks will want to stop the slide and get back on the winning side, but this is not going to be an easy match.
The Royals have Clarke rested and coming off a blinder against Swans, the old firm will fire up, no doubt, and the Cadwallader and Travers debacles will only unite this group. Micale is great at doing that, bonding the team in adversity. They will come out breathing fire and if they don't you can just sit in the outer and listen to Micale dress them down after the match, it's a wondrous thing to experience!
The mids should be on their toes to match the Sharks mids, so Wulff, Swan, JON, Sweet, Noakes, Macaulay, Pickering, Cowell, Hancock and my favourite, Clutterbuck will need to be ready to go.
The Sharks have a fine midfield of McGough, McNamara, Stevens, Hall, Fasolo x 2, Venturini, Houlihan. Dodd and Spangher provide steel down back and flexibility to go forward. The backline provides a fair bit of attack through young Brennan, Green and Weller. Forward has been their issue all year and Kyanga looked dangerous there last week, Dodd is very hard to match up on when he swings forward and Warren drifts forward to provide a few problems. However, this game will be won in the middle and Warren provides a very good challenge for young Clarke.
Sharks by 2-3.
Peel v Swans - Sunday at Mandurah this is the perfect chance for Swans to get back on their bikes, a week before facing the Tiges. Peel have the chance to continue to improve or at least put players on the field together to start gelling as a team.
Peel provided some resistance last time these teams met for about half a game then were blown away. This is the chance to see if they've improved and with Battye and Holmes in, they always look better. Problem is Battye can't play in all positions! But this should be a very interesting match because of the young talent on display, Bennell, Wilson, Mason, Luff, Brown, Crichton, Filo, Piggott and Murray.
Swans were brought back to earth with a thud and hopefully have bloodlust in their nostrils. Geappen has been superb the last month, or longer, up forward, with Pullman and Notte needing to provide some very good assistance. Simpson will be back up forward so the structure will look better and Spaanders back to the ruck will provide a better contest out of the middle. Krak was down last week, along with a number of players, and will need to lift. If I'm correct this is the first time Riggio has faced his former team, I think he missed the first match? Hopefully it's a fine, dry day for the trip down to Mandurah!
Swans should win but I'm wobbly at the moment!
Hope everyone gets out to support their team on the weekend. It's very therapeutic screaming at the opposition in the rain, no one else is around to hear you so you can go off! Enjoy your footy.
Swannies
Tigers v Demons - many would say the Demons rightfully moved off the bottom of the ladder last week, beating second placed swans, now they have the runaway ladder leaders.
The Tigers have it all, run, speed, goal kicking, reserves that would play league elsewhere, they have all bases covered. Just to think Thomson hasn't played since round 5 or 6 and was looking to be one of the best defenders in the league, just pick Jess Laurie or Franz or Wilkes to take his place. The only slight worry for the Tigers is that C Jones might miss with his injury, but then they could put me at FF and still get a few goals out of me, so it won't matter who's there. Ninyette has become a favourite of mine to watch and he just keeps performing. I know he's 23 and that's probably why he can keep the consistency, but it's a great effort in his first year.
The Demons on the other hand are developing a young side, which has shown a lot of positives in the past month. Jars has got a decent bunch of kids, like Sneeuwajt, Elari, O'Sullivan, Fiegert, Hodge, plus the AFL listed boys and then Armstrong, Young, Moody, Ferguson, McDougall, so a good mixture. They will need all the run they can get from that young midfield brigade, plus the old heads of Young, Armstrong, Lang, Siekerka, Mzungu to pull this one off though. There is a lot of talent on the park between these 2 clubs, so I hope it's an entertaining match and it should be closer than many anticipate.
Claremont by a few goals.
Falcons v Lions - HATE is such a strong word, but these 2 teams (or more correctly their supporters) have that feeling for each other, and with a top 4 spot being on the line, it could be a cracker!
The Falcons were towelled up in the wet by the Dogs, so they'll want to make a quick statement. It's in these games that I notice that Salecic usually makes a very strong statement from the get go. The Falcons will need to curtail Broadhurst and then use their run through the middle to expose the Lions. I would put Tedesco in a run with role on Broadhurst. If he falls over with exhaustion, send the next guy after Broady. You must keep running with this guy. Andrews and Keunen should be a good duel with Rix and Sideshow Bob. Defensively, the Falcons have the cattle to stifle the Subi forwards and someone with explosive pace off the mark needs to mark Ali.
The Lions will need to make sure they stifle the run, control the ball and hit their targets with precision, which is usually how they pick these teams off. As I said above, Broadhurst is increasingly becoming the key, his work rate is usually exemplary. Rix, Cossom, Keevers, Randall, Hilde have also been very good, consistent performers this year. Add Kerr, Blechynden and Martin to the mix as some of the younger guys starting to come through and there's a nucleus of a decent team again. This game should really be a cracker.
Falcons to bounce back and win by 1-2.
Royals v Sharks - another massive game because I guess the Royals still have a mathematical chance, but are now 2 games out of the 4. The Sharks will want to stop the slide and get back on the winning side, but this is not going to be an easy match.
The Royals have Clarke rested and coming off a blinder against Swans, the old firm will fire up, no doubt, and the Cadwallader and Travers debacles will only unite this group. Micale is great at doing that, bonding the team in adversity. They will come out breathing fire and if they don't you can just sit in the outer and listen to Micale dress them down after the match, it's a wondrous thing to experience!
The mids should be on their toes to match the Sharks mids, so Wulff, Swan, JON, Sweet, Noakes, Macaulay, Pickering, Cowell, Hancock and my favourite, Clutterbuck will need to be ready to go.The Sharks have a fine midfield of McGough, McNamara, Stevens, Hall, Fasolo x 2, Venturini, Houlihan. Dodd and Spangher provide steel down back and flexibility to go forward. The backline provides a fair bit of attack through young Brennan, Green and Weller. Forward has been their issue all year and Kyanga looked dangerous there last week, Dodd is very hard to match up on when he swings forward and Warren drifts forward to provide a few problems. However, this game will be won in the middle and Warren provides a very good challenge for young Clarke.
Sharks by 2-3.
Peel v Swans - Sunday at Mandurah this is the perfect chance for Swans to get back on their bikes, a week before facing the Tiges. Peel have the chance to continue to improve or at least put players on the field together to start gelling as a team.
Peel provided some resistance last time these teams met for about half a game then were blown away. This is the chance to see if they've improved and with Battye and Holmes in, they always look better. Problem is Battye can't play in all positions!
But this should be a very interesting match because of the young talent on display, Bennell, Wilson, Mason, Luff, Brown, Crichton, Filo, Piggott and Murray.Swans were brought back to earth with a thud and hopefully have bloodlust in their nostrils. Geappen has been superb the last month, or longer, up forward, with Pullman and Notte needing to provide some very good assistance. Simpson will be back up forward so the structure will look better and Spaanders back to the ruck will provide a better contest out of the middle. Krak was down last week, along with a number of players, and will need to lift. If I'm correct this is the first time Riggio has faced his former team, I think he missed the first match? Hopefully it's a fine, dry day for the trip down to Mandurah!
Swans should win but I'm wobbly at the moment!
Hope everyone gets out to support their team on the weekend. It's very therapeutic screaming at the opposition in the rain, no one else is around to hear you so you can go off!
Enjoy your footy.Swannies
