Will the Swans knock of the Dons?

[Grendel]

Tempted to go the Bloods in my tips this week but am loath to go against my intial tips of always pick the Bombers.

Still no Lloyd, the main 'feeder' Misiti out. Their two rucks out of form and Stafford and Goodes apparently in great touch. Eade and his boys went close last year save for some Jimmy magic in the last. Plus even Hird seems to be underdone from his lack of a proper pre-season.

Tough call what i dont like about the Swans is that they (good luck to them too) may be undefeated but the three sides they have played have a combinded total of ONE win for the season (and that being the WC upset).

Forms always hard to go against but in this one im just not sure. Only picked four last round, want a better showing this time around.

Any ideas?

Cheers.

 

[The Dutchman!]

Grendel

If I didn't support the opposition I'd be tipping the Bloods this week.

Then again why am I helping you - you're beating me in both comps!

Cheers
Dutchy

PS. ARe the hawks really that boring? HAven't seen video yet - though I did see the Rich/ Dogs game last night on SKy...

 

[BluesCharm]

Go the swans mate, I loathe Essendon but I really do think they'll get beat anyway!

If we can do it down here, they can up there.

 

[Sly77]

Form says the Swans......but as you say Grendle they havent actually beaten any quality opposition. I personally think they are playing above themselves. The other thing favoring the Swans is that its at Sydney - they're hard to beat at home.

However the brain says Essendon has only lost 2 home and away matches in 25, and I want the Hawks on top......

Ohhhhhhhhh I don't know......

My brain is hurting under the pressure!

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Sly by name, Sly by nature......

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

I reckon we have a good chance

For a start, we always fancy ourselves against Essendon at the SCG, for some reason they usually struggle on this ground.

Sheedy will probably be thinking of ways to counter 'the flood' I guess he will also be geeing up his boys for some pretty torrid one-on-one encounters. The game will most likely be alot like the Carlton game last week. Lots of big packs around the ball and lots of heavy traffic everywhere.

If we can take Barnes out of the game and otherwise clog up their avenues to goal, we are in with a good chance.

Barnes and Stafford will be an interesting match up, Barnes may have his measure but when you look down the list at second and third ruckmen, this is where the Bloods can get on top.

Adam Goodes is an extremely athletic big man and later in the game with him on the ball I think Essendon could really struggle to contain him. Alessio is certainly no match for him, but Alessio should be able to out-ruck Ball and Luff (our other two stand-ins).

I guess it all gets down to 'containment'

Can our midfield contain Mercuri ?

Will Schauble be able to do the job on Hird ?

How will Essendon match us for height ?

Will Stafford be able to run with Barnes ?

So many dangerously skilled players from both teams all over the paddock, its going to be interesting to see who does the better job at containing each others prime movers.

I think the Swannies can do it - Sydney by 9 in a match that may easily yield less than 20 goals

cheers

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

Grendel id wait to see if Creswell is suspended or not, without Kelly in the side Creswell takes on extra importance, last week he got 20 odd possessions and kicked two goals. Swans with Creswell, Bombers without.....but then again what do i know!

 

[eagleskickass]

I personally think that the Swans will win. It won't be by much, but I think they can do it. I know it was only a pracy earlier this year when Sydney won, but I think they'll do it again!

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If everybody is rowing the boat together then there's no body to rock it!
CARN THE 7TH WONDERS
CARN THE W C WARRIORS

 

[FIGJAM]

The funniest part about this match is watching both teams clutching for the mantle of underdog.

Underdog is an underrated tag to have! It means if you lose, you lose with a caveat minimising damage. If you win, you did it against all odds.

Unusually, I think the Bombers are the underdogs.

 

[The invisible mullet]

The Dons should still be favoured to win this one. Sheeds should have kicked quite a few butts during the week and I imagine anything less than a win could see some extended periods in the ressies for some players. Who will play full forward in Lloyd's absence? Lucas? Hird?

[This message has been edited by The invisible mullet (edited 19 April 2001).]

 

[mantis]

Naturally I am hoping we will win & I feel that because our backs are to the wall we will, not by much a goal or two. PLEASE GUYS.


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RED & BLACK, THE COLOURS OF FENG SHUI

 

[kittenswan]

COME ON THE SWANS!!!
Not that I am biased (much) but the Bombers are beatable !!
They just are not hard enough on the ball - if the Swans can maintain pressure on the man for all four quarters just like the mightly blues did then the Bombers have no chance at all.

Cheers

 

[play on]

Go swans. Bury those premiership pretenders.


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Play on says the umpire
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[Toots]

Originally posted by play on:
Go swans. Bury those premiership pretenders.

So we are pretending to be the present premiers?

 

[play on]

The present premiers are the Port Power fc.


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Play on says the umpire
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[Rooboy 96]

Essendon by a mile... who are they really missing??? Lloyd and ....

 

[BMD]

Can't tip against the Swans now, can I?

They always seem to have close games at the SCG and I think tomorrow won't be any different.

Essendon will be fired up to bounce back and the Swans opposition so far this year have not played well so its a bit hard to gauge their form.

If Cresswell's out the Swans will miss him big time.

I'm expecting as they say "a torrid encounter". It will be a big game - can't wait.

 

[Dave]

It's a tough one Grendel. For mine much is hinging on whether Creswell is outed or not. Sydney have done well recently against the Dons at the SCG, so at the moment I'd rate them favourite, even if the bookies don't.

The caveat is as has been pointed out the quality of the Swans opposition. Still, you can only beat those you play.

We saw last week what an undermanned side can do with a bit of commitment, something hopefully the Dons will show a fair helping more of this week.

 

[TD]

Originally posted by kittenswan:

They just are not hard enough on the ball

You're kidding aren't you????

 

[kittenswan]

TO TD
No kidding here mate - they are a bunch of softies when it comes to man on man
cheers

 

[play on]

The AFL website says under the heading newsflash, Creswell is not guilty. Well the swans win is now confirmed.


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Play on says the umpire
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[Pessimistic]

Barnard seems to be the bombers best player at the moment...

 

[jaworski]

Why was the Brute such a dud when he played for the Hawkers? He'd have to be one of the first picks at Windy Hill nowadays.

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You only have one year to prove yourself.

 

[mantis]

Originally posted by jaworski:
Why was the Brute such a dud when he played for the Hawkers? He'd have to be one of the first picks at Windy Hill nowadays.

Pretty obvious really he was playing in a dud team.

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RED & BLACK, THE COLOURS OF FENG SHUI

 

[Dan26]

For what's it's worth, I think the Swans deserve to start favourites. Essendon has lost 4 of their official 6 mathces, have 4 of their best 10 players out, and are playing away from home against the top of the ladder team, who only just failed to beat the Bombers last year!

I'm confident we can win, but no where near confident enoughto give my patented "Dan25 special guarantee". That's for next week !

 

[aggels]

Yeah, I agree with most people here, Swans should definitely start favourites, with the good form they're in, Essendon's injuries, and not so brilliant form. Plus the fact it's at the scg. I wouldn't totally rule Essendon out, especially after last week's loss, they'll be desperate to make up for it.

I haven't been so lacking in confidence for my side since... well I don't know when. A long time ago.