I hate, loath and despise the Swans and their mentally, socially and morally defective supporters !!!
It therefore pains me greatly to state that I still see this as being a very tough ask.
Primarily because I see it as being very hard for us to kick a winning score UNLESS it really pisses down like crazy over the next 48 hrs and turns the game into a tough slog. ( I know I should have gone and seen that old witchdoctor when I was back in Sth Afr last week !!!)
Tazz out and Ant operating at half rat power leave us very little up forward. Despite C2 looking extremely impressive, we will be asking an amazing amount of a kid with 1/2 doz games to tear it apart, esp in a battling side.
Our painful movement of the ball forward cannot serve to help matters.
I can see us battling it out, and being competitive as we have been in a lot of the time, but we will be really dodging a v large bullet getting out of this one.
Pre-Match: Collingwood V AFL Swanettes - All comments here
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commonwombat
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Cam
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Good to see Josh Thewlis get a game for the swans. I played a few games with his old man at Donald at the end of his career. Nice bloke. Good on him making his debut in a huge game.
Last edited by Cam on Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Get back on top.
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Johnson#26
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Cannibal
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The bookies have posted odds of Sydney $1.50, Collingwood $2.40 and, as much as it pains me to say it, I think that's fair.
A fortnight ago, on the back of three wins on the trot and a very promising game against Melbourne, I was feeling quietly confident about tomorrow night's game. But that confidence has been shattered by the dropping of Leon to bring back O'Bree. If ever a stage had been set for Leon to perform at his best, this was it. Perfect dry conditions for a fast small forward whose ball-handling builds his confidence. On the other hand, O'Bree has been out for three weeks with a knee injury and he's brought back badly under-done for a game on a big ground in dry conditions against a side with a strong mosquito fleet of fast running midfielders which we have not been able to counter in the past. Inexplicable.
The emergencies are Davis, Swan and Maxwell. I can only hope (wish?) that this is a ploy by MM and that O'Bree really isn't fit to take his place, that MM is buying time to more closely assess the ground conditions and likely match-ups, with a view to making a "late change" late tomorrow afternoon. Can I dare hope that MM is really not planning on bringing back yet another seriously under-done player? And thereby hampering our ability to run out games even more?
With Ball and Doyle back in the side for Sydney after long layoffs, I can also only hope that they are as equally under-done as O'Bree. A week ago, this looked like a classic opportunity for Richards to get the majority of the rucking, releasing Fraser to the forward line to compensate for Taz's suspension. However, as predicted for the Melbourne game, it's looking more and more that Fraser will take on the rucking role for his strength and speed around the ground. We rob Peter to pay Paul.
The return of O'Loughlin to FF gives Sydney another target up forward, rather than just relying on Hall. Wakes, Presti and J Cloke are going to have their hands full now and the dropping of Maxwell reduces our options there as well. I dread seeing Johnno spending virtually all game deep in defence again as this robs of of the one guy whose play up in the middle was so much responsible for keeping us competitive earlier in the season. Is this clear evidence that MM's ultra-defensive state of mind is simply unable to conceive of better, attacking options? To my mind, we desperately need Johnno in the middle this week. It is after all, virtually our 2004 GF and we are up against a very strong midfield.
Media reports quote Sydney players saying their build-up to this game is like Grand Final week to them. They are going to be keyed up and will have conditions to suit their fast, play-on game, which we will struggle to counter.
I never thought I would feel so pessimistic ahead of a game which means so much to us. This is a side which prides itself on playing to win, even with the odds badly stacked against us. We have been unable to kick enough goals to win games which we should have and we take out a player who could kick the 3 or 4 goals which might have made all the difference?! Why make it even harder for ourselves? Especially when the Swans return a small defender - Barry - when another small forward could have made it very difficult for them to match up.
To win we'll need a bag from each of Pebbles, Cam and Dids. Can Bucks step up and kick another 3? His forward play, marking and kicking will have to be of the highest order. Whilst I have no doubt he has the mental strength, this is one game where he needs to be on target from the start. We cannot afford to squander opportunities up forward.
In the end, I think the Swans have a better setup, they are playing at home, and their gameplan is exactly what we are not good at countering. They have caused us enormous problems in Melbourne in the last two years when we've had virtually our best side on the park with their quick running game.
Sorry folks. First tip against the 'Pies in more than a month. Swans by six goals.
A fortnight ago, on the back of three wins on the trot and a very promising game against Melbourne, I was feeling quietly confident about tomorrow night's game. But that confidence has been shattered by the dropping of Leon to bring back O'Bree. If ever a stage had been set for Leon to perform at his best, this was it. Perfect dry conditions for a fast small forward whose ball-handling builds his confidence. On the other hand, O'Bree has been out for three weeks with a knee injury and he's brought back badly under-done for a game on a big ground in dry conditions against a side with a strong mosquito fleet of fast running midfielders which we have not been able to counter in the past. Inexplicable.
The emergencies are Davis, Swan and Maxwell. I can only hope (wish?) that this is a ploy by MM and that O'Bree really isn't fit to take his place, that MM is buying time to more closely assess the ground conditions and likely match-ups, with a view to making a "late change" late tomorrow afternoon. Can I dare hope that MM is really not planning on bringing back yet another seriously under-done player? And thereby hampering our ability to run out games even more?
With Ball and Doyle back in the side for Sydney after long layoffs, I can also only hope that they are as equally under-done as O'Bree. A week ago, this looked like a classic opportunity for Richards to get the majority of the rucking, releasing Fraser to the forward line to compensate for Taz's suspension. However, as predicted for the Melbourne game, it's looking more and more that Fraser will take on the rucking role for his strength and speed around the ground. We rob Peter to pay Paul.
The return of O'Loughlin to FF gives Sydney another target up forward, rather than just relying on Hall. Wakes, Presti and J Cloke are going to have their hands full now and the dropping of Maxwell reduces our options there as well. I dread seeing Johnno spending virtually all game deep in defence again as this robs of of the one guy whose play up in the middle was so much responsible for keeping us competitive earlier in the season. Is this clear evidence that MM's ultra-defensive state of mind is simply unable to conceive of better, attacking options? To my mind, we desperately need Johnno in the middle this week. It is after all, virtually our 2004 GF and we are up against a very strong midfield.
Media reports quote Sydney players saying their build-up to this game is like Grand Final week to them. They are going to be keyed up and will have conditions to suit their fast, play-on game, which we will struggle to counter.
I never thought I would feel so pessimistic ahead of a game which means so much to us. This is a side which prides itself on playing to win, even with the odds badly stacked against us. We have been unable to kick enough goals to win games which we should have and we take out a player who could kick the 3 or 4 goals which might have made all the difference?! Why make it even harder for ourselves? Especially when the Swans return a small defender - Barry - when another small forward could have made it very difficult for them to match up.
To win we'll need a bag from each of Pebbles, Cam and Dids. Can Bucks step up and kick another 3? His forward play, marking and kicking will have to be of the highest order. Whilst I have no doubt he has the mental strength, this is one game where he needs to be on target from the start. We cannot afford to squander opportunities up forward.
In the end, I think the Swans have a better setup, they are playing at home, and their gameplan is exactly what we are not good at countering. They have caused us enormous problems in Melbourne in the last two years when we've had virtually our best side on the park with their quick running game.
Sorry folks. First tip against the 'Pies in more than a month. Swans by six goals.
Glory Glory Good Old Collingwood, Glory Glory Hallelujah,
Collingwood's The Greatest Team The World Has Ever Seen,
And The 'Pies Go Marching On (in Black and White Stripes Forever!).
Collingwood's The Greatest Team The World Has Ever Seen,
And The 'Pies Go Marching On (in Black and White Stripes Forever!).
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erniedog
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Magpies are a good chance.
While some of the Sydney inclusions are good, 6 new players means that theSwans will be underdone and prone to tiring ie. exactly the problem the magpies have had in the past. So if the Magpies keep to their recent pattern and have a good lead by 3q time, it is unlikely that they will be overrun.
Probably the best tactic is to flood for the first 15 min to avoid the early goals we keep conceding - this is particularly important against speedy Swans.
If scores are close at 1/2 time, I expect a 4-5 goal magpie win.
While some of the Sydney inclusions are good, 6 new players means that theSwans will be underdone and prone to tiring ie. exactly the problem the magpies have had in the past. So if the Magpies keep to their recent pattern and have a good lead by 3q time, it is unlikely that they will be overrun.
Probably the best tactic is to flood for the first 15 min to avoid the early goals we keep conceding - this is particularly important against speedy Swans.
If scores are close at 1/2 time, I expect a 4-5 goal magpie win.
Beware the embrace of the collingwood python
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sherrife
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Cannibal... your assessment sounds pretty spot-on. We seem to rely on the boys putting in a gutsy performance and overcoming the odds every week, and I think we have to concede that we are unfortunately not doing this when we have to.
No Mental Strength + No Skills = Our Squad - Same 8 Contributers
We always have hope that we will beat the opposition, but this really is the most unhopeful i have been in a long time. This might be a good time for me to go overseas, hopefully when i come back we will be on a 5 game winning streak
Sorry if this is slightly off-topic, but i thought it would be wasteful to start a whole new thread for a small question:
Can someone please sms me the result at the end of the game? I'll be in the airplane at 7:00 and me and my friend will be stressing as to whether we won or not the whole way to Singapore. My number is 0421 185 037 if anyone would please do it i would be really grateful.
No Mental Strength + No Skills = Our Squad - Same 8 Contributers
We always have hope that we will beat the opposition, but this really is the most unhopeful i have been in a long time. This might be a good time for me to go overseas, hopefully when i come back we will be on a 5 game winning streak
Sorry if this is slightly off-topic, but i thought it would be wasteful to start a whole new thread for a small question:
Can someone please sms me the result at the end of the game? I'll be in the airplane at 7:00 and me and my friend will be stressing as to whether we won or not the whole way to Singapore. My number is 0421 185 037 if anyone would please do it i would be really grateful.
I would be ashamed to admit that I had risen from the ranks. When I rise it will be with the ranks... - Eugene Debs
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sherrife
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WhyPhilWhy?
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sherrife
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*Or Singapore even! 
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Cannibal
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We are going into this game with virtually a full list of players, now that Rocca is back from injury. Taz is missing for one more week and Tom Davidson is the only bloke on the injury list.
Sydney, on the other hand, will be missing Davis, Schneider, Schauble, Buchanan and Fosdike to short term injury and also have Sundqvist and Saddington out for the rest of the season. That's seven guys who are arguably first choice players (plus another two who aren't) who will be missing.
You'd think we would win this one, whether in Sydney or Melbourne, so why am I so friggin' worried?
Because we aren't playing good, tough, hard at it footy for a full four quarters and Sydney's running game is good enough to blow us out of the water if they get to play it without us shutting their runners down. Plus we just aren't moving the ball quickly enough into the forward line ourselves to kick enough goals to put sufficient pressure on the opposition (North game excepted).
So what does the selection committee do? Drops a tough as nails defender who intimidates his opponents and a quick small forward for whom the conditions are so wonderfully suited!
The only positive I can see from the selection changes is that Rocca is back and he is a big game guy whom we need to put structure into our forward line. O'Bree should be playing at Willi this week, not in Sydney.
I am SOOO apprehensive about this game.
Sydney, on the other hand, will be missing Davis, Schneider, Schauble, Buchanan and Fosdike to short term injury and also have Sundqvist and Saddington out for the rest of the season. That's seven guys who are arguably first choice players (plus another two who aren't) who will be missing.
You'd think we would win this one, whether in Sydney or Melbourne, so why am I so friggin' worried?
Because we aren't playing good, tough, hard at it footy for a full four quarters and Sydney's running game is good enough to blow us out of the water if they get to play it without us shutting their runners down. Plus we just aren't moving the ball quickly enough into the forward line ourselves to kick enough goals to put sufficient pressure on the opposition (North game excepted).
So what does the selection committee do? Drops a tough as nails defender who intimidates his opponents and a quick small forward for whom the conditions are so wonderfully suited!
The only positive I can see from the selection changes is that Rocca is back and he is a big game guy whom we need to put structure into our forward line. O'Bree should be playing at Willi this week, not in Sydney.
I am SOOO apprehensive about this game.
Glory Glory Good Old Collingwood, Glory Glory Hallelujah,
Collingwood's The Greatest Team The World Has Ever Seen,
And The 'Pies Go Marching On (in Black and White Stripes Forever!).
Collingwood's The Greatest Team The World Has Ever Seen,
And The 'Pies Go Marching On (in Black and White Stripes Forever!).
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Joel
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I wouldn't say that.Johnson#26 wrote:6 in's for Sydney. All of them good: Ball, O'Laughlin, Barry, Doyle, Fixter, Thewlis.
We'll do well to win up against this opposition.
Thewlis has never played a game. Doyle was injured for most of last year, and has played for a while. Fixter is good but nothing more.
Barry, yes, O'Loughlin, yes.