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Whilst in 2008 and 2009 the gap between 4th and 8th place on the ladder was significant in 2010 it was not. In last years finals the Swans beat Carlton by a goal and then were beaten by a goal by the Dogs, highlighting that the gap between 4th and 8th was not much.
In the Qualifying Final last year the Swans seemingly had the Dogs on toast, and were skipping clear midway through the second quarter only to be reeled back in. Goodes, Shaw, McGlynn were running all over the ground but then Andrew Hooper on debut kicked a goal reducing the margin to 16 points at half time and the Dogs outmuscled the Swans in the second half thanks to Cross, Gia, Murphy and co.
Form
Since the last meeting the Swans have changed coach with longtime assistant Longmire taking the reigns. With the youth (Jetta, Rohan, Reid, Dennis Lane) and recruits (Mumford, McGlynn, Kennedy, Seaby) introduced in 2010 they'd have to be hopeful things were looking up. I have to confess to having seen little of the Swans in 2011 apart from a dreadful final quarter against the Dees in round 1 where they did very well not be overrun.
The Dogs prez Smorgo has talked premierships but the actions of the coaching staff have been to promote youth and inexperience: Libba, Wallis, Markovic, Roughead, Djekerra, Jones etc suggesting that they believe the side needs a more serious makeover to once again challenge for silverware.
Hard to get a line through both teams form at this stage, well maybe its just that as a Dogs fan its a painful reality that we just haven't been good. The Dogs have been nothing better than patchy, beating two of the main wooden spoon contenders. The Swans would have to be judged in better form having beaten improvers Essendon and West Coast, whilst only narrowly losing to the also hot Blues.
Injuries
Sydney Swans
Daniel Bradshaw (knee) - indefinite
Campbell Heath (knee) - 1 week
Kieren Jack (ankle) - 4-6 weeks
Alex Johnson (hamstring) - test
Nick Malceski (knee) - 2-3 weeks
Gary Rohan (knee) - indefinite
Western Bulldogs
Daniel Giansiracusa (hamstring) - test
Barry Hall (ankle) - 2-3 weeks
Shaun Higgins (groin) - test
Ben Hudson (ankle) - test
Easton Wood (ankle) - 4-5 weeks
Patrick Veszpremi (hand) - 2 weeks
Selection table
Swans:
Kieran Jack's ankle injury robs the swans of one of their most dynamic midfielders, with Brett Meredith perhaps most likely to replace him, whilst Malceskis absence weakens their depth of running defenders. Grundy is expected to return and may likely match up dog Liam Jones. Without the underrated Bradshaw out they are robbed of the best forward, and Jesse White's form is once again an issue for the Swans match committee to consider but they'd be likely to play him against the Lake-less dogs.
Dogs:
Hall's injury also robs the dogs of their best forward, whilst Higgins is an emerging star capable of playing forward and midfield, whilst Lakes demotion to the VFL changes the look down back for the Dogs. Giansiracusa and Hudson are likely to return and Roughead will be dropped after Minson played with the oomph of a man who had not had a run all year. There might be other changes to the fringes of the team
Who will win, and why?
The Dogs have performed well against the Swans recently, and at Manuka, apart from the late regular season debacle at the SCG when Cooney and Morris were injured early.
On form its hard to tip the Dogs in this one, but I'd like to think the character of the group and the senior core could find a way to impose their will on this one. You would have to hope that we could match their in and under types of Bolton and Kennedy midfield and then its really a question of whether we can find some drive, in the form of outside run, to cut them up. Griffen is absolutely the key to us winning, and gee if ever we'd like to see twinkle toes Cooney carve up Manuka Oval it is Saturday.
The Swans are missing some damaging players but still have Goodes, the underrated McGlynn, etc
Head V Heart?
The head says Swans have too much run for us, but that would be boring
Dogs by 1 point
I'll leave others to comment on key matchups as I've seen too little of the Swans
Whilst in 2008 and 2009 the gap between 4th and 8th place on the ladder was significant in 2010 it was not. In last years finals the Swans beat Carlton by a goal and then were beaten by a goal by the Dogs, highlighting that the gap between 4th and 8th was not much.
In the Qualifying Final last year the Swans seemingly had the Dogs on toast, and were skipping clear midway through the second quarter only to be reeled back in. Goodes, Shaw, McGlynn were running all over the ground but then Andrew Hooper on debut kicked a goal reducing the margin to 16 points at half time and the Dogs outmuscled the Swans in the second half thanks to Cross, Gia, Murphy and co.
Form
Since the last meeting the Swans have changed coach with longtime assistant Longmire taking the reigns. With the youth (Jetta, Rohan, Reid, Dennis Lane) and recruits (Mumford, McGlynn, Kennedy, Seaby) introduced in 2010 they'd have to be hopeful things were looking up. I have to confess to having seen little of the Swans in 2011 apart from a dreadful final quarter against the Dees in round 1 where they did very well not be overrun.
The Dogs prez Smorgo has talked premierships but the actions of the coaching staff have been to promote youth and inexperience: Libba, Wallis, Markovic, Roughead, Djekerra, Jones etc suggesting that they believe the side needs a more serious makeover to once again challenge for silverware.
Hard to get a line through both teams form at this stage, well maybe its just that as a Dogs fan its a painful reality that we just haven't been good. The Dogs have been nothing better than patchy, beating two of the main wooden spoon contenders. The Swans would have to be judged in better form having beaten improvers Essendon and West Coast, whilst only narrowly losing to the also hot Blues.
Injuries
Sydney Swans
Daniel Bradshaw (knee) - indefinite
Campbell Heath (knee) - 1 week
Kieren Jack (ankle) - 4-6 weeks
Alex Johnson (hamstring) - test
Nick Malceski (knee) - 2-3 weeks
Gary Rohan (knee) - indefinite
Western Bulldogs
Daniel Giansiracusa (hamstring) - test
Barry Hall (ankle) - 2-3 weeks
Shaun Higgins (groin) - test
Ben Hudson (ankle) - test
Easton Wood (ankle) - 4-5 weeks
Patrick Veszpremi (hand) - 2 weeks
Selection table
Swans:
Kieran Jack's ankle injury robs the swans of one of their most dynamic midfielders, with Brett Meredith perhaps most likely to replace him, whilst Malceskis absence weakens their depth of running defenders. Grundy is expected to return and may likely match up dog Liam Jones. Without the underrated Bradshaw out they are robbed of the best forward, and Jesse White's form is once again an issue for the Swans match committee to consider but they'd be likely to play him against the Lake-less dogs.
Dogs:
Hall's injury also robs the dogs of their best forward, whilst Higgins is an emerging star capable of playing forward and midfield, whilst Lakes demotion to the VFL changes the look down back for the Dogs. Giansiracusa and Hudson are likely to return and Roughead will be dropped after Minson played with the oomph of a man who had not had a run all year. There might be other changes to the fringes of the team
Who will win, and why?
The Dogs have performed well against the Swans recently, and at Manuka, apart from the late regular season debacle at the SCG when Cooney and Morris were injured early.
On form its hard to tip the Dogs in this one, but I'd like to think the character of the group and the senior core could find a way to impose their will on this one. You would have to hope that we could match their in and under types of Bolton and Kennedy midfield and then its really a question of whether we can find some drive, in the form of outside run, to cut them up. Griffen is absolutely the key to us winning, and gee if ever we'd like to see twinkle toes Cooney carve up Manuka Oval it is Saturday.
The Swans are missing some damaging players but still have Goodes, the underrated McGlynn, etc
Head V Heart?
The head says Swans have too much run for us, but that would be boring
Dogs by 1 point
I'll leave others to comment on key matchups as I've seen too little of the Swans
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