Heisenberg_
17🏆19🏆20🏆
This week we take on the 4th placed Swans in what shapes as another crucial match for us to beat another team who are contenders and to consolidate our position in the top 8. When was the last time we were in a position like that?
It goes without saying that despite having a few players out, the Swans are no team to take lightly being the reigning premiers and all. They also boast a midfield that is probably the best in the competition with stars like Brandon Jack, Josh Kennedy, Jarred McVeigh and now Dan Hannebery who is probably Gary Abletts main competition for the Brownlow and all 4 would be deserving All Australians.
Despite the strength they have in the midfield as well as very good stocks in the big man area that has only been strengthened by the addition of Kurt Tippet, we match up well on them and have won 3 of our last 4 matches, however all 3 wins have been at the MCG with the loss coming at the SCG by 10 points, the margin did flatter us though with the Swans kicking pretty inaccurate for goal. But like it is the case more often then not past results are to be taken with a grain of salt with both teams having changes a fair bit over the past few years, thankfully for the better
The Swans are coming off a pretty easy win at Subiaco over West Coast where as we had a tougher win against Freo at the MCG that was close most of the way through, but we always had in control so on recent form and the fact that they are the home team and reigning premiers, you would be silly to have us going in as favourites but it should be a close game especially with Cotchin getting back to near his best form last week and our defence that was once seen as a major weakness playing some great footy this year with only Freo and Sydney conceding less points this year.
Coming up against a side of the quality of Sydney is never an easy thing and the best way to test where you are at is to play the best teams so I'm really looking forward to this one and I'm confident we can get up. But using my head I would have to say Sydney will get up by less then 2 goals, but I hope like hell I'm wrong as I often am.
It goes without saying that despite having a few players out, the Swans are no team to take lightly being the reigning premiers and all. They also boast a midfield that is probably the best in the competition with stars like Brandon Jack, Josh Kennedy, Jarred McVeigh and now Dan Hannebery who is probably Gary Abletts main competition for the Brownlow and all 4 would be deserving All Australians.
Despite the strength they have in the midfield as well as very good stocks in the big man area that has only been strengthened by the addition of Kurt Tippet, we match up well on them and have won 3 of our last 4 matches, however all 3 wins have been at the MCG with the loss coming at the SCG by 10 points, the margin did flatter us though with the Swans kicking pretty inaccurate for goal. But like it is the case more often then not past results are to be taken with a grain of salt with both teams having changes a fair bit over the past few years, thankfully for the better
The Swans are coming off a pretty easy win at Subiaco over West Coast where as we had a tougher win against Freo at the MCG that was close most of the way through, but we always had in control so on recent form and the fact that they are the home team and reigning premiers, you would be silly to have us going in as favourites but it should be a close game especially with Cotchin getting back to near his best form last week and our defence that was once seen as a major weakness playing some great footy this year with only Freo and Sydney conceding less points this year.
Coming up against a side of the quality of Sydney is never an easy thing and the best way to test where you are at is to play the best teams so I'm really looking forward to this one and I'm confident we can get up. But using my head I would have to say Sydney will get up by less then 2 goals, but I hope like hell I'm wrong as I often am.
Not many Tigers fans are really expecting us to win in Sydney this week BUT, if we do it will be the most significant win since the 2001 semi-final win over Carlton that put us into the preliminary final. Why? Because if do win, we will have beaten last year’s premiers and a team that is favourite to play off in this year’s GF. We will have beaten two sides above us on the ladder in the past two weeks and we will be a genuine finals contender.
Playing Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground is not a must win game, but dare to dream. We are currently 6th on the ladder and we showed last week that we are better than 5th placed Freo - just 2 points ahead of us. We could easily get ahead of Freo by finals time putting us 5th. When Essendon are banned from playing finals footy that puts us 4th. A win this week and we are just 2 points behind Sydney and a genuine top 3 contender.
Sydney is very hard to beat in Sydney and there will be no shame if we lose. But if we do win - that will be something. Respect. Richmond will have arrived.
Winning at the MCG is what really matters and we did that last time we played the Swans in round 7 last year. In fact, as I recall it, we flogged them. While the final winning margin was 29 points – 5 goals, it was all over at half time when the score was Richmond 51 to Swans 19. Only Geelong had a better win last year over the premiers – 34 points in round 23.
Can we do it again – in Sydney? Let’s look at the teams.
From the team that beat Sydney last year, we have the following players out
- Batchelor, Dea, Grimes, King, Miller, Nahas
And the following players in
- Arnot, Chaplin, Pettard, Vickery, Vlastuin, White
(assuming Tuck plays for KIng)
This is a much better side than the side that flogged Sydney last year.
Sydney “outs” compared to last year are:
- Dennis-Lane, Jetta, Johnson, Mattner, McGlynn, Reid, Seaby and Shaw
Sydney’s “ins” are
- Pyke, Rampe, Tippett, Cunningham, Jack, Lamb, Mitchell, Mumford
Sydney’s team is also better but they still have some big players missing including Goodes. We have 20 of our best 22 to pick from. Only Grimes and King are unavailable.
Cotchin is back in Brownlow medal form. Remember that last year he really only kicked into form late in the season scoring 15 of his 26 Brownlow votes from R16. His BOG performance last week suggests he might be doing this again. If last year is any guide, expect another top performance this weekend.
Rance had a breakout game last week and probably got the 2 Brownlow votes. Our defence is now one of the best going around.
Another point worth noting is experience. Last time we played the Swans we had 6 players with 100 games (Deledio, Foley, Jackson, Newman, Tuck and Miller), this week we have 12 (Cotchin, Deledio, Edwards, Foley, Grigg, Jackson, Maric, Newman, Riewoldt, Tuck, Chaplin and White). We are a MUCH better side this year than the side that beat last year’s premiers the last time we played them.
The game against Sydney this week provides us with another opportunity to beat a side above us on the ladder. If we lose against Sydney at the SCG, no one will really be surprised. Many good teams struggle to beat the Swans on their home ground.
But if we win .... but what if we win? The lid will be well and truly blown off. If we win, our biggest challenge, as supporters, over the next few weeks will be not getting sucked into being wound up by all our opponents.
If we win the ROAR really will be back!
