Preview Round 2 Syd vs Haw ("Poo n' Wee at the SCG")

[Ticky009]

 

[Swan4Life]

One of the historically epic previews I've seen and there have been many. Kudos DQ.

Hawthorn were quite good for a qtr and a half, then disappeared. They fumbled everything, missed hundreds of targets by hand and foot and couldn't run with the Bombers after half time.

Anything less than a six goal victory would be a major disappointment.

 

[caesar88]

Even on our 'off-days' we will beat the Hawks. And yes, we are only human and we will make mistakes, even on our best days; but not to the extent of losing to the Hawks this year!

We have a really good team; a really, really good team. We will be top 8 for sure, and imo, top 4.

But the top sides have very little to differentiate between them, so on an off day, we could lose to any of them... but not to the Hawks. Half the bloody team would need to go down before we lost to them, especially in the second game of the season!

We have built a team that has significant experience playing together, that has improved game after game, with a few notable exceptions. They are fitter, stronger and even more experienced now; and they are coached by a strong, stable group.

The Hawks are where we were in '19 and '20, they won't beat us.

Save your anxiety and nerves until the week after when we play the Demons... they will have something to prove against us!

I know KS. You're talking a lot of sense, and I hear you and really do agree.

But then game day rolls around and I'm just like

 

[Donza]

It would be nice to have some nice weather for the first home game.

Next 7 days are consistently wetish.
Though Sunday has a drying trend.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

It would be nice to have some nice weather for the first home game.

Next 7 days are consistently wetish.
Though Sunday has a drying trend.

in Donza we trust

 

[Donza]

*better than 27 degrees /77% or 36 at Homebush today.

 

[dosser]

Even on our 'off-days' we will beat the Hawks. And yes, we are only human and we will make mistakes, even on our best days; but not to the extent of losing to the Hawks this year!

We have a really good team; a really, really good team. We will be top 8 for sure, and imo, top 4.

But the top sides have very little to differentiate between them, so on an off day, we could lose to any of them... but not to the Hawks. Half the bloody team would need to go down before we lost to them, especially in the second game of the season!

We have built a team that has significant experience playing together, that has improved game after game, with a few notable exceptions. They are fitter, stronger and even more experienced now; and they are coached by a strong, stable group.

The Hawks are where we were in '19 and '20, they won't beat us.

Save your anxiety and nerves until the week after when we play the Demons... they will have something to prove against us!

So you're saying we should be talking about toasties?

 

[Kiama Chris]

Last Hawthorn game I went to (2021) we lost because they stationed three talls including Ceglar and McEvoy at kick in distance and we just kept kicking it to them. That plus Newcombe played out of his skin on debut. We were awful.
I believe we are a much better team now and they are worse.

 

[The King!]

I like some of the hawks kids, just think they are at the bottom of a climb up

 

[kelpie_X]

After a hiatus that seemed abnormally long this year, footy finally returns to the hallowed SCG this weekend, as the Swans take on the Hawks.

The Details

Time: Sunday, 12.10pm AEST

Venue: The SCG

Weather: The long-range forecast indicates showers and thunderstorms. Donza will provide further updates as the week progresses. But the Brewongle Concourse remains the place to be, rain, hail or shine.

The Broadcast

Current Foxtel policy demands that Kelli Underwood be assigned to any game featuring an Orange Team.

And it seems unlikely that Dermott will miss the opportunity for a Swans / Hawks / Kelli combo.

Have your mute buttons at the ready.

The Opposition

Hawthorn is a club in sharp decline and seems destined to hit rock-bottom in 2023.

Now led by a rookie coach the President didn’t want, after the ex-coach was knifed by players who didn’t want him, all against the wishes of a President that nobody wants. And to top it all off, the rookie coach didn’t want the players who knifed the ex-coach, resulting in the unwanted players being traded/delisted in a fire sale that the President who nobody wants didn’t want. It’s a wanton mess.

The result: off-field turmoil and on-field failure has driven down membership numbers. But the Hawks, sensing the risk of forced deportation to Tasmania, have responded with a canny membership drive focused on their traditional target market – fans of early 1970’s pr0n films:

View attachment 1633592

Never before has an AFL team jogged onto the SCG to the dulcet tones of “bow-chicki-wow-wow”.

But there’s a first for everything.

Indeed, you have to hand it to the Hawk’s marketing department, as their track record is second-to-none:

View attachment 1633595

Note: my editor has just advised me that the hirsute chap featured in the above membership poster is, in fact, not Long Dong Silver, but rather, 2019 Club B&F Winner, James Worpel.

My mistake.

Indeed, I should have recognized “The Worpedo” from the Hawks 2023 calendar:

View attachment 1633597

So whilst Hawthorn is in a state of self-inflicted turmoil, any team featuring Big Boy McEvoy, Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara and The Worpedo is bound to prove tough to beat.

The Teams

Hawthorn will go into this match without Big Boy McEvoy, Tom Mitchell or Jaeger O’Meara, none of whom play for Hawthorn.

It is remarkable that just a few short years ago (in Round 1, 2020), Hawthorn fielded the oldest team in AFL history (no observations re: Geelong will be made at this juncture). How times have changed.

Indeed, the Sam Mitchell fire-sale spared just about nobody, except Chad Wingard. Presumably because even a bargain-bin Chad Wingard was still unsaleable.

As for the Swans, it seems unlikely that there'll be any change from the team that so comprehensively outplayed one of Kelli's Orange Teams on Saturday.

Sam Reid remains unavailable, having yet to recover from the savage a**-kicking he received after declaring himself fit for the GF (delicately referred to as a "glute injury" in Horse-speak).

The only real question is whether Buddy might be in strife for his bump on Sam Collins. Fortunately, under the AFL's new "Offensive Hair Regulations", any charge brought against Buddy will be automatically downgraded.

View attachment 1633709

Buddy will likely receive an apology from the AFL tribunal for being matched-up against an abomination, and the Swans will go in unchanged.

If, for some bizarre reason, Buddy is rubbed out, a forward line re-structure beckons. It has been reported that the Swans' new goalkicking sensation Jake Lloyd is agitating for a shift into the forward line. But despite being only 1,014 goals shy of Buddy's current goalkicking tally, it seems that Horse is reluctant to unleash Jake forward and instead will introduce either Gus Sheldrick or Matty Roberts to the fray.

The Umpiring

The Swans will cop a pineappling. We all know that.

The only question is whether the pineapple takes the form of a Stevic (who is in fine fettle, as evidenced by the 21-4 half time free kick count in the Port vs Bris game), or a less spiky variety.

The Verdict

Whilst Hawthorn aren't in a great place, this one has all the hallmarks of a "how could we possibly lose this?" type of game that Swans fans have (rightfully) come to fear.

Nonetheless, the sight of a smug Sam Mitchell strutting onto the SCG should be all thats needed to fire the Swans' boys right up.

Swans by 33, with the game day board to feature bountiful references to Tom Mitchell (and if we're lucky, caesar88 might even sneak in the odd George Hewett).

Post-Script

You'll note I have made no reference to the Hawthorn racism scandal. I felt it wouldn't be fair - as the allegations are just that & there's no evidence whatsoever to suggest that Hawthorn is an inherently racist club.

With that, I'll leave you with the Hawthorn 1988 Grand Final Banner.

View attachment 1633604

Go Swans!!!

Finally, a serious post from you. Well written Sir (or Mama). Swans by only 50 because it is season over and they will be thinking about their end of year trip.

 

[Jewelsbon]

I know KS. You're talking a lot of sense, and I hear you and really do agree.

But then game day rolls around and I'm just like

This is one of those posts that deserve both a and a . Great gif work too Caesar!


Brilliant review DQ, one of the best ever, your illustration work is simply divine.

 

[Millky95]

McAndrew in for Buddy if it is dry and they want to keep structure or Roberts comes in

Should be a solid win as well. Hopefully enough to make sure we get pick 19 in the draft

 

[The King!]

I think Heeney or McDonald take the buddy role or more focus, Heeney can kick a bag .

Then you can play another mid , just to cover any tiredness from the humidity

 

[Maximumlnsanity]

I feel like whether or not this game will be tough comes down entirely to the availability of Mitch Lewis

 

[Superstar swan]

I think we should go in with logan and mclean. Mclean plays second ruck, ladhams rests forward.

Bring Roberts into the the team and then next in line, someone like sheldrick or warner Jr as the sub

 

[Callipygian]

We need to hurt Hawthorn as much as possible this. I'm really keen for them to get the spoon and hand us the first pick of the second round that we spin into gold - perhaps a future first that becomes a top 10 pick, and a later pick that turns into someone like Dawson!

I also think we should consider resting Mills and letting him get his hand/finger (or whatever it is) under control and give some more game time to Gus and Matt.

 

[BloodySwan]

Reid for Franklin the only change? I wouldn't be shocked if Mills is also given a week off due to his hand and Roberts comes in

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Reid for Franklin the only change? I wouldn't be shocked if Mills is also given a week off due to his hand and Roberts comes in

Horse said Reid was most unlikely to play. We either run a small forward line or bring inAmartey or the Biggest Mac, allowing Ladhams to play more minutes forward.

 

[Bloods86]

If Reid doesn't get up, which sounds likely, and Gould is fit (he was in the VFL practice match squad), I'd be inclined to debut him, get it out of the way. If defensive matchups don't work out, since it's one game vs the Hawks, I'd roll one of the McCartin's or Blakey forward. Or even crazier, give Gould the job on Sicily, stop the interceptions (15 marks, 10 intercepts, 10 Rebound D50s, 435 MG vs the Bombers).

 

[BloodySwan]

Horse said Reid was most unlikely to play. We either run a small forward line or bring inAmartey or the Biggest Mac, allowing Ladhams to play more minutes forward.

I think we play better when we have 2 key talls, dedicated ruck and a fwd ruck. I imagine Amartey will be the one to come in if Reid is injured as Ladhams did very well in the midfield.

 

[Bloods86]

I think we play better when we have 2 key talls, dedicated ruck and a fwd ruck. I imagine Amartey will be the one to come in if Reid is injured as Ladhams did very well in the midfield.

Amartey's been injured, I get the sense that he's had a very disrupted pre-season. Unless he played a fair amount in the practice match yesterday and did well, it's unlikely. Certainly if fit, the logical in.

Edit: I realise Gould has also been injured, and I just said he could come in, but I think his was more a 1 week thing, has played both VFL practice games, unless I'm mistaken.

 

[BloodySwan]

Amartey's been injured, I get the sense that he's had a very disrupted pre-season. Unless he played a fair amount in the practice match yesterday and did well, it's unlikely. Certainly if fit, the logical in.

Edit: I realise Gould has also been injured, and I just said he could come in, but I think his was more a 1 week thing, has played both VFL practice games, unless I'm mistaken.

He wasn't mentioned in the most recent injury post and he played the practise match. Hopefully he is fit enough

Bring in Francis and play Paddy at FF!

 

[Bloods86]

He wasn't mentioned in the most recent injury post and he played the practise match. Hopefully he is fit enough

Bring in Francis and play Paddy at FF!

If we're bringing in a KPD, moving someone forward, surely has to be Gould. He's earned it easily. Of course, seeing as the club gives us nothing on the practice match it's hard to say who is fit, had plenty of gametime so none of us know how Amartey, Gould, Francis, Melican etc are really going.

 

[Bloods86]

Doing some fishing on the GWS board to see if there's any practice match info, doesn't look like there's been any official writeup yet. Cadman apparently kicked 6, so maybe we don't want any KPDs coming in.

 

[BloodySwan]

If we're bringing in a KPD, moving someone forward, surely has to be Gould. He's earned it easily. Of course, seeing as the club gives us nothing on the practice match it's hard to say who is fit, had plenty of gametime so none of us know how Amartey, Gould, Francis, Melican etc are really going.

Francis was an emergency while Gould is still recovering.

 

[Bloods86]

Francis was an emergency while Gould is still recovering.

Yeah but Francis can cover both ends as a late in, whereas we might have wanted Gould to get some gametime first (practice match), and can more easily slot in as a deliberate change that can be planned around. I don't see how we see Francis as ahead of Gould in general.