Pre Prelim - Pies v. Swans - all comments.

[3rd degree]

[Millane42]

I think Mugwump is underestimating how good Sydney Rucks of Mummy and Mike Pyke. They have been in great form. I just don't see Wood is the answer though. Play Jolly and bring in Paine.

[RudeBoy]

Relax guys. If necessary Jolly will ruck one out for the whole game, but I expect Dawes will play. Dids will also play, but he will be the sub. So we will go into this game with no changes, which has been rare for us this year. This will be an even harder, tougher game as the swans are well coached and know how to play grinding, hard-nosed football. If we can outlast them on Friday night, we will go into the Grand final in our best form for the whole year, with our captain available. Believe guys, we are headed for glory.

[the fuzz]

I will back us in a tough, close game. If we play with the guts and determination of last Saturday, then we will beat anybody.
Really proud of the team, they will have a lot of belief. If we make it through the the GF, then I think its this belief that will get us over the line.

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

I'm still on a high from our performance against the Eagles.
I like our chances in SinCity.

[Raw Hammer]

If it's close, we win. We haven't lost a close one all year.

6 relatively convincing losses, but MANY close wins. If we're in it late, we win.

[Daicosesque]

TICK!!!!

[Adz]

We need to get a quick jump. There is a history of teams with the week off starting poorly.

[MJ23]

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

[HAL]

Where did [quoteMJ23]Syd get a record this year of blowing teams away in the first qtr[quote] We have a record of bending the Swannies over plucking them in front of their game their nest?

[MJ23]

[Breadcrawl]

I wouldn't want to see us rest Jolly altogether, but playing Wood as the ruckman and Jolly as the fwd/ruck makes sense to me for a few reasons:

1. Playing largely as a forward would give Jolly a bit of a freshen up for next week

2. Wood is not a great target inside 50 - better to ruck him and have Jolly as a marking option.

3. If necessary, at some stage of the third Wood could be subbed, Jolly rucks out the game and we have more run in our legs for the finish.

Hopefully Dawes is okay and he plays - he did enough last week to deserve his spot if he's fit.

If he isn't, Paine is a huge risk IMO and no one else is viable except Wood

People who say Wood gives nothing or has gone backwards this year are talking about one game. Previous to being thrown into the deep end against the Cox-NicNat combo, he had over 100 hitouts in the previous 4 games - over 20 in two and over 30 in two. He also took marks and kicked goals.

If we were in the general habit of branding a player useless based on one game, or even three or four or five consecutive games, Dawes, Goldsack, Brown, Wellingham, Thomas, Blair and obviously Cloke would have had their papers stamped at some stage of the year.

He's no Jolly - but he could help us have a better Jolly in the GF.

[Bradw82]

[Beast]

We should have gone with the Jolly forward/Wood rucking set up long time ago.