After a bye week that followed on from their best performance of the season - a four-quarter performance - the Swans return to the field, hopefully refreshed and refocused, ready to take on fellow September football hopefuls the Essendon Bombers, this Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
The good news of the day is that the Swans have named an unchanged line-up, for Ted Richards' 150th match against the club whom we recruited him from. Richards is the perfect example of a discarded player, on the outer at his old club, who was recruited to the Swans and has become a solid role player and a fan favourite. That particular list is long. Some examples? Okay. Darren Jolly, Shane Mumford, Craig Bolton, Josh Kennedy, Ben McGlynn.
Yesterday's dose of good news was that Adam Goodes has signed a contract extension, taking him through the end of the 2013 season. This is wonderful news, because I can't imagine Goodesy wearing any other uniform than the red-and-white. It's a relief to know that he'll close out his amazing career as a Swan. The way Goodes is going this year, it's no wonder that John Longmire quipped that he'd like to see #37 play til he's 45. You and me both, Horse!
And as if that's not enough good news to brighten your week, Jude Bolton is apparently in the final stages of finalising an agreement to extend his contract by at least a year. This is another fantastic bit of news. His solid leadership and the courageous way he goes about attacking the football are wonderful examples to show the young kids coming through. As I like to say, Jude looks like Jane, but he sure as hell plays like Tarzan.
To this week's game against Essendon. Every game at this time of the year is important for those teams hoping to play finals. Thankfully, the Swans have a reasonable run to the end of the premiership season, and barring a major collapse over the next couple of weeks, they should be fighting for a home final in the first week. It begins against the Bombers, who were decimated by injury and stunned by a ten-goal final quarter after leading by as many as 30 points against Collingwood last week.
The first game against the Bombers, round two at ANZ Stadium, was an epic, tight contest. A lot has changed since then. The Bombers are a different team now, missing some important midfield cogs. It's no longer a foregone conclusion that they may miss the finals all together, with so many teams jockeying to get into the bottom half of the eight. Those who predicted that club legend and new coach James Hird would have the Bombers at or near the top of the ladder are suddenly re-thinking their earlier thoughts. Even so, they are still a formidable opponent, and should not be taken lightly.
The Swans come into Saturday night's contest refreshed, riding the momentum from a great four-quarter performance vs. the Western Bulldogs, and face a team who're coming in after being pounded late by the Magpies - not that the Bombers are the first team to have had that treatment from the Pies - and who need to rebound quickly. The Swans need to win a few games in Melbourne, and break the perception that they have trouble doing that, for the road to a premiership most definitely runs through the southern capital.
I think the Swans can win this contest. It will probably be a close won. My thought is a 2-goal Swans win, and plenty of nervous moments for us all! Go Bloods!!
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