Sydney vs. St Kilda
Sunday August 21, 2011
ANZ Stadium, Sydney; 1.10pm
Make no mistake, for the Sydney Swans it is D-Day. Tomorrow's game against St Kilda looms as the defining contest of the season. They need to win to keep alive their chances of playing finals football in 2011, with the death march road trip south to Skilled Stadium to face Geelong up next week.
There is the possibility, however distant, that the Swans could lose two or perhaps three of their final three games of the season and still sneak into the eighth spot and face a road elimination final in the first week of post-season action. We've seen too many teams back into finals action in that matter - going in with a whimper rather than a bang - only to be blown away by a far superior team, thus igniting the endless debate about whether a final six would be better than a final eight. On that, the AFL won't change, not while the eight-team finals series continued to be such a wonderful revenue earner.
I digress, and onto this week's game at Sydney's Olympic Park, for which the Swans have sent struggling defender Tadhg Kennelley to the reserves to find some form, form that he has sadly been lacking for large chunks of this season. Matt Spangher, who impressed many in his one game earlier this season, comes back into the line-up, and it may be the spark and dash that Spangher showed in his last appearance that might push the Swans to a victory.
St Kilda are one of the success stories of the second half of the season. After a horrible start, they are back in contention, and Ross Lyon has them playing solid football, notching wins and putting the football world on notice. While they probably do not have the same class as the top two or three teams, on their day, the Saints have enough talent to explode and match it with anyone. Whoever draws them in the finals should be very wary.
Before the finals, the Swans have them tomorrow, and it won't be an easy task. Alongside Spangher, the inclusions in the twenty-five man squad named by John Longmire are Gary Rohan, Mark Seaby, Jesse White, and Nick Malceski, whose trip to the reserves last week had the desired effect. Joining Kennelley on the sidelines is backman-turned-forward, Lewis Roberts-Thompson, out with an injury. Rohan's speed should help to combat the Saints' pacy midfield. Jesse White will play ruck/forward, a back-up for Shane Mumford, and the usually-dependable Nick Malceski will straight swap with Kennelley on the Swans back line.
If there is a lack of effort this week, it will be unforgivable. If ever there has been a time to put together a committed, four-quarter performance, this is it. The season is on the line, with a difficult run to the finish line starting this week, and extending through Geelong next week before the home finale vs. Brisbane, a game that should not be taken for granted based on the recent offerings that the Swans have served up.
My greatest concern for the game - and, by extension, the season - is the promise of wet weather. It is an understatement to say that the Swans have not been good in the rain this year, laying eggs against Carlton, Geelong, Adelaide and Fremantle among others. They simply cannot afford to do that this Sunday. One hopes that the prospect of sliding out of the eight is enough impetus for a solid performance and a lift from the last week's capitulation to lowly Richmond.
A four-quarter effort of intensity and pressure and solid execution can get the Swans across the line tomorrow at ANZ Stadium. But every facet of their game needs to be perfect - the midfield needs to be strong, Nick Riewoldt needs to be put on a very tight leash, kicking must be accurate and the tackling pressure that did not exist needs to return this week in spades - or the Saints will have a field day.
Fearless Prediction: Swans by 6 points. If not, it's time to start thinking about 2012.
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