Finals time
The Swans cemented a sixth consecutive finals appearance long ago and now the pointy time of the season is finally here.
Thanks to Saturday night’s 63-point win over Gold Coast, the Swans finished fourth for the fourth consecutive season, the best run since South Melbourne’s golden era of 1932-36.
Swans coach John Longmire lauded his team on the achievement post-match, saying “it’s not an easy thing to do…so it’s a credit to the football club and players.”
Awaiting last year’s grand finalists in Saturday’s qualifying final is minor premier Fremantle at Domain Stadium.
After keeping a lid on their excitement for finals, the Swans can now look forward to hopefully securing a ticket to another preliminary final by upsetting the Dockers and silencing the purple haze.
And it will have to come against the odds with Lance Franklin (illness), Nick Smith (hamstring), Kieren Jack (knee) and Luke Parker (leg) all missing.
The Wild West
The Swans have versed Fremantle at Subiaco nine times over the journey, coming away with two wins and seven defeats.
One final can be found among that handful of matches, the 2013 Preliminary Final in which the Dockers secured a 25-point win to book a maiden Grand Final appearance.
The second-biggest Fremantle crowd turned out to watch that match so expect another packed stadium with the winner earning the week off and a one-way ticket to the Preliminary Final.
They’re loud and passionate over in the west and can often create a hostile environment for away teams so the Swans will be looking to gain the ascendency early to take the home ground advantage out of the picture completely.
Captain for a captain
Kieren Jack’s stint on the sidelines has been cushioned by Jarrad McVeigh returning for Saturday’s qualifying final against Fremantle.
The Swans confirmed on Sunday Jack could miss up to three weeks with a strained medial ligament meaning this year’s Grand Final could be the skipper’s last chance to feature in 2015.
McVeigh will be more than a handy addition while the Swans have depth to cover the 2010 Bob Skilton Medallist plus Franklin, Nick Smith and Luke Parker.
But all that doesn’t make up for the on-field leadership Jack exudes so the 185-gamer’s absence will be missed.
Tippo and Reidy
Fremantle is renowned for playing a defensive style of footy, sometimes sacrificing scoring big in favour of suffocating the opposition into submission with relentless pressure and a well-organised back half.
If the Swans can penetrate the Dockers’ defences, look for an in-form Sam Reid and Kurt Tippett to take advantage with the duo needing to step up in Lance Franklin's absence.
Reid and Tippett have kicked 16 goals collectively to help the Swans post three consecutive scores of 100+ points.
With a huge task against Aaron Sandilands, Tippett might be forced to spend a little bit more time in the ruck combatting Freo’s big man alongside Mike Pyke.
That still leaves Reid (10+ marks in three consecutive games) to fly at the footy with the likes of Harry Cunningham, Brandon Jack, Gary Rohan and Adam Goodes waiting to pounce.
Well-rested in the west
While the Swans are looking to welcome back a couple of stars for Saturday’s clash, so are the Dockers with anywhere up to 12 changes.
Much was made of Ross Lyon’s decision wrap some big name players in cotton wool for the final home and away season given the Dockers had already sewn up the minor premiership.
It makes for scary reading when the likes of Stephen Hill, Aaron Sandilands, Luke McPharlin, Matthew Pavlich, Chris Mayne and David Mundy among others are refreshed and likely additions.
And if all goes to “plan” for coach Ross Lyon, star midfielder Nat Fyfe and small forwards Michael Walters and Haydn Ballantyne can be added to that bunch as well.
