SYDNEY Swans co-captain Adam Goodes expects the Fremantle Dockers to bounce back strongly after their heavy loss last weekend to North Melbourne.
Speaking ahead of training at Subiaco, Goodes said the Swans relished the chance to test themselves against the Dockers, who are fifth on the ladder.
It will be a tough ask, playing against the Dockers at Subiaco, but Goodes says the players were looking forward to taking the game on.
“We’re lucky, and I definitely take the challenge that we are playing teams that are in exactly the same position as we are, we’ve both got to win to keep going on,’’ Goodes said.
“We don’t want to talk about finals but we are playing a team that is above us. They didn’t play the best last week but the Dockers are a fantastic team and they know how to play this ground better than anyone, so that is a challenge for us this week, to get up and back on Subi.’’
Last week’s win by the Swans over Hawthorn, when they kicked their highest score for the season, was positive but Goodes said it had to be replicated this Saturday.
“As a group last we were able to kick 19 goals and that was something we hadn’t been able to do, so that was pleasing against good opposition,’’ he said.
“But I reckon we are playing better opposition this week in Fremantle, and the challenge is for us to come over here and produce something like that in our forward structure and midfield and get that many scoring shots.’’
While Fremantle has injuries to key players and hasn’t named ruckman Aaron Sandilands in the side, Goodes believes they will come out hard after last week’s loss.
“I don’t think there’s a good or bad time to get the Dockers. We’re playing them on their home ground and they’re going to be disappointed in their own performance last week. We’ve definitely had a lot of performances like that this year where we’ve bounced back the week after. I’m definitely thinking the Freo Dockers are going to bounce back this week on their home turf and they are itching to get out and perform.’’
Goodes praised the recent efforts of West Australian players, Lewis Jetta and Trent Dennis-Lane, who were crowd pleasers with the fans who turned up to watch the Swans train at Subiaco today.
“It’s been a very good year for us as a football club. We don’t usually play too many first year players but we picked Trent and Lewis in the draft because they were a little bit older and had been playing senior football over here in the WAFL and doing quite well,’’ Goodes said.
“Their transition into the AFL has been a really good story. Trent would have played a lot more games if he didn’t hurt his knee in the off season so I’ve been really happy with the way they’ve come on and the last couple of weeks, in their contribution to the team.’’
Goodes said it would be a focus for the Swans to stop young Dockers runner, Stephen Hill. Goodes is himself expecting to be marked by Adam McPhee or Luke McPharlin.
