TonyK
CibbuanoMatch preview: Sydney v Fremantle
September 22nd 2006 07:18
SYDNEY v FREMANTLE
WHERE & WHEN: Telstra Stadium, 8;00pm (AEST), Friday, September 22
TV & RADIO: Channel 10 (Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth), ABC, 3AW, 5AA, 6PR, Triple M (Melbourne, Sydney)
HEAD TO HEAD: Sydney 9, Fremantle 8
LAST TIME: Sydney 12.19 (91) bt Fremantle 9.4 (58), SCG, Round 13, 2006. The Dockers led at every change, but a four-goal burst at the start of the final term by the Swans put the result of the contest beyond doubt. While it was the Dockers' third loss in a row, the defeat is now regarded as the catalyst for their amazing burst which has them within one win of their maiden grand final berth.
FINALS HEAD TO HEAD: Never met in a final.
LAST TIME IN A FINAL: Never met in a final.
HEAD TO HEAD AT THIS VENUE: Sydney 7, Fremantle 2
LAST TIME AT THIS VENUE: Sydney 12.19 (91) bt Fremantle 9.4 (58)
TAB SPORTSBET: Sydney $1.30, Fremantle $3.30
BETFAIR: Sydney $1.32, Fremantle $3.20
Sydney have gone in with an unchanged line-up for tonight's preliminary final against Fremantle at Telstra Stadium, and are arguably the most durable side in the competition with Jared Crouch the only notable absentee.
The Swans have once again snuck under the radar with the focus this year largely on Adelaide and West Coast and now find themselves one win away from the opportunity to claim back-to-back flags.
Sydney would have welcomed the week's break, particularly its two star forwards Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin who were troubled by a back complaint and groin injury respectively in the one-point win over the Eagles a fortnight ago.
Hall and O'Loughlin's importance to the Swans was never more evident than against West Coast, with the pair combining for nine of their side's 13 majors.
You would expect Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin to line-up first on Hall in a contest that will have a major bearing on the outcome.
However, McPharlin still remains in doubt with an ankle injury and would be a big loss.
With fellow defender Antoni Grover named as an emergency, I wouldn't be suprised if there was a late change to the 22.
Veteran Shane Parker could line up on the mercurial O'Loughlin with impressive youngster David Mundy another option for coach Chris Connolly.
Despite tonight's final being held away from the Swans traditional home of the SCG, coach Paul Roos said his side didn't fear playing at the 2000 Olympic venue.
Roos' comments are well made, with the Swans winning eight of their past nine at the ground, including a 57-point demolition of Brisbane in round 21- they will go in with plenty of confidence.
While Sydney is chasing back-to-back flags, the Dockers are in unchartered territory in their first preliminary final since their inception in 1995.
How they cope with the pressure, coupled with the fact their playing on a ground they haven't previously will be crucial.
The ruck dual between Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands and the Swans duo of Darren Jolly and Stephen Doyle will be decisive.
Sandilands smashed Melbourne ruckman Jeff White last Friday night and looms as danger for the Swans.
Sydney's success of the past two years has been based around their ability to suffocate the opposition and rebound the ball from half-back through the likes of Leo Barry and Tadhg Kennelly.
The Dockers forwards will need to be switched on and provide plenty of forward pressure, or the football will simply be rebounded out at will.
One thing in Fremantle's favour is the fact they had 10 individual goalkickers against the Demons last Friday night.
Such an even spread enables coach Chris Connolly to rotate players through the forward 50 and force the Swans defenders to be more accountable and not zone off.
The Dockers will need to counter the Swans negating style, back their instincts and play the running brand of football which has seen them win 10 of their past 11.
This is easier said than done, especially when you consider Fremantle will be playing in a different state for the third week in a row.
The likes of veteran Shaun McManus and Des Headland will need to step up, after managing only nine and 11 possessions respectively last week for Fremantle to record an upset win.
Both sides boast impressive forward lines, which are capable of kicking a winning score, but it is the midfield battle which shapes as the key.
We all know the Swans like to shut the game down, but if the Fremantle midfielders can get good supply from Sandilands, and the likes of Heath Black and Brett Peake break the lines by foot then the Dockers are a chance.
You would expect the Carr brothers to provide plenty of niggle and match-up on Jude Bolton and Adam Goodes.
Fellow hardman Troy Cook looks likely to line-up on Swans captain Brett Kirk in another key match-up.
History is against Fremantle, with 18 of the 24 preliminary finals played since 1994 won by the side with the week off.
With their stars of Hall, O'Loughlin and Goodes in career-best form and their lesser likes getting the job done week-in-week-out, coupled with the home ground advantage the Swans should progress to their second grand final in as many years in a tight contest. Sydney by 22 points.
SYDNEY
B: Richards, Barry, Malceski
HB: Kennelly, Roberts-Thomson, C.Bolton
C: Buchanan, Kirk, Ablett
HF: O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, J.Bolton
F: Schneider, Hall, Fosdike
FOLL: Jolly, Goodes, McVeigh
I/C: Mathews, N.Davis, Dempster, Doyle
EMG: Spriggs, Bevan, Vogels
IN: -
OUT: -
FREMANTLE
B: Parker, McPharlin, Hayden
HB: Mundy, Johnson, Dodd
C: Black, J.Carr, Peake
HF: Headland, Pavlich, Cook
F: Farmer, Murphy, Longmuir
FOLL: Sandilands, M.Carr, Bell
I/C: Crowley, Webster, McManus, Schammer
EMG: Polak, Grover, Drum
IN: -
OUT: -
Field umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Allen
WHERE & WHEN: Telstra Stadium, 8;00pm (AEST), Friday, September 22
TV & RADIO: Channel 10 (Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth), ABC, 3AW, 5AA, 6PR, Triple M (Melbourne, Sydney)
HEAD TO HEAD: Sydney 9, Fremantle 8
LAST TIME: Sydney 12.19 (91) bt Fremantle 9.4 (58), SCG, Round 13, 2006. The Dockers led at every change, but a four-goal burst at the start of the final term by the Swans put the result of the contest beyond doubt. While it was the Dockers' third loss in a row, the defeat is now regarded as the catalyst for their amazing burst which has them within one win of their maiden grand final berth.
FINALS HEAD TO HEAD: Never met in a final.
LAST TIME IN A FINAL: Never met in a final.
HEAD TO HEAD AT THIS VENUE: Sydney 7, Fremantle 2
LAST TIME AT THIS VENUE: Sydney 12.19 (91) bt Fremantle 9.4 (58)
TAB SPORTSBET: Sydney $1.30, Fremantle $3.30
BETFAIR: Sydney $1.32, Fremantle $3.20
Sydney have gone in with an unchanged line-up for tonight's preliminary final against Fremantle at Telstra Stadium, and are arguably the most durable side in the competition with Jared Crouch the only notable absentee.
The Swans have once again snuck under the radar with the focus this year largely on Adelaide and West Coast and now find themselves one win away from the opportunity to claim back-to-back flags.
Sydney would have welcomed the week's break, particularly its two star forwards Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin who were troubled by a back complaint and groin injury respectively in the one-point win over the Eagles a fortnight ago.
Hall and O'Loughlin's importance to the Swans was never more evident than against West Coast, with the pair combining for nine of their side's 13 majors.
You would expect Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin to line-up first on Hall in a contest that will have a major bearing on the outcome.
However, McPharlin still remains in doubt with an ankle injury and would be a big loss.
With fellow defender Antoni Grover named as an emergency, I wouldn't be suprised if there was a late change to the 22.
Veteran Shane Parker could line up on the mercurial O'Loughlin with impressive youngster David Mundy another option for coach Chris Connolly.
Despite tonight's final being held away from the Swans traditional home of the SCG, coach Paul Roos said his side didn't fear playing at the 2000 Olympic venue.
Roos' comments are well made, with the Swans winning eight of their past nine at the ground, including a 57-point demolition of Brisbane in round 21- they will go in with plenty of confidence.
While Sydney is chasing back-to-back flags, the Dockers are in unchartered territory in their first preliminary final since their inception in 1995.
How they cope with the pressure, coupled with the fact their playing on a ground they haven't previously will be crucial.
The ruck dual between Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands and the Swans duo of Darren Jolly and Stephen Doyle will be decisive.
Sandilands smashed Melbourne ruckman Jeff White last Friday night and looms as danger for the Swans.
Sydney's success of the past two years has been based around their ability to suffocate the opposition and rebound the ball from half-back through the likes of Leo Barry and Tadhg Kennelly.
The Dockers forwards will need to be switched on and provide plenty of forward pressure, or the football will simply be rebounded out at will.
One thing in Fremantle's favour is the fact they had 10 individual goalkickers against the Demons last Friday night.
Such an even spread enables coach Chris Connolly to rotate players through the forward 50 and force the Swans defenders to be more accountable and not zone off.
The Dockers will need to counter the Swans negating style, back their instincts and play the running brand of football which has seen them win 10 of their past 11.
This is easier said than done, especially when you consider Fremantle will be playing in a different state for the third week in a row.
The likes of veteran Shaun McManus and Des Headland will need to step up, after managing only nine and 11 possessions respectively last week for Fremantle to record an upset win.
Both sides boast impressive forward lines, which are capable of kicking a winning score, but it is the midfield battle which shapes as the key.
We all know the Swans like to shut the game down, but if the Fremantle midfielders can get good supply from Sandilands, and the likes of Heath Black and Brett Peake break the lines by foot then the Dockers are a chance.
You would expect the Carr brothers to provide plenty of niggle and match-up on Jude Bolton and Adam Goodes.
Fellow hardman Troy Cook looks likely to line-up on Swans captain Brett Kirk in another key match-up.
History is against Fremantle, with 18 of the 24 preliminary finals played since 1994 won by the side with the week off.
With their stars of Hall, O'Loughlin and Goodes in career-best form and their lesser likes getting the job done week-in-week-out, coupled with the home ground advantage the Swans should progress to their second grand final in as many years in a tight contest. Sydney by 22 points.
SYDNEY
B: Richards, Barry, Malceski
HB: Kennelly, Roberts-Thomson, C.Bolton
C: Buchanan, Kirk, Ablett
HF: O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, J.Bolton
F: Schneider, Hall, Fosdike
FOLL: Jolly, Goodes, McVeigh
I/C: Mathews, N.Davis, Dempster, Doyle
EMG: Spriggs, Bevan, Vogels
IN: -
OUT: -
FREMANTLE
B: Parker, McPharlin, Hayden
HB: Mundy, Johnson, Dodd
C: Black, J.Carr, Peake
HF: Headland, Pavlich, Cook
F: Farmer, Murphy, Longmuir
FOLL: Sandilands, M.Carr, Bell
I/C: Crowley, Webster, McManus, Schammer
EMG: Polak, Grover, Drum
IN: -
OUT: -
Field umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Allen
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