Waters is injured and will miss the next 4-6 weeks, essentially meaning he may struggle to be back for the start of finals. Shuey had his second indiscretion of the season when he elbowed Lindsay Thomas in the testicles and has been banned for 2 whilst Lynch tripped a Roo and is out for 1. To an extent the Lynch suspension is excusable. It was more of an instinctual motion with his leg which caused the trip. Shuey is simply stupid. The Eagles may have claimed that Thomas dived and he may have accentuated the pain, but when you elbow someone in the nuts you are asking for trouble. I'm starting to question Shuey's temperament. That's twice this year he has had a cheap shot at an opposition player and the second time he misses games. The first game he missed was against the Lions, which turned out to be one where we could've used him. This time it's worst because he misses a huge 2 week stretch for the team. Maybe his actions have something to do with the added attention he has been getting from opposition teams as he continues to grow as a player. But, if he's frustrated now imagine him when Kerr calls it quits. It really is unacceptable and the team is now in a precarious situation.
I'm not saying we can't win the next 2 games. But what was already a very challenging stretch has been made that much tougher. Without Lynch, our injury-decimated forward line is essentially wholly dependant on Darling with pinch-hitters Cox (who proved quite useful last week) and NicNat. Our midfield, our one area of...not weakness exactly but lack of depth loses its second best member in Shuey. The Waters loss also hurts our defense. His courage and grittiness would have been useful in a game between these two sides.
West Coast Eagles
B: Adam Selwood, Darren Glass, Eric Mackenzie
HB: Shannon Hurn, Will Schofield, Sam Butler
C: Matthew Rosa, Matthew Priddis, Andrew Gaff
HF: Patrick McGinnity, Jack Darling, Chris Masten
F: Brad Sheppard, Dean Cox, Ashton Hams
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Scott Selwood, Daniel Kerr
I/C: Mitch Brown, Koby Stevens, Jacob Brennan, Thomas Swift
Emg: Lewis Stevenson, Murray Newman, Fraser McInnes
In: Adam Selwood, Mitch Brown, Brad Sheppard, Thomas Swift
Out: Quinten Lynch (Suspension), Luke Shuey (Suspension), Josh Hill (Hamstring), Murray Newman
Sydney Swans
B: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Alex Johnson
HB: Nicholas Smith, Ted Richards, Jarrad McVeigh
C: Nick Malceski, Jude Bolton, Lewis Jetta
HF: Craig Bird, Sam Reid, Ben McGlynn
F: Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Adam Goodes, Ryan O’Keefe
Foll: Shane Mumford, Josh P. Kennedy, Kieren Jack
I/C: Martin Mattner, Daniel Hannebery, Mike Pyke, Andrejs Everitt
Emg: Trent Dennis-Lane, Tony Armstrong, Tommy Walsh
In: Martin Mattner
Out: Tony Armstrong
But there's no real point worrying over players that won't be there. Our system has, so far, prevailed over losses of stars and role players. There is a breaking point but whether that has been reached with these recent outs is T.B.D.
What isn't to be determined is our hatred of the Swans. Really, quite the loathsome lot. They stole a premiership with a Captain who should have been suspended, playing a style that can only be called as 'ugly as Barry Hall's face'. Then the Victorian media acted like they were still South Melbourne or something. Plus, the way that 'analysts' such as Walls and Judge fawn over them is sickening.
We haven't beaten them since 2007 and we can break that trend on Sunday. I don't for one buy they are a legitimate top of the ladder side. They have feasted on weak teams like GWS (twice), WB, BL, Freo, Port, Melbourne. Their wins against decent teams have come at times when the opponents were weak (NM, Hawthorn) or let Sydney start well (Essendon, Geelong). They are solid but not special.
Our exclusions hurt us dearly. But we are at home, in front of a Swans-hating crowd and we haven't lost their since...well Sydney last year. But that was then and this is now...or so I'm led to believe. Their run of wins against us will end with a bang on Sunday, the monkey will be thrown off the back into the Swan(s) river.
Let's GOOOOOOOOO!
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I'm not sure whether I will be able to post a recap or preview of next week's game, as I will be in the Republic of Melbournia, trying to bring down the Victorian teams from the inside. I will at least post a celebratory status update though...so look forward to that!
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