Round 17 Preview: Our Swan Song?

If we're to win this game we're going to have to end three streaks, each with its own level of disappointment and humiliation:

1. We haven't beaten Sydney since 2007
2. We haven't beaten a Top 8 side all season
3. We haven't won at home since the North Melbourne miracle, one of only two home wins all season.

That 3rd streak is quite simply abysmal. Ever since I've been following the Eagles we've pretty much had the best home ground advantage in the league. But not this season. Losses to the Dockers (twice), Hawks, Blues, Tigers and Bombers have obliterated the 'House of Pain' moniker.

Worrying is the fact that in 2011 we lost 1 game at home. That game was against Sydney. In 2012, we lost 2 games at home, one an 'away' loss to the Dockers, the other was against, you guessed it, Sydney.

It's fair to say history is against us. As is form...and common-sense.

Over the past month, I seem to be repeating the mantra that just because of form, injuries etc. doesn't mean we can't win. 

We have definitely shown decent form over the past month. But if you can't win the game, the effort is fairly meaningless. In fact, the very idea of us 'celebrating effort' is an indictment of just how poor this season has been. The effort that we've displayed recently just wasn't there at the start of the season. The buck must ultimately stop with the coach for that.  It was a general malaise, rather than just a few individuals and it took half the season to reverse. The season was essentially lost before we even started showing any intensity.

Now, halfway through Round 17, we are 2 wins outside the 8. Do you remember when we were joint premiership favourites?..No, me either.

West Coast
B: Will Schofield, Darren Glass, Mitch Brown
HB: Jacob Brennan, Eric Mackenzie, Ash Smith
C: Andrew Gaff, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa
HF: Mark Hutchings, Josh Kennedy, Josh Hill
F: Mark LeCras, Dean Cox, Jack Darling
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Chris Masten, Luke Shuey
Int: Jamie Cripps, Adam Carter, Sharrod Wellingham, Bradd Dalziell
In: Shuey, Wellingham
Out: Embley (suspended), Morton (sent back to Melbourne)

Sydney
B: Dane Rampe, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB: Nick Malceski, Ted Richards, Jarrad McVeigh
C: Brandon Jack, Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack
HF: Craig Bird, Jesse White, Luke Parker
F: Jude Bolton, Money Bags, Mike Pyke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Ryan O'Keefe, Dan Hannebery
Int: Harry Cunningham, Andrejs Everitt, Jed Lamb,Tom Mitchell
In: Cunningham
Out: McGlynn (suspended)

In good news, the Swans are missing a few players with Goodes, Jetta, McGlynn and Reid all out. The bad news is that they're the kind of team that doesn't rely on individuals, but rather on a very consistent and annoying team ethos.

We get Shuey (though there are murmurs regarding a possible late omission) and Wellingham back.  I think this is a huge game for Wellingham and his Eagles career. He was our marquee recruit (besides star Cale Morton) during the free agency period. We put our faith in him with a massive contract and then he decided to go bouncing on a trampoline. Although he subsequently suffered a 'legitimate injury' the fact remains that he's played 2.25 games this season. He really needs to show something before 2013 ends.

I was hoping that Kerr would return, but assumed that he was still recovering from injury when he wasn't named. Thus, you can forgive me for thinking I was imagining things when I saw this on twitter: "Kerr in the book as Sharks tame Lions". Erm, come again? Daniel Kerr, one of the best midfielders we've ever seen, one of the toughest, most talented players to ever wear the Eagles guernsey, played in the WAFL. Oh yeah AND he was reported. Have we put the cue in the rack? Surely, if Kerr can play WAFL he can play for us. Especially against an elite opponent, in a game we really have to win. Especially considering that he's only missed 2 games.

I don't get it. It really sums up this season. A bizarre, inexplicable lack of intensity at the start of the season. A seemingly disinterested, non-committal coach. Horrible goal-kicking. A never-ending injury toll. A man earning $400 000 plus to play football, bouncing on a trampoline. An inability to win at home. I don't get any of it.

Anyway, I'm sick of seeing Sydney celebrate on our turf. I'm sick of hearing the Sydney-philes in the media fawn over the Swans. Remember, this is the team who stole the 2005 premiership on the back of thug Barry Hall, a man who had no right to be playing in that game. He punched McGuire in the gut the previous week and yet was let off by the Tribunal on the basis that...oh yeah the AFL wants to see Sydney succeed. They're handed concessions, they're somehow given a 'cost of living' bonus for their salary cap (try living in Perth!) and as Premiers they are able to recruit (due to their concessions) salary cap cheat Tippett. I hate them.

That's reason enough to want to win today.

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- Hmmm, Daniel Wells on Before the Game said that he was 'very close' to joining the Eagles before Scott arrived as Roos coach. Well, that makes me sick. Another reason to hate Scott I suppose.