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July 24, 2005
Swans Finally Deliver Notice To The Football World
Well while many expected that the size of the SCG would get to the Eagles, by beating the Eagles with a full 4 quarter effort the Swans did more than anyone expected by braking down the Eagles and exposing their weakness in a manner that only Collingwood before us has managed to do this season.
It also managed to add some life to the competition that had been lacking over the past few weeks and more than wrapped up the Swans 3rd finals series in a row under Paul Roos and making a Top 4 spot seem more likely than not. Now just a small matter of a trip West to AAMI Stadium and a match against the 2nd placed Crows.
Still nothing can take away from the performance put together by the Swans against this seasons yardstick team. From the outset it was clear that the Swans were out for blood knowing the importance of the result.
An early goal to Jolly from a free kick was cancelled out by an Eagles goal to Lynch and followed by a few near misses as the Eagles tried to get away early, but a neat snap from Buchanan put the Swans back in front and soon after put the ball on the chest of Magic who goaled and the Swans were away to a handy lead at quarter time.
Cousins put the Eagles second on the board to start the second quarter before Barry Hall took on the Eagles defence single handed to boot his first goal of the match. From there it was the Dean Cox show as he put the Swans to the sword by booting 4 goals for the Eagles which were matched by a sole goal in reply from Luke Ablett from the 50 and things at half time looked grim, with the Swans looking worn out and the Eagles on top of everything.
But like so offen this season the Swans came out after half time and won themselves a match. An early goal to Magic and miss of the season to Judd within the first two minutes of the half and it was clear the game had swung. Soon after a captains goal to Captain Jude from the boundary line and the Swans were back in front. Even a goal to Fletcher couldn't stop the Swans from making their move as Schneider wound back the clock with a 2003-like running goal to lift the side further and then a goal to Davis resulting from good teamwork from an advantage decision from a ruck contest. Going into the last term the Swans had the game under control and a 10 point lead.
Knowing the Eagles would make a charge the Swans put the foot on the gas and got two quick goals to Magic and Schneider who clearly was proving here was back to his confident best. From there Hall and Jolly iced the match with two goals from marks and the Swans withstood a late Eagles 2 goal charge to run out easy 21 point winners.
Now onto the Crows
SYDNEY 13.10 (88)
WEST COAST 9.13 (67)
Goals: M O'Loughlin 3 B Hall, D Jolly, A Schneider 2 L Ablett, J Bolton, A Buchanan, N Davis 1.
Best Swan On Ground: Brett Kirk/Jude Bolton tie (Even I can't split them)
Posted by robbieando at July 24, 2005 06:47 PM