Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos. Slattery Images
The Top 8 picture is getting less blurry. As far as finals go, Sydney are still in the mix – just. You would be putting a line through everyone else after them.
Sure mathematically these teams are still in the reckoning, but not by the way they’ve been playing. Have Collingwood and Brisbane joined the Western Bulldogs as the only teams who have the potential to disrupt the St Kilda – Geelong applecart?
End of an era
It appears as though the Swans’ great run is over. They have made the finals every year since 2003 and finished in the top four in three of those years.
Ever since Paul Roos became the coach, they have played with a certain style and flair, but it appears that they have hit the wall.
In the last two weeks they couldn’t get by the injury-ravaged Hawthorn and Collingwood – these were two very winnable games.
They might turn it round somewhat and creep into the finals, but based on what we have seen to date, you can’t see them being successful in September. They don’t have the luxury of bottoming out but if they don’t do something drastic soon, the long term consequences will be more damaging.
From the coaches box to the commentary booth
You knew just as Terry Wallace quit as coach he would move straight into the media. It is the way the system works.
Two points about this. He has no problem joining the people who were making his life so miserable? Given what he has just been put through, he wouldn’t have an issue criticising other coaches?
Secondly, what value is his insight? He clearly failed as a coach at Richmond, thus why would the public be interested in what he has to say?
Junk yard dog left off the chain
When it unravels, it does so very quickly. Two years ago, North were in a preliminary final; last year they made the Top 8. Dean Laidley did very well given what he had to work with.
One can only wonder why he is now gone…and will the new guy do any better? The board made the decision to stay in Melbourne instead of relocating to the Gold Coast. That move could have saved the club like moving to Sydney saved South Melbourne.
Off-field, the club is never going to be able to compete with the likes of Collingwood, Carlton or Essendon. The people who wanted the club to stay in Melbourne may have won the battle, but it remains to be see if they have won the war.
Honeymoon is over
Jade Rawlings got a nice game first up against the Eagles, but it will be interesting to see how they do this week against St Kilda. The gloves will be off and it will be a real assessment of where the Tigers are. Wonder what Terry Wallace will have to say about this match.
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There’s no disputing that Cam Guthrie will be important against Melbourne, given Patrick Dangerfield is set to miss due to injury.
Collingwood led by a point with minutes to go, Kyle Langford had the chance to be the hero with a set shot, however, he missed, and we saw the first draw of the season.
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