Sydney Swans vs North Melbourne Kangaroos: 2014 AFL preliminary final preview

Hmmmm, where was that tram again? Fact is you weren't making any predictions, but just thought it clever to make some inane comment in the hope that I would take offense, but somehow I told you so just does not seem to cut it. Bold? Disrespectful? Thoughts now? Don't suppose I'll be hearing from you again. I look for to reading your comments about rolling stock next season. Bye bye.

71 points actually Domitian - 136 to 65. North fought hard all night but Sydney were as close to unbeatable as you'll ever see a team be. As a Swans fan it was a thing of beauty to watch and a night I won't soon forget. Buddy five goals, Tippett 4, Goodes 3, Parker 2 along with being close to BOG and taking Mark of the finals. In over 45 years of watching the boys I can recall bigger wins but never a better one, except perhaps the game in 1987 where we beat the Bombers by 153 points. I can't wait for the big game next weekend! Go Sydney!!!

Seriously?

70 points-----,Oh my! :)

Well tipped Natalie

I'm very proud of the team's effort tonight. I couldn't find a weak player or even a North player who broke even with his Swan opponent. Even North's coach said in his press conference that their very best would not have been good enough tonight, and I agree. Against a very creditable opponent, my Swans were devastating and, I believe, would have defeated any other team tonight. Now, for the game that counts. I'm excited and optimistic but not letting myself get carried away. Can't wait to find out our opponent; what a show it will be if it is the Hawks. Go the mighty Swans!

I'm sorry other Olivia, but the better team won tonight. Please tell your mum though that she should be very proud of her teams' efforts this season and that she should buy you your game anyway

Please win north melborne if you do mum will be in a good mood She will buy me this game

If I was offering odds for the Prelim, as follows North has a 5% chance of beating Sydney & Port has a 25% chance of beating us I think both Prelims will be cakewalks For the Flag 52% Sydney and 48% us

If North wins I will run nude down Hay St (Perth). Yes Don, I'll let you know when it's happening. It's likely the Swans will win by 10 goals. All this talk about North beating the other top 4 sides is fantastic, good on them. Massive task and they did it. They beat the Swans in round 4 when we were quite simply rubbish, and with 5 of our key players out, and with a side that was only half as good as it is now. Actually we have only played our best footy once and that was last fortnight. The Port win, when was that? Round 3? The Freo win was back in round 6 right? A lot of water under the bridge since then. Now this 6 match run they are on, that's all good too, well done on beating the Bulldogs, Giants and Demons. The other three, a solid win over the Bombers, one of the bottom 3 in the 8 that you could throw a blanket over for a finals spot. The win over the Crows was another over one of these fringe teams. And then the win over a Cats side that was simply hanging on to its historic run by a thread. And North were very lucky in the end. The games you have picked above are interesting. The Tigers is a classic. Anyone that is still holding onto some hope that the Tigers actually "beat" Sydney, who were home and hosed and rested 5 key players, is delirious. The Freo game a week later is testament to that. You also forgot in your analysis to mention my Swannies kicked 130pts against the Dogs, 127pts against the Saints, the port win was at the Fortress (where North could only win by 7 albeit in round 3), there was no Franklin or Hannebery in the Essendon win. The Hawks loss is the only one that holds any real concerns but it was against the other GF contender. Do I sound cocky? I hope so. There is no reason at all why North should get close tonight.

If it was the 70's again, and i had the pleasure of hurling barbs at 'Snake' Baker, Pope, sure But, have my heart on Sydney, and Buddy, and us upsetting that applecart Sadly, i think it is Sydney's Flag to lose

Surely Tim you are looking forward to a Hawthorn vs North Melbourne Grand Final reunion? Sydney better for sure but North are not far off. Perfect setting for the Big Steal.

You beat the Swans, yes, but in that game they were not at their best. If North are at their best, and Sydney, i would suggest there is a 5 goal difference For North to win, you need Sydney to have a really off day, i cannot see that happening

The Swans I agree seem the best team - however - they are against a team who at their best have beaten all the best teams - inc the Swans and that gives North every reason to go their hardest. This is the difference between the 'championship' and the 'premiership'. Overall the Swans were about a 1 goal better for and 2 goals better against over the fullness of the season. Around 14 vs 13 goals for, and 9 vs 11 goals against. Of interest for the Swans - since they lost to Hawthorn (by 10 pts, 104 to 94) in Rnd 18, they won and held the following teams to the following scores : Ess 57, Port 58, StK 56, Bldgs 67 then lost to Rich 65-68. Port were near the bottom of their trough having lost to Melbourne and Collingwood in the weeks before. It'll be interesting - if North can find a way to score or whether it's purely an arm wrestle.

I am not making bold, disrespectful predictions like you are. Empty vessels make the most sound and tram conductors do indeed ring the bell to signal to the driver.

He kicked 3 against the Swans last time they played. My point is, the Swans can't afford to think it is just Petrie, Brown, Thomas.........Black can take a grab, he can pick up off the ground and some days he kicks well. Black is a genuine threat and just being there is a bonus.

All good points Perry, aside from the fact i think you have been a tad colourful with who you are missing. BUT I discount North, for one reason, i think Sydney are the best team in 14, and will take a power of beating. And, note I say this as a Hawks fan

Hopefully the Swans players are similarly trying to discount North. They only beat the Swans in Rnd 4 cos of reasons xy and z, only beat Port at Etihad because ..... only beat Freo at Subi because...... only beat Hawthorn at Etihad because.... and have only now won 6 on the trot because, inc finals wins of Essendon and Geelong which are diminished because..... What is often ignored has been that North were rarely ever if at all at what they would claim to be full strength or preferred balance. At present - on the back of 6 successive wins North have their best balance all season. North was missing their captain Swallow for most of the season, Ziebell for a few and Wells for a big chunk only returning 3 wks out from finals. Lost Tarrant, missed Macmillan for most the year too. North has though developed their depth - and guys like Gibson and Greenwood have elevated and Spud has resussed his career. Probably the Swans are the greatest challenge to that balance. North aren't full strength - were they to be so then Hansen, Macmillan and Adams would be in the mix. Perhaps even Tarrant, perhaps even Daw - given that Brown got a gig as 3rd fwd behind those 2. However, Brown has earned his spot so isn't there by Steve Bradbury principles alone. Turner too - even for a 18 yr old (youngest player in the comp) with a slight frame - he is earning the retention of his place. But yes - the Swans may have a couple of extra gears to chose from - however - North's best, their unquantifiable best during the season was against the best teams where North entered as the 'hunter' and their game seemed elevated by the standard of the contest. North perhaps have more gears than the players consciously realised. On that count - I hope for a cracking contest. True - North are happy to be here but this close and we dare to dream. THe pressure is all on the Swans (and Hawks for that manner in the other final).

I'll have a beer for you when they win Olivia. What I love about going to the Swans is I can sit back and RELAX! I really don't care who wins and that is a very different feeling when I'm watching my beloved Cats play. I don't think your boys are going to struggle tonight. That's not being disrespectful to North either. I love analysing all the teams in the competition and I really can't see how they are going to beat your boys. I can, however, see Port possibly beating the Hawks. Still tipping a Hawks vs Swans GF, but a Port vs Swans GF would be just as good.

North deserve credit for making the Prelim, but their run can be diminished by the fact they beat a Dons side without Carlisle, and then a Geelong side that was there for the taking Sydney are rested, at near full strength, at home, and very very good Bloods by 60+