This is it for the Kangaroos and the Swans. For one the chance at glory and the other nothing but despair and emptiness. Both these teams have at times this year been almost unbeatable. Last week was the first time in 4 years that a Kangaroo team looked like it was defeated before the game finished. This is because the Saints were definitely ON for the game. The Kangaroos appeared to go into the game with the attitude that it was just going to happen for them. Coach Bishop will make sure that that attitude does not exist this week.
The Swans on the other hand couldn't have had a better lead up game for this game. They put on a bit of a clinic against the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were disappointing but showed that while they didn't go any further in 2009 over 2008, they also didn't slip any this year. The Swans are on a massive up and Coach Rick Watt will need to remind his charges that they won't be playing the same Kangaroos of last week.
So to this week's game. This is the fourth game between these two for the year and so far it is Kangaroos 2, Swans 1 with the Kangaroos taking the first Billy Holder Cup. This still burns the Swans as they lost the last game two weeks ago by 3 points and had the better of the Kangaroos in the last quarter before running out of time. There is no love lost between these two on the field and each game they play is almost grand final material. The Swans will welcome back Dean Hoy this week and his presence in the forward line will help stretch the Kangaroos back line. The Kangaroos on the other hand will be looking to play Andrew Hawkins closer to home this week as Pat Walton will be doubtful of taking his place after appearing to tear his hamstring in the loss against the Saints. Both midfields are fairly evenly matched. Swans Captain, Damien Wendt, was a bit quite last week but watch him lift for this one. Kangaroos Captain, Tim Cotter, started last week's game on fire and the speed in which he came running out of the first contest of the day was impressive to say the least. He like a lot of his team mates were left wondering what happened at the end of the game. Cotter is in only his second year at the Kangaroos but is well aware of the rivalry and will not be down two weeks in a row. Both teams have a solid defence set up, but the Swans have been slightly better offensively this year. The Kangaroos will miss being able to have the luxury of throwing Hawkins into the ruck and having him fill in the space in front of the leading Swans forwards and this is their biggest problem.
The second last tip this year should go to the Kangaroos for they have earned it. But the Swans are the ones on the role and they will win by 24 points.
Last Modified on 02/09/2009 22:09