Kennedy says Swans haven’t given up on finals
Sydney’s season is on life support.
John Longmire’s players are barely keeping their heads above water with a record of 3-7 to start the year. Their finals hopes are all but over.
Waiting for them tonight are the defending premiers, the Western Bulldogs.
A team that the Swans have not beaten since 2014.
A Bulldogs side (6-4) that not only trumped Sydney in last year’s pulsating grand final, but has also been victorious on their last two trips to the SCG.
But guess what?
The Sydney Swans are the $1.80 favourites to win tonight’s grand final rematch.
As unbelievable as it might seem, the bookies are showing blind faith in the Swans to turn it all around against a Bulldogs side that’s paying $2.
It’s a startling show of support for a Swans outfit that looked to have done its dash against Hawthorn two weeks ago.
Mathematically, Sydney is still a chance to make the finals, and that’s the hope that players are clinging to as they look to bring down their bogey side.
“As long as there’s a mathematical chance there’s still going to be hope,” Swans captain Josh Kennedy said.
“We were certainly feeling like we had turned things around after the St Kilda game. (We were) in good form, but you take the foot off the pedal even one per cent and you get found out.
“I think it’s similar across the whole competition, that’s just how even it is this year, and that has to be at the forefront of our minds especially given the situation we’re in.”
Kennedy was adamant he, Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery, Isaac Heeney and Zak Jones can mix it with the Bulldogs midfield.
“It’s a real strength of theirs, it’s been a real strength of ours, albeit this year we’ve probably let ourselves down in that area,” he said.
“What better way to try and turn it around then against the best in the comp in terms of contested footy, and that’s the Doggies. So we look forward to the challenge of trying to match them in that area.” Swans v Bulldogs, 7.20pm