Oh Errol

Hopefully the boys light up the SCG and don’t be so reckless, like they were against the Hawks. We’ll be downhearted if Errol gets a hold of us! We’re in a prelim final! With memory flashbacks to 2013 it’s time to Reyne on Sydney's parade again and Restump Podcast the battle to the big dance. We’ve done the work, we’ve secured the results and, while we took the scenic route, we deserve our spot in the preliminary final against the Sydney Swans tonight. We’re going in with an unchanged line up but are Jaegar O’Meara and Chris Scerri along for a little more than the ride? Could there be a late change?  The Swannies have obviously been through the wringer, now losing Callum Mills and Harry Cunningham on top of the Pullman Five! However, that in itself, is a danger for us as there truly can’t be any genuine expectations on them, regardless how hard JL tries to claim underdog status. Being free of expectation can throw up some unpredictability. They have gotten further than anyone thought they would, so the shackles are off. This is a free hit for the Swans to take and we need to be well aware of it. Straight away three factors come to front of mind with initial thoughts on the game. Complacency, pressure and Errol.  Our Freo boys are only human and no matter how hard they try and how often they tell themselves otherwise, there has to be some level of thought attributed to the enormous names missing from Sydney’s team. Too many of those thoughts could have us on the back foot and, in a preliminary final, it’s a position we just can’t afford to be in.  Pressure has at times been our kryptonite. We can be susceptible to it, we know it, the players know it and the entire league knows it. Sydney’s only real chance at beating us comes in the form of maniacal pressure and you can bet your knackers it is exactly what they will try to bring. Although Murphy Reid might not be able to stake that bet! Errol Gulden is Sydney’s key to the grand final car. Their hopes rest so much on his shoulders. Charlie Curnow and Logan McDonald and Hayden McLean don’t get the silver service if we can curtail Errol’s influence. But that is easier said than done. It’ll be a task performed by committee but you’d imagine Matty Johnson might not have gotten too much shuteye the last couple of nights.  It sounds simple but it ever never is. In fact, given what has happened to the Swans, or what they’ve caused themselves, for us it seems too good to be true. And when something seems too good to be true, concerningly more often than not, it is.  We’re two and two against the Swans in finals and we’re one preliminary final each. We’ve only been to the SCG three times since 2019 while the Swannies have had to come to Optus on eight occasions against us.  However, the reality is none of whatever has occurred in the past matters. Our 2026 form against the Swans means didley! We’re going in with a massive advantage and we really should just be winning. There will be no excuses if we don’t and the fallout will be loud! Given the circumstances and the match ups, as scary as it is to say, it is just difficult to contemplate we don’t win tonight.  There is something that feels very uneasy about going into a preliminary final comfortable and confident. So, as we’re just hours away, let’s rekindle the familiar feeling by throwing some nervous logs on the anxiety fire to heat up the tension on the pod. Send us Fan Mail Support the show