Bolton eager to rectify Hawthorn loss

By Matt Rossleigh

Sydney Swans veteran Jude Bolton says last week’s disappointing 37-point loss to Hawthorn hasn’t put a dent in the club’s momentum after winning five matches from the opening six rounds.

The Swans trailed all match in the grand final replay and Bolton says while it was a disappointing loss the club is eager to make amends against Fremantle at the SCG on Saturday night.

“In the analysis of it we had to be pretty brutal on ourselves, it was an ordinary performance last week against Hawthorn and they really comprehensively beat us,” said Bolton.

“So we analysed that and the boys trained really well on Tuesday and we’re looking forward to training well today and getting into it.

“There were some efforts there which were un-Swans like in a sense, and we just really want to make sure we dig in this weekend.”

It won’t be easy for the Swans though who come up against the 6th placed Dockers who had a 27-point win over Collingwood last weekend.

“They’re a quality side and I think they’ve lost a couple with injury but we saw how well they jumped Collingwood last week,” said Bolton.

“Their pressure has been elite so we’re looking forward to a really tough challenge at the SCG.”

It will be a homecoming of sorts for the Fremantle coaching staff with Ross Lyon, Brett Kirk and Mark Stone all previously having allegiances to the Swans and Bolton says they play a tough brand of footy.

“Their structures stand up in tough games, I know Ross Lyon really well and they’ve also got Kirky [Brett Kirk] and Mark Stone over there as well so we look forward to a really tough challenge against them.”

The Swans will be eager to get back into a winning habit with a tough trip back to the MCG next Friday night against Collingwood before a home match against Essendon the week after.