LRT condfident ahead of Dogs clash

By Will Dempsey 

Sydney forward Lewis Roberts-Thomson believes that the current list of Swans have the confidence and attitude to take them deep into September contention.

Coming off Saturday night’s tight loss to Collingwood, Roberts-Thomson believes the team needs to retain their ‘continuity and consistency’ leading into this week’s clash against the Western Bulldogs.

“It was a real example of all the boys going in there and having a crack and playing a tough and contested brand of footy”.

Both sides geared up for the round 20 encounter; which resulted in one of the most tightly fought contests of the season.

Collingwood, front runners for this year’s flag, were pushed to the final siren by a physical and resilient Swans side.

The scoreboard wasn’t a true reflection of the Swans effort, in which they matched or bettered Collingwood in critical stats – 56 inside fifties to 48, and 68 hit-outs to 48.

Roberts-Thomson, who has fully recovered from a fractured cheek bone at the beginning of the season, had a stand out game in the forward line kicking two critical goals.

Ditching the helmet, Roberts-Thomson has reinstated himself as force stating that his ‘confidence is running high’.

The Swans, who were missing Jude Bolton, still had the grit around the contest with Luke Parker making nine tackles with 20 disposals and Josh Kennedy an outstanding eight tackles with 40 disposals.

Roberts-Thomson believes there are “a lot of positives the side can take out from the weekend’s performance”.

Before Saturday night’s game the Swans had won nine in a row, a win would have secured them outright first on top of the AFL ladder.

Roberts-Thomson who was a part of the Swans 2005 premiership side believes it’s critical the side “builds its intensity whilst maintaining composure” leading into the finals. 

Roberts-Thomson believes that ‘attitude is the key’ if the Swans are to have a strong chance of winning the flag.

The expected return of Sam Reid for this weekend’s clash will bolster the Swans strike power in the forward line.

This Sunday the Swans take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, bounce is at 3:15 pm.

Full television coverage can be seen from 3pm on Channel 7 and FoxFooty Channel