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I see Swans going into the match with the odds of a dollar & 25c. Clearly the favoured team in this opening round. With some of last year's side gone due to various reasons, will be interesting to see how the new recruits fare. Over the off season Swans have recruited quite well according to the news. Hoping they start the season on a winning note.

Ireland is injured

Impressive display, especially when wet toast got to within a kick at about the 20 minute mark of the third quarter. I think most thought it might be toast's superior fitness that would win out - and it was looking that way in the third - but it was Swans that powered away in the last ten minutes of the third and all of the last, following a trend seen in two of the three scratch matches.

Despite the good preseason form it was wce of old - including some poor discipline - so I am unsure we can take too much from the game. Kohlmann's six (and he missed a sitter) were obtained by a combination of the fullback being no-where near him and some great kicking from a distance, while E. Smith continued good preseason form and was simply to quick for his heavily built but lumbering opponents. But Chalcraft was outstanding. Still a few to come back - Glass, Erceg, Stephens, O'Donoghue and Ireland.

Outstanding atmosphere and very good crowd with the stands full - biggest I have seen at a SD vs wce game - glad the real football is back.  

Good summary SH. Apart from that 20 minute period in the 3rd quarter when Swans fell asleep, we absolutely dominated. It was obvious that West Coast were not able to match us pace wise so they tried to slow Swans down by getting over physical. Needless to say it didn't work well.

It appears we have picked up two absolute guns in Chalcraft and Rokahr. With those two added to Turner, Clarke, Pina, Cipro etc, Swans midfield is the equal of any in the competition. Great comeback game for Kohlmann, as you said he could have had a few more but the fact that we kicked 21 goals is hopefully the prelude to a much higher scoring season.

The defence was watertight apart from that period in the 3rd quarter when the Eagles were running rampant.
I thought Zane Trew was prominent for them, even though it must have been a bit strange for him to be in the away team change rooms. Gaff got a lot of possessions but many of them were in the back half and didn't hurt us much.
Young Cartwright was a lively forward, he just needs to work a bit on his kicking for goal, Overall though our skill level both by hand and foot seemed to have improved on last year but we need to see how that holds up against sterner opposition

Certainly a great start to the season but we have to temper that with the realisation that the opposition has now gone 27 games without a win. We will get a much more realistic idea of where we stand when we take on East Perth next week. The Royals are up there with the elite teams and a strong showing against them will get me thinking that we could be a finals contender this year
 

Great atmosphere around the ground on Saturday and the pre season hype was real. The contrast in play from previous seasons was stark and it was evident early with quick hands from ground ball gathers a real stand out even if it did create our own pressure at times. Our intent to move the ball quickly and direct from a mark or free kick was also pleasing to see and with West Coast playing such a high line it more often than not resulted in a fwd 50 entry and a score. 

Chalcraft and Rokahr are genuine stars of the comp and it allowed Clarke to go pretty much noticed while also allowing McGlaughlin to play more fwd which is his natural position. 

Great to see Howard back with his old mate Notte controlling the D50 and they’ll be well assisted by the return of Erceg in coming weeks. 

Liked the addition of Cartwright, Ehlers continues to develop and Smith didn’t look out of place.

Plenty to work with it seems this year and it will be a great test against another finals aspirant this week.