Swans in tough run up to finals

By Ben Hope
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE coach Mark Ridgeway is hoping for a win this weekend against Essendon to keep his team in the top eight for the Premier League finals.
“We need to consolidate our place in the top eight, at the moment there is only nine points between the top nine teams,” Ridgeway said.
“That means we can’t afford to drop any game for the rest of the season, we need to win three out the remaining five games and this weekend will be the start of that effort.”
Casey-South Melbourne is currently fifth on the ladder with 29 points, equal with Dandenong and only three points behind leaders Geelong and Ringwood
Ridgeway said Essendon was a strong team that would be tough to beat.
“They will have Chris Rogers back this week and will be a tough side,” Ridgeway said.
“However, we will have Damien Wright who has been a strong performer this season.”
Damien Wright has been a force with the bat for the Swans, with an average of 73.7 runs in the four games he played.
Taking on Prahran in the last game before the Christmas break, it was big-hitting Robert Elston who proved invaluable for the Swans, hitting 76 off 99 balls, including 11 fours.
Essendon is currently sitting in 12th place on the ladder with 19 points.