A flag from nowhere

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by dawson
How come no one has mentioned the Round 3 game against Brisbane????

Early in the season I was expressing frustration because the season was so open and we were wasting the opportunity. The Lions win gave some self belief - and the feeling that we could get over the line in the tight ones (wasn't that useful in the finals?). However, the Saints game suggested to most Swans fans that we were a mediocre team at best.

Good thing that, when we were saying "the team is crap" they themselves were saying "we're better than that!" And set out to lift their game. So now we are premiers.

We go into 2006 as one of the best teams in the comp - and with fewer flaws than others. We have yet to see how the new fitness staff at the Saints will go - and they still have GT. The Eagles seem to have team issues and few forwards. The Doggies lack our experience. Imaging the GF score if Magic hadn't had the yips - presumably he has that monkey off his back. If our reborn players (Fossie, Nicky D, LRT, Amon, etc) continue as they left off then we are in the running for BTB.

And the wonders of medicine mean we don't face the prospect of seeing Baz in coke bottle glasses.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
We go into 2006 as one of the best teams in the comp - and with fewer flaws than others.

This continues to be a fantastic opportunity for us, perhaps a lucky golden era. We have our team in good form and firing while there are no dominant teams out there such as we saw in past years.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
This continues to be a fantastic opportunity for us, perhaps a lucky golden era. We have our team in good form and firing while there are no dominant teams out there such as we saw in past years.

I said to a few friends during the year that the Swans had to win the flag this year or in the next 2-3 years to capitalise on our players etc, otherwise we would miss the premeirship boat like Collingwood did. I hoped, but never dreamed that we would actually do it in 2005. But I agree that we are possibly in a golden era for the Swans if we can keep it together for the next 2-3 years.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by eirinn
It's strange: watching the St Kilda Round 10 match again, it's virtually impossible to believe the same team won a flag.

I was becoming extremely disillusioned about everything around that time. I recall a rather empassioned discussion by Pete myself Robbie and his parents at their place before heading back up the Hume the day after that match. Robbie's mum was even saying that she couldn't watch us any more on TV. To be honest, I didn't blame her. Not just losing, but scraggly dreary ball-up riddled football. Depressing to watch, and giving little hope of things changing in the future. I had gone to the extent of watching SFL matches in an attempt to re-gain faith in the sport of Australian football. I had started to question Roos as coach.

Six month later the same Roosey is fighting a losing battle against rather over-zealously applied red and white confetti. Conquered have been St Kilda, arguably the MOST talented team in the competittion, and the Eagles with by far the best midfield. And he is holding a Premiership Cup in his hands.

Just astounding to be honest, that turnaround. That is probably why I'm find it so hard still to grasp that we ARE Premiers. Because unlike 1996 we were NOT the best team in the comp. And for the most part were struggling just to compete.


But that somes up our little football club to be honest. We never have wraps on ourselves whereever we go. We just go and do our job. We play against far far far more talented teams than us, yet win. And end up with premiership medallions around our necks as a result.

JF

[j s]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
And end up with premiership medallions around our necks as a result.

JF

YEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by dawson
How come no one has mentioned the Round 3 game against Brisbane????

After the match Tim says to Malcom, "Seasons are built on wins like that."

Malcolm agrees.

I have watched that final quarter over and over and over again and still can't believe we won.

Man, that was one of the BEST nights I have had at the footy. Just unreal. we celebrated hard too!

That win gave us the confidence to back ourselves. Last quarter rallies, even after playing 3 quarters of utter rubbish have indeed become a trademark of the Sydney Swans in season 2005.

JF

[Bart]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
Last quarter rallies, even after playing 3 quarters of utter rubbish have indeed become a trademark of the Sydney Swans in season 2005.JF

We were behind at some stage in all 4 finals matches in the last quarter. This IMO makes our premiership even more remarkable

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Bart
We were behind at some stage in all 4 finals matches in the last quarter. This IMO makes our premiership even more remarkable

We may not be the most talented team in the comp. but we're certainly the fittest. And that was true all season - from when we won over Brisbane in R3 to grinding the Cats down in the finals. I doubt if we'll get such a distinct advantage again - but increased confidence and skills may make up for it.

I think we have the Brions of 2003 to thank for that. In the last quarter they lifted and we couldn't match them. I think Roos and the team decided that was an effective game plan. It certainly worked against the Saints in the finals - they should have been more rested so when we increased the intensity in the last quarter, they dropped their heads and gave up.