Swans' character?

[liz]

Quote from the Age's match report:-

"Carlton has heart, but is sorely lacking in class. Sydney, on the other hand, left everyone at Optus Oval in no doubt of their class, but somewhat unsure about their character."

Is this fair, do we think? I accept the Swans were maybe guilty of lairising at times in the second quarter, and definitely lacked for intensity after half time, but I'd have thought it a bit harsh to question the team's character based on one performance in 16.

What do others reckon? Should we be worried about what that performance says about the commitment, dedication or work ethic of the team?

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/19/1058545628088.html

[SWANSBEST]

The Swans still won by 31 points . The 2nd half fade out is not related to character at all. They took their foot off the gas but fought back when required . IMO they always had the game in control . It is just a case of a junior journo trying to be too cute with a match write up . Absolutely nothing to do with character .

[treespirit]

Just trying to sound different to everyone else. The one thing that has shone through for the Swans this season is good character.

[SXP]

I agree 100%. I wouldn't give much into what the Melbournemedia is saying, they don't like us anyway. Although I must admit that the Swans almost gave me a heart attack in the beginning of fourth quarter, before taking the game back under control, which in my opinion proves a character as well (not just class). It looks to me that Roos is trying to save the players from unnecessary injury (check Essendon v. Brisbane game), because a long injury list doesn't help in the finals. It's fine to have a percentage booster, but it's not worth a risk.

[midaro]

Originally posted by SXP
It's fine to have a percentage booster, but it's not worth a risk.

But, looking at the fixture for the rest of the year shows that this was probably our last chance fo a percentage boost. We might be second ATM but we've got some hard games coming up and might well find ourselves in a group on the same point at the end of the year.

Beating Carlton by 100+ may have been the difference between 6th and 4th.

I wasn't one that assumed we would beat Carlton well, but that was because I assumed thay'd come out firing. When they didn't and we were 50+ up at the half, we should've of destroyed them. IMHO

[chammond]

"Carlton has heart, but is sorely lacking in class. Sydney, on the other hand, left everyone at Optus Oval in no doubt of their class, but somewhat unsure about their character."

It has long been a maxim in Melbourne footy circles that the Swans are fast and flashy, but a bit soft when the pressure is on. Even back as far as the mid-eighties, the "wisdom" was always, when the chips are down, if you play Sydney man-on-man and go in hard you are a chance no matter how far behind you are.

Right or wrong, the game at Optus will have added credence to that theory.

Not sure that it showed that Carlton had "heart", though. I thought it was a piss weak effort for a team that was supposed to be coming out with all guns blazing and every player fighting for his spot in the side. None of them looked interested until Sydney took the foot of the gas. "Extremely gutless" would have been a better description. Take Kouta out of that team, and they would have been a rabble.

[NMWBloods]

I thought the quote was not too far from the truth for that game.

Under a bit of pressure we completely folded. Carlton weren't even playing great footy. In fact I reckon the second half was shocking footy.

The only reasons we won in the end were that Carlton were so poor in the first half we were able to build up a big lead and they really weren't good enough to run us down.

This was a great opportunity to build our percentage in a very tight run home to finals and we blew it.

We have a very tough last half dozen games and the guys will need to toughen up.

[SXP]

Spot on Chammond!

[Cheer Cheer]

Whats worse ?

Brisbane being 6 goals down v carlton at optus oval then winning by 70 + points or

Sydney being 60 odd points up then winning by 30 ?

One hearting fact is that Sydney have the best last quarter record in the AFL. ( As of round 15 - I'm assuming there has been no change after this round ).

I'm happy to win games with these last qtr / half fadeouts.

It will get worrying when we start losing games, when we in front by a long way, which we havent yet.

[hardluck_harry]

This is the same Swans team that was the popular pick for the wooden spoon by The Age's experts, now they're sitting second on the ladder after 16 rounds....They must have some character.


On a personal note though, I was disappointed that we only won my 5 goals, but thats just me remembering all the hidings Carrlton has given us over my 39 years on the planet. I think any chance we get to kick the heads in, of the Collingwoods, Essendon's, Carlton's etc, we should take it. :P

[dawson]

Win is a win is a win.

[dimelb]

We have been doing all season what Carlton did for the first time in this match - rely on the young blokes. Character? They learned it from us!

[undy]

I thought the third quarter was a bit ugly - Cartlon seemed to be scoring pretty easily. Mentally, I think it would have been a bit tricky for the Swans players to alter the way they were playing & thinking after the main break and adapt to the fact that Carlton had finally joined in the action. Probably missed Maxie a bit there, getting everyone pumped up again either by word or deed.

Andy

[Jimmy C]

Without having seen the match, it doesn't appear as if there was ever any danger of it being lost. I think the quote is reflective of Vic-based media in total denial of the current situation for most Vic-based teams. A case of the Ostrich putting its head in the sand. I'm starting to wonder if the respect will come (we could win the GF and still not get the respect we deserve).

[omnipotent]

Maybe despite the fact that journos just want something a bit controversial to write they were also looking at the big picture. Finals footy is different and all about pressure so maybe they were hinting that our character has to be there and in spades for us to win those contests. Carlton wasn't a test because they couldn't match us for class.