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Bring on the Pies, says big Baz
By Nabila Ahmed
Brisbane
August 18 2003
Sydney strongman Barry Hall celebrates his side's triumph over Brisbane.
Picture: Getty Images
Sydney's upset win over reigning premier Brisbane at the Gabba yesterday proved that the Swans were genuine premiership contenders, according to five-goal hero Barry Hall, who said the team was now confident of defeating Collingwood in Saturday night's blockbuster "mini-final" in Sydney.
"There's mini-finals going around everywhere. We'll certainly be fired up for that one," Hall said. "We beat them (Collingwood) down there (in round six) so we're pretty confident going in . . . it'll be a pretty big clash."
Hall, whose five goals proved crucial in the Swans' 14-point victory yesterday that propelled them to fourth place, said Sydney had treated the match as a finals dress rehearsal and the significance of the win was enormous.
"Well, Brisbane were hot favourites, so to beat them at home it was really important. It just shows the guys that we can do it if we put our minds to it and we're a fair chance (for the flag)," he said.
"I think we are a premiership contender. I can speak on behalf of the guys and just the belief in the team (is amazing).
"We spoke about it before the game and after that, this was like a mini-final for us. We said: 'If we don't get a home final, we've got to play away', so this was like a mini-final and a great lead-up for if we do have to play away.
"And (we knew) if we won the game today, it would consolidate us and put us right in the mix of getting home finals, so this was really important."
But Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews was begrudging in his assessment of the Swans, calling them a "useful team" and saying his side would have won but for inaccurate kicking.
A frustrated Matthews also hinted that his team might have started to believe its own publicity following a perfect eight-goal first quarter in the previous weekend's easy win over Collingwood.
"Our reputation is better than our performance at this point of the club's evolution," he said. "Sydney are a useful team but if they hadn't kicked accurately, they wouldn't be in front on the scoreboard.
"We've had 26 scoring shots to 20, that's why we lost the game. Everything else is just pure speculation and pure innuendo. If we had kicked accurately and they had kicked half less accurately, we would've won the game.
His Sydney counterpart, Paul Roos, though, was justifiably pleased with his team's efforts. "In terms of the opposition and what it meant to them as well, it was a fantastic win," Roos said.
"It's almost a relief getting to this stage . . . We know we're in the finals now, which is terrific for the club. But you can't get too far ahead of yourself. We've got a huge game next week against Collingwood at Telstra and that's as far as we look ahead."
Roos said that clash with Collingwood, which is expected to attract 60,000 to Telstra Stadium on Saturday night, would be like another final for the club.
"Today I thought was a bit like a final also, you know, Brisbane in Brisbane fighting for top two. You know that's a final and next week, it doesn't get any easier," he said.
But while Hall said the pressure was starting to build for the Swans as the momentum gathered in the lead-up to a surprise finals appearance, Roos reiterated his claims last week that his team was not under pressure.
"I mean, no one picked us to finish top eight. We're in a different stage to what Brisbane are, what Collingwood are, what Adelaide are and what Port are. We're trying to rebuild and trying to get good players around the club for the next five, six, seven years and we're still testing where we're at.
"I guess, the pressure is on - probably not Brisbane because they've already got a couple in their pockets and that's always handy to take the pressure off - but certainly, I think Port and Adelaide and teams like that that really set themselves to win a grand final this year."
But the Swans will embark on their finals campaign without reliable defender Jason Saddington, who strained a medial knee ligament yesterday when teammate Leo Barry fell across his leg. He is likely to miss between four and six weeks.
By Nabila Ahmed
Brisbane
August 18 2003
Sydney strongman Barry Hall celebrates his side's triumph over Brisbane.
Picture: Getty Images
Sydney's upset win over reigning premier Brisbane at the Gabba yesterday proved that the Swans were genuine premiership contenders, according to five-goal hero Barry Hall, who said the team was now confident of defeating Collingwood in Saturday night's blockbuster "mini-final" in Sydney.
"There's mini-finals going around everywhere. We'll certainly be fired up for that one," Hall said. "We beat them (Collingwood) down there (in round six) so we're pretty confident going in . . . it'll be a pretty big clash."
Hall, whose five goals proved crucial in the Swans' 14-point victory yesterday that propelled them to fourth place, said Sydney had treated the match as a finals dress rehearsal and the significance of the win was enormous.
"Well, Brisbane were hot favourites, so to beat them at home it was really important. It just shows the guys that we can do it if we put our minds to it and we're a fair chance (for the flag)," he said.
"I think we are a premiership contender. I can speak on behalf of the guys and just the belief in the team (is amazing).
"We spoke about it before the game and after that, this was like a mini-final for us. We said: 'If we don't get a home final, we've got to play away', so this was like a mini-final and a great lead-up for if we do have to play away.
"And (we knew) if we won the game today, it would consolidate us and put us right in the mix of getting home finals, so this was really important."
But Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews was begrudging in his assessment of the Swans, calling them a "useful team" and saying his side would have won but for inaccurate kicking.
A frustrated Matthews also hinted that his team might have started to believe its own publicity following a perfect eight-goal first quarter in the previous weekend's easy win over Collingwood.
"Our reputation is better than our performance at this point of the club's evolution," he said. "Sydney are a useful team but if they hadn't kicked accurately, they wouldn't be in front on the scoreboard.
"We've had 26 scoring shots to 20, that's why we lost the game. Everything else is just pure speculation and pure innuendo. If we had kicked accurately and they had kicked half less accurately, we would've won the game.
His Sydney counterpart, Paul Roos, though, was justifiably pleased with his team's efforts. "In terms of the opposition and what it meant to them as well, it was a fantastic win," Roos said.
"It's almost a relief getting to this stage . . . We know we're in the finals now, which is terrific for the club. But you can't get too far ahead of yourself. We've got a huge game next week against Collingwood at Telstra and that's as far as we look ahead."
Roos said that clash with Collingwood, which is expected to attract 60,000 to Telstra Stadium on Saturday night, would be like another final for the club.
"Today I thought was a bit like a final also, you know, Brisbane in Brisbane fighting for top two. You know that's a final and next week, it doesn't get any easier," he said.
But while Hall said the pressure was starting to build for the Swans as the momentum gathered in the lead-up to a surprise finals appearance, Roos reiterated his claims last week that his team was not under pressure.
"I mean, no one picked us to finish top eight. We're in a different stage to what Brisbane are, what Collingwood are, what Adelaide are and what Port are. We're trying to rebuild and trying to get good players around the club for the next five, six, seven years and we're still testing where we're at.
"I guess, the pressure is on - probably not Brisbane because they've already got a couple in their pockets and that's always handy to take the pressure off - but certainly, I think Port and Adelaide and teams like that that really set themselves to win a grand final this year."
But the Swans will embark on their finals campaign without reliable defender Jason Saddington, who strained a medial knee ligament yesterday when teammate Leo Barry fell across his leg. He is likely to miss between four and six weeks.
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