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Davis happy to be written off
22 August 2003 Herald Sun
By TIM MORRISSEY
NICK Davis knows what it takes to reach the Grand Final, and the Swans' gun recruit says his team has it.
Home truths: former Magpie Nick Davis hopes to go one better on Grand Final day this year.
Picture: Mark Evans
The 23-year-old forward sees a lot of similarities between his new team and the Collingwood side he played for last season when it went within 10 points of the premiership.
Davis also knows what it's like to lose a Grand Final, so that's where he hopes the similarities end.
"Everyone thought we were just making up the numbers in the finals last year," Davis said. "Everyone was expecting we'd go over to Adelaide and lose (in the first week).
"A few people thought (after the loss to Hawthorn), `Sydney's season is finished. There's no more home final. They'll get in and get knocked straight out'.
"So the similarities between Sydney and Collingwood keep popping up. I don't know how or why, but they do.
"But hopefully that's where they stop, on Grand Final day, and if we do get there the result will be reversed."
However, to have the chance to emulate his former team, the Swans need to beat Collingwood in tomorrow night's blockbuster at Telstra Stadium.
At stake in front of an expected record 60,000-plus crowd for an AFL game outside Victoria is an opportunity to grab an all-important top-four finish and the double chance in the first round of the finals.
But the fact Davis departed from Sydney coach Paul Roos's one-game-at-a-time mantra yesterday to reflect on the Grand Final highlights an understated confidence within the Swans.
The Swans showed that character back in Round 6 at Telstra Dome, when they upstaged Collingwood and silenced the black and white army.
It was as if Hollywood had scripted the finish, with a Davis goal late in the game snuffing out a Collingwood fightback.
"It was blown a little bit out of proportion," Davis said of his goal. "We were still far enough in front to hold on.
"But it was good that I got the ball, had a shot and kicked the goal.
"It was something I wanted to do and it was a statement by the club that we can handle the pressure of finals and the top eight."
Now the Swans have a chance to make another big statement about their finals aspirations and again silence the Collingwood army that is marching on Sydney en masse for the game.
"I think the Swans fans are in for a bit of a rude shock on Saturday night. It's probably going to be nothing like they've ever seen before, but it will be good," Davis said.
"We do need a big crowd out here. Obviously Eddie McGuire is bringing the troops up.
"I've been a part of that culture for four years and the army Collingwood have got is very loud and very parochial.
"But it's been good coming home to Sydney and I feel like we are going to have our home town with us on Saturday night and have 60-70,000 people here to silence the Collingwood fans."
22 August 2003 Herald Sun
By TIM MORRISSEY
NICK Davis knows what it takes to reach the Grand Final, and the Swans' gun recruit says his team has it.
Home truths: former Magpie Nick Davis hopes to go one better on Grand Final day this year.
Picture: Mark Evans
The 23-year-old forward sees a lot of similarities between his new team and the Collingwood side he played for last season when it went within 10 points of the premiership.
Davis also knows what it's like to lose a Grand Final, so that's where he hopes the similarities end.
"Everyone thought we were just making up the numbers in the finals last year," Davis said. "Everyone was expecting we'd go over to Adelaide and lose (in the first week).
"A few people thought (after the loss to Hawthorn), `Sydney's season is finished. There's no more home final. They'll get in and get knocked straight out'.
"So the similarities between Sydney and Collingwood keep popping up. I don't know how or why, but they do.
"But hopefully that's where they stop, on Grand Final day, and if we do get there the result will be reversed."
However, to have the chance to emulate his former team, the Swans need to beat Collingwood in tomorrow night's blockbuster at Telstra Stadium.
At stake in front of an expected record 60,000-plus crowd for an AFL game outside Victoria is an opportunity to grab an all-important top-four finish and the double chance in the first round of the finals.
But the fact Davis departed from Sydney coach Paul Roos's one-game-at-a-time mantra yesterday to reflect on the Grand Final highlights an understated confidence within the Swans.
The Swans showed that character back in Round 6 at Telstra Dome, when they upstaged Collingwood and silenced the black and white army.
It was as if Hollywood had scripted the finish, with a Davis goal late in the game snuffing out a Collingwood fightback.
"It was blown a little bit out of proportion," Davis said of his goal. "We were still far enough in front to hold on.
"But it was good that I got the ball, had a shot and kicked the goal.
"It was something I wanted to do and it was a statement by the club that we can handle the pressure of finals and the top eight."
Now the Swans have a chance to make another big statement about their finals aspirations and again silence the Collingwood army that is marching on Sydney en masse for the game.
"I think the Swans fans are in for a bit of a rude shock on Saturday night. It's probably going to be nothing like they've ever seen before, but it will be good," Davis said.
"We do need a big crowd out here. Obviously Eddie McGuire is bringing the troops up.
"I've been a part of that culture for four years and the army Collingwood have got is very loud and very parochial.
"But it's been good coming home to Sydney and I feel like we are going to have our home town with us on Saturday night and have 60-70,000 people here to silence the Collingwood fans."
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