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Ok, I want to get this out of my system now while I'm bitterly disappointed (and a little drunk).
I am SHATTERED.
We played so poorly, but were still in with a decent chance at 3 quarter time. It is this fact that has left me feeling gutted. That last quarter was probably our worst quarter for the season. All of a sudden, our lack of a decent defense become glaringly obvious. Why had it taken 25 weeks into the season for this to happen? It would have been far less painful had they followed the script and begun their rebuilding as any other team would have - with a wooden spoon with which they could stir the ingredients of success. Everything turned pear-shaped. Damn. Please note that not for a second do I begrudge the team the success they have enjoyed this year. It has been an almighty effort, which brought many moments of happiness to my heart. Just unfortunately not at this moment.
And all I can think now is that after such a fairytale year, where we far exceeded everyone's expectations, how can we improve from this? What are the chances of a 2nd fairytale year straight away? What are the chances that as many players again will play their best season so far next year, bettering their efforts this year? At the moment I think its slim to none.
Until we win a tough game which we are expected to win, how can we go further? We lost to Hawthorn, we lost to Collingwood, and now we have lost to Brisbane. We won games against the top sides when we had nothing to lose, when no-one would have battered an eyelid had we performed as expected. Remember the 2 games against Brisbane, 1st against Collingwood, and of course the monumental effort against Port. Would these games have turned out different if we had declared that they actually were in with a better than fighting chance?
And will next year's stock really be any better than this year's? We aren't getting a high draft pick, and no-one surely really wants to give us a useful player for the likes of Macpherson, Stevens or Warfe. Must we sacrifice a Bolton or Fosdike for another potential? Can anyone replace the hardness of Cresswell? Can Kirk make that step, as a once young Cressa did, from tagger to ball winner? Are Schneider, C.Bolton, Davis, ROK, NOG the next generation of midfielders that can match it with the fab-four of Brisbane, or the up-and-coming dominance of Collingwood?
As seen by this year, it isn't the on-paper team that guarantees a grand final appearance, it is many more factors, such as injuries, and of course that intangeable thing called luck. How were the swans meant to prepare for losing the first 4 kicks due to free kicks, deserved or not? How can any team combat not just the opposing team but the umpires' decisions as well? Is Barry Hall such a monster that he has no head on which he may be tackled high? Is Adam Schneider so experienced that trying to get a touch on the ball before it goes out on the full is seen as a criminal act? Is Schauble so big-bodied that the slightest contact with another being results in them being pushed out of the contest?
I may have only waited 7 years for a premiership, but I know others have waited a lifetime. Is 70 years long enough to wait for the ultimate prize, or must we donate more blood, sweat and tears to the cause before we are rewarded? I couldn't bear it if we had to wait another 7 years, and the coming of a new coach, before we reach these heights again.
So where to from here? I hope like hell that the Lions can beat Collingwood next week to give some consolation that we lost to the best, not just of this year, but of recent history. I would not begrudge their success.
I hope that the swans again prove me wrong as they have done all this year.
I hope that I can one day walk that little bit taller knowing that I have a year of bragging rights.
I hope that another generation of swans champions don't have to suffer the ignomy of the likes of Dunks, Cressa and Kels by never realising their ultimate dreams.
I hope that soon the swans go in and win over all, for I will lift that noble banner high.
After all, all I have is hope at the moment.
I am SHATTERED.
We played so poorly, but were still in with a decent chance at 3 quarter time. It is this fact that has left me feeling gutted. That last quarter was probably our worst quarter for the season. All of a sudden, our lack of a decent defense become glaringly obvious. Why had it taken 25 weeks into the season for this to happen? It would have been far less painful had they followed the script and begun their rebuilding as any other team would have - with a wooden spoon with which they could stir the ingredients of success. Everything turned pear-shaped. Damn. Please note that not for a second do I begrudge the team the success they have enjoyed this year. It has been an almighty effort, which brought many moments of happiness to my heart. Just unfortunately not at this moment.
And all I can think now is that after such a fairytale year, where we far exceeded everyone's expectations, how can we improve from this? What are the chances of a 2nd fairytale year straight away? What are the chances that as many players again will play their best season so far next year, bettering their efforts this year? At the moment I think its slim to none.
Until we win a tough game which we are expected to win, how can we go further? We lost to Hawthorn, we lost to Collingwood, and now we have lost to Brisbane. We won games against the top sides when we had nothing to lose, when no-one would have battered an eyelid had we performed as expected. Remember the 2 games against Brisbane, 1st against Collingwood, and of course the monumental effort against Port. Would these games have turned out different if we had declared that they actually were in with a better than fighting chance?
And will next year's stock really be any better than this year's? We aren't getting a high draft pick, and no-one surely really wants to give us a useful player for the likes of Macpherson, Stevens or Warfe. Must we sacrifice a Bolton or Fosdike for another potential? Can anyone replace the hardness of Cresswell? Can Kirk make that step, as a once young Cressa did, from tagger to ball winner? Are Schneider, C.Bolton, Davis, ROK, NOG the next generation of midfielders that can match it with the fab-four of Brisbane, or the up-and-coming dominance of Collingwood?
As seen by this year, it isn't the on-paper team that guarantees a grand final appearance, it is many more factors, such as injuries, and of course that intangeable thing called luck. How were the swans meant to prepare for losing the first 4 kicks due to free kicks, deserved or not? How can any team combat not just the opposing team but the umpires' decisions as well? Is Barry Hall such a monster that he has no head on which he may be tackled high? Is Adam Schneider so experienced that trying to get a touch on the ball before it goes out on the full is seen as a criminal act? Is Schauble so big-bodied that the slightest contact with another being results in them being pushed out of the contest?
I may have only waited 7 years for a premiership, but I know others have waited a lifetime. Is 70 years long enough to wait for the ultimate prize, or must we donate more blood, sweat and tears to the cause before we are rewarded? I couldn't bear it if we had to wait another 7 years, and the coming of a new coach, before we reach these heights again.
So where to from here? I hope like hell that the Lions can beat Collingwood next week to give some consolation that we lost to the best, not just of this year, but of recent history. I would not begrudge their success.
I hope that the swans again prove me wrong as they have done all this year.
I hope that I can one day walk that little bit taller knowing that I have a year of bragging rights.
I hope that another generation of swans champions don't have to suffer the ignomy of the likes of Dunks, Cressa and Kels by never realising their ultimate dreams.
I hope that soon the swans go in and win over all, for I will lift that noble banner high.
After all, all I have is hope at the moment.
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