How far we've come

[Go Swannies]

Last night I was bored enough to be tidying up my videos and found a tape of the Swans Collingwood game. Put it on and found it was the game in about June 2002.

It was fascinating to watch the Swans play under Eades coaching. No Micky and Kelly and Plugger in goal square. Collingwood leapt into the lead then the Swans had it by end of second quarter. Then the Pies romped in when the Swans just faded towards the end. Bizarre to see as it was basically the same players but with little heart and no self belief. My wife got tired of me saying "But he wouldn't do that! That's not like him!" Even Bazza barely got into the game - though Williams, Shauble and Nicks had great games.

Afterwards I was just really grateful that RWO doesn't run the team. Paul Roos has built a great team spirit and it shows in the way everyone plays - and did for the whole of 2003 since Round 1 vs Carlton. Let's build on that (and the youth policy) next year instead of looking for an instant fix. And on the subject of instant fixes - it was sad to be reminded of a fumbling slow Plugger on his return to the team (and how bad Bazza was in his shadow).

I hope all the pundits are wrong and the teams come back more bonded and better than ever rather than falling back after over-achieving this year.

[Maestro]

Re: How far we've come

Originally posted by Go Swannies
I hope all the pundits are wrong and the teams come back more bonded and better than ever rather than falling back after over-achieving this year.

I wouldn't worry, Go Swannies. They weren't right this year either. Nevertheless, I would expect the team will not accept anything less than final-8 (doubtless they be aiming top 4).

[TheHood]

Bobby Skilton, I think said that "anything less than going one step further in 2004 would be an abject failure".

Can always rely on the Chimp to add a little extra pressure!

[Bleed Red Blood]

I think back to those days (it seems years ago now) with sadness as in wasted opportunities and the like.

I'm sure everyone here likes Roosy's idea of coaching is better than Eade's and I'm damn glad we don't have Wallace hanging around.

[taurus]

Re: How far we've come

Originally posted by Go Swannies

It was fascinating to watch the Swans play under Eades coaching. No Micky and Kelly and Plugger in goal square. Collingwood leapt into the lead then the Swans had it by end of second quarter. Then the Pies romped in when the Swans just faded towards the end. Bizarre to see as it was basically the same players but with little heart and no self belief. My wife got tired of me saying "But he wouldn't do that! That's not like him!" Even Bazza barely got into the game - though Williams, Shauble and Nicks had great games.

[/B]

Very interesting.

Despite success in 96-98 seasons, I always felt that Swans of that era lacked something.. Maybe the overall skill level or killer instinct (ability to finish the opposition off), etc. There was uncertainty and vulnerability (I cannot seem to qualify 'it').

Watching Swans play this year, I was/am amazed with improvement in every aspect of our game; they just APPEAR to be more skillful and determined compared to the past era. However, what impress me most is the team's ability to come back from behind and not fade out! Self and collective belief personified!

I think Eade was an excellent, matchday coach, who milked every opportunity/situation ON-FIELD. He developed an approach that was successful for a period. Unfortunately, I think he did/could/would not ADAPT to changes in the way footy is played.

If only he had people skills like Paul Roos...

[bricon]

Re: Re: How far we've come

Originally posted by taurus
Very interesting.

Despite success in 96-98 seasons, I always felt that Swans of that era lacked something..

SNIP

Watching Swans play this year, I was/am amazed with improvement in every aspect of our game; they just APPEAR to be more skillful and determined compared to the past era. However, what impress me most is the team's ability to come back from behind and not fade out! Self and collective belief personified!

We were FAR fitter this year than at any time under Eade. This was the biggest factor in being able to come back from behind; we were just able to run-out games in a way that was foreign to us before. This ability also engendered confidence in our players and once a group is confident, almost anything is achievable.

The improved fitness level of the squad also assisted our (relatively) good year with injuries.

[Xie Shan]

Despite success in 96-98 seasons, I always felt that Swans of that era lacked something.. Maybe the overall skill level or killer instinct (ability to finish the opposition off), etc. There was uncertainty and vulnerability (I cannot seem to qualify 'it').

I've noticed that about the Swans in previous years - and agree, yes they have improved a lot last year, but reflecting on their season, IMO they still lack a bit of killer instinct - I'm not saying it's bad or anything, just that compared to a team like Brisbane who really were ruthless in this year's finals series when it mattered most - they are still the benchmark in terms of self-belief, ruthlessness and killer instinct in pressure situations when it comes to a crunch game. That's why they killed us in the last quarter in the preliminary final.

But I believe that the Swans have come a long way in this area and will continue to improve. Composure under pressure is one aspect they can improve in (although much better than the Chokers from Port as we saw ).

[jixygirl]

It's amazing to see the improvement that the Swans had in all aspects of the game in 2003. Their passion and committment was outstanding. The year before, we were hopeless. We'd burn out really quickly and didn't play an exciting game. I had no idea where we were going to end up this year. In a home preliminary final!

[swan_song]

quote:
Despite success in 96-98 seasons, I always felt that Swans of that era lacked something.. Maybe the overall skill level or killer instinct (ability to finish the opposition off), etc. There was uncertainty and vulnerability (I cannot seem to qualify 'it').

_______________________________________

Wouldn't it be interesting if you could time travel back in time with Roosie as coach of the 96 team....just to see if he could have got that team one step further....
Come to think of it though, who would have taken Roosie's place in that team...too much to think about....my head's spinning now.....

[taurus]

Originally posted by swan_song


Wouldn't it be interesting if you could time travel back in time with Roosie as coach of the 96 team....just to see if he could have got that team one step further....
Come to think of it though, who would have taken Roosie's place in that team...too much to think about....my head's spinning now..... [/B]

But if Roos was transported back in time then he might not have become a good coach in the present...

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by jixygirl
It's amazing to see the improvement that the Swans had in all aspects of the game in 2003. Their passion and committment was outstanding. The year before, we were hopeless. We'd burn out really quickly and didn't play an exciting game. I had no idea where we were going to end up this year. In a home preliminary final!

Seriously though Annie,
Just like in 1995 where we'd win one week then stuff up the next in 2002 we lost I think 9 matches by under 10 points (from memory we were leading in the last quarter in about 7 of them.)

So despite the negative Eade coaching tactics and our lowely position on the ladder we still could have gone well into the finals reckoning. In spite of what many of us thought at the time, we did have a nucleus which Roosey has helped re-model.

With a positive coach intent on playing open running footy, and a far improved physical preparation to the season those 6 point losses were being transformed into victories. The side of 2002 would never have held out Port over in Adelaide the way we did this year.

By the looks of the players at the Best & Fairest, team spirit does not seem to be a problem. Several were actually in a drink-fuelled huddle uttering comments along the likes of "We have to do one better in 2004! For each other!"

Next year we may struggle in a few matches as teams will have had time to study where our game is successful and conversely where it falls down (Lethal & Peter Schwab get my money for doing that this year, the bastards! )

All I can say is-bring it on! It's only mid October and I'm already hanging for the footy season to start again. Is that a sign of my outlook on things at the moment!

JF :-Conversely it could also be a sign of my attitude towards my support for Northern Spirit this summer as well