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Swans were primed
07 June 2004 Herald Sun
Michael Stevens
ST KILDA midfielder Aussie Jones said Sydney was primed to knock the Saints off their perch yesterday at the SCG.
Sydney stats
St Kilda stats
Round 11 photos
Fight club at the MCG
"They built themselves up for us," he said after the side's 36-point loss, its first for the year after a 10-game winning streak, the club's best in its history.
"Obviously we were undefeated, so Sydney had a lot to gain knocking us off our perch.
"And to their credit, they certainly came out ready to play, and got what they wanted."
While the Saints' forward line was well down with leading full-forward Fraser Gehrig failing to kick a goal, Jones said Sydney had a good game plan.
"They've had 14 weeks where they were up, and a week where they were down," Jones said of the forwards.
"But again it comes down to Sydney's ability to zone off when they can and have a third man at the contest and have more numbers at the ball in our forward line.
"It's one of their main strengths and they beat us there today."
Jones said circumstances prevented him from starting in a customary half-back role.
"They went tall up forward and there wasn't a match-up for me up, so I pushed up on to a wing.
"I've played there a little bit this year, so it didn't throw me too much because I'm always aware that could happen any time. I think the fact they were winning the ball first made it hard for our guys to get our hands on it."
Jones doesn't subscribe to the theory that yesterday's loss was something the Saints had to have.
"We're looking at the fact there's never a good loss," he said. "We wanted to win today, as much as we want to win next week and the week after.
"So it's not something we'll be talking about . . . good losses. It's not what we're about and we want to win every game when we're out there."
After getting to within a point at the 19-minute mark of the second quarter, Sydney kicked three quick goals in the third term to seal the game.
Jones said the Swans' runners were difference.
07 June 2004 Herald Sun
Michael Stevens
ST KILDA midfielder Aussie Jones said Sydney was primed to knock the Saints off their perch yesterday at the SCG.
Sydney stats
St Kilda stats
Round 11 photos
Fight club at the MCG
"They built themselves up for us," he said after the side's 36-point loss, its first for the year after a 10-game winning streak, the club's best in its history.
"Obviously we were undefeated, so Sydney had a lot to gain knocking us off our perch.
"And to their credit, they certainly came out ready to play, and got what they wanted."
While the Saints' forward line was well down with leading full-forward Fraser Gehrig failing to kick a goal, Jones said Sydney had a good game plan.
"They've had 14 weeks where they were up, and a week where they were down," Jones said of the forwards.
"But again it comes down to Sydney's ability to zone off when they can and have a third man at the contest and have more numbers at the ball in our forward line.
"It's one of their main strengths and they beat us there today."
Jones said circumstances prevented him from starting in a customary half-back role.
"They went tall up forward and there wasn't a match-up for me up, so I pushed up on to a wing.
"I've played there a little bit this year, so it didn't throw me too much because I'm always aware that could happen any time. I think the fact they were winning the ball first made it hard for our guys to get our hands on it."
Jones doesn't subscribe to the theory that yesterday's loss was something the Saints had to have.
"We're looking at the fact there's never a good loss," he said. "We wanted to win today, as much as we want to win next week and the week after.
"So it's not something we'll be talking about . . . good losses. It's not what we're about and we want to win every game when we're out there."
After getting to within a point at the 19-minute mark of the second quarter, Sydney kicked three quick goals in the third term to seal the game.
Jones said the Swans' runners were difference.
