Better than the Port final win

[Go Swannies]

Until yesterday I've thought the best Swans effort I've seen was the final against Port last year. But in many ways I think yesterday surpassed it. The Port win was two brilliant first quarters then just grinding out a win over the last two as the team dealt with exhaustion. Inspirational but the team was possibly still exhausted when we faced the Lions two weeks later! Yesterday the team played top footy for a whole game - only in the last five minutes did they let their intensity drop. And they didn't seem tired at the end (though Craig Bolton should have a brain scan after the Gehrig knock).

Even in our dreaded second quarter we were only down for the first 15 minutes then came back at the end.

Smart, sure, convincing footy - how far can they go?

[barry]

Nah, in the context of what each game meant. Port was a far bigger game. It was our first ever away final win. Against the No.1 team of the H&A season. To set up a home preliminary where we were within a quarter of a flag.

[Go Swannies]

I meant the quality of the game - intensity and game plan - rather than its significance.

[Bear]

The Port final was about as intense as it gets.

Both special wins though.

[Damien]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
I meant the quality of the game - intensity and game plan - rather than its significance.

I agree, the Port final was us shocking the power, and trying (successfully) to hold on as the Port stormed home, yesterday was a truly brilliant 4 quarter effort proving we can match it with the best and beat them.

[barry]

Originally posted by Damien
I agree, the Port final was us shocking the power, and trying (successfully) to hold on as the Port stormed home, yesterday was a truly brilliant 4 quarter effort proving we can match it with the best and beat them.

We only went into "hold on" mode because we were down to 17 men (or something like that).

Our first away final win is as big a milestone as our first final win in Sydney IMO. It was our comming of age. Yesterdays game was great, but it really only has this-season context.

[Damien]

Originally posted by barry
We only went into "hold on" mode because we were down to 17 men (or something like that).

Our first away final win is as big a milestone as our first final win in Sydney IMO. It was our comming of age. Yesterdays game was great, but it really only has this-season context.

I think we are talking about different things, my post is based purely on the quality of the game.

Of course our first away win in a final was huge etc etc and was a massive boilover, but the quality of football yesterday was outstanding and IMO much greater than in the Qualifying final last year.

[Damien]

Oh and BTW the best effort from the Swans in recent history IMO is the final 3 or so minutes of a little preliminary final in 1996

2 goals and a point and we are in the Grand Final!

[Dave]

For me the Port game was more intense emotionally but I would agree the playing was better yesterday.

[dendol]

I dont think there will be a H&A game this will compare to the Port win last year, but thats not to say that yesterday's win wont have a significant impact on the rest of the season. I really believe it will give us the confidence and momentum to be a real contender again.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Damien
I agree, the Port final was us shocking the power, and trying (successfully) to hold on as the Port stormed home, yesterday was a truly brilliant 4 quarter effort proving we can match it with the best and beat them.

The Port final does it for me. Not only were we away from home, without several key players for the match, and finishing the match battered and bruised and with only 17 fit players from memory. Port threw everything at us (so did their supporters by the way ) but we held out despite the highest of pressure.

Yesterday it was us who dominated pretty much for most of the game (portions of the 2nd and last quarter aside). Yes, we were totally dominant and rarely let the Sainters play the game they wanted to. We were also at home, where sides really should win regardless of the opposition.

But in terms of great Swans victories the Port final and Brisbane match at the Gabba were greater highlights for me. From a quality of football perspective though, you probably couldn't go past yesterday.

JF

[dawson]

I actually think that both were more or less equal - and that these are the circumstances when we produce our best football.

[Ryan Bomford]

In terms of the size of the crowd, the beautiful day, the occasion, the result and the Swans effort, I can't recall a better footy glow coming from the SCG since .. mmm .. Plugger's '1300' match.

[Chubby Muffler]

Yesterday was for me the best game I have seen live for a long time. It was also the most revved up I have seen the crowd, everyone around us (You ROCK Bay 29) was right into it. Every time the chants went up, it was all in. Super stuff. And can you ever get sick of singing the club song after a win like that!?

[dawson]

You know what is going to be better than either of these 2 wins???

RWO's win at the trivia night