Do we actually want a premiership?

[swan_song]

It's interesting reading the "1933" threads and why we haven't been successful in a lifetime. And picking up from something Lizz posted a while back about it being the journey, not the result, has made me contemplate on whether winning a flag would actually be a let down. It would solve our short-term pain, but then what would we as Swans supporters have to look forward to...
Surely not many people have the distinction of going a lifetime without winning a premiership...I think I would feel empty if we were to win one...

[Sanecow]

This is the masochistic attitude necessary to support the Swans. If we make it before 2033, it will ruin a fantastic milestone.

[Newbie]

We get to our comfort zone too easily. One good in a while is often good enough. Until this mentality is shifted out, we are never going to win anything.

[Damien]

Have to win a premiership. As for let downs - who do you think has had the bigger let down, Cwood or Brisbane??? I know what side I would want to be on.

Just one a lifetime is enough for most of us I think, but we have to win one.

It will help build a true winning culture.

"There is always next year" will finally mean something we believe in, if we can actually snare one.

[sharpie]

Are you talking about the let-down you would feel after a 3-day bender following the grand final victory?

Coz I'm willing to deal with that hangover once a year!

[swan_song]

LOL, Sharpie, yeah there is that let down too!!!

[dendol]

We have to win one in my lifetime. I cant contemplate the after-life knowing that I havent ever felt the ecstasy of ultimate success for our Swannies.

Thinking about it now, I dont know what my reaction would be if it did ever happen. I would probably break out in tears, then go out on a bender, and cry some more. Imagine the summer preseason as well. I bet each and every one of us would have the dvd of the GF and would have relived it countless times heading into Round 1.

I really fail to see any letdown or feelings of emptiness.

[Syd]

Originally posted by dendol
We have to win one in my lifetime. I cant contemplate the after-life knowing that I havent ever felt the ecstasy of ultimate success for our Swannies.

And for some of us who haven't led the most exemplary of lives, we may well be headed to a place populated with Pois, Bummers and Blooos fans which would already be on the "hot" side without the added temperature of an eternity hearing...

1993! 1933! 1933!

[footyhead]

Originally posted by Damien
Just one a lifetime is enough for most of us I think, but we have to win one.

It will help build a true winning culture.

Thats it I give up. It is dispassionate observation for me from now on. You guys don't deserve one a life time if that is all it will take to satisfy.

[dendol]

Originally posted by footyhead
Thats it I give up. It is dispassionate observation for me from now on. You guys don't deserve one a life time if that is all it will take to satisfy.

What if Damien was a 70 year old who thought he was on his last legs? One in that his lifetime wouldnt be too much to ask.

You have to put it in perspective as well. Almost everyone on this board has never felt the euphoria of just one premiership. It would be remiss of us to sit here and say "we need to win 10 premierships in my lifetime", when one has clearly eluded us for so long.

The point is, just this one Flag will get the ball rolling on the "winning culture" you speak to dearly about.

[Damien]

Originally posted by footyhead
Thats it I give up. It is dispassionate observation for me from now on. You guys don't deserve one a life time if that is all it will take to satisfy.

Well they haven't won one in mine, my fathers or grand fathers life time yet (Grandfather born Oct '33), so I think it would be slightly moronic of me to ask for anything but one at this stage.

[Charlie]

Robbieando and I have spoken about this before. He told me that, in a way, something would be gone once the Swans win one. At the time, I didn't agree - and I only half-agree now. You see, for me, I don't want just one. I want to be able to look back and say "yeah, the 2006 team was good, but not a touch on the Bevan years in 2014-15".

However, I do see his point. The 'journey' is what it's about. In 2001, for instance, the Brians were not the premiers until AFTER the journey was over, and yet it's the journey that their fans reminisce about.

We have to enjoy the journey, or we're doomed to a life of disappointment, because we can't win it every year and, by focusing only on the destination, it's only when we're the premiers that we'd be happy.

That's something I'm realising this year. After the Hawks game, people were going on about how we couldn't play like that and expect to win, and I agreed, but I didn't care too much. My team were winners that week and that was good, it was satisfying for that week. Not as satisfying as being the premier would be for a summer, but satisfying nonetheless, and thus enjoyable.

In short, I'm taking footy less seriously and enjoying it more, without a maniacal focus on the 'Holy Grail' - it'll happen when it happens and as long as I enjoy it when it happens, that's all that matters.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Charlie
However, I do see his point. The 'journey' is what it's about. In 2001, for instance, the Brians were not the premiers until AFTER the journey was over, and yet it's the journey that their fans reminisce about.

We have to enjoy the journey, or we're doomed to a life of disappointment, because we can't win it every year and, by focusing only on the destination, it's only when we're the premiers that we'd be happy.

This 'journey' argument is crap. The journey was enjoyable for the Lions fans because they can look back at it knowing the outcome is a good one. The journey is not enjoyable if there is no glorious end to it. The journey becomes enjoyable when you've won the flag and you know your team will play good football with a chance of winning it again. This is what makes the journey as [say] a Bomber supporter always exciting.

In short, I'm taking footy less seriously and enjoying it more, without a maniacal focus on the 'Holy Grail' - it'll happen when it happens and as long as I enjoy it when it happens, that's all that matters.

What if it never happens?

[Damien]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
[B]This 'journey' argument is crap. The journey was enjoyable for the Lions fans because they can look back at it knowing the outcome is a good one. The journey is not enjoyable if there is no glorious end to it. The journey becomes enjoyable when you've won the flag and you know your team will play good football with a chance of winning it again. This is what makes the journey as [say] a Bomber supporter always exciting.



What if it never happens?

Very true.

The journey is nothing, if it is purely an endless one without a climax.

Most swans fans alive best memories are winning finals. I don't think it would hurt the 'journey' by adding a premiership. I think most of our journeys with this club have been BLOODY long enough.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
This 'journey' argument is crap. The journey was enjoyable for the Lions fans because they can look back at it knowing the outcome is a good one. The journey is not enjoyable if there is no glorious end to it. The journey becomes enjoyable when you've won the flag and you know your team will play good football with a chance of winning it again. This is what makes the journey as [say] a Bomber supporter always exciting.

No, mate. You've misinterpreted. The point I'm making is that by focusing only on the ultimate prize, you miss out on enjoying the little ones. Is the Port final win from last year any less of a memory because we didn't go on to win the flag? To me, it isn't. Nothing in all the time I've watched football has compared to the exhilaration I felt when the siren went in that game.

2003 will still be part of the journey when we win a flag, whenever that may be. Just as winning the spoon in 1991 was part of the journey towards 2001 for Brisbane fans.

All I'm saying is that it'll happen when it happens. No point giving ourselves an ulcer in the meantime. Just enjoy the wins. You know what period I've enjoyed MOST of all in the past few years? Rounds 19-22, 2002. Because we were trying to win for winning's sake. We knew there were no finals, but it didn't change the fact that I was jumping up and down with excitement in that last quarter against the 'Roos or biting my nails against St Kilda the next week. Just because a win didn't contribute towards some greater goal doesn't mean I wasn't singing Cheer Cheer after the Tigers game with any less gusto. It was FUN, and that's what football is about.

What if it never happens?

Then it never happens. What can you do? Do you know, along the journey, that it will never happen? No, so therefore the journey that is unfinished is still, if you choose, untainted by regret. If you are two minutes away from certain death, will it be not seeing a premiership that you will think of? If not, and I doubt it would be, then what difference does it make?

I used to sit around and think "1996... what if"? But it is doesn't matter.