To win a flag...

[NMWBloods]

... we need to learn how to win consecutive big matches.

To win a premiership you typically need to win 3 very big matches in succession.

We have failed to do this year after year.

We are very very poor when it comes to the mental capacity to hold our game together for a number of weeks.

The guys in the current team have shown that old Swans spirit of failing at the key hurdles again. What makes us think these are the guys who can actually turn this around and develop this mental toughness.

[sharpie]

I think that is too simplistic, a bit too Footyhead-esque for my liking .

I think the biggest reason behind our inability to win consecutive big matches is our gameplan requiring too much energy. The hard-running, high possession gameplan calls for high skill levels, but it is tiring having to charge from one end of the ground to the other as they do. And once they tire, the skill level drops. Then we see those frustrating mistakes.

The players are exhausted after a hard-fought win, and they most likely come up against a team the following week that has not had to work as hard in their previous match. And there's the problem, they will then struggle to win that second big match.

[NMWBloods]

I think that is one of the reasons now. However, for whatever reason, I've also noticed over time that the Swans have been poor at regularly getting up for big games. I think it is partly a mental thing too.

[satchmopugdog]

To win a flag you need me to barrack for another team as I am sure I am a bad luck omen. Or am I attracted to teams who are battlers and have spirit. When you grow up in Tassie and play in state teams you know you are always going to get trounced as our population is so small. There was never anything like the feeling when you beat Queensland in hockey or drew with Victoria in netball. It is that same scenario; the David against the Goliath. Sorry chaps as long as I am on board you are going to have to accept that we will never win a premiership

SOMEBODY STOP ME!!!!!!

[Vivien]

Yeah, agree with what you're saying. So how do we fix the problem? The issue isn't a physical one - we certainly have the physical capacity and skill level (if we are in form) to string together three or four high-quality, high-intensity matches against quality opposition. So obviously it's our mentality that is letting us down.

But why is this? Why should our mental tenacity be so different to that of other clubs? And why have problems with consistency plagued us for such a long period of time? Is it a lack of leadership? Is it a fault of the coaching staff? Or is it is simply a bad habit that has slowly made itself part of the culture of the club?

I think a lot of our problems have their roots in the lack of exposure and media coverage devoted to afl in NSW. There just isn't the same pressure on the Swans to perform week-in, week-out as there is on the Melbourne, South Australian and Western Australian clubs. Furthermore, the Swans have very little opportunity to play big games in front of large crowds at the MCG. We don't get a taste of that high pressure, finals-like atmosphere like other sides do. That really hurts us when it comes to finals time, as we've seen in past years.

A high pressure environment turns out teams who know they must make a good showing each week or coach and players alike will come under serious scrutiny. That sort of environment does not exist in Sydney, and I think we are suffering as a result. Players are not made accountable by the club, the large majority of the fans (and I say this knowing full well that I may be eaten alive here!) and most importantly, the media. As such, there is not enough pressure on our team to perform.

[Vivien]

Originally posted by sharpie
[B

I think the biggest reason behind our inability to win consecutive big matches is our gameplan requiring too much energy. The hard-running, high possession gameplan calls for high skill levels, but it is tiring having to charge from one end of the ground to the other as they do. And once they tire, the skill level drops. Then we see those frustrating mistakes.

The players are exhausted after a hard-fought win, and they most likely come up against a team the following week that has not had to work as hard in their previous match. And there's the problem, they will then struggle to win that second big match. [/B]

Yeah, that's a good point, I hadn't thought of that.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Swans have been poor at regularly getting up for big games

Surely it is the opposite. I would have thought there had been plenty of examples just in the last 3 years that the swans are good at getting themselves up for big games: Brisbane repeatedly, the two finals they have won the last 2 years, the St Kilda match last year to start with.

The problem is backing up the following week, as we've already established.

[satchmopugdog]

That reminds me of that horrible daw against St. Kilda. We were expected to win and they were the ones pumped up. We seemed to be in the land of Noddy and Big Ears.

[Guzzitza]

Very good point Bloods, i think its been mentioned before (possibly by yourself) that our team finds it hard to string big wins together due to our style of footy. My girl friend and I often joke that the Swans can come and win huge matches (example of last years St Kilda match) against power house sides, but the next week we will lose to the wooden-spooners.
Clearly we need to change our tactics, hard at the ball is fine, thats good footy. But if thats the best youve got to offer, you wont be able to come back the next week and do the same again - players can only take so much consistent punishment.

Is it mental capacity? Sure, thats always a big part, but i think the mental capacity of Roos to come up with another tactic is also lacking.

[satchmopugdog]

You are all missing the point. Have I been too subtle? We have got the Tasmanian loser mentalty. That is why so many Tasmanians have played for the Swans and St. Kilda. There is no hope as Footy head would say.
Plus it has just been the anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre and none of you noticed. My vibes are drawing you closer to Antarctica without you noticing.

[Thunder Shaker]

To win a premiership, we need to do what Essendon, Brisbane and Port Adelaide have done: finish in the bottom four so we can get a decent dip at the draft. We've gone longer without a bottom four finish than any other club except Geelong. We probably have fewer players on our list drafted with single-digit draft picks than any other club.

I think the way to win the flag is to start playing a brand of football that wins finals. Long kicks into the forward line, man on man and no fear in marking contests. None of this overuse of handball in the backline that comes undone so often. We will probably suck at it, and so we will finish in the bottom four. We identify the players who are decent at that style of football and keep them. Those who are not up to scratch we trade or delist. We build the list with the players we need (KPP and midfielders), and in four years we have the kind of team that brings back memories of '87 with cricket scores at the SCG.

If the above plan has no chance of working, well it's why I don't work in football recruiting.

[floppinab]

All this talk of Tasmanians............

The Cressa Factor. Someone mentioned it in another thread a while back. He seemed to able to do it didn't he, get us up in tight games over big opponents even if he hadn't had a big game, to put that sort of consecutive streak together.

The '96 finals run was the exception of course, although that was a close thing in a couple of games.

The Crows of 97 and 98 showed you don't necessarily have to put a lot of big wins together to win premierships. Although some will say that the late nineties were years of transition in the AFL from the skills based game to the athlete based game we have today and therefore don't count!!!!

But what about our '86 '87 teams, lots of big winning streaks home and away only to collapse in finals (albeit without the home ground advantages available today).

[mpr104]

We need to start kicking goals.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by sharpie
Surely it is the opposite. I would have thought there had been plenty of examples just in the last 3 years that the swans are good at getting themselves up for big games: Brisbane repeatedly, the two finals they have won the last 2 years, the St Kilda match last year to start with.

The problem is backing up the following week, as we've already established.

Yep - what I meant by 'regularly' was the original premise of the thread - being able to do it a number of times in a row.

That they wear themselves out is an argument for the current team, but I wonder what the reason is for past Swans teams.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
That they wear themselves out is an argument for the current team, but I wonder what the reason is for past Swans teams.

Not enough talented players. Note I am not saying not enough talent, just not spread around enough.

In '96 we had Kelly, Lockett, Roos, Dunkley, MOL and Cressa in the one team. Thats a lot of talent and all of the key areas covered well. Look at Brisbane over the past few years... talent all over the park.

In an environment like that the lesser players lift because they can rely on a tide-turning move from someone near them at the important time. They can do the simple stuff themselves, and let the superstars take care of the magic.

Compare this to our current team, where there is a heck of a lot of talent up forward, and only some potential everywhere else. Everyone tries to be the superstar we so badly need, and they forget to do the simple stuff (that they would struggle to get right week-in-week-out anyway). And all of a sudden you get an inconsistent team.

And Vivien et al who keep rolling out the "lack of a critical media" line that I'm certain FH invented... how on earth do you explain the other 12 teams over the past 5yrs? They have had as much success as us at best, and much less in reality. And how on earth will the media beat-up at the moment do ANYTHING for Collingwood or Essendon this year?? Only a team / coaching staff / gameplan restructure will do that. And I can assure you the respective clubs will do their utmost to ignore the media when they do it