What I'm afraid of this week...

[OldE]

Isn't Gehrig or Riewoldt or Dal Santo (though playing them will be no picnic). I'm afraid of the expectation. Or rather, the lack thereof.

We haven't won a final at the MCG since 1936. We've lost the last 2 matches against St Kilda. Everyone wrote us off mid-season. Coming back in the last quarter on Friday only adds to this "lucky to even be there" vibe. I get the feeling that if we even get close, many people will be happy. "We improved on last year", "we made the top 4- that's pretty good."

I've been thinking alot about that Gerard Healy article, in which he said, of our loss in the preliminary final of 2003, "It was an opportunity lost but, given the success of the year, it seemed to be accepted without a full examination of why it happened." If we lose this weekend, will we do the same thing again?

We need to win this week, then back that up and win again next week. Anything less is failure. Again.

[Sanecow]

In some ways it would be a shame to win.

[Rizzo]

The likes of Micky O and Bally are reminding players that the opportunity doesn't come up that often. Micky thought that they Swans would be back next year after 1996. Ball won it back in when? '92?

[TheHood]

Originally posted by Rizzo
The likes of Micky O and Bally are reminding players that the opportunity doesn't come up that often. Micky thought that they Swans would be back next year after 1996. Ball won it back in when? '92?

1994

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by Rizzo
The likes of Micky O and Bally are reminding players that the opportunity doesn't come up that often. Micky thought that they Swans would be back next year after 1996. Ball won it back in when? '92?

Unfortunately they are both proof that you might well get another chance. Besides, they tried to pull that crap in '96 by bringing in guys from '86-'87 but young guys don't listen, as Micky proves.

[Schneiderman]

Re: What I'm afraid of this week...

Originally posted by eirinn
We need to win this week, then back that up and win again next week. Anything less is failure. Again.

I agree Eirin.

But consider this: It was the Fear of Losing that I think created the game we saw on Friday night. Both sides suffered from it badly, us early, them late. And normally the Fear of Losing drives players to succeed as much as the Desire to Win.

Only thing is, it has to be an even balance. If the Fear is greater than the Desire, you get a mistake-riddled and scrappy game, where every player second-guesses his next move. If the Desire is greater than the Fear, players can get complacent or start to lairise, and suddenly the other team has the ascendancy.

The question is, what drives St Kilda this Friday? And how will they react throughout the game? Will they freeze up with fear, or become complacent with confidence? Can they find the balance?

Personally I dont think our mindset matters too much. We will go in confident but cautious, with lots to lose but lots to gain. Its how the Saints go in that will decide the result, and the media hype will have a big influence on the player's mindset.

[satchmopugdog]

I'm afraid of that horrible.horrible feeling when we lose. The despair.the reaching for the double dose of anti-depressants, the not wanting to get out of bed and face the world, the going back to work with its truck load of Saints supporters.

Please.please win.

As my new signature says,coutesy of Dylan Thomas

"rage,rage against defeat by the Saints" or something similar!!!!!!

[Chubby Muffler]

Re: What I'm afraid of this week...

Originally posted by eirinn
We need to win this week, then back that up and win again next week. Anything less is failure. Again.*

I agree as well. If we do not at least make the GF then we have not moved foreward in 3 years. We lose Ball after this year, now is the time for us to do it. It would be shattering to think we have to go into next year once again having finished close but with no banana.

Not wanting to go on a Footyhead style rant, but Roos is getting to the business end of the "5 Year Plan" or whatever it was. It is time. Gimme gimme gimme!

[dimelb]

I'm not sure where to sit on this one. The Fear of Losing is paralysing, the Desire to Win can lead to rashness.
I believe we should trust that the hard work has been done in terms of physical preparation and that from now on the games will be played to a large extent in the players' heads.
We showed with a brilliantly executed set move on Friday night that our win was not a fluke or even a theft but the capacity to think when you're exhausted, an enormous advantage.
If we do our best we haven't failed. A bit like saying a bronze at the Olympics is a failure when people were surprised you made it to the final.
I don't know what Roos will send them out with, but if I were in his shoes (thank god I'm not) I'd be saying something like: remember the plan, enjoy yourselves, cut them up.

[satchmopugdog]

I'd be saying something along the lines of the coach of the Australian skater that won Gold(forgotten his name was it Bradbury?)

"Stay on your feet"

Maybe there's an omen here as I saw him up at Mt.Buller last week.

Oh my god it's only Tuesday and I'm starting to get incoherent.

[barry]

If we lose this game, we'll be 3rd after H&A, 4th after finals. ie a poor finals series.

I wont accept losing a prelim as anything other than a failed season.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by barry
If we lose this game, we'll be 3rd after H&A, 4th after finals. ie a poor finals series.

If we win it I assume we are first or second. How do we finish 3rd?

[mocaholic]

Originally posted by dimelb
I'm not sure where to sit on this one. The Fear of Losing is paralysing, the Desire to Win can lead to rashness.
.....
I don't know what Roos will send them out with, but if I were in his shoes (thank god I'm not) I'd be saying something like: remember the plan, enjoy yourselves, cut them up.

dunno what happened to my post so I'll repeat it...

"You can be afraid to lose. You cannot be afraid to WIN!"

(?mocaholic, 2005)

[barry]

Originally posted by Sanecow
If we win it I assume we are first or second. How do we finish 3rd?

I dont think its possible.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Sanecow
If we win it I assume we are first or second. How do we finish 3rd?

We came 3rd in 2003 because we came 4th in the H&A then beat the minor premiers in the QF. So if we beat the Saints, they will come 3rd.