You don't need to be winning at this stage of the season...

[bloodboy]

Originally posted by Gary
I detect a great willingness to for give what was a pretty inept display (despite the impact of the umpires) apart from Hall & Goodes. "Early days" ... all that sort of stuff. I think a legitimate question is why did West Coast not suffer as much from the same set of potential excuses?

A couple of reasons West Coast did not suffer the same fate...

1. They did not win the flag last year
2. They were playing a team from Melbourne at their home ground in Perth
3. They did not win the flag last year

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by bloodboy
A couple of reasons West Coast did not suffer the same fate...

1. They did not win the flag last year
2. They were playing a team from Melbourne at their home ground in Perth
3. They did not win the flag last year

You forgot one point
4. They were playing St Kilda.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
It will be an incredibly emotional day for quite a few of us.

JF

Don't you mean all of us.

[cruiser]

As much as I hate travelling all the way down to Melb to watch Sydney lose, especially to Essendon (or St Kilda, or ...) I was surprisingly calm after the game and thought much the same as many have posted here. Fact is, Sydney has made a habit for ten years now of starting the season badly; we did it last year and we did it in 96. We hardly ever beat The Bummers in Melbourne but we outplayed and outscored them for 2 quarters yesterday (2nd and 4th) and we were more or less equal with them in the 3rd. There's a lot of talk down in Melbourne now about Essendon's finals chances but they only beat us convincingly in the 1st quarter. Meanwhile, some are writing Sydney off (but not Mr Connolly).

So no, I'm not worried yet. And I look forward to Sunday and the unfurling of the premiership in front of the team we took it from before we whip their bogan feral arses! Yep JF, there's nothing I like better than watching Sydney beat the Port scum.

[ROK Lobster]

I thought that we played worse a number of times last year and won. All that was missing was the last bit of urgency and desire and a bit of polish. Nothing to worry about.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
All that was missing was the last bit of urgency and desire and a bit of polish. Nothing to worry about.

I think the urgency was there right up until the final siren, however I agree with you that it all needed a bit of polish.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by bloodboy
A couple of reasons West Coast did not suffer the same fate...

1. They did not win the flag last year
2. They were playing a team from Melbourne at their home ground in Perth
3. They did not win the flag last year

Does winning the flag really mean a slower start than not...?

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Does winning the flag really mean a slower start than not...?

They didn't have a month's worth of partying to contend with at the end of the season.

More to the point, the Weagles' pre-season form has been as ordinary as the Swans.

I don't think there was a huge amount between the performance of the two teams, allowing for home advantage for the Eagles and the fact that the Saints looked very slow and unfit. Wasn't overly impressed by either of the teams on Thursday night.

Few weeks to go yet before we judge how the contenders seem to be travelling relative to each other.

Would like to think the Swans can - will - win the next two, notwithstanding a spirited performance by Carlton yesterday. After that there are a couple of tough home games coming up, with Melbourne having the wood over us at home in recent years (but not away) and Geelong in top shape early in the season (and undoubtedly out to lay some ghosts to rest).

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by liz
I don't think there was a huge amount between the performance of the two teams, allowing for home advantage for the Eagles and the fact that the Saints looked very slow and unfit. Wasn't overly impressed by either of the teams on Thursday night.

Yes, I think that's the reason rather than because we won and they didn't.

[australian_made]

Originally posted by bloodboy
A couple of reasons West Coast did not suffer the same fate...

1. They did not win the flag last year
2. They were playing a team from Melbourne at their home ground in Perth
3. They did not win the flag last year

Plus Wet Toast got in all that extra training during the off season, you know, like running from the police

But seriously, someone in the Cheer Squad needs to bring a bucket of KFC to the next Dome game... try and draw Davis a bit closer to the goals

[SMFC]

So it was an away game we dropped. We need to win nearly every home game and steal a few road ones n things fall into place as it is.

Noone's won the flag in April before...

[ScottH]

Originally posted by SMFC
So it was an away game we dropped. We need to win nearly every home game and steal a few road ones n things fall into place as it is.

Noone's won the flag in April before...

No, but we don't usually win many games in April.