2024 Grand Final, vs Brisbane at MCG, Saturday 28 September, 2:30 PM

[Meg]

No white shorts for either team. The AFL announced that a couple of days ago.

Thanks I missed that. H’mm not everyone has 20:20 eyesight. Not saying can’t tell difference but it does make it easier when one team has white shorts

[mcs]

Some good omens. Saw Keiran Jack, Sammy Reid and mighty Teddy Richards on the way in! Good vibes - carn the Swannies!

[erica]

I’ve just read that both teams will wear their home strip. If that means Brisbane will wear their dark shorts as well as dark jumper, I am not thrilled. I hope they at least wear white shorts.

No white shorts for either team. The AFL announced that a couple of days ago.

[Hotpotato]

Yes, the fans have to help the will of the Universe to a Swans win today - they are a vastly different outfit now Buddy has retired (and we loved having him w us - Fitzsimmons has written a good piece today about this SMH)
The shackles are off now and the team can choose multiple routes to score.

They WILL stamp their authority on the comp this year and we will help them do it !

[Meg]

I’ve just read that both teams will wear their home strip. If that means Brisbane will wear their dark shorts as well as dark jumper, I am not thrilled. I hope they at least wear white shorts.

[Daisi]

Great to see some fans wandering around Sydney

Go Swannies!

[mcs]

Could not ask for a nicer day for it!

May the pain of 2022 drive the boys, may they give and give again, until they've got not left to give.

And may the red and white faithful help them bring home the cup!

Up the mighty Swannies - let's be doing this!!!!

[dejavoodoo44]

Since I'm feeling pretty confident of a win today, I decided to try and remember how I felt before our previous grand finals.

Back in 1996, I don't think I was at all confident. We were only a few years past the truly terrible Swans sides of the early 90s and looking at the history books, winning finals wasn't something that the Swans did often. So, it was more a case of happy to be there and to get a bit of experience for a quick return.

So, while 2005 was a bit longer wait than I was expecting, I was feeling pretty good that year. I do remember a friend asking me how realistic I thought our chances were and I replied "Around 60/40." I think that mildly optimistic assessment was based largely on my faith in Paul Roos as a coach, rather than any match up advantages.

In 2006, our series of close games against West Coast had meant that I thought it was a coin toss. And those close games left me feeling that one all was fair enough. Although, now that I know more about the lifestyle choices of some of that West Coast side, I'm probably not feeling quite so gracious.

I was feeling quite bullish in 2012, as I thought the finals wins against Adelaide and Collingwood were very good.

Unfortunately, 2014 was perhaps the most confident that I've been, due to our thrashing of North in the prelim. I think some time late in that game, I sent a text to a Hawthorn supporting friend along the lines of, "Be afraid, be very afraid" Then perhaps the only text that I sent to him during the grand final, was just after half time and read, "Too good. Bastards!!"

Obviously I was confident in 2016, coming up against the seventh placed Bulldogs. And really, I'm still not entirely convinced that we should count that one as a loss. I mean, if somebody tries to make the argument that the Franklin recruitment was a failure because we didn't win a premiership, or that Longmire can't coach because he's only won one premiership, then my first instinct is to point to the umpiring on that day.

Which brings us to 2022. I thought we had a reasonable chance, if we could get the ball to the outside and tire out the generally older and heavier Geelong players. Unfortunately, we spent most of the day being monstered at the contests and hack kicking it straight ahead to another contest.

So, possibly not a huge correlation between my confidence levels and results, but that's not going to stop me saying that I feel pretty confident today.

[UUaswan]

Here here!

I won't be able to watch the GF live as I'll be travelling from Hanoi to Saigon, but hoping for a relentless attack for four quarters.

Our best will be good enough. Come on Swannies!

Our best isnt just good enough, our best is too good

[Mark26]

Cautiously optimistic

Our best has been the best all year
Healthy team, our top end is unrivalled, well rested

They are outside the 4, well travelled, lost a ruck a few others limping.

Im hoping we show up early ans put these blokes away

Here here!

I won't be able to watch the GF live as I'll be travelling from Hanoi to Saigon, but hoping for a relentless attack for four quarters.

Our best will be good enough. Come on Swannies!

[Blue Sun]

I watched the entire 'GF Coaches and Captains' press conference on youtube this evening and the questions went in order, to: Chris, Chris, John, Chris, Chris, John, John, Chris, Harris, Dayne, Chris, Harris, John, Harris, Chris, John, Chris, John, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Harris, Dayne.

16 questions to Brisbane (12 to Chris, 4 to Harris), 8 to the Swans (6 to John, 2 to Dayne).

FFS, the Victorian footy media do not hide their ongoing disdain for the Sydney Swans do they?

Much like 2016, I'm sensing a 'fairytale' vibe for the 'Fitzroy' Lions.....and two of the umpires tomorrow, Stevic and Meredith, were part of that stitch up in 2016.

I don't want to be a pessimist and I have every confidence that we can and will win......but the umpiring tomorrow will be interesting and under scrutiny.....by us Swans fans at least.

I hope the yellow scum can just largely put the whistles away and umpire this game as true neutrals. That would be refreshing indeed.

I back this Swans team to overcome it all. They just need to believe! C’mon Bloods!!!!

[stevoswan]

I watched the entire 'GF Coaches and Captains' press conference on youtube this evening and the questions went in order, to: Chris, Chris, John, Chris, Chris, John, John, Chris, Harris, Dayne, Chris, Harris, John, Harris, Chris, John, Chris, John, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Harris, Dayne.

16 questions to Brisbane (12 to Chris, 4 to Harris), 8 to the Swans (6 to John, 2 to Dayne).

FFS, the Victorian footy media do not hide their ongoing disdain for the Sydney Swans do they?

Much like 2016, I'm sensing a 'fairytale' vibe for the 'Fitzroy' Lions.....and two of the umpires tomorrow, Stevic and Meredith, were part of that stitch up in 2016.

I don't want to be a pessimist and I have every confidence that we can and will win......but the umpiring tomorrow will be interesting and under scrutiny.....by us Swans fans at least.

I hope the yellow scum can just largely put the whistles away and umpire this game as true neutrals. That would be refreshing indeed.

[mcs]

Most of the modellers tipping the Lions for some reason:

https://squiggle.com.au/game/?gid=35915

But they all agree that it will be close.

I wouldn't read a lot into squiggle at all this season. It has a Matty Stevic sized love in for the Bulldogs all season, then it was the Hawks, then it was Port, now it's Brisbane.

It is usually a good model, but this year it's been pretty awful.

[UUaswan]

Cautiously optimistic

Our best has been the best all year
Healthy team, our top end is unrivalled, well rested

They are outside the 4, well travelled, lost a ruck a few others limping.

Im hoping we show up early ans put these blokes away

[Hotpotato]

It wont be that close. Swans win this game by 4 -6 goals.
For one v sound reason. They wont be bombing on the head
of just one (marque) player .