Tweet
With the Matty Mattner?s tackle in the Richmond game (Round 6), being talked about as ?season saving?, it was worth recalling those recent occasions when the Swans? season turned around.
Here?s some happy memories:
1996: Round 4 against Richmond, Waverley. 71-70 win
In Sydney?s Grand Final year, at Round 4 they were facing a likely but then typical bad start to another poor season. There were big losses in Rounds 1 and 2 to Adelaide and Fremantle respectively. By Round 4 at Waverley, a third and further lost was looming, when leading by a point, a young opposition Full Forward, Matthew Richardson took a mark right near the final siren in front of goal. Fortunately for Sydney and full back Andrew Dunkley, a free kick was awarded against Richo, and the Swans went on to win the game 71-70. It was Sydney?s first win against the Tigers in Melbourne for five years. They went on to lose just 3 of their next 20 games to Grand Final day.
1997: Round 11 against Port, Football Park. 71-46 win
Like this year, Sydney had a great record a home, but was playing poorly on the road. No one gave them a chance against new comers, Port, who was at that time, had won 6 straight at Football Park. A major upset, that led to Sydney making the Finals.
1999: Round 4 against the Kangaroos, SCG. 72-70 win.
Sydney began 1999 still asleep. Three comfortable losses in row, including a MCG thrashing against Essendon where Matthew Lloyd kicked 13 goals. By Round 4 it looked like lost number a four was on its way against the Kangaroos at the SCG. Down by 48 points in the second quarter, with Plugger out for the game, and ruckman Greg Stafford out injury, things were looking terrible. Fortunately, heroes emerged, (Wayne Schwass and Stuart Maxfield), a star was born (Adam Goodes), and Paul Kelly kicked the best and most important goal of his career
2001: Round 14 against Carlton, SCG. 91-81 win.
In a very average season, by Round 14, Sydney was 6 and 7, and facing the fancy Carlton at the SCG. A place in September didn?t look likely. However, an upset emerged; Sydney won, with the first of 5 straight wins in an important latter part of the season.
2003: Round 5 against Melbourne, SCG. 109-85 win.
Everyone man and his dog predicted the spoon for Sydney. By three quarter time against Melbourne in Round 5 at the SCG, they were down by 20 points, and very likely to be 1 and 4. Craig Bolton had just gone down cold with concussion. The ANZAC spirit rallied, and with an amazing 10 goal last quarter, they went on to win, and march towards a Preliminary Final
2004: Round 9 against Hawthorn, SCG. 80-79 win.
Sydney had just lost 4 straight. A lost against the lowly Hawks would have seen them 3 and 6. No chance of a finals appearance. Sydney led by 38 early in the last quarter. But the young Hawks were coming back. Right on the final siren, with Sydney leading by just a point, Spida Everett takes a specie mark right near the Hawthorn goal. Fortunately, the then Hawk was ruled out of bounds. Swans by a point. Relief! Sydney goes on to lose just three games for the rest of the home and away season and make the semi finals.
2005: Round 7 against Essendon, Stadium Australia. 94-88 win.
Hard to believe that after Round 6 in Sydney?s Premiership year, they were 2 and 4 and $36 to win the flag. Behind by 16 at 3/ 4 time at Homebush, they came back to win by 6, with a 4 goals to 1 last quarter. The rest of the season is well known to everyone.
2006: Round 5 against Geelong, Stadium Australia. 107-85 win.
Everyone was talking about Sydney?s Premiership hangover, with
losses to Essendon, Port and Melbourne in their first four rounds. The latter two losses were at home. Geelong had just won the NAB Cup and was dominant at their first two rounds, with back to back 12 goal wins against Brisbane and the Kangaroos. Fortunately Sydney got over the line, and went on to make another grand final.
Here?s some happy memories:
1996: Round 4 against Richmond, Waverley. 71-70 win
In Sydney?s Grand Final year, at Round 4 they were facing a likely but then typical bad start to another poor season. There were big losses in Rounds 1 and 2 to Adelaide and Fremantle respectively. By Round 4 at Waverley, a third and further lost was looming, when leading by a point, a young opposition Full Forward, Matthew Richardson took a mark right near the final siren in front of goal. Fortunately for Sydney and full back Andrew Dunkley, a free kick was awarded against Richo, and the Swans went on to win the game 71-70. It was Sydney?s first win against the Tigers in Melbourne for five years. They went on to lose just 3 of their next 20 games to Grand Final day.
1997: Round 11 against Port, Football Park. 71-46 win
Like this year, Sydney had a great record a home, but was playing poorly on the road. No one gave them a chance against new comers, Port, who was at that time, had won 6 straight at Football Park. A major upset, that led to Sydney making the Finals.
1999: Round 4 against the Kangaroos, SCG. 72-70 win.
Sydney began 1999 still asleep. Three comfortable losses in row, including a MCG thrashing against Essendon where Matthew Lloyd kicked 13 goals. By Round 4 it looked like lost number a four was on its way against the Kangaroos at the SCG. Down by 48 points in the second quarter, with Plugger out for the game, and ruckman Greg Stafford out injury, things were looking terrible. Fortunately, heroes emerged, (Wayne Schwass and Stuart Maxfield), a star was born (Adam Goodes), and Paul Kelly kicked the best and most important goal of his career
2001: Round 14 against Carlton, SCG. 91-81 win.
In a very average season, by Round 14, Sydney was 6 and 7, and facing the fancy Carlton at the SCG. A place in September didn?t look likely. However, an upset emerged; Sydney won, with the first of 5 straight wins in an important latter part of the season.
2003: Round 5 against Melbourne, SCG. 109-85 win.
Everyone man and his dog predicted the spoon for Sydney. By three quarter time against Melbourne in Round 5 at the SCG, they were down by 20 points, and very likely to be 1 and 4. Craig Bolton had just gone down cold with concussion. The ANZAC spirit rallied, and with an amazing 10 goal last quarter, they went on to win, and march towards a Preliminary Final
2004: Round 9 against Hawthorn, SCG. 80-79 win.
Sydney had just lost 4 straight. A lost against the lowly Hawks would have seen them 3 and 6. No chance of a finals appearance. Sydney led by 38 early in the last quarter. But the young Hawks were coming back. Right on the final siren, with Sydney leading by just a point, Spida Everett takes a specie mark right near the Hawthorn goal. Fortunately, the then Hawk was ruled out of bounds. Swans by a point. Relief! Sydney goes on to lose just three games for the rest of the home and away season and make the semi finals.
2005: Round 7 against Essendon, Stadium Australia. 94-88 win.
Hard to believe that after Round 6 in Sydney?s Premiership year, they were 2 and 4 and $36 to win the flag. Behind by 16 at 3/ 4 time at Homebush, they came back to win by 6, with a 4 goals to 1 last quarter. The rest of the season is well known to everyone.
2006: Round 5 against Geelong, Stadium Australia. 107-85 win.
Everyone was talking about Sydney?s Premiership hangover, with
losses to Essendon, Port and Melbourne in their first four rounds. The latter two losses were at home. Geelong had just won the NAB Cup and was dominant at their first two rounds, with back to back 12 goal wins against Brisbane and the Kangaroos. Fortunately Sydney got over the line, and went on to make another grand final.
Apart from that '04 was a fairly forgettable season...really only notable for us ending the Saints' winning run at the SCG, getting home in a thriller against Collingwood thanks to a bit of brilliance from Tadhg and that final against the Eagles where the heavens opened just before half-time.
Comment