Round 18 Gameday Thread vs. St. Kilda

[AnnieH]

Even Roosey was ok after the game. When I told him that I was OK with the result, he asked why ... getting to within one point of St Kilda is almost as good as win this year Roosey!!
I'm proud of the massive effort that was put in tonight. It gives me hope for the future.

[Big Al]

Memo to the SCG Trust.

There maybe a seat in the Brewongle stand a little worse for wear after been slammed down in frustration. Please send the repair bill c/o Jeff Gieshen at AFL House Melbourne Victoria.

[alison.z]

Even Roosey was ok after the game. When I told him that I was OK with the result, he asked why ... getting to within one point of St Kilda is almost as good as win this year Roosey!!
I'm proud of the massive effort that was put in tonight. It gives me hope for the future.

He seemes very positive and very proud in his post-match interview ... singled out all the youngsters and said it was disappointing but in a 1 point loss there's not much you can dwell on...

[Bloody Hell]

Except we didn't.

My bad. Much better memory.

[Industrial Fan]

Just got back from the game. The umpires had nothing to do with the loss. There were probably 10 free kicks that could have been given to either team in the last 5 minutes, its the ones they pay that?s the problem, not the ones they don?t. In any event, tonight our football team got back to bloods football and again showed that all that matters is how much you want it. I attribute the way they play to Paul Roos and hope this game has refreshed the memory of those naysayers. This team is enormous.

The worst decision of the night was the R.Shaw out of bounds...!

Great game.

This team is coming - sooner than we may have expected.

[gossipcom]

I was definitely bemused by the umpiring at times tonight, as were some of the Saints supporters around me.

After last week's efforts, that is what you call a massive turnaround in how they should play.

Ummm.... they had some injuries too

They had a number, but in the end we had no bench. I completely missed that Jolly had a hamstring strain during the match and I was sitting near the damn bench. Definitely saw the Bird, ROK and Ablett injuries. None of those looked good at all.

Even though it was disappointing to lose, the dedication those guys showed tonight was unbelievable.

There was a major panic attack for a while when Mickey was doing his stretches on the ground, making sure he could see out the match so he'd be fine for next week.

[SimonH]

Let's even forget the ignored 50 metre penalties (which were evened up to some extent with a lucky one to McVeigh which basically resulted from dal Santo mishearing the umpire). A number of the HTB decisions (or 'there's some black in your jumper, we'll let you do a pirhouette, sit down for a while and then contemplate your best release option' non-decisions) were an absolute freakin' disgrace.

But at the end of the day you usually get what you deserve. And if you're playing the best team in the comp and have got key forwards who can't kick goals that an amateur player (never mind a state-leaguer) should be untroubled by, then you don't deserve to win. (Even though the Saints had a similar problem with Koschitzke and Riewoldt.)

It's all very well to be happy with the performance, but I'm ropeable at the loss. The main reason being that we were the better side on the night. To be that and lose, speaks of a side that needs a better killer instinct.

And by the way, Grundy was absolutely freakin' brilliant when it counted. Heroic, almost.

[Xie Shan]

It's all very well to be happy with the performance, but I'm ropeable at the loss. The main reason being that we were the better side on the night. To be that and lose, speaks of a side that needs a better killer instinct.

Oh I couldn't agree more... I saw it a bit differently because the result didn't have a bearing on the outcome of the season, other than keeping our "mathematical" finals hopes alive if we had won... I think the guys just needed that game to give them the belief that they could still compete with the best. The Saints were the only team in last year's finals that we beat in 2008 (other than North!) and I think it's an (unwanted) record that does affect the team's confidence.

[annew]

As I said a couple of weeks ago, we are not yet a legitimate finals contender so I would rather we play the current top teams in the last few weeks and lose (although I hate losing and would have loved to win tonight) so the newbies know the level required than play the bottom teams and win. Much better preparation for next year and the Swans were good tonight and some real positives for the future. Go Swans and lets show em all you don't have to tank like Carlton & WC to remain competitive!!!!!

[Q...]

I thought the opposite. We played very well tonight but if they can barely scrape a win against the Swans kids playing hard footy the Saints are not going to make it throughbthe finals to be premiers. There will be 14 coaches watching that game tonight and thinking "Hmm the Saints are vulnerable. Very vulnerable." After the Cats lost to the Saints they have looked very wobbly. I wonder if the near-loss tonight may have the same result with the Saints?

I said that a while ago. Of course the saints are more vulnerable now. But that's not the point that I care about.

It wasn't the @@@@ arsed Swans that have presented that opportunity to every other club. It was the KICK ARSE Swans!!!

We played good. The Saints played good. I'm sad about the outcome. Geelong are toppling. They currently fear us more than any other team.

Bring on the toppling Cats...

[Q...]

Oh I couldn't agree more... I saw it a bit differently because the result didn't have a bearing on the outcome of the season, other than keeping our "mathematical" finals hopes alive if we had won... I think the guys just needed that game to give them the belief that they could still compete with the best. The Saints were the only team in last year's finals that we beat in 2008 (other than North!) and I think it's an (unwanted) record that does affect the team's confidence.

First, Simon seems to contradict himself.

But back to your point, don't you think the Saints represent something categorically different this year to any previous year? Don't you think a side that has a perfect record requires kudos?

Which team could the Swans defeat (or lose to by a point) that would lead you to believe that the players might be able to take some psychological advantage from that result?

In my opinion, you are marking so hard that your pass mark is unachievable.

How could you not take confidence from that!?! (genuine question)

If they can't take confidence from that, where is it that you suggest that they may be able to acquire some from?

(Edit: on fifth reading of your post, I'm not actually sure of your position... However, my post still stands for all the other "what difference does it make" posters, so I'm going to leave it.)

[smasher]

The tackling was awesome and great to watch.We have some tough,hard bodies going around for us.Shame about Bird going down like he did.He still needs plenty of time in the gym but he'll get there.I haven't seen the Swannies apply such pressure with this team before.They have proved what they are capable of.Also they really played team footy last night.

[top40]

I am really pleased to observe that by and large, the messages from this thread have been positive and up, and not the opposite. To see Sydney come back in that last quarter against St Kilda was such a pleasant surprise. This is particularly when you consider such disappointing recent final quarters, witness Geelong/Round 7, West Coast/Round 8 (4 goals to 2), Hawthorn/Round 11, Collingwood/Round 12 (4 goals to nil), Adelaide/Round 13,and especially Carlton/Round 16 (9 goals to nil) .

Hopefully this game will give the Swans kids of the future a real mental boast. The result will not in time become relevant. What will be relevant will be the courage, the determination and that 4th quarter comeback.

I am in two minds now about 2010. Will Sydney still be bottoming out and head down, or are they to have an improving and good year a la 2003? I suspect it still might be the former, but I strongly believe that the Swans will back in the 8 and on the way up again by 2011.

[Emerald Hill]

Great to see the word PROUD being used so much in this thread! And rightly so. Regardless of how well we're going win/loss wise, the Bloods ALWAYS plays with passion and courage. There's heaps to be proud of and, after last night, more than a little hope for the future, too!

[Dogzbody]

And by the way, Grundy was absolutely freakin' brilliant when it counted. Heroic, almost.

Absolutely....he was absolutely sensational. I know I have not been so confident that he would capitalize on his ability and have voiced that around here....but I am totally impressed...he was brilliant!