Match Thread - Round 14, Collingwood

[Go Swannies]

I have always said that if my team has a red hot crack then I'll be happy. If that translates to a win then I will be absolutely ecstatic.

The thing I love about this club is that we get that effort most weeks. We have built up a culture that less than 100% commitment to the contest is deemed unacceptable. We can criticize certain players at times and not agree with selections and tactics but at the end of the day what most of love about the club as it stands is that culture of absolute commitment. The Pies match typified that commitment for me and for 99.99% (thanks Wardy) of our supporters.

+1

[giant]

I have always said that if my team has a red hot crack then I'll be happy. If that translates to a win then I will be absolutely ecstatic.

The thing I love about this club is that we get that effort most weeks. We have built up a culture that less than 100% commitment to the contest is deemed unacceptable. We can criticize certain players at times and not agree with selections and tactics but at the end of the day what most of love about the club as it stands is that culture of absolute commitment. The Pies match typified that commitment for me and for 99.99% (thanks Wardy) of our supporters.

Good call, Big Al, a brave effort from the lads and exactly the sort of performance we've been looking from vs a genuine top 4 side for a couple of seasons. Now we have a benchmark, need to see it more often.

Seemed to be a much more aggressive game plan to me, looked like Shaw was the only hard tag, right? Goodesy into the centre for the bounces, then drifting forward - worked pretty well I thought. And then much more play on than usual. Good to see.

We can improve significantly on that (as can the Pies of course), but a good foundation for the second half of the year. Certainly feeling a lot more motivated for the rest of the season than I was a week ago!

[msb]

I am with the glass half empty approach, I am sick to death of losing to collingwood, even though it was by such a small margin. Sure it was a great effort etc etc etc but WE DID NOT WIN and the fact is we only got close cause they didnt kick straight. Also we must not continue to play this mob at ANZ, it is not home ground advantage at all. The crowd of 38K that went would of had the SCG rocking the other night.

[Cheer Squad]

Also we must not continue to play this mob at ANZ, it is not home ground advantage at all. The crowd of 38K that went would of had the SCG rocking the other night.

The SCG didn't exactly provide us with a home ground advantage against Geelong, Carlton and Hawthorn earlier this year, did it?

As for the declining size of the crowd, it's unfortunate that our repeated failures against Collingwood to date have undermined the club's "blockbuster" strategy.

But on the other hand, refusing to attend our most important home game in Sydney, in expectation of another failure, demonstrates all too clearly why many of our "supporters" have the well-deserved reputation for being fickle.

[msb]

The SCG didn't exactly provide us with a home ground advantage against Geelong, Carlton and Hawthorn earlier this year, did it?

As for the declining size of the crowd, it's unfortunate that our repeated failures against Collingwood to date have undermined the club's "blockbuster" strategy.

But on the other hand, refusing to attend our most important home game in Sydney, in expectation of another failure, demonstrates all too clearly why many of our "supporters" have the well-deserved reputation for being fickle.

No, but surely it would of provided more of an advantage when playing collingwood who would nearly class it as a home game themselves considering their form there over the last 5-6 years.

[Cheer Squad]

No, but surely it would of provided more of an advantage when playing collingwood who would nearly class it as a home game themselves considering their form there over the last 5-6 years.

The last time we played Collingwood at the SCG, we lost, so it's a bit of a stretch to claim playing at the SCG would have made any difference to the results of the last few years.

Collingwood have had the wood on us - period. Wherever we've played them.

[CJK]

Your blind obsession with Homebush has now convinced you that we are not a better team at the SCG?

OK then...

[Triple B]

IMO, home ground advantage is overstated.

Home crowd advantage however is definately an advantage, from getting the players up to intimidating the umpires.

I don't mind ANZ, it is WAY easier for me to get to and from, but if we managed to get 38K there on Sat, I have no doubt we would get 45K if played at the SCG.

Now 45K at the SCG, that would be one HUGE atmosphere right there. The Collingwood fans would absolutely take over the public areas underneath the Trumper stand and it would be game on.

It seems more and more like the Swans themselves are starting to become lukewarm on the idea of playing at ANZ as well.

Even if we are still contracted and must play our regulation number of games at ANZ, I'd love to see the Swans push for next years Collingwood/Sydney game to be played at the SCG. The AFL could not reasonably argue that the 54K? capacity at the SCG is not capable of hosting the game in the current climate.

[Go Swannies]

We may have just reached the top of the spike in AFL enthusiasm for ANZ.

[Cheer Squad]

Your blind obsession with Homebush has now convinced you that we are not a better team at the SCG?

OK then...

Statistically speaking, our win/loss record is better at Homebush than the SCG, even with the repeated failures against Collingwood. And no, I don't have a blind obsession with Homebush, even though it's clear that many Swan supporters either dislike the venue, dislike travelling there, or both.

[Primmy]

Can I point out that the Swans have had the wood over Brissy for years and years, even when they took all those premierships. they must have been sick of the sight of red and white. Guess collingwood is just gods payback. However, a change would be nice, Sir!

[ugg]

Even if we are still contracted and must play our regulation number of games at ANZ, I'd love to see the Swans push for next years Collingwood/Sydney game to be played at the SCG. The AFL could not reasonably argue that the 54K? capacity at the SCG is not capable of hosting the game in the current climate.

Will next year's game be in Sydney? I'm sure GWS would love a slice of the bountiful pie that a home match against the Pies brings with it and I can't see Collingwood travelling twice (hah!) to Sydney.

I think the capacity of the SCG is still below 50k

[Big Al]

Statistically speaking, our win/loss record is better at Homebush than the SCG, even with the repeated failures against Collingwood. And no, I don't have a blind obsession with Homebush, even though it's clear that many Swan supporters either dislike the venue, dislike travelling there, or both.

You like Stats so let's look at those shall we:

Homebush Played 36 Won 21 58%
SCG Played 312 Won 175 56%

On pure Stats we have a greater record at Homebush albeit by a very small margin. Now Stats don't always tell the story now though do they. At the SCG we have played through eras where Cheer Cheer was played after winning the toss. Whereas we have played at ANZ in an era where we've only missed the finals twice. (02,09)

So if we take the SCG stats since we started playing at Homebush:

Played 82 Won 53 64%

I understand you like Homebush (some supporters do) and that's fine. I prefer to play at the SCG because that's where I like to watch the footy. All the statistical analysis in the world will not change my mind on that because it's preference thing as opposed to a practical choice.

[jono2707]

Just a couple of things from me:

1. With GWS next year, and Homebush being in the GWS, there is absolutely no good reason that we should continue playing there (I know we have a contract - I said no 'good' reason....).

2. Correct me if I'm wrong but it ain't just Sydney fans who are fickle - check Port Adelaide's crowds now as compared to a year or two ago. Check Brisbane's. Check Western Bulldogs and St Kilda's..... I haven't checked stats but I would think all of the above's crowd numbers would be down. And I would think those of West Coast, Carlton and perhaps Essendon are up. Everybody loves a winner.....

[liz]

So if we take the SCG stats since we started playing at Homebush:

Played 82 Won 53 64%

I understand you like Homebush (some supporters do) and that's fine. I prefer to play at the SCG because that's where I like to watch the footy. All the statistical analysis in the world will not change my mind on that because it's preference thing as opposed to a practical choice.

It is a valid observation, but like most stats, can be misleading if taken out of context. We have generally been fixtured to play better performing opposition clubs at Homebush and lesser teams at the SCG, especially over the past couple of seasons. Media pundits often quote our recent record at Homebush as evidence that we don't play very well at the ground, ignoring the more obvious trend that recently we haven't played very well against top 4 opponents.