Swans Saints Elimination Final - match day thread

[Xie Shan]

I agree on the similarities to the 2005 prelim, especially ROK nearly BOG... I just can't believe we lost all those ugly games against the Saints at Etihad yet beat them there tonight in a final!!

The guys really stood up in the last quarter, though. St Kilda were coming at us and we held firm. How cool were O'Keefe, McGlynn and Mumford with those set shots at goal in the last quarter. LRT's experience really helped out the backline today.

So, Hawks next week, our second MCG semi-final in as many years. The lessons of 2010 will be fresh in the players' minds this week. Collingwood showed against the Eagles in 2007 that it is possible to win a second week final on the road, which pretty much every other team has struggled to do. Can we do it this time round?

[Bloodmaniac]

I thought tonight's win was a turning point for the Swans. They were outgunned in the third quarter and instead of capitulating, they came back in the fourth. I was very despondent after the Richmond loss and admittedly started to lose faith. But tonight they were magnificent. A real team effort.

For mine, Teddy Richards BOG> his first half was awesome.

[rojo]

Oh what a beautiful evening, oh what a beautiful night, I've got a wonderful feeling, 'cos everything turned out all right!!

What a great win.

Particularly satisfying that all those Victoria-centric commentators who tipped the Saints to win were forced to eat humble pie.

[msb]

Well - They lose for the first time since 2003 ... And I for one couldn't think of a better team than us to inflict that loss on them ...

Cant agree more, this is such a sweet sweet victory, their horrible history of failure continues! I am satisfied now for the year, I can go to the G next Friday night with a nothing to lose attitude, the pressure is all on the hawks to not go out in straight sets.

[Foreign Legion]

ROK will probably get BOG but for mine it was Smooches job on that StKilda grub that was the difference.

As you say 22 contributors tonight and no one let the team down.

Good call! Smith did better than I would have hoped for - he murdered Milne - not an easy task.

Shaw was bloody good IMHO.

[Bas]

I agree on the similarities to the 2005 prelim, especially ROK nearly BOG... I just can't believe we lost all those ugly games against the Saints at Etihad yet beat them there tonight in a final!!

Perhaps it may have something to do with us having a different coach.

[Nico]

How much better was our backline with LRT down there.

[robamiee]

great effort considering we had 6 players according to horse who haven't played finals before....

[Bazman]

Wow just got home from the game and what a night. How proud am i not only of the team but the noise from the Swans support it was near on deafening at times.

[dimelb]

Not long home from the aftermatch, good time had by all.
Agree with most of the comments here, and was not happy during the 3rd Q when Saints stepped up and we almost didn't hold them. I noticed they brought their sub on early and it may have helped them, but I think Parker replacing the wounded Hanners helped us similarly.
But top games from Ted (what a reliable backman he has turned into), Smooch on Milne (the Silent Assassin strikes again, and we had a not-so-silent assassin nearby who gave Milne heaps every time he went near the ball), ROK really stood up and can stop thinking about life after football, Mummy our extra midfielder, Shaw not always accurate but could give the Energiser bunny ten minutes start, welcome back LRT etc. etc. No passengers, no poor performances although we had our share of clangers, a very even spread of contribution.
Look forward to the Melbourne pundits eating their words later this morning on the two footy shows.

[Nico]

Our centre clearance work has turned around big time. The last 4 weeks have been something to behold. Geelong showed on Friday night how vital it is to win clean centre clearances when they pumped Hawthorn in the second quarter. We were very good in the guts tonight.

[Red]

Cant agree more, this is such a sweet sweet victory, their horrible history of failure continues! I am satisfied now for the year, I can go to the G next Friday night with a nothing to lose attitude, the pressure is all on the hawks to not go out in straight sets.

+1

Nicely put. How sweet it is

[31 hard at it]

I thought Joey and Goodes clearances in the 2 nd qtr and then again in the last were the key.
Powerful performances
A magnificent effort from the whole team tonight. So Proud to have seen it live.
Extra plaudits the the Cheer Squad who gave it to the noisy saints fans nearby in the last )

Sam Reid is a star.

SPECIAL MENTION ADAM GOODES - NOT A BAD 299TH

[MarshallG]

Great all round effort.

The old guard lift.

The recruits from other teams, you just shake your head in (happy) disbelief.

The youngsters, well, I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way, gone are the dark clouds that had me blind, it?s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sun shiny day.

[Teasdale77]

Cant agree more, this is such a sweet sweet victory, their horrible history of failure continues!

A friend I was watching with commented after the game that the Saints didn't seemed too shattered by the loss and I pointed out that it was because they're getting used to it. It used to be that St Nick of the Commentators would cry after a significant defeat but now he just wanders off. Too bad that they won't easily recover from the damage we've inflicted in the last 2 outings, but enough about them, bring on the Stains!