Why This Grand Final Win Feels Different

[Matty10]

The 2012 premiership is likely to feel different than the 2005 to many people for a myriad of reasons.

What stands out for me is that 2012 gave the club a greater sense of legitimacy as a powerhouse of the AFL. 2005 was great, but it was breaking a 72 year drought. The story that was being told in 2005 was the same story that was being told about the Swans in 1996 (essentially our entire club history, with particular emphasis on the move to Sydney and the troubles it created). The victory in 2005, to a large degree, enabled a new story to be told in 2012. This story was all about the great culture of a great club.

The other reason that this year felt different was that the GF was played against Hawthorn who have been a legitimate powerhouse of the AFL / VFL over the last 40 years, and during the 80s had made sport out of destroying the Swans just about every time we met (even when we were good). The rivalry with West Coast during 05 & 06 was great, but it did not have a long history. Not that we had a great VFL rivalry with Hawthorn either, but the victory this year represented a win over the established clubs (even though the Hawks were not a foundation club themselves) in a way that a win over the Eagles did not provide. We stopped a successful club from the VFL becoming even more successful in the AFL - that feels good.

Beating Collingwood along the way also helped make 2012 special.

[Industrial Fan]

The 2012 premiership is likely to feel different than the 2005 to many people for a myriad of reasons.

What stands out for me is that 2012 gave the club a greater sense of legitimacy as a powerhouse of the AFL. 2005 was great, but it was breaking a 72 year drought. The story that was being told in 2005 was the same story that was being told about the Swans in 1996 (essentially our entire club history, with particular emphasis on the move to Sydney and the troubles it created). The victory in 2005, to a large degree, enabled a new story to be told in 2012. This story was all about the great culture of a great club.

The other reason that this year felt different was that the GF was played against Hawthorn who have been a legitimate powerhouse of the AFL / VFL over the last 40 years, and during the 80s had made sport out of destroying the Swans just about every time we met (even when we were good). The rivalry with West Coast during 05 & 06 was great, but it did not have a long history. Not that we had a great VFL rivalry with Hawthorn either, but the victory this year represented a win over the established clubs (even though the Hawks were not a foundation club themselves) in a way that a win over the Eagles did not provide. We stopped a successful club from the VFL becoming even more successful in the AFL - that feels good.

Beating Collingwood along the way also helped make 2012 special.

Pretty good summary I think.

Nice to not only beat Collingwood, but Adelaide in Adelaide and at the MCG. This win has its own stories as you say.

[dawson]

The 2012 premiership is likely to feel different than the 2005 to many people for a myriad of reasons.

What stands out for me is that 2012 gave the club a greater sense of legitimacy as a powerhouse of the AFL. 2005 was great, but it was breaking a 72 year drought. The story that was being told in 2005 was the same story that was being told about the Swans in 1996 (essentially our entire club history, with particular emphasis on the move to Sydney and the troubles it created). The victory in 2005, to a large degree, enabled a new story to be told in 2012. This story was all about the great culture of a great club.

The other reason that this year felt different was that the GF was played against Hawthorn who have been a legitimate powerhouse of the AFL / VFL over the last 40 years, and during the 80s had made sport out of destroying the Swans just about every time we met (even when we were good). The rivalry with West Coast during 05 & 06 was great, but it did not have a long history. Not that we had a great VFL rivalry with Hawthorn either, but the victory this year represented a win over the established clubs (even though the Hawks were not a foundation club themselves) in a way that a win over the Eagles did not provide. We stopped a successful club from the VFL becoming even more successful in the AFL - that feels good.

Beating Collingwood along the way also helped make 2012 special.

Also add to this that the Hawks had won the last 4 Grand Finals they'd played in.

[Beerman]

This week I have re-watched all the footy shows from last week (kind of reliving the whole wonderful thing) and it's funny to see who tipped us and who didn't. Players mostly tipped us (except for our 05 premiership captain), media the Hawks.

...and what's more, Micky O tipped ROK for the Norm Smith on Marngrook. (I only watched this after the GF, so it was particularly satisfying). I found it a very difficult game to tip - it really seemed like anyone's game beforehand and looking back on it you can say that Hawthorn could easily have won. If they had converted the easy goals they should have, then we would all be sitting here saying "next year".

I wasn't as nervous as 05/06 though, even when we were 12 points down in the last. I think that's down to a few things....

1. It was a higher scoring game, which means more chances to come back. In '05 it felt like each goal might be the last in the game for either side.
2. Swans were kicking with a howling gale in the last quarter, which I knew had to help them out.
3. I'm 7 years older (and perhaps wiser).

Despite this, the victory didn't seem quite as real. It took about 2 days for it to really sink in and me to get over the idea that winning a premiership isn't *necessarily* a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

[Benevolent Ert]

In 2005 we were the downtrodden club finally getting their chance at glory.
The 2012 flag is the statement that shows we are now one of the big boys.
We are capable of winning these things, and hopefully never again have to sit through 72 years in the wilderness.

2005 felt like luck went our way.
2012 feels like we controlled our own destiny.

[pirouette]

being new to AFL in 2005, I enjoyed the win, but having not yet embraced the club at the time, I feel this year's GF win has been better. I appreciate it a lot more this time around, and enjoyed it a lot more. Also, beating hoodoos to get the win really makes it feel better too!