Why we must win the flag this year

[swans_premiers]

In sports, you simply aren't considered a real champion until you have defended your title successfully. Winning it once can be a fluke; winning it twice proves you are the best.
- Althea Gibson

[Wardy]

Not putting them under any pressure though .....

[DamY]

Why we must win the flag this year

If it was that easy, it'd happen all the time. GF winners need measures of both talent and luck. Don't get me wrong, I'd love the boys to go back to back but it will be a massive task to do so and a major achievement if it happened

[DeadlyAkkuret]

So Geelong aren't real champions? Gotcha.

[Big Al]

I usually don't give a @@@@ what outsiders think of the Swans but try telling me our flag was a fluke and you'll see a grown man have a temper tantrum. Those that sit near me at the footy will tell you it ain't a pretty sight.

[neilfws]

Back-to-back is a big ask, but not as unusual as you might think. Here's a helpful table at Wikipedia.

[liz]

Back-to-back is a big ask, but not as unusual as you might think. Here's a helpful table at Wikipedia.

Pretty rare in the last 20 years or so. Obviously the Lions had their threepeat. Crows did it, but with a healthy does of luck given North should have had the 1998 Grand Final wrapped up at half time. Otherwise it has proved very tricky.

I can't see why we're not in with a shot this year, but there are half a dozen good sides all in with a shot and only one can win it. Injuries are going to play a big part in which team can best time their run to peak at the end of September.

[dimelb]

If two players (I mention no names) had played their normal game, we would have gone back-to-back in 2006.
Nevertheless, it is a very big ask. But I agree we are in with a chance, indeed a good chance, despite it's being Geelong's turn again.

[ScottH]

If two players (I mention no names) had played their normal game, we would have gone back-to-back in 2006.
Nevertheless, it is a very big ask. But I agree we are in with a chance, indeed a good chance, despite it's being Geelong's turn again.

Someone always has to ruin your start to the week!!

[barry]

The good thing is that the other Contenders are all at the end of their premiership Window. Cats, pies, hawks all peaked a year or two ago.

Up and comes like freo , Richmond, etc arent their yet. Essendon will be rubbed out before the year is out.

We are a very good chance to go back to back

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Yeah nah I wouldn't be ruling out Geelong, Hawthorn or Collingwood at this stage.

[ScottH]

The good thing is that the other Contenders are all at the end of their premiership Window. Cats, pies, hawks all peaked a year or two ago.

Up and comes like freo , Richmond, etc arent their yet. Essendon will be rubbed out before the year is out.

We are a very good chance to go back to back

I wouldn't write any of those 3 off just yet.
Cats aren't as great as what they were but still have a lot of class, even from the young kids.
Hawks are still a huge threat, and with Lake now slotted into the team, their defence will improve.
And the Pies have a lot of injuries, and are still doing OK. Once they get some players back they will be a force to reckon with.

It is very unlikely that a team with little or no finals experience will win a GF. So whilst Essendon, are on top, can they last the season. Same for Port and Tigers, both who have been playing good footy.

[mcs]

I'm not convinced Collingwood will challenge this year, but your absolutely silly to say that the Cats or Hawks peaked a couple of years ago. I don't think the Cats are as good as everyone makes out, and their new young brigade might not sustain their high levels of performance all season, but to say they can't win the flag is ridiculous. Likewise the Hawks. they are winning and winning well recently despite Buddy playing some of the worst footy of his career.

To be honest, on the form we've shown in the first 6 weeks, if you were a supporter of an opposing team, you'd feel that we have very little chance of going back to back. But the season is a marathon, and we have always been a club that has performed best when it matters at the business end of the season. I think our season will be set up in the next 5 weeks. Win less than 3 and we will struggle to make the 4. Win 3 of the 5 and its about par for the course. Win 4 or 5 and we will be sitting very nicely and well and truly in the hunt for top 2 and a real push for the flag, especially considering we will have a fit K Tippett to slot into the forward line.

[Bloody Hell]

Good quote, but applies to tennis better than football.

[snajik]

Geelong are often touted as the team of the decade, yet we were only one unfathomable first half stuff up away from equalling their recent record. And I don't concur that there were only two culprits.