What happens next

[Jimitron5000]

Kieran Jack can spend the summer learning to kick with his right foot - it is not solely for balance. I have been wondering when his complete inability to anything with his right foot other than stand on it would cost us.

[stevoswan]

It came to my mind at the ground as well during the slaughter. I doubt Kirky would have been able to stop what happened either, but I know he wouldn't have let the rot just continue on. As you said, no one stood up and said 'enough of this'. The few that did (Goodesy I thought tried valiantly, and a few others like Mal tried hard to keep it even) were not in the position to influence the problem. To me, and this is not meant as a slight on either Jack or McVeigh, our leadership is missing that essential ingredient at the moment.

As you said, it didn't need to be McVeigh - just someone. I wonder if a few thought 'we'll get some Buddy magic here in a minute and she'll all be right' instead of taking ownership of the problem and doing something about it. It really was the most disappointing aspect of yesterday - how we just bent over and took it, with little fight or resistance. We have been spoilt by how good our team has been at never giving up, never letting a team truly dominate us - which makes what we saw yesterday so hard to take.

Agree with your post entirely, especially the last two sentences, that's what really hurts. I feel it has shaken the faith a bit....and that's sad.

[Conor_Dillon]

Heard a few Swans fans say this loss was easier to deal with than '06 because of the final margin...I don't understand this at all. I couldn't imagine anything being more painful than total humiliation on the biggest stage of all.

[stellation]

Heard a few Swans fans say this loss was easier to deal with than '06 because of the final margin...I don't understand this at all. I couldn't imagine anything being more painful than total humiliation on the biggest stage of all.

I can understand the logic. With 2006 a player might forever dwell on one moment given the final result, whereas with 2014 there's little point.

[Jeffers1984]

@@@@ that, 06 was heartbreaking to lose by a point but at least after half time we had a @@@@ing go.

The debacle on Saturday was humiliating, piss weak and plain right embarrassing.

[Ampersand]

There's no point in dwelling on it. It happened and we have to move on. Our young players will learn a hell of a lot from it and I think it will be fundamental formative experience to their competitiveness as footballers for the remainder of their careers. They'll do everything they can to avoid experiencing something so humiliating and painful in the future.

I think the nature of the loss does a lot of external damage to the AFL brand within NSW. There would have been a lot of first time viewers on Saturday that would have walked away wondering why they bothered. I wouldn't be surprised to see membership numbers sharply down next season and players will have to earn back the trust of a lot of newer supporters.

That said, within the club I doubt there will be much long term damage. Unlike last year we have a healthy list that will be able to complete a full preseason of preparation. We have a year of experience in playing with Buddy. We have some exciting young prospects coming through and we can move on some older or poorly performing players. And, most importantly, we have the opportunity to address the tactical and structural issues we've papered over throughout the season.

[Dave]

@@@@ that, 06 was heartbreaking to lose by a point but at least after half time we had a @@@@ing go.

The debacle on Saturday was humiliating, piss weak and plain right embarrassing.

Yep. I felt sad in '06 but now just angry. I'm even more pissed off today than I was on Saturday. I would've been happier if they forgot about the ball and just started belting the Hawks players. At least some sign of aggression!

So insipid. Bloods my a#@e.

[goswannie14]

Kieran Jack can spend the summer learning to kick with his right foot - it is not solely for balance. I have been wondering when his complete inability to anything with his right foot other than stand on it would cost us.

It's not the first time either. It cost us twice on Saturday. If that first one had gone through, who knows what that would have done to the rest of the match. I like him, but his lack of a right foot and his hospital handpasses have cost us too many goals this year.

[Reggi]

Stepwise Dewvwill have an interesting week.

In retrospect it looks obvious that our midfield was too small will the exception of JPK. From the stands at centre bounces we looked ridiculously small.

I don't think it is som much the players we have as what we didn't have. With out ROK and Mummy no one to stand up in a contest and get the ball out.

[mcs]

Heard a few Swans fans say this loss was easier to deal with than '06 because of the final margin...I don't understand this at all. I couldn't imagine anything being more painful than total humiliation on the biggest stage of all.

I don't have that view. I know the first half in 06 was insipid, but we roared home that day, showed some courage, showed the vaunted Bloods spirit, and got so close to winning it. On Saturday, faced with a similar position at half time, we went out without a whimper, without even a stir of resistance - as I said in another thread, we simply bent over and took it. I think Saturday hurts so much more than 06, or even 96, and it'll take a lot of hard work, guts, and glory to help us get over Saturday.

I have no doubt that we as a club will rebound - but the hurt we all felt on Saturday won't heal until we make amends for it - on the biggest day of the season and lift the cup again. Even if that takes another 50 years, until we lift the cup again, the hurt of Saturday will continue to gnaw away at us. Just imagine what it will feel like if we meet Hawthorn in the GF next year. We will all be hoping so much that what we saw on Saturday won't happen again - but who has the faith to say it wouldn't happen again?

[Mel_C]

Yep. I felt sad in '06 but now just angry. I'm even more pissed off today than I was on Saturday.

Same here I feel worse today!

[Conor_Dillon]

Do the Sydney based RWO-ers think that this loss will do damage to our brand in NSW? It would be terrible to see our membership not rise again next year.

[mcs]

Do the Sydney based RWO-ers think that this loss will do damage to our brand in NSW? It would be terrible to see our membership not rise again next year.

I doubt it. The fickle fans on the edges will keep flocking up for the 'Buddy' factor. Everyone will be disappointed, but for many it will be forgotten in time, and I'd surprised if our membership base doesn't grow a little bit again next year.

[magic.merkin]

Heard a few Swans fans say this loss was easier to deal with than '06 because of the final margin...I don't understand this at all. I couldn't imagine anything being more painful than total humiliation on the biggest stage of all.

I hold that view, dunno why. We just never looked like it. To come so close (in a game sense not season sense) and lose is tougher for me to take. Losing by 10 goals is all things you said. But it wasn't one decided by a bounce or skill error. After the first 10mins i never felt like it was ours to lose. At the ground it was the longest half of footy i have sat through, but the demise was so long, i kind of got numb to it.

We will be better for it, our young 2012 brigade will now know what pain the hawks felt, and how hard it really is. The kids, cunningham etc have now felt true fire and loss. We will move on a few and blood a few more. Buddy and Tippet have a season under their belt with us.

I've thoughts on the game itself and performances, but meh. I just can't muster the will.

[Matt80]

Do the Sydney based RWO-ers think that this loss will do damage to our brand in NSW? It would be terrible to see our membership not rise again next year.

Not at all. We still have Buddy to build the brand and membership. We have the blond Waverley College educated Heeney coming through. He will develop a cult following and raise brand values.