Swans v Giants Elimination Final 2021

[The Big Cat]

I'm 72 and thought I was probably the oldest on RWO, but now I see I'm just a pup.

I can remember helping Dad drench ewes on the farm and listening to South being broadcast on the radio in the sheep yards. Dad was a mad South supporter, as was his dad and his grandfather who'd lived in South Melbourne before going up country as a boy looking for work. Until I was 20, South had never played a final and I can remember when we finally made the four, Dad reaching across the sheep and shaking my hand as if we'd both had something to do with the win. (My grandkids are now sixth generation Bloods supporters)

[Bexl]

Anybody else on here still pissed of we didn't win this game and maybe playing in a prelim this week?

[Roadrunner]

Anybody else on here still pissed of we didn't win this game and maybe playing in a prelim this week?

Me too Bexl, but knowing we could have/should have won is somehow making me feel better.

Very proud of the boys and in truth if you would have told me we would finish 6fh at the beginning of the season I would have jumped at it in a heartbeat!
We exceeded all expectations with our style and energy and our come-from-behind wins were truly amazing, though not very good for blood pressures.

Bring on 2022!

[Roadrunner]

I have to admit to being a Johnny come lately with the Swans.

Born in Fitzroy and followed them all their life after.

I move up to Sydney in 66 and when the Swans arrived in the 80s , I went to all their games. A footy starved Vic expatriate.

But when the Roys came to town , my maroon and blue heart came straight to the fore.

!996 came, and the Roys went.

I became a Swans member, res seat in the Brewongle for 25 years..2 flags...plenty finals...much joy.

No regrets , but still harbor hatred for the VFL sacking the Royboys.

Go Swans.

Amazing story Royboy- thank you for posting! We are so happy to have you as a Swan, and you have brought your passion to us after what must have been a heartbreaking experience when the Roys departed the league.

Were you ever tempted to follow the Brisbane Lions, as a few of my mates who had followed Fitzroy did (for a while)?

[dejavoodoo44]

Great to hear about your transition to the Swans. I have in the past wondered about your RWO posting name.

I recently rewatched all the ‘Jack Irish’ TV episodes (lockdown activity). I really enjoyed the depiction of the ongoing pain of the old Roy supporters.

One of my best friends, also a Fitzroy diehard, like you has never forgotten or forgiven. She became a Dees supporter after partnering with a Melbourne fanatic + Paul Roos time as Melbourne coach.

Go Swans!

Yes, I enjoyed Jack Irish. Bit of a shame that the Fitzroy youth club ended up in a nursing home, after the pub got the hipster treatment.

My father became a Swans fan in a similar way. When Norths were kicked out of the NRL, he was largely largely disillusioned with league and became much more interested in AFL and the Swans.

[royboy42]

Amazing story Royboy- thank you for posting! We are so happy to have you as a Swan, and you have brought your passion to us after what must have been a heartbreaking experience when the Roys departed the league.

Were you ever tempted to follow the Brisbane Lions, as a few of my mates who had followed Fitzroy did (for a while)?

Not really. By then it was a natural transition to Sydney.

I'd lived here for 30 years, and been going to the SCG all the time the swans had been here, around 15 years or so.

Apart from an occasional twitch when Brissy wear the old maroon and white Fitzroy jumper as an away , I'm 1000% Swan.

And I apologise for hijacking this thread.

I am as devastated at our elim loss as anyone, but delighted at our 2101 efforts.

[MattW]

Not really. By then it was a natural transition to Sydney.

I'd lived here for 30 years, and been going to the SCG all the time the swans had been here, around 15 years or so.

Apart from an occasional twitch when Brissy wear the old maroon and white Fitzroy jumper as an away , I'm 1000% Swan.

And I apologise for hijacking this thread.

I am as devastated at our elim loss as anyone, but delighted at our 2101 efforts.

No need to apologise - enjoyed reading your biography.

[basher williams]

Williams was my favourite player then RR. Also Jack Graham was another favourite. Nash and Bob Pratt both finished their careers in 45. I saw Pratt"s last game . Came off in the 2nd qtr with a knee injury and never played again.Brownlow medallist Herb Matthews and full back Jim Cleary were also high on my list.
Footy day ,always Saturday then eagerley awaited. Catch the train at Clifton Hill to Princes Bridge ,then jump on the tram to the Lakeside oval. Full of expectations in the years when having a win was like winning a final Sneak into the rooms to look up at the players and listen to the coaches address.Always kept a zack (5cents) for a sav and roll at half time. after kicking the paper footy around. After the game if a win a rarity then no hope of getting into the rooms. So back to Clifton Hill and await the next week. Great days. I guess when you have experience a run of 29 games without a win a 3 or 4 losing streak is not so bad

[Faunac8]

And I thought 92-93 was tough to watch as a supporter with only 1 win for the season in 93 . We had 26 games without a win followed by another 10 that was tough enough I don’t know how I would have handled the 70’s run.

[Roadrunner]

And I thought 92-93 was tough to watch as a supporter with only 1 win for the season in 93 . We had 26 games without a win followed by another 10 that was tough enough I don’t know how I would have handled the 70’s run.

Yep, they were awful times. A close mate was a Carlton supporter and I was so frustrated with their chequebook ability to sign so many top players. But then when you win a game amid the drought it’s like winning the flag, so I wouldn’t swap the feeling, the elation, for half the rice in China!

Well, maybe……….

[AppleCore]

I have to admit to being a Johnny come lately with the Swans.

Born in Fitzroy and followed them all their life after.

I move up to Sydney in 66 and when the Swans arrived in the 80s , I went to all their games. A footy starved Vic expatriate.

But when the Roys came to town , my maroon and blue heart came straight to the fore.

!996 came, and the Roys went.

I became a Swans member, res seat in the Brewongle for 25 years..2 flags...plenty finals...much joy.

No regrets , but still harbor hatred for the VFL sacking the Royboys.

Go Swans.

Hello royboy
You may not realise the irony of being a Fitzroy supporter who laments their passing and now barracks for the Swans.
My understanding of the sad saga (please correct if wrong): When the VFL were selecting a team to be sent to Sydney to exploit the Sydney advertising market and to provide a Sunday game that could be directly televised to Melbourne, they initially selected Fitzroy (who supposedly were in the worst financial shape of the VFL teams). However, people associated with the Fitzroy hierarchy learnt of the VFL's plans and initiated a campaign of lobbying the other VFL clubs to have South sent in their place. This campaign was successful and Fitzroy received a temporary stay of execution. Of course, I appreciate that even if South had survived this episode, it is very likely that they would have ultimately been sent to somewhere like Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Nevertheless, this old South supporter does not harbour rosy memories of Fitzroy.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

And I thought 92-93 was tough to watch as a supporter with only 1 win for the season in 93 . We had 26 games without a win followed by another 10 that was tough enough I don’t know how I would have handled the 70’s run.

The 70's weren't all doom and gloom, we made the finals twice - both occasions were false dawns, but compared to the previous decades they were golden ages.
And our domination of the Brownlow was a sort of consolation.

[RogueSwan]

Anybody else on here still pissed of we didn't win this game and maybe playing in a prelim this week?

Not pissed off, more thinking about what could have been. I would have given us a strong chance against the Cats. I think we would be exposed by the Dees ruck/midfield this week but we'll never know

[KSAS]

Anybody else on here still pissed of we didn't win this game and maybe playing in a prelim this week?

+1
I'm quietly confident we would've gotten over the Cats & be facing Port this week. Luke Parker hinted the same on the AFL360 the other night. Interestingly he mentioned they haven't reviewed the game as a team yet, such was the hurt felt. They will be doing so when players return from their breaks. Hope it burns them to finish in top 4 next season.

[Sandridge]

Hello royboy
You may not realise the irony of being a Fitzroy supporter who laments their passing and now barracks for the Swans.
My understanding of the sad saga (please correct if wrong): When the VFL were selecting a team to be sent to Sydney to exploit the Sydney advertising market and to provide a Sunday game that could be directly televised to Melbourne, they initially selected Fitzroy (who supposedly were in the worst financial shape of the VFL teams). However, people associated with the Fitzroy hierarchy learnt of the VFL's plans and initiated a campaign of lobbying the other VFL clubs to have South sent in their place. This campaign was successful and Fitzroy received a temporary stay of execution. Of course, I appreciate that even if South had survived this episode, it is very likely that they would have ultimately been sent to somewhere like Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Nevertheless, this old South supporter does not harbour rosy memories of Fitzroy.

I'm not sure that Fitzroy actively lobbied for South to go to Sydney instead of them - might be wrong there - but it's certainly true that Fitzroy was the first club considered for relocation.

Proposed mergers and relocations of the Fitzroy Football Club - Wikipedia