Sydney Swans Demolition Of The Mighty Brisbane
The shocked AFL pundits cried out, nobody picked this!!! The Sydney Swans demolition of the mighty Brisbane Lions in the Qualifying Final at the SCG. A talent depleted Sydney outfit outplayed the premiers for 4 quarters on a Saturday afternoon in the Harbour City. In actual fact, someone did pick this massive upset. No lesser person than the great Buddy Franklin picked this result and publicised it via his YouTube video with Shane Crawford. Buddy, I am reminded, is a great student of the game, according to John Longmire; and he proved it on this occasion.
Swans Forwards Fantastic In Qualifying Final Win
The other ‘so-called’ football experts in the AFL media were so far off the mark, they could have been Josh Treacy in the other Qualifying Final over in Perth. The Dockers were well beaten by Hawthorn last Thursday night and the Freo forwards hardly touched it all night. David King eat your words and hang your head in shame. Meanwhile, in Sydney, the Blood’s forwards were on fire and Logan McDonald came of age kicking 6 goals on Harris Andrews. Charlie Curnow starred with 5 goals and was a major force in this final. Tom Papley was the man, however, with full bodied tackles inspiring his team mates and 5 goals of his own. Papley, the Firestarter, was bloody marvellous to behold. Hayden McLean kicked 3 goals and was a presence all day in the air too.
“A dynamic forward trio led the charge, with Logan McDonald bagging six goals, while Charlie Curnow and Tom Papley booted five majors each, as the Lions were comprehensively beaten in all facets of the game, falling 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88). “
Sydney Midfield Dominates SCG Final
It all begins in the midfield, of course, and Errol Gulden was simply terrific. James Rowbottom blanketed Lachie Neale and applied maximum pressure all bloody day. Jai Serong was great too and Angus Sheldrick, Caiden Cleary and Tom Hannily all played their important parts in the demolition of Brisbane. Jake Lloyd was at it, with his run and carry creating opportunities. The physical pressure was the key and it did not let up for 4 quarters. Similarities with the Hawkes crushing of Fremantle via pressure, pressure and more pressure, was there for all to see. How does this happen? Especially for a footy side suspect all year in this vital aspect of the game?
The Narrative Made The Difference
In my opinion, it revolves around having an unshakeable narrative instilled into the whole team. The underdog status served up to the Swans following the dismissal of the 5 senior stars from the team was universal. Nobody gave this side a chance of beating the premiers in an important final. Well, Buddy Franklin did. I imagine that Buddy had some inside information via his close connections with the club. Tom Papley spoke about the prep on one of the footy shows on Sunday, post-game, about the preparation the Swans did. The training and the coaching was unbelievable, in Tom’s review of it, and like nothing he had ever experienced before.
The playing group was charged up and battle ready. They targeted the weaknesses of the Lions.
What Weaknesses?
Daniel Hoyne, the Champion Data guru, had warned the AFL public that Brisbane did not have the defensive profile this season to win the premiership. Still, they had looked bloody good coming into the finals with winning form on the board. Hoyne was backing history until the history changed. The Lions are an offensive juggernaut on their day and it aint over yet folks. They get to tussle with Adelaide at the Gabba in a Semi Final.
Underdog Overcoming Adversity
The belief instilled into the Sydney Swans team was electric. Dane Rampe, the old man in red and white down back, turned the clock back with his raking left foot. Tom McCartin was huge. Harry Cunningham was another veteran playing inspiring football for 4 quarters. Young Harry Kyle was belying his tender years and game experience to do big things too. Brodie Grundy was enormous and led from the front in the ruck. Sam Wicks got better as the day wore on, with his run and carry.
Every Sydney player could hold his head up high after this tremendous effort.
Captain Callum Mills Goes Down Early On
The captain, Callum Mills, went down with a knee in the first quarter, trying to pressure last year’s GF medal winner. His season is over in another twist of rotten fortune for the leader of the red and white team. What does it say about the Swans that they were able to carry on and crush the two-time premiers despite losing their captain early on? A lot has been said about the club’s culture of late during the alleged sex crime scandal, currently engulfing the Sydney Swans AFL organisation. Human beings are complex creatures, things are never black and white, no matter what the media would have us all believe. If some do bad things, it does not necessarily follow that all must suffer for it. There are innocent players in this saga, who have been tarred with the same brush as those in the firing line. Callum Mills stood up during the media onslaught and did his club proud.
Experts My Arse
The Sydney Swans demolition of the mighty Brisbane was a big surprise for the paid pundits in the AFL media. The Greek chorus of nay sayers would be eating their words, if they had any shame, but, of course, they don’t. They all repeat each other most days, as safety in numbers is their motto.
I won’t waste too many words on these hot air merchants. Old farts in the bed clothes may hold an odour but who cares?
Can The Swans Win The Premiership?
Belief and form are building among both old and young in this side. If the narrative can continue to inspire, then, one game at a time. A Preliminary Final at home on the SCG beckons next. The opponent, as of yet, undecided. Geelong or Fremantle. Both AFL sides are top line, as expected at this time of the year. Chris Scott is the smarter coach. Freo will be desperate for the chance to find redemption. Their last encounter was close at Optus Stadium. The narrative for the Swans must be the same. If every player brings his ferocious best for 4 quarters, then, it does not matter who wears the red and white. There is enough real talent in this side to win.
The Recipe For Success
Don’t let the occasion overwhelm you. Don’t overthink it. Don’t beat yourself. We saw the Swans play with a freedom and intensity against the Lions, which proved irresistible. Players backed each other up in applying pressure to the other team. It was a winning combination. Repeat efforts across the board. A great team will beat a side replete with great players. Footy is a team game. The BS coming out of the AFL media bangs on about individuals and star players. Fundamentally, football is not about stars. Final’s footy shows that. The truly great collectives, Hawthorn and Sydney, thrashed the sides with star factor coming out of their you know where. Play for each other and you will win!
Oh, Isaac Heeney Where Art Thou Now?
“It is amazing how often fate treats hubristic behaviour in lives of the rich and famous. It is, as if, a certain point is reached or crossed by the individual and this releases the hounds of hell upon them. Isaac Heeney, the No#1 rated player in the AFL for much of the season and the poster boy for toothpaste smiles has come a cropper in the shady wee hours of Melbourne with a lap dancer. Isaac Heeney: The boy next door is no more. No, the nice lad we once knew has morphed into a dirtbag hero. Strippers or exotic dancers crying sexual assault rings in the ears of the greater public.”
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of The Stoic Golfer; The AI Heresy; What Price Life?; America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump; and other titles. NOW AVAILABLE AT APPLE BOOKS & GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS. Google Play Books AUDIOBOOK
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