Swans now a conundrum after another loss
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A perplexed Sydney have no idea why they went missing for two quarters as an AFL season of great promise now sits on a precipice after a third loss in four matches.
The Swans on show in a 28-point defeat by St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday were cardboard cutouts of the team which won their first five games, including a demolition of flag fancies Hawthorn.
Without injured Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, the Swans have stumbled – and it’s hard to gauge whether, or how far they may fall.
Losses to Adelaide, Richmond and now the 16.15 (111) to 12.11 (83) defeat by the Saints leave more questions than answers, though they remain well inside the top eight.
After starting well and leading by nine points at quarter-time, the Swans were simply locked down in midfield by St Kilda and starved of the ball in the second and third terms.
A late final quarter rally cut the deficit from 50 points at one stage, but Sydney coach John Longmire and his men were bewildered by what happened in the middle two quarters.
“The second quarter we looked jittery, we were fumbling the ball,” Swans midfielder Kieren Jack said.
“It’s not good enough from us.
“We couldn’t stop their momentum. That’s probably the most disappointing thing – our midfield group versus theirs, they certainly got on top and we couldn’t hold them out.”
Longmire was also struggling for immediate answers.
“We went backwards in the second and third quarter,” Longmire said.
“The first quarter we doubled their scoring shots.
“What was the difference in the first quarter and the second term?
“That’s the thing you try and put your finger on that’s difficult to do immediately after the game.”
The Swans have eight days to regroup ahead of next weekend’s clash with the Western Bulldogs at the SCG.
But they will be sweating on a possible shoulder injury to utility Alex Johnson, who left the field in the final term.
Longmire said Johnson would have scans on his injured arm.
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The Crowd Says (5) | Page 1 of Comments
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May 27th 2012 @ 2:32pm
JVGO said | May 27th 2012 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
They went missing maybe because their identiy has been compromised. Who or what do they actually represent now, other than the 20,000 diehards who are still turning up, and who exactly cares. Their leader and the one player their home city genuinely recognises is absent injured. Must be very hard for them.
May 27th 2012 @ 6:04pm
Tony said | May 27th 2012 @ 6:04pm | Report comment
Good to see NRL & soccer diehards following the Swans. So many other things to do in that gr8 city. Fantastic that the AFL commands such interest, even tho Swans crowds are down to only double any NRL game in Sydney.
May 27th 2012 @ 6:52pm
JVGO said | May 27th 2012 @ 6:52pm | Report comment
Such an intelligent reply (AR) Tony as usual. How can they stay motivated when they try their guts out, are undefeated and noone really cares, everyone still focuses on the other mob. After 15 years of being widely embraced and supported they are in an unenviable position now that the image of AFL has soured in Sydney. If we are to support the Swans we are meant to hate GWS, and vice versa. So. ridiculous.
May 27th 2012 @ 7:44pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 27th 2012 @ 7:44pm | Report comment
Obvious troll is obvious.
May 27th 2012 @ 8:05pm
The Cattery said | May 27th 2012 @ 8:05pm | Report comment
JVGO has developed a genuine concern for the Swans’ plight and the state of Australian Football in Sydney.
It’s touching.