Geelong’s demolition of Sydney at the weekend was a strong signal that back to back flags will be a tough proposition for the men from the harbour city.
The result means that Sydney now will more than likely face either the Hawks or Cats at the home of football, the MCG, in the first round of the finals.
The margin of defeat at Simmonds Stadium is not so much the cause for concern, rather the way in which the Cats outworked the Swans and outperformed them at their own game. It brought back memories from ANZ Stadium a couple of weeks earlier.
Sydney’s success last season can largely be put down to their constant hard work and constant high standards on the field.
They did not have the most talented list, though they almost always won the “one percenters” in each battle last season. That is, they made more tackles, effected more defensive spoils and smothers and displayed more lung busting chases on opponents, just to name a few.
Sydney was the best team in the competition last year, in terms of work rate and performing those small actions on the field that amount to a lot.
At this stage of the season, the same could not be said. Collingwood and Geelong have outworked the Swans in recent weeks and dominated them in terms of the one-percenters.
In both games the Swans were put under immense pressure. They bombed the ball long aimlessly in hope rather than with a specific target in mind and committed a number of uncharacteristic turnovers, particularly off half-back. Convincing losses resulted.
Sydney needs to remind themselves quickly of the attributes which brought them success last season.
Their powerhouse midfield, some members of whom have been down on form in the last few weeks, needs to set the standards and lead the resurgence.
Luckily, all is not lost and the Swans get a chance to atone this Friday against premiership favourites, Hawthorn.
Hawthorn has a more talented individual playing roster than Sydney and possesses two players who can change the outcome of a game on their own, in Buddy Franklin and Cyril Rioli. The Swans do not have the equivalent of a Franklin or Rioli at their disposal.
Victory on Friday night will not come down to a change of tactics on the Swans part. It will come down to the Swans outperforming the Hawks in terms of the one-percenters, rather than through flashes of individual brilliance. They did so in last year’s grand final and it determined the result. They must do so again.
I’m sure John Longmire is reminding the players of this right now…
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