The Swans went missing in action for all four quarters in their AFL grand final clash with Hawthorn at the MCG, the Wallabies for the last 11 minutes against the Springboks at Newlands.
Why?
Pre-game, the Swans were rated white-hot prospects by the majority of pundits to win their second flag in three years.
Those who weren’t so adamant, reservedly said the decider was too close to call, and would go right down to the wire.
Both factions were a binocular distance wrong.
For the Hawks to win by 63 points, and lead at every stage, was a credit to their aggressive and positive play for the whole journey, leaving the Swans with a staggering lack of composure.
The Swans didn’t dog it, or tank it, they just didn’t turn up to play, which in itself was mind-boggling to watch. Very un-Swan-like.
And the way coach Johnny Longmire handled the media afterwards was also way out of left field. Longmire is a credit to the code and himself as an outgoing, well-spoken head honcho of the Swans.
But he was terse, knocking back any questions that covered individuals on the day, and especially the playing future of the Swans’ marquee player Adam Goodes. That’s not the real John Longmire, his predecessor Paul Roos was never like that, irrespective of how seriousness the situation.
Let’s face it, being flogged by 63 points in a grand final when you are expected to win, is very very serious. So do we put it down to just a “bad hair” day for the Swans?
Nothing is as simple as that, it never is.
There’s no greater example of the seemingly possible happening than Don Bradman being bowled neck and crop for a duck by England’s leggie Eric Hollies in The Don’s last innings. At the Oval in 1948, Bradman only needed a lousy four runs to own a career Test batting average of 100.
An awesome stat.
Still, 99.94 is an awesome average as well, especially as the next best is South African Graeme Pollock (60.97), with West Indian George Headley (60.83), and Englishman Herbert Sutcliffe (60.73). They are the only three Test batsmen in history to average better than 60, but still lie massively short of The Don.
That’s what the Swans were on Saturday afternoon – massively short of Hawthorn.
No doubt that loss will scar the Swans and their big band of supporters for sometime. But there’s always next season, with big lessons to be learned from this one. I’d venture to bet there will never be another day in the Swans history when across the board lack of inspiration sinks another campaign.
As for the Wallabies?
For 69 minutes the men-in-gold were in the lead after an early try by the Boks. The Wallabies led 10-5 at the break, but the Boks landed a penalty early in the second half to make the score 10-8 in favour of the Wallabies.
The lead should have been a lot bigger, but the Wallabies butchered far too many chances to score.
Very quickly I leave outside centre Tevita Kuridrani out of that criticism, he played out of his skin for 80 minutes, constantly breaking the first tackle, and when he had to defend he inflicted pain.
In my book, Kuridrani was the man-of-the-match in a losing side, closely followed by Bok flanker Schalk Burger, back from long-term injury, who only played half a game off the bench.
Burger won’t be wearing jersey 20 again, while Kuridrani will be wearing the 13 jersey for as long as he’s fit enough to play. Kuridrani did everything his peers didn’t do, consistently playing to potential, and often beyond.
It was Kuridrani who set up Adam Ashley-Cooper’s first half try, bursting through two defenders to send the winger on his way. Scott Fardy was another Wallaby who played to expectations, but two is never enough.
The Boks took the lead 11-10 with 11 minutes to go, thanks to a Pat Lambie penalty, but that was the last the Wallabies saw of their bid for victory, as the Boks crossed for three tries in their 28-10 victory, leaving the Wallabies scoreless in the second session, while the Boks piled on 23 points.
It doesn’t matter if a team has a bad hair day, that’s human nature. But there’s no excuse for a capitulation, and to be brutally frank both the Swans and Wallabies capitulated.
We’ll have to wait until next season to see if the Swans recover and build a successful 2015 campaign, but the Wallabies fly to Argentina to take on the fast-improving Pumas next weekend.
We await coach Ewen McKenzie’s selections with interest, with the Pumas planning an ambush after losing 34-13 to the All Blacks. The men in light blue and white showed they had something to offer against the All Blacks in La Plata, and will be better prepared for the Wallabies.
If the Wallabies repeat those hellish 11 minutes of yesterday the Pumas will chalk up their first Rugby Championship win. And that will really hurt.
Monstrous
Guest
Hawks home ground is it not - swans struggled to beat Melbourne there 2 months ago...
AR
Guest
"People have already put the links in to show just what SOO rated, and I will bet my balls you were probably in one of more of the SOO articles around the time leaving a comment. Yet now all of a sudden, the SOO did not happen." Ok. First, there's no need to bet your balls. Lets leave those out of this. Second, as I've stated, there is a fundamental difference between "peak" and "average". The latter is the important one and the one that is used by the television industry. I quoted an article from an industry website - they are not *my* figures. Third, despite your efforts in trying to make it so, this is not an attack on the glorious event that is State of Origin. All three games rates their socks off every year, and rest assured, SOO *did* happen. I know, I watched all three. So breathe easy, there's no conspiracy here.
Lroy
Guest
Yes, I think GF day is the one day where home ground advantage may not be such a big deal. The interstate teams have to be so good just to get there, given they play 11 away games every year, they have their routines set and are very professional about it. Travel wouldnt worry them at that point i imagine. Also thousands of Sand-gropers used to bus / drive / fly across each time a WA team makes the final, so they do get a lot of support, its not like the handful they normally get playing at Etihad for example. Assume it was the same for all the other sides, Swans had plenty of support from what I could see on the TV
ranga
Guest
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/?s=State+of+origin&x=0&y=0 Look at all of TV tonights articles on SOO. Yet a few months later it seems to have not existed.
ranga
Guest
I am saying none of you can either read or are biased, how the hell does TV tonight not have the figures they published for this years SOO series, someones telling BS or not putting the Whole truth in. Can you point out where 3.7 million is bigger than 4.2 million? No you can't because it is not. People have already put the links in to show just what SOO rated, and I will bet my balls you were probably in one of more of the SOO articles around the time leaving a comment. Yet now all of a sudden, the SOO did not happen.
AR
Guest
ranga First, don't comment if you don't want an answer. Second, you're saying TVTonight is biased..?
ranga
Guest
So full of it, soo 2 averaged 4.2 million, are you blind as well as biased? Don't answer.
slane
Guest
Victorian and Interstate teams have contested the GF 14 times. The Vic teams have only won 3. I just don't buy the 'away' game argument.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Brian Orange ... sorry Leonardo is unbelievable, pathetic does not even begin to cover it.
AR
Guest
There's 2 things funny about that: 1) Leonardo uses the *peak* figures, rather than the *average* figures...which are the industry's standard. 2) Leonardo sarcastically asks "Where did you get your info from – the AFL Media Department?"...just after he's sourced *his* figures from...wait for it...the NRL website. For the record, my figures came from the television industry website, TV Tonight: http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/09/2-81m-viewers-as-afl-grand-final-tops-the-year.html
conchie
Roar Rookie
Not only that Brian Orange, but the 2014 AFL Grand Final's Reach was 6.244 million people. If you fail to understand what that means, I suggest you look it up. Not only do you plagiarise other people 's work and claim it as your own, but you consistently lie, you don't make honest mistakes as some people, you are just a liar.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Wrong again loser 2014: 3.718m (Metro: 2.813m - Syd 551k, Mel 1.310m, Bri 275k, Ade 302k, Per 376k; Regional: 905k) 2013: 3.631m (Metro: 2.717m - Syd 344k, Mel 1.279m, Bri 243k, Ade 348k, Per 503k; Regional: 914k)
ranga
Guest
Haha only half a million behind State of Origin 2 this year, nice one AR ;)
CJ
Guest
I know little about the AFL but seems the main area of dominance for the Hawks in a very dominant display all round was in the ruck area. For the first half at least, they won most of the contests and then passed it to someone who seemed to be completely unmarked who then booted it downfield and the rest was history. I am sure there are experts who can explain why this was able to occur. Maybe one very simplistic explanation is that some teams get spooked by the drama and pressure of grand finals while others rise to the occasion. Agree with Kepu that it was also effectively an away game. Hats off to the Hawks. They are a great club. Real problems withe Wallabies. That article last week about some blokes focusing more on making money on the side than preparing for games was gutting. I coudn't have believed it until the last month or so.
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Didn't even get close to state of origin - 4.2M http://www.nrl.com/holden-state-of-origin-ii-breaks-ratings-records/tabid/10874/newsid/79543/default.aspx Was the lowest AFL GF TV rating for many years, even though Sydney were playing. Where did you get your info from - the AFL Media Department?
Kepu
Guest
Swans only interstate team to win a GF against a Vic team for 10 years which highlights how bi an effort the WCE Eagles and Lions premierships. The game will always be at MCG so the Vic teams have got a mortgage on it...
Ajax
Guest
What to say about the Swans...maybe we simply forgot about the Hawks. They have now won 7 out of the last 10 against the harbour boys(so someone told me)... they have had the measure of Sydney for a while... We forget too easily it was only 2 years ago the Hawks lost a GF they should have won, surely that fire still burns in them. Reminds me of the 1987 GF where everyone was talking up Melbourne, while forgetting the Hawks would be desperate to avenge their 86 loss to Carlton. I think the get out of jail game against Port stood the Hawks in good stead as well.. they were well below their best in the prelim and knew they had to lift. As for the Wallabies, what to say. Opponents have worked out Israel, we get no drive from our 12 at the moment, really its time to gamble and get him into the action at 12.. we have plenty of cover at fullback. Australia losing in the republic after leading into the 70th minute has pretty much been the script for 15 years now, how many times have we led going into the final stanza only to capitulate??
sheek
Roar Guru
Good morning David, I don't know where that Swans non-event came from. I don't think anyone saw it coming, not even their opponents Hawthorn. The Hawks game plan was to pressure the Swans into ball starvation & mistakes under pressure. But the Hawks needn't have bothered. As someone said, Patrick Smith I think, the Swans didn't even turn up. It was weird. Very weird. Almost like a parallel universe experience. As for the Wallabies, we're just talking around in circles. We don't have the cattle, that's the simple truth. I think there are a lot of problems with Australian rugby, but I've been hammered enough already by the sooks for daring to deviate from the rose-coloured glasses "feel-good" script. Anyway, what do Roarers want or expect? The Wallabies were lucky to get out of jail in Perth a few weeks ago. On the weekend past, the Boks repaid the favour in Cape Town. The fact is, the Wallas were mostly crap in both games. It's just that they fluked a win in one but not the other.
Bobbo7
Guest
what does this have to do with the article?
AR
Guest
The AFL and Ch.7 certainly like having Sydney in the Grand Final. The AFL Grand Final was the most-watched television show of the year with an *average* of 3.7M viewers (incl.regionals). It topped My Kitchen Rules and State of Origin repsectively as the top 3 shows of the year.