Lance Franklin’s 800th goal was a long way from Sydney coach John Longmire’s mind as he admitted his winless team lacked confidence after crashing to a 42-point AFL derby loss to GWS.
The defeat at the SCG sent Sydney tumbling to 0-5 and made it increasingly unlikely they would extend their run of seven straight finals appearances, the last six coming in Longmire’s tenure.
Franklin led the Swans’ scorers with three goals, but didn’t bother celebrating when he brought up his milestone near the end with the game already decided.
“It’s probably not something at the front of my mind just at the moment to be honest,” Longmire said.
He didn’t dispute his side was down on confidence after the Giants recovered from conceding the first four goals to kick the next nine.
“You can see that,” Longmire said.
“But there’s still a fair bit of footy to be played this year and we need to make sure we get back off the canvas and get going again.
“There’s no easy way to do it, there’s just a test in AFL football every week, we haven’t come up to scratch just yet.
“But we intend to come up to scratch pretty soon and we need to get going in a hurry.
“We’ve got ourselves into it, there’s only one choice now is to work our way out of it.
“The majority of boys have been fantastic for a long period of time for us and what we’re dishing up at the moment is not good enough.”
It was a depressingly familiar story for Sydney fans on Saturday, with the Swans playing well in patches.
“We’ve shown little bits and pieces here and there, but the majority of time we haven’t been able to sustain it for a period of time that’s required at AFL level,” Longmire said.
“It’s a combination of a lot of different things and it all adds up to that inconsistent performance and not being good enough for long enough.”
Defender Heath Grundy ended up with a nasty lump on his face after a collision with Giants forward Jeremy Cameron while midfielders Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery also picked up knocks but played out the game.
Longmire also cast doubt on whether veteran Jarrad McVeigh would make his first senior appearance of the season against Carlton next week after the former co-captain pulled up with a tight hamstring at training on Thursday.
David Graham
Guest
I still think it is a mental thing with the Swans at the mo - but they need to just get on with it.
Swannies
Guest
No worries...still plenty of time for Sydney. They'll be in the finals this year and I'm backing them to win the next 6 or 7 on the trot. A flag is not out of reach yet.
david graham
Guest
I fear the worst for the Bloods - my team which I have avidly followed since the dark days of 1973. My superficial impression is that the Swans used to be a champion team in the days of Kirky and LRT. Recent performaces including the 2016 GF points to the Swans now being a team of champions who are not clicking. Come on Bloods! Get your act together! South Melb/Sydney Swans has always been a team with plenty of guts...play like it asap!!!!!
clipper
Guest
That's true, and they're actually ahead of one NRL team - the Roosters, which is more than can be said for the Storm, who aren't even close to one AFL team in Melbourne after 15 years. That being said, I can't see them ever getting close to the level of support the Swans have - different demographics out there and a strong Soccer following.
penguin
Guest
As I said elsewhere... It’s true about Giants support in the West. Nobody in Sydney cares about them. I walked around the SCG on Saturday night and out of a crowd of 35,000 plus I reckon less than 1 in 10 were Giants supporters. I’ve seen more Freo supporters at an SCG game than that. I also saw them as the better team against the Dogs at Spotless in the finals last year, cruelled by some inexplicable decisions. From my perspective, admittedly biased, they seem amazingly talented, fast and skilful, but also arrogant, selfish and underhanded. They need their superstars in the media selling the game, and they seem non-existent. Hard to survive in this city with those traits, except on AFL money. They desperately need Sheeds or a marketing guy to get them in the news, plus more grass roots kid footy stuff. Give away tickets, but get a fan base asap.
Swannies
Guest
Swans are not out of it yet and the flag hopes for 2017 are still there. We can easily string together enough wins to make the eight. Once we hit our straps it will be payback time. Go Swans!
Raimond
Roar Guru
GWS attendances are fairly similar to western Sydney NRL teams.
Paul D
Roar Guru
He's a Jonah, get him down to Bondi and throw him into the sea
Paul2
Guest
It's no gimme
Swanny
Guest
No worries rod. I'm enjoying watching gws , and that extra enjoyment of Sydney heading downwards
Cat
Roar Guru
They sure do have a lot of people, such as yourself, who claim they don't care one way or the other but can't help taking cheap shots every chance they get. If you actually didn't care you would just move on silently.
marron
Guest
Don't worry rod I'm sure they were celebrating across the bridge on the streets of lilyfield.
Axle and the Guru
Guest
GWS will never have a serious following, imagine taking the premiership cup back to Bankstown in front of 1500 - 2000 people, the AFL will have fun trying to fudge up those numbers. BTW well said Rod.
Kaniel Outis
Guest
As soon as Malcolm Turnbull declared his support for the Swans, at the grand final breakfast last year, the Swans have not won a game.
Rod
Guest
Sorry Swanny, can't raise a sweat over the Project Premiers. Can't like them, can't dislike them as I should do with cross town rivals. I mean my family in Perth (West Coast supporters) have a visceral hatred of Freo like many other Weagles supporters over there and I've also sat through the passion of one showdown in Adelaide. It was marvellous! In the O'Reilly stand last night there was only one of about 12 GWS fans who got at all excited about GWS as they sliced and diced the Swans in a stellar performance. There were so very few GWS supporters at the ground at all. I can tell you if I barracked for them I would have gone along. It was the SCG on a lovely Saturday night with the chance to eat out before the game and have a few drinks as well. Why wouldn't you go? It's going to be strange if GWS win the flag and there are a just a thousand people and a dog cheering for them. But I do think you're right about the big dollar deals to a couple of players in the Swans' squad. It's causing plenty of grief, though one of them played well. The other needs to seriously re-think his contribution. It worried me then and it worries me much more now.
true blue
Guest
Sydney will have their first win of the season next week as they play Carlton. If they lose that one, then there are real problems at the Swans.
Swanny
Guest
The buddy millions dollar deal is killing the swans . They will bottom out for the next few years and have to rebuild . At least the people of New South Wales have the giants to keep interest in the afl this year .