Football is an emotional sport. It’s an outlet for the innate human desire to compete and battle one another, in centuries past to the bloody death, and decades ago, bloodied and hurt.
It’s a way for us to express or primeval desires and urges, and while the players duel each other, fans are often swept away in the emotion of it, riding every contest, kick and mark, as if they were on the field themselves.
Let’s face the facts straight up. Friday’s result was not what most of us Swans fans, or even AFL fans, expected. It was a limp performance, littered with errors and turnovers that would have made a gladiator turn in his grave. It was akin to throwing the one-armed swordsman into the pit with lions. What should have been the metaphor to describe the Swans midfield against the decimated Crows midfield, it was flipped on its head as the Swans midfield was well and truly beaten.
It was a horror show, one that Swans fans seldom witness. Despite the goals kicked, the primary ball winners were all defenders, with Dane Rampe leading the Swans at half-time (15), followed by Jake Lloyd (14), Nick Smith (13) and Callum Mills (13). Stalwarts Josh Kennedy (6), Luke Parker (4), Dan Hannebery (8) and Kieran Jack (5) had absolutely no impact on the contest, and played in a manner that few, if any, had ever seen.
It’s fair to say that not only were the players shocked at their own performance, but fans and coaches were too. John Longmire’s press conference after the match said it all, his expression perplexed, barely able to fathom his side’s inability to even win a contested ball, the one thing they’ve prided themselves on for over a decade.
“The problems started a lot before the third quarter. I mean the first half we were 6-16 clearances, 4-20 first possessions,” Longmire said.
“The first quarter was the problem and unfortunately that puts you on the back foot and makes you reactive to how you setup because you need some support.”
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
To paraphrase an article by Heather Quinlan (at the time Heather Smith) in 1994 to describe the Swans’ shock loss to St Kilda by one point, the first quarter ‘was a murdering’.
The Swans deserved to be well and truly out of the match, with the Crows prolific in possession, yet wayward in front of the sticks, kicking five straight behinds in the opening five minutes. 4.9 (33) for the quarter kept the Swans within striking distance, not the Swans tireless play, which was non-existent; it was a walloping of a quarter.
Despite the struggles of the midfield – which simply could not get its hands to the ball – the Swans slowly battled their way back into the game. Paul Seedsman, Rory Laird and Rory Atkins had the ball on a string, with Cam Ellis-Yolmen proving almost un-tackleable, while the defenders constantly clung to Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins, needlessly giving away a plethora of free kicks.
Something had to change at half-time. The Swans trailed in almost every major statistical category; -5 centre clearances, -6 inside 50s, -13 contested possessions, -9 hit-outs and -16 first possessions. Longmire and his team changed the midfield set-up, with Hannebery playing exclusively off the wing, and Isaac Heeney, Mills and Zac Jones starting most centre bounces.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
In an instant, the Swans won the centre clearance and moved it inside fifty. The ball remained locked inside their forward half for most of the quarter, registering almost 95 per cent time spent in their forward half, midway through the quarter. Yet for all their dominance, pressure and monumental inside fifty advantage (17-3), they kicked 2.3 (15). In a flash, the Crows pushed the lead back out to nine points with Seedsman sticking the knife in and twisting it with just minutes left in the quarter.
The unlikely comeback was as good as over nine minutes into the final quarter when the Crows kicked three straight goals. Gary Rohan kicked his second of the match to give the Swans a glimmer of hope, but the Swans missed three gettable shots at goal, before George Hewett kicked the Swans’ second of the quarter with just under two minutes remaining.
Rohan’s touched soccered effort with a minute left was Sydney’s last chance, with no repeat of his heroics against Essendon or Richmond the season before.
Despite the horrendous first half, the Swans fell an agonising ten points short. There was significant ill feeling towards the umpires, frequently booed by the home supporters, with one fan even offering his glasses to the umpires with a hilarious spray in the third quarter.
Jones, Heeney and Lloyd starred for the Swans, alongside defenders Rampe and Mills, who finally got his wish and played mostly midfield in the second half.
It’s always easy to throw the baby out with the bath water after such a disappointing performance. Context is required in a result such as this, despite it being so hard to distinguish, discover or acknowledge.
Nothing can excuse the first fifty minutes of play, as the Crows galloped out to a 23-point lead, but the Swans stuck to it and almost ground out a result.
Without a functioning forward line, they’ve scrapped three wins against very solid opposition, with the Bulldogs playing their best football since 2016, while West Coast and Greater Western Sydney will certainly be playing finals football. Home losses aren’t great, but Port Adelaide were terrific, as were the Crows.
Sam Reid is arguably the most important structural player for the Swans, but he’s not out there, and won’t be until after the bye. With Sam Naismith out for the season, Kurt Tippett retired, Aliir Aliir virtually untried, and the other options yet to debut, I’m not sure what the Swans can do except try to kick it to Buddy.
Angela
Guest
It seems Buddy and Hanners were both carrying injuries last week (both since round one apparently). With Reid and Naismith gone as well we will be struggling for a while this season. Who'd be a coach? Even the great Alistair Clarke seems to be having problems this season.
Slane
Guest
Not really strange when the ladder has no say in where the Grand Final is played. You might as well be saying 'Really strange that Shannon Noll came runner up in Australian Idol when you look at the price of iron ore in Uzbekistan.'
Mattyb
Guest
Really strange that Sydney had to play away Grand Finals in 2014 and 2016 when you look at the ladder.
Ryan Geer
Roar Pro
The Swans played poor as a massive Swans fan I'll admit that even short on troops and losing Hartigan early the Crows played well especially down back. They blanketed Buddy Franklin and none of the other Swans forwards looked dangerous even with Rohan kicking multiple goals. Young Doedee played the best game of his young career in that Jake Lever third tall role intercepting the ball taking 11 marks for the match. The Crows played well, the Swans struggled and were to Buddy conscious and struggled to find other avenues to goal. This week coming up against the Cats will be even more difficult with Buddy out, some one needs to stand up and right now no one is really putting their hand up.
Basil 1 of 2
Guest
Yes, the Crows should play a more attractive brand of football just like Sydney is known for.... I can't keep a straight face.
Basil 1 of 2
Guest
...and 3. The Crows played better.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
The Crows wanted it more than the Swans. It was that simple. Just like the Kangas wanted it more than the Hawks. But you still have to have the skills and get the job done. Really liking the evenness of the comp this year - apart from some of the dross at the bottom.
chris
Guest
I think there are two reasons the swans lost this one 1. They are at the end of their taper.... ive always believed Roos passed on to Horse the habit of tapering the fitness of players into the season... historically sydney do not perform as well in the first 5-7 rounds, and they are usually terrible in the pre-season, essentially not fully fit... with the idea being that afl is an endurance sport and the players durability will suffer at the end of the season without the taper. 2. Maybe the guys in the leadership group were more affected by Rowans situation than we realize
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Outplayed comprehensively. Still, Sydney will plot something for Geelong next week. Duckwood has done his bit being offered a 1 week ban for striking one L Thomas.
anon
Roar Pro
Last year I backed them to come good because they had a lot of youth in the team early on due to injuries and they seemed to be genuinely complacent. They were caught off guard. This year they went into the season keenly aware that they cannot be complacent in any way knowing that they wasted an opportunity last year, there big midfield stars are all playing. Yet they are struggling. Not struggling like a Carlton, but struggling if you want to winning premierships or finishing top 4. They play a stale brand of football.
Tim
Guest
don't blame the umpires. Swans were not disciplined and were called on it. Highlighted by a poor professional free in 4th qtr to slow play down. A roar of indignation from the crowd. Played on quickly, Walker gets a crude shove in the back which resulted in a goal from outside 50. More righteous indignation. Boo hoo, don't blame the umpires, blame the players. Swans to come 6th.
Jim
Guest
I agree about the midfield, but I don't think buddy has lost a step at all. Midfield certainly struggling to control the contest at all this year - the very poor start to the year by Kennedy, Jack and Hannebrey really hurting them at the moment. Perhaps it will click like it did last year, but at the moment I can't see it.
Vocans
Guest
So many good Swans went missing. They were shocked by Adelaide’s intensity at the ball and the player. Adelaide defended very well given the Swans won most of the basic stats. Well set up. Adelaide used the ball better overall. Buddy was too arrogant on the night, and got caught.
Vocans
Guest
Bring the pressure and lose the grace. Unless one team is clobbered.
anon
Roar Pro
As I was saying last week: anon said | April 17th 2018 @ 1:39pm | ! Report I like the Swans and backed them throughout last year to turn it around, but they look old to me. Not particularly convincing in their three wins and lost to Port at the SCG. They lose to West Coast if Buddy kicks 4 goals instead of 8. Western handed it to them on the weekend. GWS’s forward entries and accuracy was horrendous against the Swans. In 5 games the Swans have failed to demonstrate that they can pick a team apart and cruise to victory which is what you need to do as a premiership aspirant. They've been scrappy wins where they've "red-lined" or the opposition has handed it to them through their own incompetence. Probably their most impressive win was in Perth, but they don't win that game unless Franklin kicks 8 goals. If you have to rely on your full forward kicking 6+ to win a game of footy you won't win too many throughout the year. Their midfield and Franklin have lost a step. Maybe a combination of teams moving the ball forward faster and more aggressively and the Swans players either stagnating or declining slightly. The Swans will not be a premiership threat let alone a top 4 threat if they have to scrap for 22 weeks. Just not sustainable right now. Too many miles on the clock of that midfield and Franklin. They're an ageing side and maybe a little burned out too. It's hard to go to war for Longmire again when they left everything on the table in 2014, 16 and 17 and it wasn't good enough. They were unlucky in 2014 and 2016 that they were punished with the away ground disadvantage Grand Final day despite earning home ground advantage. But we all know where the Grand Final will be and I don't think the players have the total belief or hunger that they can get it done.
Aligee
Guest
Some may say a 'brilliant defensive strategy' others may say ugly, rugby rolling maul. It was an extremely frustrating game to watch, a game of football broke out occasionally.
Dylan Phillips
Roar Rookie
Swans were horrible against Adelaide, however Adelaide were set up brilliantly defensively. Their leaders definitely went missing, can't remember the last time Kennedy went back to back games with below 20 possessions. He had no impact in the engine room. Slow start, not as bad as last year but definitely something they need to address. Starts with the leaders i think.
Aligee
Guest
They just need the hunger back Simples really
Kangajets
Guest
It appears that way
Roger of Sydney
Guest
The Swans have struggle for years with scoring options and I dont think that is about to change without Reid. Sadly getting close is not good enough and the Swans fumbled against Port and now against Adelaide. I think they have to keep giving Aliir a chance. At his best he was outstanding and he has a great footblal head is excellent overhead. Its a very even comp, the Swans can beat anyone and loose to anyone. I think Jack is a bit slow for the centre now, maybe time for Hewett, Pappley and Heeney to take over.