The 2018 AFL season has been very unusual. Each round has had an unexpected result – such as Round 6, in which my team, Sydney, managed to upset Geelong at GMHBA Stadium by 17 points.
Teams have gone from contenders to pretenders and back again within the span of three rounds (looking at you, Port Adelaide), so as a neutral, you can’t help but look forward to what happens next.
But as a supporter?
Occasionally it can be thrilling, but most of the time, it is stressful.
I officially started barracking for the Swans in 2007, after resigning myself to the fact that Melbourne were not going to win a premiership in my lifetime.
(Since the Dees haven’t made the finals since 2006, while Sydney has won a premiership and been a perennial finalist, I made the right decision.)
Anyway, the Swans’ form was a bit up and down in 2007, but they managed to qualify for the finals in seventh place. Unfortunately, their opponent happened to be Collingwood, who Sydney have an atrocious record against.
To make matters worse, it was at the MCG, a venue that the Swans cannot seem to adjust to. So, it wasn’t all that surprising when they lost by 38 points.
2008 was slightly more productive, finishing sixth and defeating North Melbourne in an elimination final at ANZ Stadium by 35 points. Yet, as statistics show, the winner of the elimination final tends to lose to the loser of the qualifying final – which is exactly what happened against the Western Bulldogs.
If I knew what was to come in the following year, I wouldn’t have been so disappointed.
In 2009, the Swans missed out on the finals and I wondered if our premiership window was now slammed shut.
Fortunately, in 2010, Sydney finished fifth and defeated Carlton in a thriller at ANZ Stadium. The semi-final was also a nail-biter, though once again the Bulldogs were too strong.
To make matters worse, beloved coach Paul Roos resigned and appointed assistant coach John Longmire as his successor. This was devastating for me at the time because of everything Roos had done for the club. While I did not barrack for Sydney when they won the flag in 2005, breaking a 72-year drought, or were runners up in 2006, I appreciated these moments all the same. Once you start supporting a team, you are entitled to claim their history as your own.
Paul Roos (Photo: Justine Walker/AFL Media)
While I had my doubts about Longmire, they were fortunately put at ease.
Sydney had a solid season in 2011. My favourite moment was defeating Geelong at Kardinia Park, the first time any team had achieved that in 1462 days. This victory was dedicated to Jarrad McVeigh’s daughter, Luella, who had tragically passed away during that season.
The Swans also upset St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, in what was Ross Lyon’s last game as Saints coach.
The lowlights included losing to the Bombers at Etihad Stadium – Adam Goodes missing a goal after the siren – and going down to the Hawks at the MCG in the semi-finals.
While I was pleased that we weren’t regressing, I was concerned that we might not win another premiership for some time.
However, success was right around the corner.
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The Swans usually struggle at the start of each season, so when they won their first five games in 2012, I started to believe that this was our year.
However, our most memorable victory was undoubtedly the grand final.
Despite never having matched up on the Hawks all that well, and not seeming to know how to play at the MCG, the Swans prevailed by ten points.
I still can’t believe that it actually happened. However, repercussions have haunted the Swans ever since.
Sydney were no longer underdogs, which was arguably the reason they won two flags in the AFL era.
Instead, the contenders tag didn’t sit well with Sydney at all, and recruiting Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin didn’t help matters.
On paper, a couple of gun key-forwards and a host of star-studded midfielders would deliver two premierships.
Sydney haven’t won a flag since.
AAP Image/Paul Miller
In 2013, the betting markets had the Swans second, only to Hawthorn, to go back-to-back. Unfortunately, Fremantle out-pressured Sydney in the preliminary final. It was a great effort, yes, but the manner in the game was lost – as well as the qualifying final against Hawthorn – was concerning.
In 2014, as overwhelming favourites, Sydney of course were thrashed by Hawthorn to the tune of 63 points in the grand final.
I was confused. Gutted. Angry. Finishing on top of the ladder meant nothing. Comfortable victories in the qualifying and preliminary finals felt meaningless.
But as bad as 2014 was, 2015 was even worse. Losing in straight sets to Fremantle and North Melbourne was humiliating. It felt wrong.
2016 was a significant improvement, though choking in the grand final once again was distressing.
Then Sydney lost the first six games of 2017. Somehow they snuck into the finals – being the first ever team to do so – and thrashed Essendon by 65 points in the first final.
I was so impressed by how well Sydney had played, I assumed a premiership was on the way. Unfortunately, they were knocked out of the semi-finals by a rampaging Geelong at the MCG.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
As for 2018? It’s been more of the same.
Sydney kicked off their season with a win against West Coast in Perth, but in Round 3 – as red-hot favourites against Port Adelaide and playing at the SCG – the Power got up.
Fortunately, the Swans bounced back against the Greater Western Sydney Giants in Round 4, and managed to hold on against the Western Bulldogs – who had been a bogey team in recent years – the following week.
So, of course, Sydney then lost to Adelaide at the SCG, which was frustrating because the Crows were depleted by injuries and had lost to Collingwood the week before.
I could never have imagined beating Geelong in their own backyard a week later, considering the atrocious performance against the Crows, yet somehow a famous comeback was staged after trailing by 22 points at three-quarter time.
That’s footy for you.
Overall, supporting the Swans is a rollercoaster. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
UptheBloods
Guest
Michael Pallaris - I like many of us have been through the joys and sorrows of following the Swans - since 1973! I think that premierships are just plain hard to win. 2012 and 2005 - we had some luck. 2014 was a disgrace but 2016 ...if Buddy had not injured his ankle in the first quarter we may have won. The umpiring was pretty terrible too. Being a Bloods supporter from so far back and having my dad as a South supporter makes the two flags precious - however the capitulations in 2014 and 2016 look uncannily like the disasters of the 1930s - four GFs for only one flag. Up the Bloods!
Michael Pallaris
Guest
Thanks Uncle George, thanks for the offer, but I'm a Sydney supporter through and through! I hope Collingwood has a successful season, though.
George
Guest
Michael, love your article, it provides a great insight into how we in Oz feel about our sports. Only one real criticism, I agree you made the right decision not to back Melbourne, but you made the wrong decision to going for the Swans, you should have followed your destiny and gone for Collingwood !
Michael Pallaris
Guest
Good point Cat. Hopefully Longmire and co. can find a solution.
Michael Pallaris
Guest
Thanks Ryan, you're absolutely right about the Swans forwards, perhaps Buddy's injury wasn't such a bad thing after all. The younger players that you mentioned are all pretty good so when players such as McVeigh and Jack retire, I think we will continue to make the 8.
Cat
Roar Guru
All credit to your side for winning the game but I think its disguised a bit how poor the Swans were for the first 3 quarters. Add that to 4 poor quarters against NM and that's 7 of the last 8 quarters playing poorly. Could even extend that to 9 of the last 10 if you include the last half of the game against the Crows when the Swans only kicked 4 goals for the half.
Ryan Geer
Roar Pro
I love this, you're right it is a bit of a roller coaster and to have no idea what to expect from the Swans this season. The win over Geelong was great for the team's confidence knowing that they can find other avenues to goal through the likes of Papley, Hayward, Florent and Rohan for example and they can be not so Buddy reliant. No matter what happens this season I do expect the Swans to have a bit of a cleanout, they're a few players that have been overtaken by these youngsters and could be moved on. Florent, Ronke, Hayward, Melican, Fox, Hewett all look to be players of the future. While others such as Foote, Aliir, Marsh, Robinson, Rose and Dawson the Swans could try to move on, still young enough but can't crack a regular game in the seniors.
Michael Pallaris
Guest
Thanks Antony, I think your experience as a Sydney supporter is more interesting than my own! Hopefully we can continue to develop our youth and challenge for the flag this year.
Antony Pincombe
Roar Rookie
I started going to Swans games in the early 1990's. We were dreadful. We were not looking to win a game we were looking to just get close. effort was all we expected from the players then. My friends and I would join the other 5,000 to 10,000 people at the game. We got front row seats every time and the swans Pass was bought at the raliway station with the train fare included. In the mid 1990's our stocks improved. Ron Barassi had come up from Melbourne to rescue the Swans and the veteran super coach did not disappoint. Barassi had a succession plan and Rodney Eade was appointed senior coach in 1996. Barassi had prepared the Swans really well for Eade and the Swans played off in their first Grand final since 1945. Unfortunately Eade had a penchant for playing injured players with Michael O'Loughlin the major victim of this policy. Eade never repeated his 1996 success to get the swans to a Grand Final and was replaced by his assistant, Paul Roos, in 2002. Roos got players like Mickey 'O' fit and free of injury and started planning a defensive strategy that would see the swans play in the 2005 and 2006 Grand finals, winning the 2005. The Swans first premiership since 1933. Roos game plan was so unpopular with AFL head office that Andrew Demetriou called it ugly footy. Roos retired at the end of 2010 handing the reins to his senior assistant John longmire. Longmire inherited a pretty strong Swans squad and within two years had a premiership in his tuckerbag. But for some unknown reason the ice calm Swans have become the wilting flowers of the premiership circuit. many blame the lack of bottoming out to get better draft choices. The AFL Trade ban, this did have an impact but not as big as many people think due to the lack of salary cap available to us anyway. The buying of Tippett and Franklin, this certainly did impact the salary cap and many good players left for greener pastures. But in reality it is the coaches inability to get the players motivated for the big ones that has told the greatest story. We make finals and grand finals but don't win the latter. That as much as anything is a head problem. The next phase of the Swans development has been to develop very high end talent recruited through the draft. We have been able to do this by swapping draft picks, planning for the Academy selections and recruiting a range of top quality players left over from the draft as rookies. we have been lucky enough to draft Jake Lloyd (I think the most underrated player in the AFL), Robbie Fox, Tom Papley, Dan Robinson, Sam Naismith and Lewis Melican all from the rookie list all having played senior football. Add to that the success of Heath Grundy, Keiren Jack & Dane Rampe and that is huge success from the rookie draft. Recently we have managed to acquire quite a few early draft picks due to players wanting to leave. Those picks are starting to show success now. The Swans list is in great nick but we need to start thinking of the future by drafting more tall defenders and maybe looking to switch Toby Pink to defence. The kid has Dustin fletcher attributes. With Blakey choosing the Swans and a very good academy crop, the future bodes well as long as the coaches can get it right
Michael Pallaris
Guest
Thanks i miss the force.
Michael Pallaris
Guest
Thanks Aligee, I agree, things were dire for the Swans in the late 80s and early 90s. I'm just glad that they have been competitive in the last decade or so.
i miss the force
Guest
best thing about being a swans supporter is educating the other people at their games. most have no idea about AFL and are just there because its trendy
Aligee
Guest
I have a soft spot for the Swans, they have gone from a joke to a very strong club. I think though there may be a bit of a cleanout after this year, the midfield looks a bit slower and older ATM, maybe they are just pacing themselves :)