Grand Final. Swans v. Lions

[Presti35]

After today:

Played in 4 GF losses:
Rampe
Lloyd
Parker (But played in the 2012 victory)

Played in 3 GF losses:
Papley
Heeney

Played in 2 GF losses:
McCartin
Blakey
Cunningham
Warner
Florent
Gulden
Hayward
Rowbottom
Fox
McInerney
McLean
Campbell
Grundy (1 with Collingwood in 2018)

Played in 1 GF loss:
Melican
McDonald
Armatey
Roberts
Jordon (But "played" in the Demons win in 2021)

[Jezza]

Premiership Tally:

Carlton = 16
Essendon = 16
Collingwood = 16
Hawthorn = 13
Richmond = 13
Melbourne = 13
Geelong = 10
Fitzroy = 8
Sydney = 5
North Melbourne = 4
West Coast = 4
Brisbane Lions = 4
Adelaide = 2
Western Bulldogs = 2
St Kilda = 1
Port Adelaide = 1

[Jezza]

The picture we've all been waiting for. Suck on that Papley!

[What'sinaname]

The picture we've all been waiting for. Suck on that Papley!

Avatar worthy...at least until the calendar turns to 2025

[Clifton Hill-Billy]

Suck it papsmear. Swans shat the bed again. Grundy what a boutso

[qldmagpie67]

On a serious note the talk back radio was scathing today on Sydney’s effort across the board and how the players failed to execute the game plan
The plan was to restrict the Lions uncontested marks and methodical all movement down field until they saw a open player and then let them go bang quickly
Also they wanted to restrict the Lions run from behind using overlap runners with quick short handballs
They failed to apply pressure at the source all day
Finally they thought they had a real advantage in the ruck and midfield. The plan was to hit the ball as far outside the contest they could to combat the Lions inside game where Neale, Ashcroft, Dunkley do there best work

The Lions on the other hand attacked what Sydney believed was there strengths.
They challenged Heeney, Warner, Gulden to make quick decisions
They challenged Blakey to defend when the ball goes in quickly, Blakey like to play in front and intercept. The Lions kept slipping out the back and leaving Blakey in no man’s land
Finally they went after Grundy’s lack of mobility around the ground and he’s inability to hit the ball anywhere other than his own feet. The Lions mids just sharked it all day

Really it was a tale of 2 coaches who couldn’t get there players to follow a plan and the lack of a plan B from Sydney when needed
Take away the last quarter when the Lions where in bruise free football mode just counting down the minutes the scoreboard flattered Sydney and its total inept players

[Pies4shaw]

^ The game may have manifested as a failure of gameplans - but, at heart, Sydney were actually soft and uncompetitive. They did not attack the ball at all and many of their team looked disinterested in the physical contest. Thus, the Brisbane bullies ran all over them, whereas they were largely unsighted against Collingwood last year.

Frankly, Sydney should be embarrassed to perform like that after the season they had. And, of course, Longmire should fall on his sword - he obviously does not know how to prepare a team fit for September. The premiership win he did have looked like a fluke at the time. If Franklin had kicked straight for Hawthorn that day, Sydney likely would not have won. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it looks like a complete accident.

[Pies4shaw]

[Gerry Cooper]

Longmire prepares a team to win on the SCG where they can stifle opposition run and carry. Put that plan on a ground over a 1000 square metres bigger and they are all at sea and the defensive holes start opening up. Once that occurs the Swans have got nothing, as has been shown now again and again. Brisbane are more used to the MCG now and watching them yesterday, you can see where they learned from us last year.

[Pies4shaw]

I haven't put the boot into Longmire for a bit - but I've just realised that the Swans under his coaching are the only team in history to have been beaten twice in Grand Finals by teams that weren't good enough to make the top four. Moreover, they did it as minor premiers, both times. So, "kick".

[qldmagpie67]

Longmire’s game plan and lack of a plan B should be questioned massively
I posted some time ago they are flat track bullies
They won most of there games on the back of Heeney Warner Rowbottom Gulden Blakey and some little patches of McMartin
Other than that they had no real impact from any other player consistently
They allowed the Lions to play the game exactly the way they wanted