A bad dream: Waking the Swans up before September comes

Just over a month ago, this masthead ran a front-page story interviewing Sydney Swans cheer squad member Liz Whiffen, who, with the team enjoying a stunning ten-game winning streak, asked rhetorically: “When is this beautiful dream going to end?”

Whiffen and her fellow Swans fans found out the answer the same day in a one-point loss to Fremantle that set off a barely believable run of results for the league leaders, who have now lost five out of their last six games.

And on Saturday against Port Adelaide, the Swans lost by 112 points – the club’s worst loss in 31 years and the worst of coach John Longmire’s career.

Only once in the history of the VFL/AFL has a team conceded 100 points and gone on to win the premiership. That was in 1945, when Carlton lost to Essendon by 100 points in round three before turning their season around to win the grand final – coincidentally against South Melbourne, who ultimately became the Sydney Swans.

The loss in Adelaide is the second worst for a team at the top of the ladder. The worst was North Melbourne in 1983, who lost to Fitzroy by 150 points. North Melbourne went on to win the minor premiership but lost in the preliminary final to Essendon by 86 points.

Longmire couldn’t explain the disastrous performance, which made a mockery of his side’s position on top of the table.

“It’s completely and utterly unacceptable, it’s just not up to standard,” Longmire said.

“We’ve been in every game this year, until last week ... and today just didn’t seem like it had a baseline to it at all in any area.

“We just didn’t come to compete and that’s the very essence of the game – if you don’t come to compete and fight you get shown up, no matter who you play.”

The Swans now need emergency treatment to revive a season that looks in danger of imploding. Where are the areas that need to be triaged ahead of the visit of Collingwood to the SCG next Friday night?

Resuscitating the midfield

The vaunted trio of Errol Gulden, Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney have become victims of their early success. In the first fourteen games of the season, they ran fearlessly and dominated possession and the scoreboard.

Against Port Adelaide, the trio were completely nullified and bullied at contests. Longmire needs his star midfielders to get back to the most basic part of football: beating their direct opponent. In the last three games of the season, they need to find a way to relentlessly pressure the opposition as an absolute minimum.

The Sydney Swans leave the field after the loss against Port Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images

Unleash the Lizard again

Nick Blakey found himself in the uncomfortable position of full-back against Port Adelaide due to the injuries of defenders Dane Rampe and Lewis Melican. His strength is not necessarily in the discipline of one-on-one contests. Rather, it is his ability to turn defence into attack.

Blakey must be restored to the half-back flank to provide the spark that can start up the Swans’ once-marauding midfield. He can restore confidence and remind them of the spectacular team they were just over a month ago.

Win a first quarter

The slow starts have become a nightmare trademark for the Swans this season, and at Adelaide Oval it caused havoc.They conceded seven goals without reply. Like a schoolchild nervously turning over their exam paper, the Swans need to focus on the very first question before worrying about the rest.

How can they win the very first centre clearance? Longmire and his coaching staff have tried everything at training, but nothing has worked so far. It is time for the players to take collective responsibility.

John Longmire experienced the worst loss of his career against Port Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images

Take inspiration from unlikely sources

This has been an AFL season like few others. Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was loudly booed off the field after a 79-point loss against Brisbane a month ago but has turned his side’s season around. The Swans can also take inspiration from their crosstown rivals the Giants.

From round eight to 16, the Giants lost six out of eight games. They snapped out of the slump and are now on a four-game winning streak that has put them back in contention for the premiership.

The Swans are playing poorly, but they have not become a poor team in a month. Teams have had time to do their homework as the season has worn on, and fatigue has played a part.

There are three games left: Collingwood, Essendon and Adelaide. Each of these fixtures is winnable and can provide confidence for a team bereft of it. Other sides have proved you can shake off a slump; now it is the Sydney’s turn.

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