‘One game won’t define us’: Shell-shocked Swans search for a silver lining

He had to squint to see them. But Robbie Fox, one of the few Sydney Swans players who flew the flag in Saturday’s AFL grand final, reckons he could spot little glimmers of hope shimmering in the wreckage of their premiership dreams.

Fox held his spot in Sydney’s game-day 23 after the decision to overlook injured skipper Callum Mills, and repaid the faith shown in him with a solid performance against the Brisbane Lions. Where his teammates looked timid, he took the game on, gathering 21 disposals, six marks, five inside-50 entries and four score assists.

Robbie Fox was one of the few Swans who flew the flag on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

As difficult as it was to zoom out and look at the bigger picture after a 60-point grand final defeat, Fox believes the Swans have made some major advancements in 2024.

“It’s funny to say – we had a great feeling before the game,” Fox said.

“Everyone was calm and composed. It just wasn’t our day again. It’s a little bit raw, and I’m not 100 per cent sure what went wrong, but I think from two years ago, we’ve definitely had steps.

“I feel like we were a little bit more in it this time around. But to put ourselves in such a good position, finishing top, have the week off and getting back here, it does hurt just to not show up again.”

Robbie Fox (in number 42) embraces Isaac Heeney and James Rowbottom.Credit: Getty Images

As Lions players cracked open cans of XXXX Gold in their change rooms, Sydney’s had a funeral atmosphere as ashen-faced players tried to wrap their heads around what went wrong.

“I spoke to Isaac [Heeney] after the game, he was very devastated,” Fox said.

“I was like, ‘You’ve had such an amazing year, you helped get this team here.’ Throughout the finals series, we did a lot of work with [club psychologist] Emma Murray. We were like, ‘One game won’t define us.’ This was four weeks ago and we just had this mentality.

“We would like to win a grand final, but it won’t define us. You always have to take those learnings, and hopefully, everyone believes that good things are coming. It wasn’t this year, but hopefully, it’s in the years to come.”

Asked what he thought the Swans needed to take the next step – from a team that can make it to the AFL’s biggest stage, to a team that can win on it – Fox was grasping for answers, and suggested part of the problem was their unfamiliarity with the wide expanses of the MCG.

“It’s a tough one,” he said.

“We had such a good year to put ourselves in this position, and then it’s just that cherry on top. Getting back here again ... I don’t know. It’s a big ground, whether we have to cover it a bit better or win it at the contest? We know how they play. They like to chip the ball around and make us tired. The minute they start chipping the ball around and we don’t defend that, the pressure goes out the window and we’re chasing arse. And then it’s not a pressure game.

“Disappointing that we let ourselves down in the game. Credit to Brisbane, they played a really good brand of footy, and I think since round six have probably been the best team in the comp.”

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.