It’s an accusation that’s been levelled at the Sydney Swans all too often since their premiership triumph in 2006, and they’ve delighted in proving their critics wrong on a regular basis.
The Swans did just that again on Saturday night, disposing of North Melbourne by 35 points to move into a semi-final clash against the Western Bulldogs.
And almost to prove a point, it was the club’s veterans that led the way.
Leo Barry, Brett Kirk and Barry Hall all came in for praise from coach Paul Roos after responding to his plea for an improved effort.
“I felt at half time, we were a really good chance to win the game because, we were only 10 points down and I thought we had a lot of improvement in us, but we needed everyone to dig in,” Roos said.
“It was really led by the leaders of the footy club, who got us the opportunity to kick eight goals.”
Roos acknowledged Adam Goodes’ remarkable second-half contribution. He finished with three goals, having played a major role in the Swans’ fightback after a week on the sidelines to rest a groin complaint.
“I think [Goodes] is still working out where he’s at himself and having had a weekend off, he’s easing himself back into the game,” Roos said.
“You can see as a forward, he’s a class player and he makes a massive difference to us. I’m happy to leave him forward, and if he does what he did tonight, we’re more than happy with that.”
The size of the crowd – just 19,127 people at the Swans’ last home game of the year – was the only disappointment on an otherwise successful night.
Roos conceded he would have liked more fans at ANZ Stadium and cited the wet, cold conditions, and a live telecast against the gate, as potential deterrents.
But he believed his men had defied the sceptics again by winning through to this Friday night’s do-or-die clash against the Bulldogs.
They face a tough task, having lost to the Dogs twice during the home and away season.
“Everyone sort of says ‘too old, too slow’ and things like that but a week’s a long time in footy,” Roos said.
“I think people tend to look too far forward, [saying] this team’s in really good shape for next year or the year after, but it’s the here and the now [that matters].”
“If we get beaten next week, they’ll probably take a few pot-shots at us then, but we’ve won tonight. I’m confident in the group, that they’ve still got a little bit left in them and they showed that.”
