Apr 12, 2025
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me and my pookie Rum'un
Sydney Swans Missing Mongrel Factor For Finals
I hate to harp on a topic but… The Sydney Swans missing mongrel factor for finals remains a major concern. There I was chatting with a Brisbane Lion’s supporter whilst playing golf and this person was complimenting the Swans on a good season so far. I had to qualify the praise with a reality check because the Swans have struggled to beat top 4 teams this season. The Lions had monstered Sydney very recently in a contest at the Gabba. Things are getting real now, as the AFL finals are mere weeks away. Winning contest and applying physical pressure for 4 quarters are crucial elements if you want to win football finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua80LbHfQkA
What Do I Mean By Mongrel Factor For Sydney?
When you see young George Wardlaw sprint flat out and full body tackle an opponent over the boundary line you will know what I mean. Mongrel factor is 240 plus on the pressure ratio in an AFL match. It is blood, sweat and tears following giving absolutely everything you’ve got out there on the field. It is contest after contest and never giving in. A mongrel in not worried about pedigree. A mongrel makes it happen no matter what. Don’t think, just do! In the words of the late great Coach Kennedy at the Hawkes, back in the day.
Sydney Swans AFL Club History
A little bit of Sydney Swan’s history. Paul Roos instigated a ‘no dickheads’ policy at the club, back in the 2000s. This has carried on under John Longmire and now Dean Cox. The Swans have a great culture at the footy club. But is it too squeaky clean? Football clubs are a collection of different types or they used to be, anyway. In my opinion, if there is too much homogeneity, sides can lack important elements in their make-up. Mongrel factor can reside inside dickheads. It takes all sorts to make a champion team. Something to ponder on. Think about some of the great mongrels: Malcolm Brown at Richmond and his son Campbell Brown at Hawthorn; Peter Bosustow at Carlton; Leigh Matthews at Hawthorn; Tim Watson at Essendon, John Worsfold at West Coast, Tony Liberatore at the Western Bulldogs; Gary Ablott at Geelong; Carl Ditterich at St Kilda; and Barry Hall at St Kilda and the Swans. Luke Parker now at North. There are many more, of course.
Mongrel Factor Matters In Finals
White line fever is an expression used to describe what happens to a few players when they cross that line to run out on the AFL oval. A red haze descends over these Viking beserkirs and they never shirk a contest. The Sydney Swans missing mongrel factor for finals must be addressed. What I observed in the 2022 and 2024 GFs were Swans losing contests and being second to the ball all bloody day. If you are not willing to give everything to every contest you should not be there. Talent and blonde hair is not enough. Saying the right things is not enough. Only your actions count on the day. Only your sacrifices matter. Selfless acts for team mates matter. Running your guts out all day matters. Running through brick walls matter. Never giving up matters. Playing on the edge matters.
“The Sydney doubts are a longer bow, however, primarily about the Swans' previous grand final failures, the club having lost four in a row on the big day under previous coach John Longmire since their last flag in 2012, and indeed completely thrashed in three of those four grand final defeats.”
- (https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9277996/rohan-connolly-can-fremantle-and-the-swans-bust-afls-finals-myth/) Mongrels Tackle Like Angry Bastards
Mongrels tackle. There are plenty of players in the Swans line-up who average 2 or less tackles per match. Some of these guys play in defence. WTF? They tell us that AFL is a contact sport. But is it? Most players stand off any nominal opponent in the hope and expectation of being used as an offensive option. AFL is a fast and furious sport but the defensive aspect of it has been seriously reduced by rule changes. Still, when it comes to finals, tackling comes back into its own. Can these Swans players remember how to do it effectively? The jury is still out on that.
Mongrel factor means applying lots of effective tackles to the opposition.
What Swans Have Mongrel Factor?
Chad Warner has come on this season with his mongrel factor and currently leads the way. Isaac Heeney, despite his Colgate smile, has mongrel factor in spades. James Rowbottom is the tackling heart and soul of the Swans. Sam Wicks has mongrel factor. Brodie Grundy plays with mongrel factor. Tom Papley has mongrel factor charisma but tackles ineffectively too often. Angus Sheldrick has mongrel factor potential. Callum Mills is getting better and playing more like a Captain after some time in the wilderness after long outs with injuries. Braeden Campbell has made a mongrel factor furious return to the game after being out all season. Errol Gulden is a mongrel factor star returning to top form after missing two half-seasons of AFL football.
In truth all of these Sydney footballers are going to have to lift even more to get the job done in September.
Conclusions?
The Sydney Swans missing mongrel factor for finals and that has to shift fast. Adelaide were too tough defensively for the Swans in the rain at the SCG. Geelong outplayed and out toughed them. The Dockers broke them in the second half over there in Perth. Hawthorn outlasted them too, earlier in the season. Do the Swans players have it in them to find that mongrel factor to get it done in September? We will soon see.
Will Rope-A-Dope Get The Job Done?
“The Sydney Swans have taken on the old Muhammad Ali rope-a-dope strategy, it seems. Absorb the opposition’s punishment for most of the match and then come out all guns blazing at the death knock. In this edition, Bloods sacrifice to beat Saints. Unfortunately for Will Edwards and James Rowbottom it was their blood and bone sacrifices on the altar of victory. A terrible injury for the rookie defender Will Edwards has finished his brilliant season prematurely. Rowbottom will likely be back for the finals. The Swans needed this win to hold onto second spot on the AFL ladder and it did not come cheaply.?”
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of The Stoic Golfer; The AI Heresy; What Price Life?; America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump; and other titles. NOW AVAILABLE AT APPLE BOOKS & GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS. Google Play Books AUDIOBOOK
©WordsForWeb
The Sydney Swans’ Downhill Skiers
The accusations are coming quick and hot – ‘they can’t win the premiership!’ ‘Swans just not good enough!’ The Sydney Swans’ downhill skiers. Too many players running ahead looking for the easy option rather than winning contests. For the first 7 games of the 2026 season Sydney had this aggressive forward handpassing, which was tearing opposition sides apart. Now, according to the loud mouthed ‘so-called’ experts, those opposing teams have worked out how to stop the juggernaut. The Sydney Swans have struggled to beat ordinary AFL sides of late and are losing to the real contenders, Hawthorn, Geelong and Brisbane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=006RymnwLI8
What Is A Downhill Skier In AFL Terms?
A player who feasts on the outside opportunities when the offensive plays are happening but shirks the defensive contest. Sydney are the hunted and they need to become the hunters, if they are going to get back in this thing for real. The entire team needs to rediscover what applying physical pressure to the opposition really means. Winning the ball in disputed contests all over the ground. Running in packs and hunting down the oppo. Not looking for the easy ball all the time. The Sydney Swans’ downhill skiers need to put away the poles and get back to basics. Two way running until you bust a gut and win the contest.
https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2050478/the-2026-season-so-far
Sydney Swans Must Hunt The Oppo
It all starts in the middle. The centre ball up and the ruck/midfield. I have observed that good, hard teams like Hawthorn and Geelong disrupt their oppo midfielders at ball ups. They put hands in to disrupt handpasses to spoil chains of attack. Continually you see this disruption breaking midfield possession around the ground. How many times have I seen the Swan’s handpass game get destroyed by this from Geelong, Brisbane and Hawthorn? Too many. Physical pressure piles up on the Swans’ players and they cough it up. Sydney must fight and scrap, again and again, as repeated efforts are required to get the job done. Rowbottom, Sheldrick, Heeney and Warner have to grind away and disrupt. The hunted must become the hunters!
https://afltables.com/afl/stats/teams/swans/2026_gbg.html
Downhill Skiing Won’t Win Premierships
You are not going to win a premiership via downhill skiing. Pretty chains of handball are not going to get it done against the best. Back in the Paul Roos era, it was said that the Swans had a blue collar midfield. What did the pundits mean by this? That we had grinders, blokes not afraid to roll up their sleeves and dig deep to get the job done. What was the job? Winning the bloody contest. These days, the Swans have vastly more talented players wearing the red and white but they lack a bit of heart. We had an Ablett back then, not the most talented in that family but a blue collar guy tough as nails. Josh Kennedy was in there and grinding away. Kieran Jack and Brett Kirk too – enough said about hard men toiling away. That 2005 premiership against West Coast pitted this mob against a much more skilled side but blue collar grunt prevailed. 2012 was a similar story against a more fancied Hawthorn team, that would go on to win 3 flags in a row. We are missing that stuff from the current lot.
https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/L/Luke_Ablett.html
Ineffective Tackles Too Often From Sydney’s Downhill Skiers
Broken tackles brushed aside by tackling players like Jake Lloyd, Riley Bice, Caiden Cleary and half the bloody side. Poor tackling technique has plagued this team for too long. Hard and low, not high and armsy. It speaks of a lack of commitment. Too soft. Sydney must become the hunters, right now they are the hunted. How many free kicks did Swans players give away to Brisbane because of poor tackling technique? Too many.
https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_rankings?year=1979&rt=LT&st=TA
Reviewing The Swans AFL Players
I will start with the captain, Callum Mills, in my opinion he isn’t playing good enough football. His disposal is too often ordinary and he aint winning enough contests. Leading the side is more than talking the talk. We need more from this fella. Tackling Efficiency (TE) rating 6.
Joel Amartey (TE5) and Logan McDonald (TE5) are too unreliable as forwards. Neither of them win enough genuine contests. Amartey is injured again and out for another long block of games – this must be tough for him. However, it is time for them to grow up and pull their weight every bloody week when they are fit enough to play.
Chad Warner has found some form at last and looks in scintillating shape right now. He needs more support from his team mates. TE7 https://www.afl.com.au/stats/compare?playerOneId=CD_I1012014&playerTwoId=CD_I1023261
Charlie Curnow is looking real good too, after taking some time to find his feet. Go Charlie! TE6
Isaac Heeney is rolled gold, star material and hard as nails with it. He cannot do it alone and is getting sat on most weeks now, because oppos have worked out that if you stop Heeney you go a long way to beating Sydney. TE9
Brodie Grundy has been enormous for a couple of seasons now. I hope the big fella can keep it up. He is the champion ruckman the Swans have wanted and required for years. More power to the number 4. He needs to take more marks around the ground, however, Swans are ranked last for marks in the competition. TE8
James Jordan has been a wonderful addition to Sydney and I hope he can re-find his very best form going forward. TE8
Nick Blakey is up there with the absolute best players in this highly talented team. The Lizard is another that oppos try to stop. I hope he can get back to the scintillating form of a few weeks ago. TE6
James Rowbottom is the tackling machine and heart and soul player of the Swans. We need more like him. Grunt and blue collar in a 21C way. TE9
Errol Gulden has been missing for much of two seasons and that is no accident. The very best cop the most attention, whether that be fair or not. The team needs to look after this talented gut runner and playmaker. Make it their responsibility not to let him get smashed again. The Swans must become the hunters! TE5
Justin McInerney is injured and out for a number of weeks, alas. His best season so far and we will miss his corridor possessions and goals. TE5
Tom McCartin is our most talented defender but due to concussion proneness he has the equivalent of a glass jaw in boxing terms. What to say? We all wish him well but he is a vulnerability in hard AFL contests. TE7
Will Edwards has played a handful of games but looks like our next big man defender. Can we build a defence around him? He looks the goods, but is he ready for finals this season? TE6
Lewis Melican is injury prone and a B+ AFL player. But good teams need good B graders too. TE5
Jai Serong has been a great addition to the ranks this year. Playing wing and half back he has added an aerial prowess sorely missing at the Swans. TE6
Harry Cunningham has been a good servant of the club for many years. Getting to the end now. TE6
Jake Lloyd has rung every bit of AFL talent out of his slight form over many seasons. Time waits for no man, however. TE4
Tom Papley has been a fire starter for the Sydney Swans over the journey. Great goal sneak and burst player in the middle. Tom is injured once more and we miss his presence. TE6
Malcolm Rosas a good first half of the season, but has gone ice cold of late. We need him to fire up again in his debut year. TE5
Riley Bice is patchy and inconsistent. Lacks defensive skills and/or application. Can be damaging offensively but a worry as a defender. TE3
Hayden McClean, the big man will get his chance now that Amartey has gone down with an Achilles injury. Seize it son and make us proud! TE6
Matt Roberts needs to rediscover his best form from earlier in the season. Winning contests is vital. Become the hunter! TE6
Angus Sheldrick is coming on and is tough too. Keep it up Gus! TE7
Braeden Campbell we miss you! Get well real soon and I look forward to seeing you out there. TE5
Dane Rampe has been out injured for some time and is reaching the end of his great footy career. He will be hard to replace. TE6
There are plenty of fringe players who have made cameo appearances this year. Bits of great play mixed in with mediocrity. Young players, obviously, have to find their feet. All of them could be better if they play like their lives depend upon it. Winning big games comes from team effort. Winning contests and supporting your team mates out there. Don’t play scared and tackle like you mean it. Disrupt the oppo by getting a hand in legally. Knocking the ball out when you tackle is a good technique to master. Become the hunter and stop being the hunted. The Sydney Swans’ downhill skiers no more, please. Premierships are not handed out, you have to knock the other bloke down and take it. It takes blue collar grit and guts. Do you have it? Do you? What about you son?
Will Sydney Become The Hunters in the 2nd Half of Season 2026?
Can Dean Cox get his team to go after their opposition and dominate contests once more? Or are there just too many downhill skiers in this Sydney side? We will all have to stay tuned to find out.
Getting Lectured To By AFL ‘Experts’
“It is pretty tough watching football in the age of armchair experts. There are so many paid pundits commentating during AFL matches broadcast on Fox Footy that judgements fly faster than the Sherrin. Back in the day, commentators actually used to call the game. These days, critical analysis fill the watcher’s cup to overflowing. Ex-players paid to blow their trumpeted expert opinions fill the air waves. To be honest, this type of commentary sucks the joy out of footy. I don’t want to hear why every player and team are not playing perfect footy. I want to feel the excitement of the game.”
- (https://www.golfdom.com.au/watching-the-football-in-the-age-of-armchair-experts/)
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of The Stoic Golfer; The AI Heresy; What Price Life?; America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump; and other titles. NOW AVAILABLE AT APPLE BOOKS & GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS. Google Play Books AUDIOBOOK
©GolfDom
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Brisbane Lions Watch Faces - 2024 AFL Grand Final Edition
// SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2024
As a tribute to the Brisbane Lions' inspirational Preliminary Final win over the Geelong Cats yesterday, and in response to changes made to the Apple Watch "Photo Face" layout following the release of WatchOS 11, here's a few simple but classy Brisbane Lions watch faces for you to enjoy this 2024 Grand Final week!
Brisbane Lions Afl Personalized Name And Number 3D T-Shirt Gift For Fans
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Brisbane Lions 2023 pre-season match sim
// JANUARY 27TH, 2023