Wounded Swans focus on rebound, not damning AFL stat
Sydney coach John Longmire knows no AFL team has ever lost a game by more than 100 points and gone on to win a flag that season, but he doesn’t care.
The Swans may still lead the league with just three rounds remaining but their premiership credentials are more in question than ever after a monster 112-point loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday.
They were looking to bounce back from four defeats in five matches but their downward spiral worsened as they were held scoreless for almost two quarters.
Sydney were never in the contest, with Ken Hinkley’s Port slamming through seven goals to none in the opening quarter.
Port then surged to a 71-point lead before the Swans notched their first score, a rushed behind, midway through the second term.
It is their biggest loss since 1993 and the fifth-worst loss in the club’s AFL/VFL history.
The most damning statistic surrounds the coveted premiership: no side in AFL/VFL history has lost by more than 100 points and gone on to be crowned champions that season.
Carlton lost a game to Essendon by exactly 100 points in 1945 before winning the flag that season, but their loss came early, in round 3.
But Longmire is refusing to be disturbed by history.
“Not surprisingly, no,” he said on Tuesday when asked if it weighed on his mind.
The seasoned coach is focused on guiding his side out of their six-week decline.
Swans players have been given a reprieve from training for a mental and physical refresh before they take on Craig McRae’s 11th-placed Collingwood on Friday night.
“I want to get to a level of competing this week,” Longmire said.
“It’s never been something more than that.
“Whether it’s statistics or it’s the ifs, buts, maybes, what could happen in 10 weeks time, it’s not really relevant for us.
“Every year, there’s a different challenge from losing six in a row coming off a grand final to coming off grand final defeats, to various injuries that happen that are outside of your control.
“As a coach, you’ve seen most things that happen over the journey.
“What we know is we’ve played some really good footy this year. We know that our best is very good. That’s been proven.
“We’re confident in our playing group and our staff to be able to return to that.”
Key forward Joel Amartey (managed) is expected to return for the Magpies match after he was left out of the Port clash as a late swap for Peter Ladhams.
Defensive duo Lewis Melican (hamstring) and Dane Rampe (calf) are a test.
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