"YOU'VE got to risk this feeling to take the chance to do something great." Those words may have been from Chris Scott, but they apply to all coaches who lose matches in September. The hurt from defeat in September can be immense.
For Scott, it came after a 25-point lead in a preliminary final became a 10-point loss, to eventual premier Brisbane. >> GET THE LATEST FROM DAMIAN BARRETT The sentiment behind those words would be shared by Adam Kingsley. For the GWS coach, the hurt may even be starker, and possibly darker.
His Giants lost two finals this year from near-unloseable positions of dominance. Failing to secure victory after a 28-point lead against Sydney in a double-chance final was bad enough. Losing to Brisbane the following week after holding a 44-point lead was embarrassing.
Then add a one-point loss in a preliminary final in 2023 to the Giants' mix, and it's a catastrophe. A club and a coach gets only so many chances at risking the feeling to do something great. John Longmire risked it all in year two of his control of the Sydney Swans and won the 2012 premiership.
He risked it all again to reach Grand Finals in 2014, 2016, 2022 and then one more time last Saturday, against Brisbane . Matthew Lloyd, Damian Barrett and Nat Edwards look back at the Grand Final and where the two clubs go from here Unfortunately, there has been nothing great attached to three of those past four Swans Grand Finals. Working backwards, the Swans lost those matches by 60, 81, 22 and 63 poi.