Almanac Footy: Sydney Swans – The Black Knight of the AFL

 

The term ‘high percentage’ in sport, especially in AFL footy is something clubs talk about but  rarely execute to expectations.

 

That can’t be said of the Sydney Swans. Since the inauguration of the AFL from the VFL in 1990, only Geelong and West Coast have a better record of making finals. Geelong with the same amount of 22 and the West Coast with 24.

 

One could argue that both the Cats and Eagles had more talent throughout that period and had the advantage 0f playing in AFL heartlands in front of big crowds.

 

A good friend of mine and Essendon supporter Andrew, lived in Sydney for a time in the early 90’s with his Swans-supporting partner Jill. He once described to me about a game at the SCG between Melbourne and Sydney in front of a crowd consisting of nothing more than player relatives and family dogs.

 

There were so few fans there that when Andrew made a derogatory remark to Allen Jakovich in regards to the size of his backside, his voice amplified and Jakovich easily picked him out of the crowd and immediately gave him a death stare.  Andrew felt the unpredictable Jakovich was forming a mental police sketch of him in the hope of catching up after the game. :)

 

I watched Sydney dismantle the reigning premier Collingwood last night and do the same to Melbourne the previous week. The Swans have a culture that is the envy of fans like me who have supported St Kilda all their miserable life.

 

To be a high percentage team like the Swans requires discipline and predictability to each other. Not predictable as in boring, more an automatic response when connecting with team mates. Use it as a base then add your natural ability to it.

 

The Swans also have what they define as the ‘Bloods Culture’.  No other club embraced the organisation ‘Leading Teams’ as wholly as the Swans did.

 

Former Ballarat teacher and RAAF instructor Ray McLean has had considerable success using simple but highly effective processes to turn teams from average to high performing.

 

He helped to turn SANFL team Central District into a powerhouse and his couple of years with Stan Alves at St Kilda were instrumental in the Saints making the 1997 grand final.

 

McLean’s book Any Given Team is an excellent resource for any coach or manager. He simply believes that an individual’s performances are a product of their habits, attitudes, beliefs and expectations, all factors that are within their control.

 

These days all AFL clubs employ some form of organisational psychology to set up the team’s value and behaviours. I’ve always liked McClean’s three simple questions which can be workshopped in more detail in order to have the team buy into THEIR values and beliefs.

 

• How are we perceived by our opposition?
• How do we want to be perceived?
• How do we get there?

 

So why do the Swans buy into their mantra more-so than some other teams?

 

I wish I knew, but one thing the Swans developed early in the days of Paul Roos, was a ‘no dickhead’ policy. Regardless of a player’s talent, if you don’t ‘buy in’, you’re out.

 

In addition to that, they recruit very shrewdly. Players rarely move, they are moved on. Same applies to their coaches.

 

They have had a fascination with high profile forwards which has worked for them. Lockett to Hall to Franklin have all been valuable investments for the game in Sydney.

 

The newest evolution that is the local talent coming through their academy. There is an absolute jet in Errol Gulden who made the All Australian Team last year who is a local and has a laser-like kick on him.

 

I’m fearing an all Sydney grand final this year, as you can’t help but admire the way GWS play also. An AFL Commission’s wet dream I’m sure.

 

What we do know is that Sydney will be thereabouts again. They’re tough, committed and believe in the values and behaviours that have served them so well over the last thirty years.

 

If you’re a Swans member you’re guaranteed to get your money’s worth. The Swans have a never say die attitude that reminds me of the Black Knight in Monty Python’s Holy Grail. Never write them off.

 

 

 

 

 

More from Ian Wilson can be read Here.

 

 

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