John Longmire blasts 'unacceptable' drama as Swans seek 79-year first to win premiership
The Sydney Swans were left embarrassed in Adelaide in a shocking result.
Swans coach John Longmire has let rip at this team after Sydney suffered there worst ever defeat to Port Adelaide as the top of the ladder team has fallen back down to earth. The Swans headed into the clash against Port Adelaide after a brutal defeat to the Bulldogs at the SCG last week.
Longmire's men were looking to bounce back against the Power in Adelaide, but were left shell-shocked only minutes into the AFL game as they were blown away from the opening siren. Port Adelaide won 22.16 (148) to 5.6 (36) to hand them Sydney's biggest ever loss to the Power in the club's history. Since 1997 the Swans have only been held to fewer than 10 points at half-time four times.
Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner were anonymous as the AFL leaders now face the real possibility of finishing outside the top two on the ladder if they can't turnaround their slump. And coach Longmire was completely dumbfounded at the performance.
"It's completely and utterly unacceptable," Longmire said after the humiliation. "It's not up to standard.
"We've been in every game this year until last week, and we dropped away last week. And today just didn't seem like it had a baseline to it at all, in any area.
"We just didn't come to compete and that's the very essence of the game. If you don't come to compete and fight you get shown up, no matter who you play." When asked if he was bewildered by how the match unfolded, Longmire agreed. "Yeah, that'd be one word to describe it," he added
Sydney Swans need 76-year first to win premiership
Many fans had the Swans as favourites halfway through the season as they dominated teams in the middle of the park with their relentless style. They have been at the top of the ladder since round eight. However, the Swans are going to have overcome history if they are going to win a premiership in 2024.
“If they are going to go all the way, they're going to need to do something that hasn't been done since 1945,” Gabelich told SEN Radio. “That is recovering from losing by 100 points in the season that you win the premiership.
“It hasn't happened since 1945 when Carlton did it. We don't see premiers get pumped in a season, so to lose by 112 points, like they did last night (was huge). To concede the first 71 points … it’s a small thing, but it's a long way back from here. Maybe because the season is so even it might help them, but all of a sudden they could lose top spot.” Fans were quick to call out the Swans who have dominated for the majority of the season, up until the last two rounds.
There has got to be trouble in the club for this to happen. Swans now the laughing stock of afl.
— Des Shoppee (@des_shoppee) August 4, 2024
Sydney Swans really have gone from Swan to ugly ducking
— Matty Matt (@MattDyer01) August 4, 2024
Swans forgotton how to pick the ball up. What a joke. #AFLPowerSwans
— JA (@jga118) August 3, 2024
Port Adelaide's Ken Hinkley thrilled with Swans win
While Longmire was fuming at his team's downfall, Ken Hickley was stunned at his club's domination. Mitch Georgiades and Willie Rioli both kicked four goals in the domination, while Willem Drew kept Chad Warner to just 19 touches throughout the contest.
"I'll remember it. That's what I will do. I'll remember the game," coach Hinkley said. "I'll remember it easily because you just don't normally do that sort of stuff in 400 times that I've turned up to the footy. As I keep saying all the time, just wait til the end, see what happens. The comp says, 'lose one and you're out of the eight'."