One triumph doesn't spell the end of Swan dive
Adrian Warren
AAP, Daily Telegraph, May 9
Sydney coach John Longmire has warned the Swans long overdue first AFL win of the season doesn't automatically herald the start of a full scale revival.
Beaten in their first six games, Sydney climbed off the bottom of the ladder and dumped Brisbane there with a 54-point win over the Lions at the SCG on Sunday.
Sydney's trademark passion for the contest, which was sighted only sporadically in previous games, was evident over longer periods against Brisbane.
But with Sydney still unfavourably placed in 17th position and only above Brisbane on percentage, Longmire wasn't about to get too bullish about their season prospects.
“We had to start somewhere and we had to start with a win, but there's no guarantees with that either," Longmire said.
"You need to come up with that ferocious contest every week, and that attitude every week and an uncompromising attack on the ball.
"It's not going to happen just because we've won the first game, we've got to make it happen, not just hope."
Young gun Jones preaches aggression to keep Swans' winning momentum going
Adrian Warren
AAP, SMH, May 9
Aggression is the key to building momentum for Sydney, says rising Swans AFL youngster Zak Jones.
Speedy half back-midfielder Jones was a standout in Sydney's drought-breaking 54-point home win over Brisbane on Sunday. He notched a career-high 27 touches and galvanised the SCG crowd with a sensational goal following a sizzling run which left would-be tacklers floundering in his wake.
The big win over Brisbane brought some relief to Sydney after six losses to start the season.
"They [the losses] are still in the back of your mind always, but it's good to get a win," Jones said on Monday. "Hopefully that brings confidence for the rest of the year and we can use that to build momentum."
Sydney's next two games are both at Etihad Stadium, starting with next Sunday's clash with a North Melbourne side coming off back-to-back wins after losing their first five fixtures.
"They always bring a tough fight in every game and I think we have to bring the same aggression as we did this week," Jones said.
Jones momentarily stole the spotlight from Lance Franklin’s eight-goal show on Sunday with his own dazzling six-pointer.
"That's got to be the best goal I've kicked," said Jones, who had only booted six in his 37 previous senior appearances. "I was thinking about handballing to Buddy [Franklin] and then I was 'I'm just going to take the shot'."
