On the road, undermanned and against the odds…sound familiar?
As the Swans prepare for Saturday’s qualifying final against Fremantle without Lance Franklin, Kieren Jack, Luke Parker and Nick Smith, long-time supporters are quickly reminded of an epic encounter played out more than a decade ago.
In 2003 – the season Adam Goodes won his first of two Brownlows – Port Adelaide had claimed the minor premiership and was considered along with Brisbane as flag favourites.
The Paul Roos-led Swans meanwhile had clinched fourth spot thanks to a final-round win against Melbourne, with only a slightly better percentage separating them and (funnily enough) Fremantle, to book a qualifying final against Mark Williams’ Power.
The Swans weren’t expected to travel deep into September in light of a spate of injuries which threatened to derail the campaign before it had even started.
First-year captain Stuart Maxfield recalls feeling surprisingly calm and optimistic however despite going into such an important game “without the full complement of players in an hostile environment”.
“I vaguely remember having a chat to the players in our last training session. I said something along the lines of ‘make no mistake, we’re going over there to win.’ ”
“It didn’t matter that we didn’t have our so-called best 22 out there. Throughout the season and particularly in finals series things happen that are out of your control. All you can do is worry about the things within your control.
“We saw it as an opportunity to step up to the plate, for our experienced players and our younger players to pit themselves against the best teams in the competition and within an intensity of a final.
“You can learn a lot about yourself and about the team in times of adversity.”
Michael O’Loughlin limped off with a torn hamstring against the Dees, ruling out the dangerous forward out for the entire finals series and adding even more strain on an already depleted outfit.
Jason Ball, Ryan O’Keefe and Jason Saddington were also sidelined with injury while Daryn Cresswell was under a cloud, a late fitness test confirming his availability just before the trip to Adelaide.
Even Roosy was among the walking wounded, forced the coach in a moon boot and crutches after rupturing his Achilles tendon in a game of social basketball before the first final.
“I’ve made a sacrifice to the injury gods, we will not lose anymore,” he said to the papers after the operation.
“I think it’s just commitment to the team. I’ll take the injuries for the other players and we won’t lose anyone this week, so I think it’s a positive.”
Football Park, like what’s waiting at Domain Stadium, was a fortress with 33,968 mostly Power fans turning out to watch the heavily tipped home side romp to an expected Preliminary Final berth.
But as history tells us the game didn’t pan out that way.
The Swans jumped out of the blocks to lead for the entire first half and by as much as 40 points at half-time, thanks to a blistering start and a stunning three-goal second quarter from Barry Hall.
“I think the plan for any team is to start well,” Maxfield said.
“There are always momentum shifts in game. You have to acknowledge both yourself and the opposition will always have a turn during games.
“You just have to be prepared to either halt and nullify the opposition’s momentum and then capitalise and hit the scoreboard when it’s your turn.
“Sometimes all it takes is an individual act, a tackle, a spoil or hard ball get to swing the momentum back your way.”
That lead slowly diminished as the second half wore on and when trio Brad Seymour, Stephen Doyle and Tadhg Kennelly were forced out of the game with fresh injuries.
With three on ice the Swans were down to only one fit player on the bench with a quarter of football still to play.
It was in that period when the Swans’ renowned fearless and never-give-in attitude took centre stage.
“If you happen to lose players you’re given a chance to either go into your shell or accept the responsibility to step up,” Maxfield said.
“If you can take that opportunity with both hands there are some of your greatest and fondest wins.”
Leading by 24 points at the final break, the Swans held firm to thwart considerable challenges by Port and a boisterous home crowd to hold on by 13 points in what is considered as one of the greatest wins in the Club’s history.
Brett Kirk was instrumental, collecting 24 disposals and laying eight tackles, while Hall finished with six goals.
As history shows the Swans progressed to the Preliminary Final against eventual premier Brisbane, a match gallantly pushed to the final term. The Lions rallied however to claim a runaway victory.
Twelve years on, the Swans find themselves in an eerily similar position again with stars down and the odds stacked heavily against them.
Here’s to history repeating itself.
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