Goodes great as Swans run out game
John Longmire has been preaching the need for his side to produce a four-quarter effort and finally he got it
OVER the past six weeks, Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has been preaching the need for his side to produce consistent four-quarter efforts if it is to ensure finals football in 2011.
Against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, he got it.
While the Swans were a little wasteful in front of goal, they never let up en route to a vital 16.18 (114) to 11.9 (75) victory that puts them comfortably back in the top eight.
It also helped that evergreen co-captain Adam Goodes had one of the best games of his career.
At 31 years of age, the two-time Brownlow medallist recorded his highest-ever possession tally against the Bulldogs with 34, 20 of which were contested.
He also added 10 marks, six tackles and two goals.
"He's unbelievable. I'm just in awe sometimes watching him out on the ground," teammate Craig Bird said.
"Thirty-four touches and a couple of goals is just unbelievable by him and age doesn't seem to worry him at all.
"He's actually getting better with age I think. He played really well today."
While Longmire also admired his co-captain's effort, it was that four-quarter display that he found most pleasing.
It came after, in his words, the Swans played just one quarter in their disappointing loss to Fremantle last week.
"I think we got it today," Longmire said.
"For the whole game I thought our pressure was really good. Our polish was a little bit off in that first half and it was a reason why they were still in the game.
"But with 74 inside-50s there's no doubt our four-quarter effort was there, which is what we've been after."
Having lost four of their previous five games, the Swans can now take some confidence into this week's bye, before resuming their finals hunt against Essendon at Etihad Stadium in round 20.
"It was obviously an important game for us," Longmire said.
"Our form had been fluctuating and I thought the way our leaders and experienced players went about their work during the week was fantastic.
"They followed it through today really well and really led the team well.
"The Bulldogs had won four of their last five, so their form's been really solid, and they're a top four team from last year as well.
"They're a good team still, so to show that intensity under some pressure going in - there's no doubt we needed to win that game - it sits there with one of our better wins for the year."
In another boost, Longmire said injured trio Gary Rohan, Mike Pyke and Jed Lamb will be close to being ready for senior selection following the break.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL