Hawks get a culture shock

[Swanee]

Great story about the Swans by Grant Thomas on http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=1051744&showcomments=true

In praising our club he asked pointed questions like

Can you remember protracted contract talks with a Sydney Swans player?

When was the last time a Sydney Swans player publicly embarrassed his club with unacceptable off-field behaviour?

How did Sydney Swans handle their coach handover against the manner with which Collingwood managed their very similar circumstances?

I wont add too much more as it is well worth reading the whole article, but his comment

It is no mystery that most football followers have the utmost respect and admiration for the Sydney Swans irrespective of their passion for their own team.

rings true. I have been utterly surprised by the number of fans from other teams supporting us during the GF. Look at some of the threads here on BF and there are other supporters arguing on behalf of the Swans with Hawks fans. Some of the support for the Swans shown on those threads is almost as fanatical as some of us one eyed Swans fans have been.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

The funny thing is, I think the no dickheads policy has filetered through to the supporters. It's almost as if we've adopted the same attitude our players are expected to. We dont have too many self indulgent supporters making asses of themselves which makes seeing us win the premiership that much more palatable for opposition supporters

 

[Ed_Gein]

Makes you proud to be a Bloods supporter

 

[SM]

To be fair both Reid and Hanners took a while signing on which had a few of us nervous, but that wasn't covered in the media to the same extent similar negotiations at other clubs did. While I doubt either was going to leave, they both waited until the end of the season for legitimate reasons, but so too have other players to much more intense speculation.

 

[Swanee]

I also like the way he 'stuck it up' Malthouse with his comment

The facts of the matter are that both Mick Malthouse's and Travis Cloke's selfishness and individual focus has had a significant and detrimental effect on Collingwood's performance this year.

Any criticism of Malthouse is well deserved, and I dont think they will be having a beer together in the near future.

 

[Tuco]

The funny thing is, I think the no dickheads policy has filetered through to the supporters. It's almost as if we've adopted the same attitude our players are expected to. We dont have too many self indulgent supporters making asses of themselves which makes seeing us win the premiership that much more palatable for opposition supporters

Hodgey summed it up after the game when he said not only were the team well respected, but they were well liked as well. Bookmarked for the rest of history in a Grand Final concession speech. F.A.C.T.

As for our supporters, we dish up just as much merciless booing and passion from the stands as supporters from any club. But I think the difference might be how a good number of us prefer to treat it as a whiteline fever thing rather than continue it on post game.

I know this much: good sportsmanship can be worn like armour. Win or lose. But particularly when we lose. One nod, or word of congratulations to an opponent has gotten me through some horrific losses over the years. I praised an Eagles to a fan walking home from the 06 Grand Final and he looked physically uncomfortable about my lack of futile hatred.

There's method in the madness.

 

[SM]

Sitting on the train after the game there was a bunch of us cheering on the Swans, and a Hawks fan came and sat in the corner and we immediately quietened down a bit and consoled him on the game. I can't think of many groups of fans who would do that post a GF.

 

[.Shotties.]

I also have nothing but respect for the masses of Hawks fans who stayed all through the presentation, songs, and lap of honour. Even clapping and paying respect when it must have been absolutely killing them. They're better people than I am.

 

[Swanee]

I also have nothing but respect for the masses of Hawks fans who stayed all through the presentation, songs, and lap of honour. Even clapping and paying respect when it must have been absolutely killing them. They're better people than I am.

I've heard that, lol!

 

[nicky]

I also have nothing but respect for the masses of Hawks fans who stayed all through the presentation, songs, and lap of honour. Even clapping and paying respect when it must have been absolutely killing them. They're better people than I am.

Yes the hawks fans around us did the same.

 

[Tuco]

I also have nothing but respect for the masses of Hawks fans who stayed all through the presentation, songs, and lap of honour. Even clapping and paying respect when it must have been absolutely killing them. They're better people than I am.

In 05 the West Coast fans deserted the field and it was all howling wolves and crickets in the stands when we got the chocolates. In 06, it was an undisturbed sea of red and white in the background for the medal ceremony. Proud of that.

Glad a number of the Hawkers stuck around. Their team deserved it.

 

[tonk]

I also have nothing but respect for the masses of Hawks fans who stayed all through the presentation, songs, and lap of honour. Even clapping and paying respect when it must have been absolutely killing them. They're better people than I am.

I was struck by how many hung around, impressive.

 

[legend166]

In 05 the West Coast fans deserted the field and it was all howling wolves and crickets in the stands when we got the chocolates. In 06, it was an undisturbed sea of red and white in the background for the medal ceremony. Proud of that.

Glad a number of the Hawkers stuck around. Their team deserved it.

Eh, I'm pretty sure I was at the airport before they even gave the cup to the Eagles, that's how fast I got out of there.

 

[Tuco]

Eh, I'm pretty sure I was at the airport before they even gave the cup to the Eagles, that's how fast I got out of there.

Haha. No judgements. One of my mates was standing with us, and when Cousins ran up onto the stage he said "**** this" and headed for the exits. But the evidence most stuck around is on the replay if you get that far into watching it...

...

which I never will again.

 

[Sakeistasty]

I was in Canada during the 06 grannie and was in a sports bar full of Sydney and West Coast fans. At the end, I remember shaking the hand of a West Coast fan - I think the rivalry was so fierce between the clubs that a one-all result in grand finals was a fair one.

On the other hand, I remember after the Hawks beat us in Sydney - the hawks fans who had come up were being ridiculous - shouting how they had already won the premiership at that point. I wasn't too pleased with that.

I guess the other thing with being a Swans fan is that we've seen so many tight finishes (wins and losses) so we know that in the end everything hangs on a knife's edge and sometimes you win (and it is GLORIOUS) and sometimes you lose (and it is not!). But in the end, if you know the team gave a great effort, that's really all you can ask of them.