"The game we had to lose" theory.

[terryo]

I'm not sure that I agree with the theory, but it fits in nicely with "the longer the winning streak is, the closer it is to finishing. You often hear or read journos, but not coaches, say this about this time of year. "It's a wake up call". If we do have to lose one, which would you prefer? I would nominate the Doggies. We want to beat ll the conters for finals in the coming H&A games.

 

[S120]

I don't think it has any merit inside a football club. It is a somewhat romantic idea for supporters and media to go along with but in reality (in terms of what actually affects the goings on of a team and their win-loss record) I don't put much credence in it.

But, to answer the question, if you were to go along with the theory then I think it would make the most sense to nominate this week's game as the "best" game to lose. Lose to Carlton, a team which is very good at its best but is way down on personnel and get the "wake-up call" before the enormous Pies game and a difficult run home in which we play the Cats and Hawks.

But, as I say, I don't put much in this theory at all.

 

[Tippett2Goal]

Well we may have already had it, the game against the Saints earlier this year was the one we had to have.

 

[TRAWP]

I think its more superstition then anything else, but we all know no teams can continue winning without a loss. If we're going to have one, i'd prefer it against Hawthorn, by 3pts.

 

[Sanecow]

The first game of next season would be fine, cheers.

 

[TripleB]

I'd be happy to lose to the Cats, resting whoever needs freshening up for the finals because we have just sewn up a top 2 spot by beating the Hawks...

 

[CAS79]

There are certain games that can be used to rest players. Not set out to lose but the hurt factor does not exist.

This season it does not exist. There is no gap and while we sit atop dropping out of the top 4 is still a serious option.

No game we had to lose theory in 2012.

 

[Bonz]

The first game of next season would be fine, cheers.

As long as it isn't GWS I agree with this!!!

 

[bungee]

It has as much merit as saying a team that loses continuously is getting closer to winning one or tossing 7 heads in a row and expecting the next to come up tails.

If we play better than our opponent we'll win every time (umpires excepting)

 

[SM]

That loss against the Crows was one we had to have. And then when we lost to the Tigers and Saints, they were also big wake up calls for the club, we are now well aware of what we have to lose, and will steam roll the rest of this season.

CARN THE ****ING SWANS!!

 

[Gongswan]

Not a subscriber to this theory, I reckon the team would be looking at the last 2 weeks of mediocre performance in some areas and saying, we'll have to be better to beat an actual footy side

 

[GotTheGoodes]

Yep, we never "need" to lose IMO. We can win badly still........ I honestly do think we can beat anyone at any time. Bring it on, show us what you've got. I know our boys have it ingrained in them to never give up and never say die and put in 110% even in the "easy" games. That is exactly what I love more than anything about our club. Even if it means we don't win we put everything into the here and now and win (or lose) what is in front of us. We can beat anyone when we are on it and playing like we want to. I have not said that since 2005......

C'Mon you mighty bloods!!!


EDIT: I'm actually worried about the Bulldogs game... The game we "should win" is always the hardest.

 

[RogersResults]

Some history: Sydney/South Melbourne Grand Finals.

1899: Finished the first round of 14 matches on 5 wins and 9 losses.
After the redraw they won all 3 of their sectional matches to finish on top of their section - including beating Geelong by 3 points in Geelong after losing to them by 27 points 3 weeks before also in Geelong.
The only final played that year was the grand final with Sydney/SM playing the team on top of the other sectional ladder, Fitzroy. They had lost both previous matches that year against Fitzroy by 4 points and 33 points. At a wind affected grand final at the Junction Oval St Kilda, where only 4 behinds were scored at one end, Fitzroy 7 points down at 3/4 time came home with the wind to take the pennant by 1 point.

1907: After a loss at home to ladder leaders Carlton in round 12 by 9 points, the 'Blood-stained Angels' won their next 6 matches to face Carlton in the grand final. Carlton after leading at each quarter break withstood a comeback in the last quarter to prevail by 5 points.

1909: After dropping matches in rounds 13 and 14 Sydney/SM came into the finals with 4 straight wins to finish top of the ladder. They dropped the final to defending premiers, Carlton by 22 points but as the team that had finished top of the ladder, the Bloods had a second chance and in a very tight match (scores tied at 1/4 and 1/2 time) they overcame Carlton by 2 points to win their first premiership.

1912: They won 8 consecutive before dropping a match at home by 6 points to 2nd placed Carlton in round 17. They recovered to beat Collingwood at Vicroria Park in the last round to take top spot. This time the doubler-chance didn't help as they lost to Essendon by 12 and 14 points in successive matches.

1918: After losing to bottom placed St Kilda in round 4 they then won the remaining 12 games of the season to gain the premiership (although they only won their two finals by 5 points each.) Sydney/SM in 1918 have the 5th highest match/win percentage for a complete season of all premier teams.

1933: After losing 3 games in succession rounds 7 to 9 and dropping to 8th out of 12 on the ladder, they won the next 10 straight to take their 3rd premiership.

1934: Won 9 straight rounds 8 to 16 before losing to 3rd placed Richmond at Richmond by 6 points. They them knocked off 1st placed Geelong by 42 points and won their two finals (beating Collingwood by 6 and Geelong by 62) to meet Richmond in the grand final. The Tigers won again this time by 39 points.

1935: After losing round 1 to Collingwood by 2 points at Collingwood the Swans only dropped one more home and away match - round 15 to 3rd placed Carlton at Carlton by 41 points. They had a comfortable win by 21 points over Collingwood in the semi-final - winning all 4 quarters but then the Magpies reversed the result 2 weeks later to win the grand final by 20 points - winning all but the first quarter.

1936: Won their first 8 matches then dropped 2 of the next 4 before recovering to come into the finals with 6 straight wins and top position. The Swans then lost the semi-final to Collingwood by 13 points who they had beaten in round 10 at Collingwood by 11 points. They recovered to beat Melbourne in the preliminary final but lost again to Collingwood in the grand final, this time by 11 points.

1945: Won all but one of their last 8 matches (a loss to 7th placed Fitzroy by 9 points in the 3rd last round) including the semi-final v Collingwood but then lost the 'blood-bath' grand final by 28 points to Carlton who in their only other meeting with that year had beaten them by 6 points.

1996: From round 9 it was 8 wins straight then LWWW LWWW before losing the big one.
2005 and 2006 are probably still well remembered.

Are their patterns here? Have a look and see if keeping winning or dropping games has been the indicator of success in the Swans' history.

 

[Swansujelly]

After my initial rants on the game day thread, and having thought about it throughout the week, I rekon the Maggies match may be a good loss. After many wins, although they were in no way complacent, the game showed us a few flaws in our game and exactly what finals footy will be. Pressure, pressure, pressure. We will be better for the loss and the Bulldogs better be ready for a rabid Swans outfit.

 

[Chinners100]

After my initial rants on the game day thread, and having thought about it throughout the week, I rekon the Maggies match may be a good loss. After many wins, although they were in no way complacent, the game showed us a few flaws in our game and exactly what finals footy will be. Pressure, pressure, pressure. We will be better for the loss and the Bulldogs better be ready for a rabid Swans outfit.

Funnily enough we have lost every game after we've played collingwood from 2007 onwards.

vs Geelong 2007
vs Hawthorn 2008
vs Adelaide 2009
vs Richmond 2010
vs Adelaide 2011

We really should break this mini 'hoodoo' this week.