Sydney Swans senior coach Scott Gowans spoke to the media on Tuesday, ahead of the team's clash with North Melbourne on Saturday.
On the loss to the Crows
"Yeah, definitely, that's exactly it and there are moments in the game that you look back on in your review and you can improve on, but it's easy in hindsight. The fact of the matter was we competed with one of the top four sides for the first time, so that's a win. You take that and then you go through the growths and you see little improvements that you can make and hopefully get another crack at it this week against North. But I think overall it's hard to be too disappointed in the result after a really solid game by the girls. But finals footy is where we're at and we want to play finals and I felt that atmosphere and hostile environment was what finals is all about. So I'm pleased with the learnings out of it."
On the importance of taking positives from the game
"Yeah, it's very important and it's one of those ones where you can actually see what we were trying to do and I felt the strategy behind the way to play the Crows and play teams like the Crows was very sound, whereas probably in the past we've gone in with a little bit more hope rather than actual strategy and being able to implement that and then execute it. So it is definitely a growth and we'll take a lot out of that game and yeah, but obviously the test gets a bit bigger again this week."
On what the team will take from the game
"A little bit of everything. The game plan didn't change at all, it's just what we do, we try to outpossess and take the game on and get a front half game going and previous two weeks against Collingwood and Giants, for various reasons we didn't do that and it's the mindset to flip from, as I said last week, from being hunted to hunting, that definitely helped and we went there with a bit more free spirit and that's what the game's got to look like for us. We want to be that sort of side and outnumber in layers and win the contests and off we go. Adelaide, they always do play the extra at the contests and our ability to absorb that and then get them on the outside where traditionally they have hurt us in the past was really pleasing and then it's a matter of, as the game in the heat of the moment, when you get those moments in the third quarter and the last quarter and the last two minutes that you are able to execute and make decisions under the pressure of a scoreboard and that's an experience thing. It's very hard to replicate that at training, we try to with scenario training but you can't beat the booing and the opposition momentum and Adelaide are a fantastic side and yeah we'll get a lot out of it."
On Ally Morphett and Sofia Hurley
"We're hopeful they've got to get through training tomorrow both passed tests yesterday which was great and they'll be back soon, if it's not this week it'll be definitely next week but we've got a session tomorrow and they'll they'll have to get through that to put their hand up."
On the challenge of North Melbourne
"We're not intimidated, we're actually excited by the challenge and there's no bigger challenge in footy is there at the moment and credit to them, they've been fantastic and what Darren Crocker's done an amazing job. We go there here with a free throw at the stumps and it's really just about us and if we can do what we did last week and play that free-flowing footy. They're a very well structured side but we're excited by the opportunity it's a it's a big challenge but it's an exciting one to go away and travel down to Tasmania, Launceston, nice big deck so there's no excuse for for not having a really good throw at it."
On going into the game with a "nothing to lose" mentality
"Absolutely and yeah we said last week that these these next four weeks are like a mini final series and that was exactly what it was last week and and now you get another chance at it so we're learning as we go along um but yeah it is, there's just no excuse for for getting on your back foot now and we know what to expect we know what we're going to get. So just go out and hunt and just try to get the game on our terms as many times as we have to to try and get the result we need."
On Sarah Steele-Park
"I thought she had a very solid game her, her ability just to bring others into the game and defend first was fantastic. I've never seen a person look happier after a two-point loss so but we give her a little bit of grace with that because she's waited a long time it's been a big journey so I was up I was just pleased with her and people like that that lead the group off the field and they just bring an energy that you know you can't manufacture. She's really important to the group and even though she's just played the one game she is the experienced person if you like from a maturity point of view and being the school teacher that nurturing type of person and I was just so pleased for her and I thought she um she applied herself really well had a couple of difficult matchups and got through it um then her ball use was pretty good as well so you know she's looking forward to seeing she'll be a big part of the plans this week with North Melbourne."
