The Sydney Swans secured their third win of the season after a 45-point victory over the Richmond Tigers at the MCG on Saturday April 3.
Speaking to the media after the clash, coach John Longmire had plenty of praise for his side.
The Swans came into the clash with a game plan, built around pressure and Longmire said the side was able to compete hard and execute against the defending premiers.
“The expectations were to compete with the best team of the competition over the last four years and we went in with a plan that had to be underpinned by a strong competitive aspect and the players were able to execute that pretty well,” Longmire said.
“They were able to compete really hard when they needed to but also be composed enough to execute and they were very good.”
“You clearly have to respect what Richmond have been able to do over the last few years and we have enormous respect for what they have been able to do and continue to do,” Longmire added.
“They are an A-grade team, so we came here with the utmost respect, but it still means we can be hard and composed and play the way we wanted to play.”
Richmond showed their competitiveness to keep constant pressure on the score board and challenge Sydney’s young squad early in the second quarter of the clash.
Longmire said it was pleasing to see his side withstand the pressure and that they would use it as an opportunity to learn from whilst also gaining plenty of belief.
“It’s something we are still learning to brace ourselves when that happens and we are still working through that,” Longmire said when reflecting of experiences from the 2020 season.
“Opposition teams will always get their run on, particular Richmond, but we were able to be hard when we needed to, but also do it with method.”
“They fought through it really well, our leaders were terrific in helping our younger players out and that’s a really important part.”
“It’s the belief that you can compete really well with all teams if we do what we want to do and that’s if all players do their role and be hard and execute,” Longmire added.
“It’s reinforcement that what we do works, but in this game, you need to keep getting better and keep going again.”
Whilst it was pleasing to secure their third win of the season, Longmire said his young squad would not be getting carried away.
Longmire had praise for his young stars, including Chad Warner, George Hewett and Tom Hickey who were some of the unsung heroes over the opening rounds of the competition, but he said the squad would continue to learn from each week.
“We see some good signs.” Longmire said when asked about the excitement around his young group.
“We are three games in, and it’s the balance between the acknowledgement that we have been working really hard and learning and getting better at different things and also knowing the full well of the competition. We play Essendon at the SCG next Thursday and it doesn’t stop.”
“I have been really pleased with that aspect, that we have been able to win, to look and it and learn from it and then put it aside and move on to the next team.”
“I just look at the next week and always have. That’s the reality of the game. You acknowledge the aspects we got right, and we got a lot right today which was terrific but its then about getting back into the work this week,” Longmire added.
“If you get into the aspect where you get your head in that space, that is really important. You acknowledge what you do well, acknowledge what you need to improve on and don’t go over the top either way and get into the next one.”
The Sydney Swans face the Essendon Bombers at the SCG on Thursday April 8. Click here to purchase tickets to the clash.
