TOPIC:

I was just writting about the improved form of SD towards the end of 1978 on another thread, so I thought I would put this thread up.

Did SD fans expect to make the finals before the 1979 season?

ArkRoyal wrote: I was just writting about the improved form of SD towards the end of 1978 on another thread, so I thought I would put this thread up.

Did SD fans expect to make the finals before the 1979 season?

No; one year too early.

Swans won 7 games in 1976,3 in 77 and 3 in 1978.13 wins in 3 seasons.From 63 starts.
1979 and finals was to much of a quantum leap up the ladder.Won there last 5 matches and ended up with 10 wins.They would of taken 6-8 wins.The Wafl was a strong high standard comp back then.

In short AR no we didnt as GTR has posted we had barely won a game in the previous seasons as Toddy sifted through the squad introducing many youngsters to senior football, in fact John Cooper was under pressure over his backing of Todd at that time if memory serves me right....the likes of P.Narkle, Richardson, Langsford, Fitzgerald, Shine, Beasley, A.Sidebottom, Holmes, Williams, Fogarty, M.Smith et al were all blooded in Todds first couple of years at the club and we finally found the confidence and ability to play 4 qtrs in the second half of the 1979 season which was the launching pad to our most successful era 80-85. We were still learning the caper in 1979 the ability was certainly there but the know how was a work in progress!

1979 was a great year from memory....

Of those 6 wins from 42 starts in 1977-78.Four wins where narrow wins against Subi .The other two wins where big wins against Perth.Who won in 77 by 13 goals and narrowly lost the GF in 78.

thanks lads

Maybe not before the season but yes by round 6. The round 14 disaster against WP when we led by a mile at 3/4 and managed to lose by a point followed by losses over our bogie teams of EF and EP ended the season for us. Macro-history will point to 1979 as the beginning of Swans' rise, but in my opinion it was the final last eight matches of 1978.

SH: great post; one of reasons i set up the thread was because I was readding through a few 1979 budgets, and as you suggested, there was a certain air of confidence around the statements made by people at SD and commentators at the time. I found it very interesting readding indeed.

The improvement was certainly there in 1978, as, SD would have avoided the wooden spoon accept for the fact that the Lions managed to upset EF in the last game of the year --some of our best football has always been played against the Old Easts.

At the end of round 8, having just lost narrowly to EF after leading all day, you were only a game outside the four and I think Todd would have expected to make it; at the time, EF were top of the ladder and had won 7 of their 8 games.

ArkRoyal wrote: SH: great post; one of reasons i set up the thread was because I was readding through a few 1979 budgets, and as you suggested, there was a certain air of confidence around the statements made by people at SD and commentators at the time. I found it very interesting readding indeed.

The improvement was certainly there in 1978, as, SD would have avoided the wooden spoon accept for the fact that the Lions managed to upset EF in the last game of the year --some of our best football has always been played against the Old Easts.

Do you think the game against Perth upset SD?

The game against WP AR? Yes, definitely. Swans had achieved a few things in the earlier rounds likes wins at Leederville and Perth Oval and Lathlian Park to show they were going somewhere; and then to drop one in that way knocked the wind from the team. Swans have won five flags since, but 1979 is still my favourite season of football for it showed we had something. A bit like a Subi supporter saying 1985 was their most memorial season because of what followed...