Acting Sydney captain Dane Rampe admitted his club’s 60-point mauling at the hands of the Brisbane Lions has left him with a worse feeling than after the Swans’ similarly anaemic grand final loss to Geelong two years ago.
While the Cats were clearly the standout side in 2022, all the way to their 81-point win over Sydney in the decider, Rampe felt this season’s Swans were that team, claiming the minor premiership before earning swift passage to the big one by beating Greater Western Sydney in the qualifying final and Port Adelaide in the preliminary final.
Swans star Errol Gulden covers his face after the final siren.Credit: AFL Photos
“On the back of what we felt was a good, quality prep – where we were at peace with how we went about things – it probably makes it (2024) a little bit harder (than 2022), if I’m being honest,” said Rampe, who now has a 0-4 record in grand finals, having also lost to Hawthorn (2014) and the Western Bulldogs (2016).
“I’m not (able to rationalise it) at the moment.
“The emotions are still pretty raw. I don’t know what to make of it.
“We’re at peace knowing our preparation was as good as it’s been.
“Unfortunately I’ve been in this position a few times, but I’m completely at peace with our prep, which I guess is what makes it so hollow – we don’t know where we went wrong.”
Despite the sting of another September meltdown at the MCG, the Swans have invariably shown a capacity to bounce back from disappointment and not drift completely from contention.
“We’ll lick our wounds, have a look at it, and figure out how to fight again,” Rampe said.
“One thing I know about this group and this club is (that) we’ll fight like buggery to get back there.”
Star midfielder Chad Warner agreed that Sydney’s preparation was near-faultless, especially compared to 2022, and it seemed apparent early as the Swans booted the first two goals of the match and were only seven points adrift early in the second quarter – before things unravelled.
Swans coach John Longmire after the game. He now has a 1-4 record in grand finals.Credit: AFL Photos
“Mentally, we went into the game great and physically as well, a really good finals prep going in,” Warner said.
“The funny thing is we actually started well for once.
“I guess the footy gods had something else to say on this day.”
Swans fans at the SCG live site couldn’t bear to look.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
Warner also agreed with Rampe in ranking 2024 as a more bitter pill to swallow than 2022.
“I think this time it’s a lot worse,” he said.
“Coming in, I felt a lot more prepared than last time.
“It’s a lot worse but similar vibes.”
Swans fan Ben Wellek watches the AFL grand final at the Clovelly Hotel in Sydney.Credit: Janie Barrett
Dual All-Australian wingman Errol Gulden denied any suggestion of Swanny-wobble scars now cursing the club after falling short at the big dance for the fourth time in a row.
“No, I don’t think so,” Gulden said. “That (Cats loss) was a couple of years ago, we’ve got a different team now.
“Obviously that will be the story now, no doubt.
“I don’t think there is, but you guys can write what you want.
“That’s sport at the end of the day – that’s why we love it. That’s why the highs are so good and the lows are pretty shit.
“Everything we experience, all the emotions we feel, we’re going to feel together.
“It sucks a fair bit.”
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