Swans coach John Longmire says his team is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the competition’s juggernaut Geelong when the two sides meet in the AFL Grand Final on Saturday at the MCG.
“They’ve won 15 games in a row, they finished two games clear on top of the ladder, they’re a fantastic team,” Longmire told SEN Breakfast.
“They’re experienced, they’ve got plenty of experience across the board and they’re playing the best footy of anyone. We understand (that) it’s going to be a real challenge but we’re confident in what we’ve been doing, our players and their ability to stick to task. It’s going to be a great grand final.”
The Cats are riding a 15-game winning streak into the decider and tamed the Lions in convincing fashion with a 71-point defeat in their preliminary final matchup on Friday night.
Longmire’s team is riding it’s own nine-game streak and squeaked through in it’s prelim against the plucky Pies by a solitary point on Saturday evening in front of a raucous SCG crowd.
“You prepare for all scenarios but most of the best teams are predictable in the way they play. That’s what makes them the best teams, they keep going back and doing the same things over and over again, sticking to their process,” Longmire said.
“Geelong have got some experience in their team, they can throw their team around a little bit and do different things and they’re able to adjust on the fly pretty well. We just expect their best players, they’ve got plenty of them, and we’re looking at what our blokes can do against them.
Longmire spoke glowingly about the play of Swans ruckman Tom Hickey, who is appearing in his first Grand Final after twelve season and four different clubs.
“From the moment he’s come into the footy club he’s been fantastic for us, he said.
“He’s been good so far this year, he really thinks about his game, its going to be a tough task for him this week, he’s up against some ruckmen that are a bit different then the last couple of weeks he’s played.
“He’s thinks about his game, prepares really well and he’ll give himself the best chance to play well.”
Swans fans were treated to a piece of good news to start their grand final week, with the announcement, albeit in cryptic fashion, that key forward Lance Franklin had agreed to terms on a one-year deal, all but ensuring he will finish his career in the Harbour City.
“There’s been plenty written and said about him, he’s one of the big profile players in the game. He just loves playing,” Longmire said.
“He had some family things he had to sort through and work out, he gets to that stage where he’s 35 years of age and (has) got a couple of young kids and (has to ask) what the future looks like.
“This is the first time he’s been out of contract for a while, so he obviously wanted to think through that and make sure everything was squared away in that regard. He was keen to get it done, he loves footy and just wanted the focus to be on the grand final, so terrific news for us.”