How does season 2004 rate compared to 2003?

[Snowy]

Well anything less than a prelim is statistically worse but Roos seems to think that the year has been better given the number of injuries at various times. James has looked like he will be no more than handy while Scheider hasn't followed up last season's excellent start and looks a tad overweight. Kirk has been solid apart from his usage of the ball at times and will again be in contention for AA. O'Keefe has been the big improver. Lewis RT has looked more a dud than a player and needs a big pre-season. Apart from the Port Adelaide debacle there have been no floggings and every match has been competitive. Goodes has struggled at times and rarely shown his best form due to injury but has done well to get out on the park.

[Thunder Shaker]

As liz said, this year is building on last year.

There are some encouraging signs. We've won a final two years in a row for the first time since 1936. We've had our biggest win in a final since 1934. These are good omens. People discussed omens in another thread, but forget such stuff as lucky socks, lucky scarves and not carrying flags in a particular car. It's the on-field omens that are really important. The next omen to watch out for is a finals win at the MCG, and we get our chance on Friday night. If we win a final by seven goals and follow it up with a win in the holy month of September on the hallowed ground of the MCG, now that is an omen.

But if you want more omens, shaking down the thunder from the sky during the second quarter of a final has to be right up there.

[punter257]

Originally posted by Snowy
while Scheider hasn't followed up last season's excellent start and looks a tad overweight.

no arguments there, but i was stoked with his goal in the 3rd qtr. reminded me of vintage schneids in '03. he is the type of player that is bloody handy come finals time, lets just hope that he can gradually improve in the next couple of weeks and make a massive impact

[ScottH]

Last year we surprised everyone by going so well.

This year we have gone better in that we had more injuries to key players during the year. Last year those injuries came at the end of the season.

Could you imagine if Goodes and Davis were fully fit for the whole year, where would we have been then??

Also the young "guns" have not come along as quickly as some have expected.(with a few exceptions).

Another building year, this year.

[penga]

if we win friday night, we have done better than last year. we will equal the amount of wins as we had last year as a whole, but two of those games are finals. winning two finals with a 13-9 record is better than a 14-8 record with one final win... IMO

[ROK Lobster]

This year is better - we cannot win the 2003 flag

[SXP]

Originally posted by penga
if we win friday night, we have done better than last year. we will equal the amount of wins as we had last year as a whole, but two of those games are finals. winning two finals with a 13-9 record is better than a 14-8 record with one final win... IMO

Not only that. If we win, it will be the first win at MCG (and Melbourne) for a very, very, very, very, long time. This was the one thing that jurnos in Melbourne were repeating all the time that they wouldn't consider the Swans as a serious contender until the Swans are capable of winning a final game at the G.

[barry]

At the end of the day, ladder position is all that matters, so we at least need to make the prelim to equal last years effort.

On the way winning finals at Telstra and the MCG will be added strings to our bow.

[liz]

Originally posted by barry
At the end of the day, ladder position is all that matters, so we at least need to make the prelim to equal last years effort.

Ladder position really only matters if you finish in top spot. Otherwise, it's meaningless except for determining the draft spots you get.

If the team doesn't win the premiership, surely what's more important is how much closer it has got to winning one in the near future - ie how much the younger brigade has improved and how the team has developed tactically, consistency-wise, and big-game ability-wise.

[Wil]

For me, what is impressive about this season is that it proves last season was not a fluke. We can breathe a bit easier that it seems Roos has created (and still creating) a genuine championship contending team here. We still have a couple of holes in our lineup but so far I have not had too much concern in Roos ability with personnel in the team.

[swansrule100]

biggest difference was 2004 carried more expectation