Remind you of something?

[Nico]

About this time in 1996 we belted North in similar fashion in the second half at Optus Oval.

At the time we were not rated, but it was the springboard to the rest of the season.

And I reckon were are going better this year, certainly in the area
overall evenness. We don't have the guns like Plugger and Kickett but boy we have far more forward options (Hall and Micky are pretty handy) and we are not at full strength.

I tipped we would be pretty good and said hang on to your hats we're in for an exciting season, and jump aboard the Roos bandwagon. Don't reckon there is room for too many more by now. Even the Melbourne journos are on board.

[midaro]

We are pretty close to full strength - only Saddo, Fixter, Doyle to come in (maybe Seymour). There would be few teams in the league that close to full strength. It's the main cause of our success IMO.

[NMWBloods]

Re: Remind you of something?

About this time in 1996 we belted North in similar fashion in the second half at Optus Oval.

At the time we were not rated, but it was the springboard to the rest of the season.

Ah I remember that game well - Roos picked up 3 Brownlow votes and was truly awesome!

[midaro]

Wasn't that Roo's 300th?

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by midaro
Wasn't that Roo's 300th?

It could have been. It was certainly around the right time.

[robbieando]

It was his 300th game and you know what everything is looking like 1996. Lets hope we get a different result later in the year

[Cheer Cheer]

Re: Remind you of something?

Originally posted by Nico
Even the Melbourne journos are on board.

When these blokes are on board you know you are going alrite and they are really on board now, cant wait to see what else they have discovered about us and write about tomorow that we have already know for ages

[footyhead]

Originally posted by midaro

There would be few teams in the league that close to full strength. It's the main cause of our success IMO.

God some people never see the forest for the trees,
Don't you see what our very good coach has undeniabley done for this group of players midaro ???
It's working. We are matching it with all and sundry and we deserve it . Get on board people.

[Charlie]

See my sig

[NMWBloods]

But the comment on injuries by Midaro is exactly right. Injuries are absolutely critical in determining how well a team performs. We did so well in '96 as we had remarkably few injuries. So far it has been the same this year. Our seasons in 97 and 98 were troubled by injuries. Other teams in the comp - Brisbane, Port, Hawthorn, Adelaide - are having a lot of injury problems. You can't ignore this factor.

Walls commented last night that we have 15 players who have played all season together. That is a huge benefit for Roos in putting his game plan together.

[Rizzo]

Yep, we need luck with injuries for the rest of the season.

[Bear]

yes there are similarities, and if we had Dunks (1996 version), we would have a serious crack at the business end of the season. we seriously are only a key defender away, but i feel LRT is not far away from stepping into the void... maybe this year. need luck with injuries too if we are to seriously challenge.

one thing that may go in our favour is the disgraceful MCG finals rule - would rather play Port there than AAMI!!

[penga]

Originally posted by Bear
LRT is not far away from stepping into the void...

im sure he is, yet which void is he gonna fill... id love to see him at CHB, the thing that has really impressed me is his willingness to keep the ball moving ie the two handballs to fosdike which lead to goals and his slap forward last night after he lost his feet which lead to a huge surge forward (i think it was to fosdike again - quite a pair they could turn out to be!)

[Sanecow]

Yes, Penga! LRT's second efforts are great, they're the one-percenters we need! No dropping the head, just keep working!

[Xie Shan]

Sadly I was completely ignorant of AFL and the Swans back in 1996 so I have nothing to be reminded of

As for luck with injuries - we haven't had it yet, but at least the players in the side now have been stable.

IMO they are playing the best I have seen them since I started following the Swans in 99/00. Not a great feat I know, since those were not great years, but there is an air of self-belief that I haven't seen before.