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Swans serious contenders
TERRY WALLACE
COMMENT
17jul03
I HAVE to admit that the Sydney Swans Football Club have taken the AFL by storm in season 2003.
The team that halfway through last year were booed off the ground by their own supporters are now legitimate contenders to win the AFL premiership this season.
Under coach Paul Roos there has been the most remarkable transformation from a club that appeared to have very little future into a slick, professional unit that already has the scalps of premiership favourites in Brisbane and the West Coast Eagles.
After the events of last year that saw The Daily Telegraph run a promotional campaign to anoint Paul Roos as senior coach and the final joint decision of the club and myself to pull out of the coaching race, I have taken a particular interest in the progress of the team.
With emotions running high at the end of last season I never had the opportunity to express to the Sydney public my thoughts on Roos as the Sydney coach. Although I would have dearly loved the opportunity of creating AFL history in NSW I saw parallels between the early stages of our careers.
We both played good football for the clubs we coached and had a genuine passion for their success. Both of us took on the risk of a caretaker role for 10 weeks with no guarantees.
Even though I had an interest in the job after discussions with the Swans board, we both agreed they had the man for the job and for me the timing and vibe was not right.
In fact I am pleased to see Paul Roos performing at such a high level but will this wave of emotion and confidence the Swans are currently riding subside before the finals?
To make an informed decision we need to analyse the structure of the team and personnel, game style and the run home to the finals as all these factors will have a bearing on the teams chances come September.
The appointment of Stuart Maxfield as captain was an inspired choice by the club but the first aspect of the Sydney squad that stands out is their speed and athleticism and the coach has based his game style to complement their assets.
Their speed is matched by their quick movement of the ball as the Swans transfer the play from one end to another with more precision than most in the AFL.
The Swans can outrun all bar the elite teams of the competition with sheer speed and I believe their current success is sustainable providing they continue to play team oriented football.
Sydney is playing like a tight unit and have not allowed egos to interfere with its progression and an example of this is the manner in which Barry Hall is playing his football.
Both at St Kilda and in his first year with the Swans he was a one-dimensional player predominantly used as a key focus full forward.
Hall has now given up individual glory to play further out from goal to allow others such as Michael O'Loughlin and Nick Davis to play in behind him creating more avenues of attack.
Hall's work ethic and team attitude has him now assisting in as many goals as he actually kicks, making him more valuable and the Swans forward structure more effective and unpredictable.
Add Adam Goodes, Matthew Nicks, Adam Schneider and Ryan O'Keefe to the mix and Sydney has a wealth of multiple goal kickers.
Also I think Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk have brought hunger and enthusiasm as well as toughness to fill the huge void in the Swans midfield left by the retirement of Paul Kelly and Wayne Schwass.
Bolton has matured into a quality midfielder who has the potential to be the next captain of the club, while Brett Kirk has the ability to negate the opposition's best player.
But the key to the midfield is their ruck dominance. Jason Ball gives his runners first use at stoppages, while Goodes offers mobility very few sides can match.
Goodes is a major key to the Swans success as, he is a potent forward, athletic in the midfield and can also pinch hit as a key defender. He's the one player that the team can least afford to lose with injury.
Sydney's backline remains the key question to their ultimate success. They are a mobile running unit and Tadhg Kennelly's leg speed is a highlight. Leo Barry has had his best year while the inspired recruiting of Craig Bolton from Brisbane has been a masterstroke.
The missing ingredient is a strong bodied defender to match the real giants of the game like Alistair Lynch from Brisbane and Warren Tredrea from Port Adelaide.
Andrew Schauble has done a manful job so far and if he can hold up the key defensive post the Swans are a legitimate premiership chance.
But to make the grand final this year the Swans would need to finish in the top four after round 22 to ensure a home final in the second week and to achieve this they would need to defeat either Adelaide or Brisbane away from home.
Most premiers come from the top two positions at the completion of the home and away rounds and I'm sure the Swans will make their presence felt in September by earning a place in the top four.
Winning the flag may not happen this year but a place in history is not far away for Paul Roos and his men.
Swans serious contenders
TERRY WALLACE
COMMENT
17jul03
I HAVE to admit that the Sydney Swans Football Club have taken the AFL by storm in season 2003.
The team that halfway through last year were booed off the ground by their own supporters are now legitimate contenders to win the AFL premiership this season.
Under coach Paul Roos there has been the most remarkable transformation from a club that appeared to have very little future into a slick, professional unit that already has the scalps of premiership favourites in Brisbane and the West Coast Eagles.
After the events of last year that saw The Daily Telegraph run a promotional campaign to anoint Paul Roos as senior coach and the final joint decision of the club and myself to pull out of the coaching race, I have taken a particular interest in the progress of the team.
With emotions running high at the end of last season I never had the opportunity to express to the Sydney public my thoughts on Roos as the Sydney coach. Although I would have dearly loved the opportunity of creating AFL history in NSW I saw parallels between the early stages of our careers.
We both played good football for the clubs we coached and had a genuine passion for their success. Both of us took on the risk of a caretaker role for 10 weeks with no guarantees.
Even though I had an interest in the job after discussions with the Swans board, we both agreed they had the man for the job and for me the timing and vibe was not right.
In fact I am pleased to see Paul Roos performing at such a high level but will this wave of emotion and confidence the Swans are currently riding subside before the finals?
To make an informed decision we need to analyse the structure of the team and personnel, game style and the run home to the finals as all these factors will have a bearing on the teams chances come September.
The appointment of Stuart Maxfield as captain was an inspired choice by the club but the first aspect of the Sydney squad that stands out is their speed and athleticism and the coach has based his game style to complement their assets.
Their speed is matched by their quick movement of the ball as the Swans transfer the play from one end to another with more precision than most in the AFL.
The Swans can outrun all bar the elite teams of the competition with sheer speed and I believe their current success is sustainable providing they continue to play team oriented football.
Sydney is playing like a tight unit and have not allowed egos to interfere with its progression and an example of this is the manner in which Barry Hall is playing his football.
Both at St Kilda and in his first year with the Swans he was a one-dimensional player predominantly used as a key focus full forward.
Hall has now given up individual glory to play further out from goal to allow others such as Michael O'Loughlin and Nick Davis to play in behind him creating more avenues of attack.
Hall's work ethic and team attitude has him now assisting in as many goals as he actually kicks, making him more valuable and the Swans forward structure more effective and unpredictable.
Add Adam Goodes, Matthew Nicks, Adam Schneider and Ryan O'Keefe to the mix and Sydney has a wealth of multiple goal kickers.
Also I think Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk have brought hunger and enthusiasm as well as toughness to fill the huge void in the Swans midfield left by the retirement of Paul Kelly and Wayne Schwass.
Bolton has matured into a quality midfielder who has the potential to be the next captain of the club, while Brett Kirk has the ability to negate the opposition's best player.
But the key to the midfield is their ruck dominance. Jason Ball gives his runners first use at stoppages, while Goodes offers mobility very few sides can match.
Goodes is a major key to the Swans success as, he is a potent forward, athletic in the midfield and can also pinch hit as a key defender. He's the one player that the team can least afford to lose with injury.
Sydney's backline remains the key question to their ultimate success. They are a mobile running unit and Tadhg Kennelly's leg speed is a highlight. Leo Barry has had his best year while the inspired recruiting of Craig Bolton from Brisbane has been a masterstroke.
The missing ingredient is a strong bodied defender to match the real giants of the game like Alistair Lynch from Brisbane and Warren Tredrea from Port Adelaide.
Andrew Schauble has done a manful job so far and if he can hold up the key defensive post the Swans are a legitimate premiership chance.
But to make the grand final this year the Swans would need to finish in the top four after round 22 to ensure a home final in the second week and to achieve this they would need to defeat either Adelaide or Brisbane away from home.
Most premiers come from the top two positions at the completion of the home and away rounds and I'm sure the Swans will make their presence felt in September by earning a place in the top four.
Winning the flag may not happen this year but a place in history is not far away for Paul Roos and his men.
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