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King of the Swans
By TIM MORRISSEY
September 11, 2003
FIRST time All-Australian Adam Goodes is the Swans' player of the year, bustling Barry Hall is clearly the toughest Swan, while dashing midfielder Jude Bolton is the team's sexiest player.
That's the opinion of Swans fans who made their feelings known in an exclusive Daily Telegraph Readers Poll.
In response to the question "Who is the best current Swans players?", Goodes was the clear choice.
He polled 41 per cent ? well ahead of the club's goalkicking wizard Michael O'Loughlin on 14 per cent.
"There's nothing better than having the players or the coaches vote for you in that category," said Goodes.
"But from the fans' point of view it's a very nice gesture.
Perhaps the surprise result was Swans tagger Brett Kirk who finished third in best player category, ahead of Hall and veteran midfielder Paul Williams, who was also named in the All-Australian team on Tuesday night.
However, Kirk's popularity is well deserved after he claimed the scalps of some of the best midfielders in the league this season.
Hall was the obvious choice for team's toughest player, polling 39 per cent of the vote. However, what came as a real shock was the fact the Swans' menacing, tattooed and usually angry leading goalkicker is considered the second most sexiest player.
OK, it was a distant second with Hall polling just 14 per cent, well beyond the 52 per cent for Bolton who is accustom to gracing the red carpet at some of Sydney's A-list events.
But Goodes believes behind Hall's game face scowl the Swans marauding centre half forward and leading goal kicker who booted six majors in last Sunday's dramatic qualifying final win over Port Adelaide is a stylish guy.
"I reckon Hally is a good looking man with his great rig and pasty skin," Goodes said.
"What's not to like about the big fellow?"
Not surprisingly the player Swans fans most love to hate is Adelaide's Wayne Carey. Collingwood is heavily the most disliked team.
In reply to the question "Can the Swans win the premiership?", 53 per cent of Swans fans say "yes" compared to 38 per cent "no", with nine per cent still not sure whether Sydney has the team to do it.
It should be noted, however, the poll was taken before before the Swans stunning against-the-odds victory over minor premiers Port to advance to next Saturday's preliminary final.
The strong response to The Daily Telegraph's online survey also indicted that any future plans the AFL might have for introducing a second team in Sydney are likely to fail with 98 per cent of respondents supporting the Swans.
That passion for the Swans and the club was also reflected in the response to the question, "Should Swans members be given voting rights to elect the board?"
An overwhelming 62 per cent of respondents said "yes" compared to 14 per cent "no" and 24 per cent "don't know".
Brisbane captain and this year's Brownlow Medal favourite Michael Voss was considered the best player in the AFL.
Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley came second in both the best player in the AFL and the most hated in Sydney.
When it came to the club most Swans fans love to hate, Collingwood stormed home with 51 per cent.
Essendon on 11 per cent was a distant second when it came to being despised in Sydney with Adelaide and Carlton next in line.
By TIM MORRISSEY
September 11, 2003
FIRST time All-Australian Adam Goodes is the Swans' player of the year, bustling Barry Hall is clearly the toughest Swan, while dashing midfielder Jude Bolton is the team's sexiest player.
That's the opinion of Swans fans who made their feelings known in an exclusive Daily Telegraph Readers Poll.
In response to the question "Who is the best current Swans players?", Goodes was the clear choice.
He polled 41 per cent ? well ahead of the club's goalkicking wizard Michael O'Loughlin on 14 per cent.
"There's nothing better than having the players or the coaches vote for you in that category," said Goodes.
"But from the fans' point of view it's a very nice gesture.
Perhaps the surprise result was Swans tagger Brett Kirk who finished third in best player category, ahead of Hall and veteran midfielder Paul Williams, who was also named in the All-Australian team on Tuesday night.
However, Kirk's popularity is well deserved after he claimed the scalps of some of the best midfielders in the league this season.
Hall was the obvious choice for team's toughest player, polling 39 per cent of the vote. However, what came as a real shock was the fact the Swans' menacing, tattooed and usually angry leading goalkicker is considered the second most sexiest player.
OK, it was a distant second with Hall polling just 14 per cent, well beyond the 52 per cent for Bolton who is accustom to gracing the red carpet at some of Sydney's A-list events.
But Goodes believes behind Hall's game face scowl the Swans marauding centre half forward and leading goal kicker who booted six majors in last Sunday's dramatic qualifying final win over Port Adelaide is a stylish guy.
"I reckon Hally is a good looking man with his great rig and pasty skin," Goodes said.
"What's not to like about the big fellow?"
Not surprisingly the player Swans fans most love to hate is Adelaide's Wayne Carey. Collingwood is heavily the most disliked team.
In reply to the question "Can the Swans win the premiership?", 53 per cent of Swans fans say "yes" compared to 38 per cent "no", with nine per cent still not sure whether Sydney has the team to do it.
It should be noted, however, the poll was taken before before the Swans stunning against-the-odds victory over minor premiers Port to advance to next Saturday's preliminary final.
The strong response to The Daily Telegraph's online survey also indicted that any future plans the AFL might have for introducing a second team in Sydney are likely to fail with 98 per cent of respondents supporting the Swans.
That passion for the Swans and the club was also reflected in the response to the question, "Should Swans members be given voting rights to elect the board?"
An overwhelming 62 per cent of respondents said "yes" compared to 14 per cent "no" and 24 per cent "don't know".
Brisbane captain and this year's Brownlow Medal favourite Michael Voss was considered the best player in the AFL.
Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley came second in both the best player in the AFL and the most hated in Sydney.
When it came to the club most Swans fans love to hate, Collingwood stormed home with 51 per cent.
Essendon on 11 per cent was a distant second when it came to being despised in Sydney with Adelaide and Carlton next in line.