Jumpers

[sharpie]

The longer we leave the jumper retired, the more pressure there will be on the guy who eventually gets it.

Apart from Skilton and Kelly, surely other guys have worn the jumper in between and beforehand. Guys who were not as good. Kelly become #14 before he turned into a superstar, so why not give it a go and hand it to someone else soon. But I still reckon it should stay locked up for 1 more year.

[tez]

IMO the #14 is a link between the Sth Melb era and the
Sydney era. It has been worn by a Brownlow winner in
both eras and if it is to be re-issued Adam Goodes should
have first call on it.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by sharpie
The longer we leave the jumper retired, the more pressure there will be on the guy who eventually gets it.

Apart from Skilton and Kelly, surely other guys have worn the jumper in between and beforehand. Guys who were not as good. Kelly become #14 before he turned into a superstar, so why not give it a go and hand it to someone else soon. But I still reckon it should stay locked up for 1 more year.

couldn't agree more sharpie.

btw matthews got #4 because he had the guts (some would say gall) to request it. that he hasn't had the same influence on the teams fortunes as plugger doesn't matter; the club saw a young man screaming for an opportunity and gave it to him accordingly.

also, richmond are an excellent model to follow if you wish to be a recidivist bunch of navel-gazers attempting to applaud the past so loudly that it covers up the present failures.

tim (i have a cold so may be overstating my opinions somewhat)

[footyhead]

Originally posted by timthefish

btw matthews got #4 because he had the guts (some would say gall) to request it.

What a pity Ben Mathews hasn't got the talent to live up to his "gall",
Because then we would have a player of great worth. As it is if everybody is standing up and injury free and playing to their potential next year, Benny might find himself out of the best 22 and the famous Number #4 could well get the rest it deserves. Not because of the the fact that the greatest player in the world once wore it, but because the player with the most gaul, had the gumption to attempt to wear it and largley failed. Therebye making number # 4 a curse jumper from here on in!

[Charlie]

Originally posted by footyhead
What a pity Ben Mathews hasn't got the talent to live up to his "gall",
Because then we would have a player of great worth. As it is if everybody is standing up and injury free and playing to their potential next year, Benny might find himself out of the best 22 and the famous Number #4 could well get the rest it deserves. Not because of the the fact that the greatest player in the world once wore it, but because the player with the most gaul, had the gumption to attempt to wear it and largley failed. Therebye making number # 4 a curse jumper from here on in!

Mate, seriously, grow up!

Number 4 is not in the same league, as far as our history goes, as number 14. Ben Mathews is not evil because he wanted to wear it - if anything, he was paying Plugger the ultimate compliment. He also had no obligation, and no reason, to give it up when Plugger came back, after having been given Plugger's blessing to wear it in the first place.

[Lucky Knickers]

What happenned to #14 in the intervening years between Skilton and Kelly?

When did Kelly assume #14?

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by jixygirl
1. Paul Kelly's blessing - pretty obvious, the club would definitely want his blessing before even considering giving his number to another player.

What makes it his number anymore than any other player who has worn the number 14 for Sydney? Are they going to ask them all if they think it's okay?

All this fuss about a number someone wears on their back... they should recycle it just like they have with the numbers that Dunkley, Schwass, etc. wore. If a young guy wants it, give it to him. If not, then this was a pretty pointless discussion.

[Damien]

Originally posted by monopoly19
What makes it his number anymore than any other player who has worn the number 14 for Sydney? Are they going to ask them all if they think it's okay?

All this fuss about a number someone wears on their back... they should recycle it just like they have with the numbers that Dunkley, Schwass, etc. wore. If a young guy wants it, give it to him. If not, then this was a pretty pointless discussion.

It all depends on the attachment - Paul Kelly and Bob Skilton are out and out legends - beyond legends of our club. I do realise that numbers in the end probably mean nothing and no doubt more people than these two have worn it for the swans- but the emotional attachment for some fans is enough that the passing on of this number needs to be done with careful thought.

Unlike Dunks, Schwatter, Plugger etc, Kelly is a life long Swan, he never played for another club, he captained us for a very long time, and from an on field perspective, he led a once joke into a grand final.

I know that not caring about what happens to the number doesn't make a fan less of a fan etc, but I think the club owes it to the many fans that hold the number 14 pretty dear to their hearts for it to be held with some standing, and at the least only passed on when a player demonstrates that he is comfortable and willing to handle the history that goes with it.