Poor old Dale Lewis

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Remember last year when the shortlist for the Swans "Team of the Century" was announced.

When you were looking through that list of possibles, did you wonder at the absence of Dale Lewis?

It didn't seem right to me . . .

Alright, he never won a Browlow or went All Australian (so he really wouldn't have made the team itself) but he certainly shone through some of the Swans darkest days and showed remarkable loyalty to stick with Sydney.

A friend of mine made the suggestion that . . .

His exclusion had more to do with Dale's comments, made in March 2002, that 75% of AFL players would have used recreational drugs at some stage.

The furor he ignited made his name anathema. Paul Kelly in particular, when told by journalists, was extremely pissed off.

Rodney Eade declared that "most of the players, if not all the players, are pretty hurt by it."

While I'm not normally all that big on conspiacy theories. I can't really see how excluding Dale from the shortlist was anything other than an act of political expediency.

[NMWBloods]

I don't think he was consistent enough nor outright good enough (in the games when he was good) to make the ToC.

[Charlie]

He was alright, but I don't think he fulfilled criteria?

Wasn't it something like minimum 75 games, plus either a) captained the club, b) won the best and fairest or something along those lines?

He would never have come within cooee of getting in, in any case.

[motorace_182]

I thought that Leo was unlucky to miss out actually, has been around for a long time now and has been a consistent performer.

[BAM_BAM]

Dale played approx 180 games so he met that criteria and he also placed in the best and fairest so he also met that criteria IIRC.

I think he was unlucky not to be included in the nominated players list and Yes it had a lot to do with his comments.

I also think he could have been a much better player if he was consistant and not playing good games every now and then. Good enough to make the team, realistically no.

Even though his comments apparently hurt members of the club, I think his loyalty and years of service deserved to be regonised and he should not have been shunned as he was. He was a loyal servant who loved his Team and Team Mates.

I hope given time, he will be welcomed back into the club and his contribution recognised for what it was.

[desredandwhite]

Well, there are very few awards given purely on the basis of limitless potential..

Dale was one of my favourites, but gee he made you tear your hair out.

[Damien]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
Well, there are very few awards given purely on the basis of limitless potential..

Dale was one of my favourites, but gee he made you tear your hair out.

SO stressful at times!! Like a family member that you love but drives you crazy I think!.

I reckon if you told Dale Lewis there was an internet thread discussing his exclusion from the TOC, he would have a great laugh.

I don't think you need a political conspiracy theory to work out why he wasn't considered, we are talking about 100 years of swans players - he may have been wonderfully skilled, but he was never a great player.

.

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
He was a loyal servant who loved his Team and Team Mates.

Nice way to show it

I hope given time...his contribution will be recognised for what it was.

Sporadic and undeserving of a place in the TOtC, IMHO. (I'll admit freely though, that if his career had warranted inclusion, I would think twice about including him after what he said.)

[liz]

Leading up to the TOTC celebrations there was talk of picking a separate team just to represent the Swans since their relocation. I'm pretty sure there was even a separate list of nominees, one that included the likes of Lewis and Maxfield who have been important to us in the past 20 years but were never going to get close to the TOTC.

Anyone know what came of this?

[BAM_BAM]

Originally posted by monopoly19
Nice way to show it



Sporadic and undeserving of a place in the TOtC, IMHO. (I'll admit freely though, that if his career had warranted inclusion, I would think twice about including him after what he said.)

I really think what he said was blown way out of proportion. His figures were probably wrong, but living in the age we do, a fact is that many people will have at least once experimented in some way with recreational drugs.

I don't think he meant that the AFL had a rampant misuse of recreational drugs happening.

We've all said or done things that in hindsight would have been better off not said. I respect he did not take the easy "quoted out of context" out and he defended his opinion.

A footy club is only a section of society, made up of all types. You can't tell me that as the players grew up a percentage of them did not bow to peer pressure or curiosity and at least try something. They are also surrounded by "the beautiful people" being the nature of professional sport these days, they are human and are also open to temptation. It may not a be desirable and the fact that these drugs are illegal also adds another dimension. But to hide your head in the sand and pretend it doesn't happen is plan naive.

My opinion is that there was an over reaction at the time of the comment. I'm sure many will disagree with me, but that's how I feel.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by lizz
Leading up to the TOTC celebrations there was talk of picking a separate team just to represent the Swans since their relocation. I'm pretty sure there was even a separate list of nominees, one that included the likes of Lewis and Maxfield who have been important to us in the past 20 years but were never going to get close to the TOTC.

Anyone know what came of this?

I think the club decided it wouldn't be a good idea as it would be seen by some as spliting our history. I think naming an Best ever Sydney side along side the TOTC would of devalued the TOTC somewhat. However maybe in a few years time such an idea would be a handy thing to do.

[Dooloo]

Unfortuantely, Dale seems to have shot himself in the foot post reitrement, attempting to carve out a career in the media, and therefore was probably overlooked for the TOC. What a shame. The guy had so much talent, and he did stick by the club through thick and thin. Reminds me of Rhys-Jones, always seemed to have so much time when he had the ball.

[Tooth Fairy]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I don't think he was consistent enough nor outright good enough (in the games when he was good) to make the ToC.

here, here. He was a great player for the swans. dependable and all that. But not ToC material. I loved him but he also frustrated me at times. A great clubman I'd say.

[Tooth Fairy]

Originally posted by robbieando
I think the club decided it wouldn't be a good idea as it would be seen by some as spliting our history. I think naming an Best ever Sydney side along side the TOTC would of devalued the TOTC somewhat. However maybe in a few years time such an idea would be a handy thing to do.

Agreed whole heartedly. Maybe in 70+ years time? Too drunk to do maths tonight

[Ruck'n'Roll]

It was interesting to read some of the responses, it seems some people are still angry.

Some, saw his statement as disloyalty to team mates (a little odd as the short list was loaded with players who walked out on the Swans). One response said that even "if his career had warranted inclusion, I would think twice about including him after what he said."

Some had forgotten that he played so many games and placed in the B&F (I'd actually forgotten that, thanks BamBam).

Frankly, in all probability Dale was correct. A recent survey of 18 to 25 year olds revealed that 92% of all males surveyed had some experience of illegal drugs.

It seems remarkable that all AFL players belong to the other 8%. Especially given the AFLPA's blunt refusal to allow testing for recreational drugs and some of the end of season trip antics engaged in by some players.

I have no axe to grind vis-a-vis drugs, I just think Dales exclusion from the shortlist was a little shabby.