Tweet
This time last year I wrote an article for this site (for what was meant to be) for my normal articles. I had a go at my Players to watch for the season ahead and this threat is really a look back at what I wrote, to see how correct or how wrong I was.
Well I got that wrong. It was unlucky that he went down with a knee injury during the first match. He has the talent to make a huge impact in this league but he is running out of time to make it. Injury problem's seem to becoming a habit for this kid, hopefully this season he can turn things around.
Again wrong, but the clubs policy of not playing first year players doesn't help making such calls. By all reports he is ripping it up in the 2nds and hopefully he'll make his debut this season.
Well he didn't become that midfielder that I hope he would be, but he did change people's views of him. A great season and I feel he WAS back to his best, despite the unlucky timing of his 2 major injuries for the season (pre season and Round 22). He answered the questions asked of him and he will be a very important player for the club this coming season, even though he'll be wrapped in cotton wool for most of it.
A very fair call to make at the time and one that was proven correct. He didn't set the house on fire, but he did what he was brought here for and that was to kick goals. He'll benifit from a full pre season for once and hopefully this season he'll get more time in the midfield.
While he didn't win his 3rd B+F in a row, but he still performed at a high level and finally made the All Australian team. Certainly not his best season for us, but if this is the worst he'll give us I'll be a very happy supporter. A great pick up for us looking back.
How correct I was. All he needed was to be settled in the same position for once and be it in a position he has played well. Maybe now people will start to see that Goodes will never be an effective Key Position player. Let him do his own thing and he'll never let us down.
How right I was
Anyway soon I'll do my tips for the Players to Watch for Season 2004. Hopefully things go a little better than last year, but still I can't complain about my picks, some turned out to be very correct.
PLAYER TO WATCH - STEPHEN DOYLE
Of all the young players in the squad Doyle plays a very important role as our Ruck. In his three seasons at the club so far we have seen what he can do, but for different reasons, he is yet to live up to the hype. His game against Richmond in Round 7 showed what he can do, but yet again his season was ruined by injury. Paul Roos has put a lot of faith in him by getting rid of Ricky Mott. He must hold down the ruck position and at times go forward and wreak havoc. He has done it before and I believe will show us more often this season.
Of all the young players in the squad Doyle plays a very important role as our Ruck. In his three seasons at the club so far we have seen what he can do, but for different reasons, he is yet to live up to the hype. His game against Richmond in Round 7 showed what he can do, but yet again his season was ruined by injury. Paul Roos has put a lot of faith in him by getting rid of Ricky Mott. He must hold down the ruck position and at times go forward and wreak havoc. He has done it before and I believe will show us more often this season.
YOUNG GUN - SEAN DEMPSTER
Dempster is a first year player and unlikely to get much senior action, but I believe he will play late in the season and will show that he has talent. I feel Dempster is special and, having come to us at pick 36, will be a steal.
Dempster is a first year player and unlikely to get much senior action, but I believe he will play late in the season and will show that he has talent. I feel Dempster is special and, having come to us at pick 36, will be a steal.
MAKE OR BREAK YEAR - MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN
It's a tough call on Magic, but I feel that if he doesn't get back to his top form, which he showed in 2000, he never will. He has under performed in the last two seasons. Some think he could make the Swans Team of the Century, but I believe it would be a joke of a decision based on the fact we haven't yet seen the best this guy can do. In 2003 he must perform or he will become a real wasted talent. With Nick Davis also in the forward line the pressure to kick goals won't be as great so it's the perfect time to try him in the midfield. If this works we will have a dangerous midfielder on our hands, and that's what this team is crying out for.
It's a tough call on Magic, but I feel that if he doesn't get back to his top form, which he showed in 2000, he never will. He has under performed in the last two seasons. Some think he could make the Swans Team of the Century, but I believe it would be a joke of a decision based on the fact we haven't yet seen the best this guy can do. In 2003 he must perform or he will become a real wasted talent. With Nick Davis also in the forward line the pressure to kick goals won't be as great so it's the perfect time to try him in the midfield. If this works we will have a dangerous midfielder on our hands, and that's what this team is crying out for.
DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH TOO SOON - NICK DAVIS
While he is a great pick up I feel that we shouldn't place too much pressure on him yet because of the fact he is coming back from a poor season thanks to injury. With the same injury keeping him from full training so far this pre season, we must take our time with him so we can get the best out of him. Great talent just needs to get to full fitness and if that means we must wait a season to get the best out of him, so be it.
While he is a great pick up I feel that we shouldn't place too much pressure on him yet because of the fact he is coming back from a poor season thanks to injury. With the same injury keeping him from full training so far this pre season, we must take our time with him so we can get the best out of him. Great talent just needs to get to full fitness and if that means we must wait a season to get the best out of him, so be it.
SAME OLD SAME OLD - PAUL WILLIAMS
Has won the last two Best and Fairest awards and there is no reason why he can't make it 3 in a row. If has a similar year to his last 2 he'll win it again and we will have a good midfielder to build from. I have no doubt about this happening and it will, but only injury could stop him.
Has won the last two Best and Fairest awards and there is no reason why he can't make it 3 in a row. If has a similar year to his last 2 he'll win it again and we will have a good midfielder to build from. I have no doubt about this happening and it will, but only injury could stop him.
MUST SETTLE - ADAM GOODES
Finally we started to see the best of him when he started playing in the ruck and around the ground - that is where he has played his best football. Paul Roos must keep him in the same role no matter what because this guy has been all over the place since 1999 and that has shown that he must have one position and it must be a position he plays well.
Finally we started to see the best of him when he started playing in the ruck and around the ground - that is where he has played his best football. Paul Roos must keep him in the same role no matter what because this guy has been all over the place since 1999 and that has shown that he must have one position and it must be a position he plays well.
Could win a Brownlow Medal one day but only if kept in the same position he is in now. That's not a tip, it's a promise.
How right I was
Anyway soon I'll do my tips for the Players to Watch for Season 2004. Hopefully things go a little better than last year, but still I can't complain about my picks, some turned out to be very correct.
Comment