Swans set for take-off.

[SWANSBEST]

First hit out of the year . I am getting nervous .








Swans set for take-off
10 February 2004 Herald Sun
Nikki Tugwell

JUDE Bolton drew comparisons with Swans champion Paul Kelly, while Brett Kirk transformed into the AFL's premier run-with player.

But the question is: can they find further improvement?

The development of Bolton and Kirk were prime reasons for the Swans' jump from 11th in 2002 to fourth last year.

Both will hope to take their games to a new level this year, starting in Saturday's practice match against Essendon at North Sydney Oval.

Coach Paul Roos said Barry Hall, Michael O'Loughlin and Leo Barry would not play.

"We are a little bit behind where we were (at the same time) last year, starting (pre-season) three weeks later," Roos said.

"We've just got to be a bit careful we don't push too early and get too many injuries."

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,8634559%255E20322,00.html

[jixygirl]

I'm getting nervous as well. Can they find further improvement? Of course they can find further improvement! They can when the premiership!

[TheHood]

The real stuff can't come quick enough for my liking.

This summer has been so lazy. I'm looking forward to the footy getting me out of the house.

The crisp sunny afternoons, the cold beers, the Villes pie, the hum of the crowd, Delta and Scud coming to watch Jude play, Roosy jogging down at Quarter time, Magic, Dicky Navis and Goodesy crafting something sublime. Barry taking a sliding mark up the wing a few meters away.

Small boys in the park, jumpers for goal posts, enduring image hmmm, one boys got to go home early for dinner, beans on toast...mmmarvellous!

[EMJ]

I also had the thought of Scud and Delta coming to see the Swans.
Can't wait for Saturday at NSO if I can get there - only will have to buy a ticket at the oval.

[motorace_182]

The real stuff can't come quick enough for my liking

45 sleeps i believe, not like im counting or anything

[snajik]

Originally posted by jixygirl
Of course they can find further improvement! They can when the premiership!

Hope you are right. Good question however. It's worth noting that the following players all played their best seasons last year:

Ablett
Barry
Bolton C
Bolton J
Fosdike
Goodes
Kennelly
Kirk
Hall
ROK

Can they maintain this high standard or improve further? ROK and NOG sure can but the others played some consistently amazing footy in 2003.

AS for:

Davis
Mathews
James
Schauble (possibly a better season than when he won the B & F)

Possibly their best seasons as well. Might be difficult for Schaubs and Benny to get much better, but Davis and James can with injury free years.

Meanwhile, can:

Meiklejohn
LRT
Schneider
Powell

all take the next step?

For the club to improve further, not only will players need to improve but players that dominated last year will be required to sustain it in 2004.

Other things to impact on our fortunes will be the loss of Cressa, and the possibility that we can get more value from an injury free Magic, Bally and Doyle.

On a different tack, can someone please re-assure me that we actually finished 3rd last year, not 4th. It riles me whenever I read that in an article, and it happens way too frequently.

[jixygirl]

We did finish 3rd last year because we won the 1stv4th Qualifying Final and lost the 1st Preliminary Final. Its probably because the 1st Prelim was played second that newspapers get mucked up or we finished 4th on the ladder.

[Ryan Bomford]

That's right, 3rd. Otherwise we would have had the pick before Port at the ND.

[snajik]

Thank you for your swift responses.

As for you journos, go and do your bloody homework. You are getting paid for writing this waffle remember.

[TheHood]

Small boys in the park, jumpers for goal posts, enduring image hmmm, one boy secretly rolling the ball in dog's muck and getting his mate to mark it...mmmarvellous!

[snajik]

Originally posted by TheHood
Small boys in the park, jumpers for goal posts, enduring image hmmm, one boy secretly rolling the ball in dog's muck and getting his mate to mark it...mmmarvellous!

Good hooch Hood?

[TheHood]

Yeah, sorry just can't help myself. It's a character from a British sketch show. The character is a guy called Ron Manager who is a special comments man for soccer. He says almost nothing about the game but talks only of yester year and small boys in the park.

"Ron Manager, is Ryan Giggs the old George Best?"

"hmmm Ryan Giggs, Giggsy, Giggsy Wiggsy, Ryanny Giggs...is the old George Best Ryan Giggs? marvellous"

[snajik]

Yes, I am familiar with said show. I'm with you now. A bit cryptic ne'ertheless.