Roos get it right.

[robbieando]

Really LS how long do you have to push this for???

Sure we know you don't think Roos is the right man for the job and has you have said you have your reason. But why does every topic you put up, have to be so negitive????

You seem to think Freo and West Coast are the be all and end all of the AFL and if the Swans aren't like them then we aren't good enough. Never mind the fact there are 7 clubs better at least than both Perth based clubs.

You haven't given the club or Roos or Maxfield a proper chance to prove themselves you just dismiss them as mistakes. Wait a year, see what we are like in September, see how the young kids come on, see how the club views Roos job, give Maxfield a chance to prove himself over a full year. Just give the side in full a chance. You haven't seen us yet with a full side, you expect the performance of the side against most likely the best ever side in a meaningless pre season without at least 9 senior players as what to expect for the season. I say wait until Round 15 when the club has played all clubs once, and has Davis, O'Loughlin, Fosdike, Crouch, Saddington, Barry, Seymour in it before writing off this season and in turn the subject of your hate in Roos and Maxfield.

[Rizzo]

Personally, I'd prefer to see a steady improvement (with the unavoidable speed bumps - think the all ords index) throughout the season than the 'good start - fade out - restore some hope' season we have seen over the last few years.

So, the young boys don't look too hot now - so what? Lets see how they look at the end of the season. I'd then expect Roos and Ireland to assess the gaps and recruit accordingly with the view of building a team that will really run at the flag in 3 to 5 years.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by Rizzo
Personally, I'd prefer to see a steady improvement (with the unavoidable speed bumps - think the all ords index) throughout the season than the 'good start - fade out - restore some hope' season we have seen over the last few years.

So, the young boys don't look too hot now - so what? Lets see how they look at the end of the season. I'd then expect Roos and Ireland to assess the gaps and recruit accordingly with the view of building a team that will really run at the flag in 3 to 5 years.

Rizzo great post you have summed up what the club has said in expects from Roos - LS this is what the club has said they are expecting and in turn most fans are understanding if we don't make the finals. It takes more than 1 trade and draft period and 1 pre season to completely rebuild a team. It takes time and if the fans are on the club's back already like you seem to be, it doesn't help matters and could be in turn worse in the long run.

[LondonSwan]

Robbie,

Okay I see your point and I note your comments about the fiirst and second year coaches. I was no fan of Dean Laidley either but he seems to be going great guns.

But, truthfully, how many of the otrhers came in to their positions with the acrimony that Roos did. I dont think it was any secret that Wallace was the preferred option and if it hadnt been for the outcry - Roos would never have got the position.

So what I am saying and always have is that Roos will need to improve on last year or he will be seen as a failure by those who were probably dragged kicking and screaming into accepting him over Wallace. Just as the knives were out for Eade and he has as much as said so himself, so will they be out for Roos. If I am proven wrong, I couldnt be happier as that will mean the Swans have succeeded in improving on last year.

As far as West Coast and Fremantle are concerned, they are the only 2 clubs that I have seen train which is probably 2 more than you have. I dont like either club (particularly the Eagles) - all I have said is that their preparations appear more advanced and that they are concentrating heavily on skills something which Fremantle has been deficient in the past at. They seem to be getting it right. The enthusiasm at training sessions is obvious.

I have always believed that we should have beaten the Eagles last year as I was there and we just gave up at 3/4 time. They will be a lot harder to deal with this year.

Fremantle normally would be looked at as a possible win for us, even at Subiaco, but for a variety of reasons I dont think we can be that confident this season.

I noted the The Hood's comments about Mott which were obviously made by someone who hasnt seen him lately ( see David's columnn which is far more inciteful than anything I could say).

[Bart]

LS, I'm just interested. These questions aren't leading, and I'm not going to pounce on you for an honest answer.

How long have you followed AFL ?
When, why did you become Swans fan of all clubs ?

[tez]

London Swan I cannot agree with yr comment about the
eagles game at Subi last year and giving up the ghost at
3/4 time. I was there too, and from memory we went down
by 13 points and fought to the wire. We lost that game I
feel to a stupid free given by Warfe which resulted in
a Peter Matera goal and a another goal that had a bit of
luck. in the last 1/4 Goodes played his heart out and at one time ended
up on the roof of the eagles team box. Barry Hall played
a top game on McIntosh and McPherson played a reasonable
game too and kicked a nice goal. Wirrapunda played the best game I have seen him play that night.

But to say they gavre up the ghost IMO is far off the mark.

[Diego]

Originally posted by Bart

How long have you followed AFL ?
When, why did you become Swans fan of all clubs ?

Thats exactly what i am thinking.

[penga]

Originally posted by tez
London Swan I cannot agree with yr comment about the
eagles game at Subi last year and giving up the ghost at
3/4 time. I was there too, and from memory we went down
by 13 points and fought to the wire. We lost that game I
feel to a stupid free given by Warfe which resulted in
a Peter Matera goal and a another goal that had a bit of
luck. in the last 1/4 Goodes played his heart out and at one time ended
up on the roof of the eagles team box. Barry Hall played
a top game on McIntosh and McPherson played a reasonable
game too and kicked a nice goal. Wirrapunda played the best game I have seen him play that night.

But to say they gavre up the ghost IMO is far off the mark.

another factor to our loss was that willo came off with a pulled hammy and cresswell came off with a blood nose towards the end of the final quarter, after those two were off we blew our lead and the momentum was all with the weagles

[liz]

Originally posted by LondonSwan


But, truthfully, how many of the otrhers came in to their positions with the acrimony that Roos did. I dont think it was any secret that Wallace was the preferred option and if it hadnt been for the outcry - Roos would never have got the position.

...

Just as the knives were out for Eade and he has as much as said so himself, so will they be out for Roos. If I am proven wrong, I couldnt be happier as that will mean the Swans have succeeded in improving on last year.

IMO the "acrimony" surrounding the appointment of Roos was largely a media beat up. Certainly the Swans have never said anything to indicate that Wallace was the "preferred option" and since none of us here has a clue what really went on behind the scenes I don't think we're in a position to second guess the decision process. All the club really said on the matter was that they were considering all available options. At the time the majority of us here were of the opinion that we would be disappointed if the club had done anything else.

On the Eade situation, he coached the club for 5 full years (1996-2000 inclusive) before any suggestion arose that the club might be ready for a change. Even in 2001 it was not really a widely mooted opinion, other than maybe in place such as this. Furthermore, the suggestion that "the knives were out for Eade" is a bit emotive. He wasn't sacked. The facts are that he sought (first at the end of 2001 and then midway through 2002) to gain some assurance that his contract would be extended when it expired at the end of 2002. The club's response was that they weren't able to give him these assurances - reasonable given the relative lack of success in 2001 and 2002 (to that point of the season) - and he resigned.

Those are very different circumstances to those facing Roos as he enters his first full year as coach...

[LondonSwan]

Originally posted by Bart
LS, I'm just interested. These questions aren't leading, and I'm not going to pounce on you for an honest answer.

How long have you followed AFL ?
When, why did you become Swans fan of all clubs ?

Off and on since 1994.

The Swans since the end of 1995 and then followed them since beginning of 1996. Lost interest in them in June 2002 when I went right off them but it passed. Do you need to know anything else?


Tez - I was there too - and they either ran out of legs which doesnt say much for their fitness level or they gave in. a few didnt but most did. Go and watch a replay.


But at least the ire is back.

OK - Lizz none of us knows but to say that Roos was preferred is asking too much. He wasnt and there was massive campaign to keep him or maybe we should rewrite history.

[liz]

Originally posted by LondonSwan


OK - Lizz none of us knows but to say that Roos was preferred is asking too much. He wasnt and there was massive campaign to keep him or maybe we should rewrite history.

Sorry LS, but we'll have to agree to disagree. Sure there was a massive campaign from supporters to keep him but no evidence that it had the slightest impact on the outcome.

[LondonSwan]

I think the withdrawal or threat to withdraw sponsorships and club members saying they were not going to renew memberships had a part. Sorry Lizz it is not that simple.

We agree to disagree.

[Diego]

I am so tempted..so bloody tempted....

"Play the ball not the man Diego"
"Play the ball not the man Diego"

All I can say LS you are entitled to your opinion, but personally I disown you as a supporter of the swans.

I just wish you would POQ.

[robbieando]

LS as Lizz said do you know what the club did behind close doors, did the club at any stage say who they wanted di the club say anything???? No they didn't no matter what you think happened, the only people who know for sure what went on are the board.

Sure the public, media, sponsors, members and you think otherwise but until you have facts to back your beliefs up I think your blowing hot air out of a certain body part.

[desredandwhite]

Keep it over the belt guys, don't forget.

Well Andy, I can't say I can agree with you without proof. If the club said that they were honestly considering all options, and decided to go with Paul Roos, that's good enough for me. "I've got a funny feeling about this" doesn't ever hold up in court!

Sure, the support for Roos might have been a factor, but no-one apart from the board can honestly know where their position started. ie: if they were leaning towards Roos anyway, sure the support might have been a factor, but it wouldn't have made for a different decision.