Over achiever's tag surfaces

[CureTheSane]

It really depends on the way the players are treated.
One thing I like about the Swans at the moment is how close all the players seem, sort of like a family.

If they can instill that in the Saints, maybe they will hang on to their stars a bit longer with the hope of a flag.

Everyone bags Thomas, but none of us really know him.
He may well have become a great coach.
Certainly there is little reason to criticize what he's done so far IMO.

As far as the old 'star team' that the Saints had, yep, they should have had a flag.
But now they have new players, a new coach, and a new perspective, so I don't really think what HAS happened hold much bearing on what will happen.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by CureTheSane
It really depends on the way the players are treated.
One thing I like about the Swans at the moment is how close all the players seem, sort of like a family.

A-bloody-men!

I noticed something on Saturday at the end of the game, and it took me until right now for me to work out why it stunned me.

Barry Hall and Matthew Davis were laughing and talking about something during the match on their way in the race, and they looked like they were just close mates. Nothing weird about that, you might say... but I think the significance of that sight lies in their contrasting status at the club.

Hall is a superstar, makes $600,000 and is at the centre of just about any promotion the club does. If he sneezes, Sydney's premiership chances catch a cold. He is one of the Elite at our club.

Davis, on the other hand, is the youngest bloke. He's 4 months older than me, still some time to go before he turns 18. He was an unheard of speculative pick at the end of the 2003 draft. There's no real expectation on him, despite my signature, and in general he's probably a bit of an AFL nobody. If he were a few days younger, he'd have been ineligible for last year's draft, and he'd still be a nobody teenager like me.

But no distinctions. Despite the 10 years age difference, the $550,000 pay difference, the difference between someone who is approached for autographs in the street and someone who nobody knows... they were just mates.

Thankyou, CTS, for clearing up in my mind why that little conversation about the game that I witnessed was important. It shows that the team really is a band of brothers. They ARE mates. Not just work colleagues, but friends, without football they would have little in common, but they are all there for a common purpose; a premiership.

I don't know if anyone has a clue what I'm talking about or not, but there it is.

[Bart]

Originally posted by Charlie
Davis, on the other hand, is the youngest bloke. He's 4 months older than me

Only Alastair Lynch and Nigel Smart are older than me

[robbieando]

On St Kilda, its more than likely that the will be broken up sooner than later because of their poor management of the cap when they went shopping in 2000 on the say so of Blight. Guys like Hamill and Gehrig got given long term contracts worth $500,000 per season. Also you have to remember players like Heath Black, Aussie Jones, Stephen Powell and Lenny Hayes are on huge contracts between $300,000- $500,000 per season as well. Of course this leaves them little space to pay Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Ball, Goddard and the 2 Clarks, who would all be worth within 3 seasons if they live upto the hype, between the $250,000- $600,000 per season mark.

They are going to regrete the Blight era, because they overpayed on every player.

[Reggi]

Originally posted by robbieando
On St Kilda, its more than likely that the will be broken up sooner than later because of their poor management of the cap when they went shopping in 2000 on the say so of Blight. Guys like Hamill and Gehrig got given long term contracts worth $500,000 per season. Also you have to remember players like Heath Black, Aussie Jones, Stephen Powell and Lenny Hayes are on huge contracts between $300,000- $500,000 per season as well. Of course this leaves them little space to pay Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Ball, Goddard and the 2 Clarks, who would all be worth within 3 seasons if they live upto the hype, between the $250,000- $600,000 per season mark.

They are going to regrete the Blight era, because they overpayed on every player.

According to SEN, already 3-4 Melb clubs have got in Luke Ball's ear to sign - was reported that they believe that The Aints have got no hope of keeping all that talent.

Wonder if The Scum are willing to listen to Goddard

[CureTheSane]

Charlie, I've noticed it more than that last game.

Towards the end of last year I saw the 'new' players confident and unfazed with the senior players.

Over the summer I saw clips of them joking around together.
And it in no way looked forced or maybe a 'team requirement'

Perhaps the team has encouraged it, and soon enough genuine friendships developed.

Great stuff if you ask me, and that is what I look forward to seeing on the field most of all.
The team REALLY playing as a team.

[barry]

If St Kilda are smart they would have front-loaded the contracts of Hamill and Gehrig to pay them more now while they dont have cap concerns, and less later.

I'd say they have done that, and maybe to a few others as well.

[Damien]

Originally posted by Charlie
A-bloody-men!

I noticed something on Saturday at the end of the game, and it took me until right now for me to work out why it stunned me.

Barry Hall and Matthew Davis were laughing and talking about something during the match on their way in the race, and they looked like they were just close mates. Nothing weird about that, you might say... but I think the significance of that sight lies in their contrasting status at the club.

Hall is a superstar, makes $600,000 and is at the centre of just about any promotion the club does. If he sneezes, Sydney's premiership chances catch a cold. He is one of the Elite at our club.

Davis, on the other hand, is the youngest bloke. He's 4 months older than me, still some time to go before he turns 18. He was an unheard of speculative pick at the end of the 2003 draft. There's no real expectation on him, despite my signature, and in general he's probably a bit of an AFL nobody. If he were a few days younger, he'd have been ineligible for last year's draft, and he'd still be a nobody teenager like me.

But no distinctions. Despite the 10 years age difference, the $550,000 pay difference, the difference between someone who is approached for autographs in the street and someone who nobody knows... they were just mates.

Thankyou, CTS, for clearing up in my mind why that little conversation about the game that I witnessed was important. It shows that the team really is a band of brothers. They ARE mates. Not just work colleagues, but friends, without football they would have little in common, but they are all there for a common purpose; a premiership.

I don't know if anyone has a clue what I'm talking about or not, but there it is.

M.Davis lives with Hally and C-Bolton, I think that the swans have been smart with who they are setting up in living arrangements. I noticed that the rookies are being placed with experienced players rather than with fellow rookies. Master stroke in my opinion.

The younger guys will probably get on well anyway, it is good that they get to go home to more experienced heads.

[chammond]

Originally posted by robbieando
On St Kilda, its more than likely that the will be broken up sooner than later because of their poor management of the cap when they went shopping in 2000 on the say so of Blight. Guys like Hamill and Gehrig got given long term contracts worth $500,000 per season. Also you have to remember players like Heath Black, Aussie Jones, Stephen Powell and Lenny Hayes are on huge contracts between $300,000- $500,000 per season as well. Of course this leaves them little space to pay Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Ball, Goddard and the 2 Clarks, who would all be worth within 3 seasons if they live upto the hype, between the $250,000- $600,000 per season mark.

They are going to regrete the Blight era, because they overpayed on every player.

Especially since those contracts were negotiated by Butterss and Thomas.

Until this year, Thomas has been directly involved in all player contract negotiations. The fact that he has been dumped from that role (against his specific wishes) may well be an acknowledgement by the club of the problems that Robbie talks about.

[sharpie]

I'll gladly take Lenny Hayes off their hands if that'll help them out, chuck in Riewoldt or Koschitzke and we've got a deal!

Of course, in return all we could offer them would be a chronically injured Warfe or maybe Frosty would come out of retirement!

[NMWBloods]

Mike Sheahan has us finishing 6th-8th this year.

Season preview for Swans from the Hun

[Bart]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Mike Sheahan has us finishing 6th-8th this year.

Season preview for Swans from the Hun

Some of the more interesting stats about us from that article are:

Eleven players played all 24 games, three others missed just one. No other club had more than seven players for every week.