Hopes for this year?

[Go Swannies]

There seems to be a mood of defeatism (or realism?) through the current run of posts about what the Swans can do this year. Is it just because much of the media have reverted to a "try hard but won't succeeed" assessment of the team?

This time last year I wrote to Barry Hall and said, in part, that it was more important to me that the team tried hard throughout every game than whether they won or lost. With the exception of a few games (Hawthorn, Melbourne in R22) they played their hearts out all year - and came 3rd.

If we expect to do worse this year (with largely the same players) is that because we expect other teams to lift their fitness and work ethic to the Swans level? Or do we think that the Swans won't be trying as hard for Paul Roos in his second full year as coach? Or do we think that some players played beyond their abilities last year? (Though that seems like a logical absurdity.)

Personally, I'm expecting that team spirit and increasing individual smarts (and coaching cleverness) will continue to lift the Swans this year. I expect to watch the team play in the Grand Final in September.

And, while I'm in the mood for bold predictions, I don't think the team they'll be playing in the GF will be Brisbane, Collingwood, Port or the Bombers.

[CureTheSane]

I expect nothing, but hope for everything.

That is the only way to be.

Last year I put the Swans at the top of my ladder after rd 22
Anything can happen.


Injuries, bad form, sacked coach.

But that's footy.

To win the gf you need everything going for you at once, unless you're a totally dominant side like Brisbane, but even they need a good run withinjuries etc.

Look at Carlton, pumping us by 100 points.
Because we weren't full strength.

Makes you realise how even the comp really is

[Rizzo]

Hopes for this year? To go all the way!

[Rod_]

Expectations = All the way!

Hopes = All the way

Results = ALL THE WAY!!!

Rod_

[barry]

We have a great benchmark game first up.
If we win that, then we are in for a good season. We beat them twice last year, and they have a couple of key players out, and are a little underdone, so if we are to equal last years form, we need to win.

If we lose, then the next game against Freo becomes a must win, and they arent an easy walk over.

[NMWBloods]

Terry Wallace says that we are one of three teams with games for round one where we are "indifferent" as to whether we win, as opposed to them being crucial, must win or important games.

I hope we do go all the way, but I don't expect it.

[Gunn]

I was very surprised by how well we played last year. Having taken in the comments made by the experts and looking again at last years ladder it is clear that different results in only about two close matches means the difference between finishing near the top of the ladder and finishing out of the eith. It is that close.

My enthusiasm is tempered by the above knowledge and by the fact that second year blues are a fact of life for many new players. I am still worried by our lack of height in the back lines although I haven't seen what James and Rogers can do yet.

I would be happy if we can finish in the top ten provided all the players had a red hot go and some of the newer players showed big improvement. If this happened then Paul Roos's rebuilding plans would be well on track.

I heard on Melbourne radio this morning a comment about the Richmond Football club who a few seasons ago finished up near the top of the ladder. That club, instead of recruiting youth for the future went out and swapped picks and players for a few better 28 + years olds in the hope of pinching a flag. They failed, the "new' recruits have now retired and they are desperate for good young talent. I think we did something similar after our GF appearance. Paul Roos does not want to take that route. We have to expect the road to the top may be slower and at times bumpy. It is however the road to the top.

[jixygirl]

I don't have a lot of hopes for the year because all of the football teams (except Brisbane) can change so dramatically over the 4 or so months of the preseason. I was talking (complaining ) to a friend of mine (friend only knows a bit about footy though) about how we should have played better in the last quarter of the Preliminary final and got into the Grand Final. My friend then said that if the Swans were meant to get into the Grand Final, then we should beat Brisbane on the weekend. Of course this is not the case. The amount of factors that change from season to season every year is enormus, which is why it is so hard to predict what will happen. That is why I hardly listen to the so-called 'experts', becuase they can be so terribly wrong (good example is Sydney last year). Anybody who tips eight winners in the first season should go and bet on the races, because they have a bit of luck running through their blood at the moment.

Of course, I terribly want the Swans to win the Premiership, but nobody (except fortune tellers maybe!) can predict the future.
GO SWANNIES!!!!!!!!

[barry]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Terry Wallace says that we are one of three teams with games for round one where we are "indifferent" as to whether we win, as opposed to them being crucial, must win or important games.

I hope we do go all the way, but I don't expect it.

Terry Wallace is a numb nut IMO.

I often think the first round is one of the most important games of the year, because if you win it you are in the 8, and from there you just need to stay in the 8, not try and break into it.
Phsycological.

[boroboy]

I'd remind everyone what the great Ron Barassi said at the end of season dinner in only 5 months ago.

If we don't improve on our finish last year, then it was all a waste of time....

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by barry
Terry Wallace is a numb nut IMO.

I often think the first round is one of the most important games of the year, because if you win it you are in the 8, and from there you just need to stay in the 8, not try and break into it.
Phsycological.

I think whether you are in the 8 or not after rd 1 is fairly meaningless. I don't see any psychology whatsoever attached to trying to hold your position in the 8 after one round.

In the past 6 years, 50% of the time the eventual premier has lost the first round game. In fact, of the past 17 seasons, on 11 occasions the eventual premier has lost the first round game.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by boroboy
I'd remind everyone what the great Ron Barassi said at the end of season dinner in only 5 months ago.

If we don't improve on our finish last year, then it was all a waste of time....

Frankly, I just can't see that. In other words, he is saying that if we don't make the GF this year it will be a failure. I disagree with this as the benchmark.

[BAM_BAM]

I expect

a professional outfit who's heart and soul is devoted to winning each and every game.

a band of brothers who put themselves on the line to protect their fellow team mate

we had a family unit operating last year. Watching the boys mannerisms while they watch the reserves play shows a lot about how they feel about each other. That was also present at the kids clinic at the SGC during the school holidays and was again evident at the training session we were invited to the week preceding the TOTC dinner.

that this unit have grown stronger over the summer.

I believe

we have a coach who the players would die for. The sort of bloke where if he gave you a cross look you'd almost cut your right hand off to make it right and replace it with a smile.

we have a growing membership and fan base who delight in seeing the boys smile. Winning games is the best recipe for this.

I hope

that they are true to themselves and to those who support and love them. If that happens, we just may well win a premiership this year.

[penga]

i just want to see ticker in the boys during every minute of every game, wholly and soully, thats my one hope for the year

[chammond]

Originally posted by barry
We have a great benchmark game first up.
If we win that, then we are in for a good season. We beat them twice last year, and they have a couple of key players out, and are a little underdone, so if we are to equal last years form, we need to win.

If we lose, then the next game against Freo becomes a must win, and they arent an easy walk over.

It would be great to win every game, but if we have to lose some, the early ones are least damaging I think, provided the coach and players are smart enough to learn from the mistakes.

1996 and 2003 have probably been our best overall performances in recent memory. Last year we lost 3 out of our first 4 games, and in 1996 we got walloped in the first 2 rounds, including by Freo at the SCG.

Fortunately, in both cases we leveraged off what was learnt from the losses and improved rapidly as a result.