delistings

[Bron]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
FWIW I thought he looked like he was trying way too hard at the start of the year. Or that he was anxious to show how hard he was trying. He did not look at all relaxed or to be enjoying himself. Which is all understandable. I wonder what/if the club had told him they expected from him this year and/or if he thought that this was his last year to make a go of it...

I really like Heath. I think that his attitude and effort has been fabulous in the face of such constant injuries, but I agree with you. I really wanted him to be successful, but I think he just didn't get there. I really feel for Heath and hope that whatever he chooses to do next he has great opportunities. (Presuming that this unsubstantiated claim is true!)

[blinddog]

Heath was delisted in the 2002-2003 break and picked up again for 2003 in the draft. Here he was still young enough to be classified as a roockie. Basically they were seeing if he could remain injury free and play 12-14 games in the twos, then in 2004 play some games in the mainsquad. I know that Richmond were interested with him when the Swans last delisted him.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by blinddog
Heath was delisted in the 2002-2003 break and picked up again for 2003 in the draft. Here he was still young enough to be classified as a roockie. Basically they were seeing if he could remain injury free and play 12-14 games in the twos, then in 2004 play some games in the mainsquad. I know that Richmond were interested with him when the Swans last delisted him.

Well I hope he gets a game with them...





(psst: just bewteen you and me I hope he plays CHB when we go against them next year)

[Triple B]

I don't understand what the hysteria is about.

If it's true that they must still delist x number of players before the draft, I'm sure the club will be happy to redraft them at 31 or 47 or 63 or 79 if they feel nobody better is available.

If they get picked up by another club before then, so be it.

This club, Roos in particular, seem to be a club with a heart and I'm sure they would be thrilled to see either player getting a second chance with another club if it came to be. Although I have a feeling they would be keen to redraft Thewlis.

I can't imagine they will carve us up single handedly somewhere down the track to make us regret the decision.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by Charlie
How on earth does that suggest that he had an 'extremely poor' season?!?

Whilst I was as keen to see Heath succeed as the next man after his terrible run with injuries, and wouldn't call his season "extremely poor", I have to admit his cutting was justified.

The young kid has heart and guts, but he just doesn't have the talent (or his injuries have robbed him of their use). He still looks prone to injury, looks slow compared to many others (probably because of all the scar tissue and the fear of going at it too hard) and just doesn't seem to fit in.

Good luck to him at whatever club he gets picked up by, but I am hoping it isn't us. Sometimes these are the sort of painful decisions that end up being better in the long run.

FWIW I thought his games against Melbourne and WC were terrible, and I dont accept the excuse that Neitz is a "superstar". He was roundly beaten by Shaubs in round 20, and its only fair that James should have been as good earlier in the year.

[penga]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
looks slow compared to many others

as i stated earlier in the year; james, when rebounding from defence, would easily keep clear of a pursuing midfielder. it was only when his opposition was on the lead he looked slow as he didnt read the play properly. he needed more senior experience before his ability to read the play became more proficient.

im yet to believe the report yet as well

[SimonH]

Is this thread true, or a crock? Well, as astute observers have noted, we can't be certain whether it's true- but we can be pretty sure that it's a crock if Stevie Nicks isn't eligible for the veteran's list.

The reason? Chopping just 2 would take Sydney down to 36 on the senior list (presuming always the addition of Bevan, but not doing so would be so bizarre that we can discount it). Unless Nicksie is eligible to be placed on our (currently non-existent) veteran's list, that's one too many for us to participate in the draft. (The idea that Sydney wouldn't participate is faintly amusing just b/c the collective outrage that would result would probably melt RWO's server; anyways, if we weren't going to, we wouldn't have to chop anyone.)

Having already gone through one set of choppings, there is no rational way that we would delist two now, and go through a 3rd chopping of one person further down the track.

As astute observers have also noted, the AFL site is big on links to Coca-Cola and Toyota, and small on making available documents that describe how the League works. However, enter the AFLPA. Bizarrely, the Veteran's rules (and most other listing rules) are set out in the Collective Bargaining agreement between players and the AFL that the AFLPA has published for our delectation.

Clause 13 is the relevant rule. A player qualifies if he:
a) has been on the club's senior list for "at least 10 years"
b) is 30 years of age or over as at 30 September in "the relevant AFL season".

The player must be added to the veteran's list no longer than 2 weeks after the pre-season draft.

The short version- Nicksy will qualify. He was picked up in the 1994 national draft, and so (no matter exactly when that draft occurred) he will have been with us for more than 10 years as at 28 December 2004. He will be turning 30 on 13 May 2005 (the wording of clause 13.1(a) confirms that "the relevant AFL season" is the one following the veteran listing). All systems go.

So the Heathy/Thewlis rumour might not be true, but it is true that we only need to cut 2.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by penga
he needed more senior experience before his ability to read the play became more proficient.

Dont get me wrong, the boy is as keen as mustard. But he just doesn't seem to have the inate smarts or determination to make one of his mistakes into a turnover for us. Its easy to say "give him more game time" but if its at the expense of a Jared Rivers, or Paul Bevan, or Adam Schneider, then is it really the right decision??

[liz]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
but if its at the expense of a Jared Rivers, or Paul Bevan, or Adam Schneider, then is it really the right decision??

Didn't realise Rivers was on the Swans' list - when did he join?

James would never be given a chance at the expense of a Schneider or a Bevan because he plays a very different role. He might be given a chance at the expense of a Powell, but I've been far more impressed with the attitude and achievements of James than I have of Powell, both at senior and reserves level.

I realise it is a little unfair to compare a 24 yo body with that of a 20yo, but apparent attitudes are readily comparable.

My reading of James this year was that he was a little tentative physically, which is understandable. If he and/or the club have come to the conclusion that his body can't stand up to the game, fair enough. But all this talk that he has no talent or innate ability is rubbish in my view. He's just yet another promising player who's career has been ruined by misfortunate injury.

Regardless of the story behind the decision and one's view of his potential, it is sad to see the end to a brave attempt to overcome all his injuries, and to the persistence of him and the club.

[vicburke]

eirinn

hay can i just ask, eirinn - are you irish?

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by liz
Didn't realise Rivers was on the Swans' list - when did he join?

That's why Jolly cost us pick 15 - we got two

[blinddog]

Incase it hasn't been said The Delistings are true, these are no longer fiction or speculative

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by blinddog
Incase it hasn't been said The Delistings are true, these are no longer fiction or speculative

You got sauce with that?

[blinddog]

Heath and Lex (coach the East Syd Bulldogs in the SFL) do training sessions at the Swans gym, anyway an email was sent out saying that the new schedule was on hold as Heath had been delisted.

[OldE]

Re: eirinn

Originally posted by vicburke
hay can i just ask, eirinn - are you irish?

Technically speaking, no. I was born in Australia. But as Irish President Mary McAleese said that all people of Irish heritage internationally ought to consider themselves Irish, I have done just that.

I could go into the history of my Irish obsession, starting with my book about Patrick the Pig at age 4, but I shall spare you the agony.

Erin

PS. And yes, I do go for Ireland in the IR.