Should the Swans try to win the Wizard cup in 2005 ?

[footyhead]

It seems to me that we have paid scant attention to the results of the wizard cup over the years, and perhapes with good reason-it doesn't really count.
But with the competition being so close some silver ware has to be better than none! And lets face it the cupboard is very bare down at Driver AV.
You could also say that this team could do with the added spark to take into the season proper, hell it did the trick for geelong and saint kilda , as well as port adelaide a few years ago.
What say ye ? Should we play the kids or have a crack ?

[BonBon]

How long is the break between the footy season and Wizard Cup?

I guess it wouldn't matter because after we win games we get over-confident for the next round and we don't want that happening for the footy season Round 1 etc etc. But if there's a gap between the 2 things, then who cares if we win or lose. It won't make a difference to us. Just like when St. Kilda won the Wizard Cup Finals or something or rather, EVERYONE took it as they had won the AFL Grand Final. I count them as practise matches because they don't mean a damn thing to the Round games. It's being taken far too seriously!

[Glenn]

While it would be nice to have the trophy, in the grand scheme of things no one remembers who won a pre season cup (in any sport), except the club supporters.

[BonBon]

That's correct. While Wizard Cup is out of the boundaries, why get your hopes of for it when you've got a bigger event to take place in naming the footy season games.

I only found out about there was Wizard Cup games only 2 years ago. They must not get much publicity, eh.

One time this year I went to see Kangas and Swans at Optus Oval. I ran on the ground as the players were walking off and my word they were all puffed like they swam a channel swim 10 million times. They lost even! Isn't that a sign of the players taking it too seriously?

I mean, yes, they should try so they can be ready for the season but every team is in the same boat!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I have mixed feelings

Preseason a really great time to give young players a run, and more importantly game time alongside seasoned senior players (which doesn't happen during the year). Taking the pre-season comp seriously tend to mean you play established players rather than giving newbies a go.
Which I think is very important.

On the other hand theres considerable prizemoney for winning the comp and it'd probvably boost the membership numbers.

I guess it's a short term verses medium term issue.

[BonBon]

Let's have a debate.

[chammond]

Play all the youngsters and new recruits . . . and get flogged. That seemed to work well last year.

My opinion is not influenced in any way by the fact that if the Swans get knocked out in the first round, they play a "regional" match in Morwell the following week.

[dread and might]

problem: If we play established players, i.e have a tilt at the cup, we risk losing them to injury in what is essentially a nothing comp.

If we play a mix of established and young, you have the same risk, whilst sacrificing the potential to win.

If you go all young, you probably won't win.

i think some teams take it more seriously than others.

[ugg]

We made the semis 2 years ago before losing to Port. Ricky Mott got his chance then with Ball and Doyle injured. Having said that, we should not play players that are recovering from surgery and aren't fit, and it also gives us a chance to have a look at our youngsters. With the addition of some mature bodied recruits in the rookie list, I think it might be an interesting exercise to play them.

[The Undertaker]

I too, have mixed feelings.

Well,it would be great to have at least one trophy(Wizard Cup)to reflect back on after the season of 2005 finished,if we didnt win the big one.


However,i would rather blood the younger guys in the team for the pre season matches to give them much needed experience for the season proper.So if they are needed,whether it be for lack of form or injuries,to our more experienced men,these kids will find it more easier to play in the big league and Paul Roos will find it more easier to slot these kids into our top side.It gives the team more depth.

Lets think long term.

[LittleSchneider]

If it is a nothing comp i dont think we should risk experienced players in the sake of winning something that has basically no bearing on how well the team will go during the season.

Yes, it may give the team a boost and lift confidence etc but then Calton beat us in the first round by heaps and they still languished at the bottom of the table.
It would be interesting to see, in the history of the Wizard Cup, how many teams have done the double - won both comps, or how many teams have made both finals? I doubt it would be many.

On that, players do get injured - i.e Schneider got injured (hamstring) in the first round of the wizard cup this year and it really disrupted his season.

I agree with blooding the young guns because it is good experience for them and gives them a true indicator of the pace of the game and allows young stars i.e Bevan 2004, Schneider 2003, to state their case and maybe forge their way into the 22.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by chammond
Play all the youngsters and new recruits . . . and get flogged. That seemed to work well last year.

Or play really well and win - that seemed to work last year too...

[BonBon]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Or play really well and win - that seemed to work last year too...

It happens to every team !

[NMWBloods]

What does?

[BonBon]

Like when you say they play really well and win, all teams experience that.