Sydney Worst Premiership Team Ever - The Australia

[Reggi]

Sydney so bad it's unbelievable they won the flag

For the record

Sydney Premiership team

Brownlow Medalists

Adam Goodes

All Australians

Paul Williams, Michael O'loughlin *2, Barry Hall, Leo Barry, Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk

Australian Representatives

Jude Bolton, Nick Davis, Ryan O'Keefe, Craig Bolton, Jared Crouch, Amon Buchanan

Irish Representative

Tadgh Kennelly

[katie-scarlett]

I wouldn't exactly call it a bad article.


it ended with a

With a quality coach and players such as Hall, Williams, Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk, Michael O'Loughlin, Jude Bolton and Leo Barry, underestimating the Swans would not be wise

[sharp9]

You've totally mis-read that, reggi. He said (rightly) that some people reckon we're the worst since Collingwood, but he also said (rightly) that people who think that are stupid.

To Quote

"With a quality coach and players such as Hall, Williams, Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk, Michael O'Loughlin, Jude Bolton and Leo Barry, underestimating the Swans would not be wise."

I've made this bit easier to read by removing the subg-clause....

"But for all its critics ... the Swans will again be in the hunt, even allowing for a likely slow build-up to the season proper."

I'd say Greg Denham knows what he's talking about.

[Reggi]

Originally posted by sharp9
You've totally mis-read that, reggi. He said (rightly) that some people reckon we're the worst since Collingwood, but he also said (rightly) that people who think that are stupid.

"people say" is the old Jana Wendt line for "I say". If he had wanted to distance himself 'others say' or other would have sufficed.

In Melb radio generally this is doing the rounds - he is comparing us to the C/wood side with along with S&Don of 93 is the worst Premiership side I have seen - S&Don 93 was probably a worse side than C/wood of 93 except that the S&Don side had a forward line

[NMWBloods]

I thought it was an okay article and was quite supportive.

It says things like:

"Punters clearly do not rate the Swans, with Paul Roos' team a $10 chance. "

"But for all its critics - and there are plenty outside the Harbour City who say Sydney was lucky last year and maintain it is the worst titleholder since Collingwood in 1990 - the Swans will again be in the hunt, even allowing for a likely slow build-up to the season proper. "

"no-one can begrudge how brave Sydney was in winning its first flag in 72 years"

"With a quality coach and players such as Hall, Williams, Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk, Michael O'Loughlin, Jude Bolton and Leo Barry, underestimating the Swans would not be wise"

[Reggi]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I thought it was an okay article and was quite supportive.

It says things like:

"Punters clearly do not rate the Swans, with Paul Roos' team a $10 chance. "

"But for all its critics - and there are plenty outside the Harbour City who say Sydney was lucky last year and maintain it is the worst titleholder since Collingwood in 1990 - the Swans will again be in the hunt, even allowing for a likely slow build-up to the season proper. "

"no-one can begrudge how brave Sydney was in winning its first flag in 72 years"

"With a quality coach and players such as Hall, Williams, Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk, Michael O'Loughlin, Jude Bolton and Leo Barry, underestimating the Swans would not be wise"

So he quotes that the market agrees with his perspective

Points out that everyone agrees that we were as bad as C/wood

Points out we are brave, i.e. not classy or skilful or talented or fit....dammed with faint praise

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Reggi
So he quotes that the market agrees with his perspective

Points out that everyone agrees that we were as bad as C/wood

Points out we are brave, i.e. not classy or skilful or talented or fit....dammed with faint praise

He hasn't stated his perspective in the article, except that the comp should watch out for the Swans. He hasn't stated that he thinks we were terrible.

He has stated that many punters think we are - hence the $10 price.

He has stated that many outside Sydney think we are - which is something we've all seen (and the topic of many complaints) in various media outlets.

He says "quality coach and players".

When a team produces such a low average score, the lowest score in a grand final in over 3 decades, and has a reputation as a stoppage team (which was backed by data), then on what basis will he talk specifically about class and skill, except with a mention to overall quality, which he did.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
When a team produces ... the lowest score in a grand final in over 3 decades

Bzzzt. False.

[Reggi]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
He hasn't stated his perspective in the article, except that the comp should watch out for the Swans. He hasn't stated that he thinks we were terrible.

Yes - well maybe nuance and subtley, don't go down well with you.

I note the C/wood supporters result here

[Reggi]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Bzzzt. False.

Heh heh

Who kicked 5 goals in the 1990 Grand Final?

For the record - by a country mile this is the worst Premiership side in my lifetime

Backs G. Wanganeen D. Fletcher D. Grenvold
Half-Backs M. Thompson M. Harvey J. Misiti
Centres R. Olarenshaw S. Denham P. Hills
Half-Forwards M. Mercuri J. Hird M. Long
Forwards D. Bewick P. Salmon T. Watson
Followers P. Somerville G. O'Donnell D. Calthorpe
I/C C. Daniher D. Wallis

That centreline is a shocker, this was the luckiest group of players (Hird was just an ordinary half forward at this stage), ever to win a Premiership

R. Olarenshaw, P. Hills, D. Calthorpe, T. Watson, D. Wallis could hardly get a game a few months later

Crap side was then looks worse in retrospect, pratically an utter dud on every line

[Sanecow]

It's not even the lowest score in a grand final in the past six months.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Bzzzt. False.

Edit: lowest winning score - missed a word obviously.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Reggi
Yes - well maybe nuance and subtley, don't go down well with you.

Whatever. The only thing I can see that supports that view of the article based on what's written there is paranoia.

I note the C/wood supporters result here

Relying on Collingwood supporters for backup...

[Reggi]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
[B]

Relying on Collingwood supporters for backup...

Collingwood supporters are people too.

I think.

Maybe

[liz]

I don't really give a rat's whatever whether people rate the Swans list in terms of talent. The fact is, they are the reigning premiers and deserve their success. No-one can take it away from the 22 + support + coaches who won the flag.

Even the most ardent Swans fan would be hard pressed to argue that the squad has the same level of flair of the Brisbane side at the start of the decade - or the Essendon squad at the turn of the century.

But, if anything, that makes their achievement more worthy, not less.

The fact is, the Swans had no "earned" top 5 draft picks in their team on GF day. Even McVeigh was a no 7 in terms of where the pick should have been, while Fossie was a traded no 3 pick. In total, only three of the players were top 10 picks in their time. The Swans haven't received any "gifts" at the FS table in the same way that Geelong, Brisbane and the Roos have (if you believe their excitement over Smith). Dempster may become a good player but I don't think he'd have been taken top 20 without the FS rule.

They've taken some punts along the way which have paid off, recruiting a gangly Union convert who had barely played the game, a recent convert to the game from soccer known to be talented but also erratic as a 17yo, and a guy who had never kicked an oval ball before landing in the country.

Of course the Swans aren't the only team to have taken such recruiting punts, but their record would stack up well against most other clubs.

And they have ridden the derision of the AFL world by spending low-first round picks on solid yet unspectacular players who turned out to be key components (I'm thinking Ball and Jolly in particular).

I still get palpitations when I watch the finals series. I put on the final quarter of the GF last night and "The longest drought..." and "Here it is!" still caused physical tingles in my extremities.

We know our team is made of strong, determined stuff and they will give it their best shot again this year. However the year turns out, I doubt they'll let us down in terms of effort and committment. If they get injuries they can't cope with or simply get beaten by a better team(s), so be it.

Bring it on!