Are the Swans a better team than this time last year?

[AnnieH]

Accuracy is the most important factor.
Last Sunday (admitedly, we were only playing Carlton), we had 12 different goal kickers, with only Ablett, Craig Bolton & Jolly kicking straight behinds.
The main aim of the game is to kick the ball between the two big sticks (as is explained to AFL virgins in Sydney).

[Tuco]

Good assessment, Liz.

IMHO we have not improved as much as WC have improved. But I'd say we've consolidated very nicely considering the turnover on our list last year.

Macca and Mal have improved dramatically this season. Macca went from a fringe-player to a automatic selection. And Mal has shown that his inside work and goal sense was no fluke in those few games he played in 2005.

Mid-season our ruck stocks had clearly suffered with Ball's retirement. But ironically that dependence on Jolly has lifted him to almost All- Australian levels, while now with Doyle returning I think we're as well represented there as most teams in the top 8.

Crouch is a major loss to our make-up, though.

[snajik]

Yes great post Liz. My biggest concern is that we haven't had a serious hitout against a very good side in the last eight weeks. Also of the eight games that we played this year against fellow finals qualifiers, we only won three. Still we have good form at the moment and I seem to recall that the draw panned out in a similar fashion at the end of 2005. Therefore, it may not matter.

[barry]

Originally posted by NMWBloods

New
Malceski --
McVeigh --
Doyle --
Richards =

for

Williams
Crouch
Ball
Bevan

We lose on all the new players relative to last year. [/B]

Dont agree.

Williams of 2005 slightly better than Malceski of 2006.
McVeigh 2006 better than Crouch 2005
Doyle 2006 almost the same as Ball 2005 by finals time.
Richards 2006 much better than Bevan 2005

I think these additions add a lot more team balance than those they replaced. Malceski adds a bueatiful long kick in midfield which we have lacked. McVeigh has sort of moved up to N.Davis' role, and Davis more of a midfielder. Against Crouch, we are a far more attacking midfield than last year.
Doyle, just by his shear size is potentially a better ruckman than Ball was. Remember Ball was playing 2nd ruck by finals time, last year, and although he did some great tap work against Geelong, I think the improvement in Jolly and the addition of Doyle makes our ruck division stronger than last year.
Richards is in great form. An extra tall in defense which we so desperately needed.

[AnnieH]

Originally posted by barry
Dont agree.

Williams of 2005 slightly better than Malceski of 2006.
McVeigh 2006 better than Crouch 2005
Doyle 2006 almost the same as Ball 2005 by finals time.
Richards 2006 much better than Bevan 2005

I think these additions add a lot more team balance than those they replaced. Malceski adds a bueatiful long kick in midfield which we have lacked. McVeigh has sort of moved up to N.Davis' role, and Davis more of a midfielder. Against Crouch, we are a far more attacking midfield than last year.
Doyle, just by his shear size is potentially a better ruckman than Ball was. Remember Ball was playing 2nd ruck by finals time, last year, and although he did some great tap work against Geelong, I think the improvement in Jolly and the addition of Doyle makes our ruck division stronger than last year.
Richards is in great form. An extra tall in defense which we so desperately needed.

Yeah. Totally agree.
We'll be right.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by barry
Doyle 2006 almost the same as Ball 2005 by finals time.

You can't be serious.

[barry]

Originally posted by Sanecow
You can't be serious.

I think Balls contribution last year has a tendency to be exagerated a bit.

IMO: Jolly 2006 + Doyle 2006 > Jolly 2005 + Ball 2005

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by barry
I think Balls contribution last year has a tendency to be exagerated a bit.

IMO: Jolly 2006 + Doyle 2006 > Jolly 2005 + Ball 2005

I can go with that but mainly because Jolly 2006 > Jolly 2005.

[Young Blood]

Originally posted by barry
Williams of 2005 slightly better than Malceski of 2006.
McVeigh 2006 better than Crouch 2005
Doyle 2006 almost the same as Ball 2005 by finals time.
Richards 2006 much better than Bevan 2005

Agree re Richards v Bevan.
Agree re Willo v Malceski.

Haven't seen anything to suggest Doyle is rucking with the same skill as Ball was last year. Hopefully he continues to improve with each game.

Crouch was our best player of the finals last year. We're not better off without him.

[AnnieH]

Originally posted by Young Blood
Agree re Richards v Bevan.
Agree re Willo v Malceski.

Haven't seen anything to suggest Doyle is rucking with the same skill as Ball was last year. Hopefully he continues to improve with each game.

Crouch was our best player of the finals last year. We're not better off without him.

Probably not better off without Crouchy, but we've been doing OK since he's been "injured".

[swantastic]

I think Richards has made a vast improvment.With Teddy and Doyle we can use both of them floating around the Forward/Back line no problem they have becaome very handy talls.Willo was good,but Melceski will only get better and he has better skills than Willo(IMO).ROK is better this year,so to Goodes,Monty and Schneider about the same.B1/B2 about the same.Leo a little down pretty hard to live upto last years GF.Davis little under done.Demptser/Better.Kirk/Not as good.IMO

[woo]

teddy and Nog are BIG improvers, and will hopefully be big impacts on the game.

Guys I am so nervous about this game I can barely make comment, I just stared at this screen for 10 mins before putting a comment up, not wanting the kiss of death, not wanting to put the side down....I am in all sorts...I was a wreck last year and it looks like this year will be the same!

carn swans

[AnnieH]

Originally posted by woo
teddy and Nog are BIG improvers, and will hopefully be big impacts on the game.

Guys I am so nervous about this game I can barely make comment, I just stared at this screen for 10 mins before putting a comment up, not wanting the kiss of death, not wanting to put the side down....I am in all sorts...I was a wreck last year and it looks like this year will be the same!

carn swans

Get a paper bag.
Place bag over mouth.
Breathe in and out of the bag for a minute.
You'll be right.

[woo]

Originally posted by Annie Haddad
Get a paper bag.
Place bag over mouth.
Breathe in and out of the bag for a minute.
You'll be right.

ok now what....my breathing is still erratic

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by woo
ok now what....my breathing is still erratic

Try a plastic one and do it for longer.