Tough at the Top

[ScottH]

Link

PAUL Roos has dismissed Brisbane supercoach Leigh Matthews' prediction that the Sydney Swans have past their peak and will start to slide in 2007.

``I think in terms of age were are in reasonably good shape,'' Roos said.

``Spida Everitt is 32, Mick O'Loughlin just turned 30 and we've got quite a few at 29.

[giant]

Obviously didn't crack an invite to Kirky's 30th.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by giant
Obviously didn't crack an invite to Kirky's 30th.

They meditated past it and he stayed 29.

[hammo]

Lethal should get his own house in order at leave the Swans to Roosy.

I recall during the presentation of the 2005 premiership medals Matthews remarking about the mix of youth and experience in the team so I'm not sure how much could have changed in 12 months.

That article also makes this observation:

Seven of their the Swans best 22 players - Everitt, O'Loughlin, Leo Barry, Jared Crouch, Barry Hall, Brett Kirk and Ben Mathews are 29 or older this season with the team's average age of 23 years and 61 days (at March 30) the seventh oldest in the competition.

Few of us would argue that Mathews is really in our best 22 while Crouch missed a good part of last year and is no certainty to return any time soon.

Goodes, Kenneally, McVeigh, Malceski are all in or about to enter their prime so Matthews' assessment doesn't really hold up to much scrutiny.

[giant]

Strangely enough, not only are we the 7th oldest team in the competition, but by my calculations we're also the 9th youngest. Extraordinary!

Oops: after a recount, make that the 10th youngest.

[AnnieH]

Originally posted by hammo
Lethal should get his own house in order at leave the Swans to Roosy.

I recall during the presentation of the 2005 premiership medals Matthews remarking about the mix of youth and experience in the team so I'm not sure how much could have changed in 12 months.
snip

Lethal would have gone off his na-na had someone said that about him and his team when they were lining up for a third crack at it.
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. I don't think Brisvegas will even make finals fodder this year.

[reigning premier]

Originally posted by hammo
Lethal should get his own house in order at leave the Swans to Roosy.

I recall during the presentation of the 2005 premiership medals Matthews remarking about the mix of youth and experience in the team so I'm not sure how much could have changed in 12 months.

That article also makes this observation:



Few of us would argue that Mathews is really in our best 22 while Crouch missed a good part of last year and is no certainty to return any time soon.

Goodes, Kenneally, McVeigh, Malceski are all in or about to enter their prime so Matthews' assessment doesn't really hold up to much scrutiny.

Concur.....

Seven of their the Swans best 22 players - Everitt, O'Loughlin, Leo Barry, Jared Crouch, Barry Hall, Brett Kirk and Ben Mathews are 29 or older this season with the team's average age of 23 years and 61 days (at March 30) the seventh oldest in the competition.

Glad he picked all of our "running" players.....

Everitt, Hall, Barry, O'Loughlin, Kirk and mathews are hardly where we get all our run from.

If the likes of McVeigh, Schneider, Buchanan, Goodes, Davis, J Bolton, ROK, Fisdike, Malceski (i.e. where we DO get our run) were over 29, well fair enough. But they aren't so our run will be with us this year and the next.....

[hammo]

Originally posted by reigning premier


If the likes of McVeigh, Schneider, Buchanan, Goodes, Davis, J Bolton, ROK, Fisdike, Malceski (i.e. where we DO get our run) were over 29, well fair enough. But they aren't so our run will be with us this year and the next.....

Good point - I forgot ROK for some reason, and Monty. ROK in particular is about to become an elite AFL player one would think.

[Industrial Fan]

Originally posted by reigning premier

If the likes of McVeigh, Schneider, Buchanan, Goodes, Davis, J Bolton, ROK, Fisdike, Malceski (i.e. where we DO get our run) were over 29, well fair enough. But they aren't so our run will be with us this year and the next.....

It's probably quite predictable, but I'm not sure that I agree that we get "run" from Davis.

I doubt he would stay on the ground if he got the pace up with all the arm flapping he does.

Aside from that I agree with your post in the short term, but having said that it is the kpp that are the hardest to replace, and they are the older crowd, so once their outputs drop off, I suspect we will too.

[reigning premier]

Originally posted by Marry me Goodes
It's probably quite predictable, but I'm not sure that I agree that we get "run" from Davis.

I doubt he would stay on the ground if he got the pace up with all the arm flapping he does.

Aside from that I agree with your post in the short term, but having said that it is the kpp that are the hardest to replace, and they are the older crowd, so once their outputs drop off, I suspect we will too.

100%.....

As for Davis not being a runner, well that was last year.... Look out in '07 for Davis breaking th elines through the centre...

[Industrial Fan]

Sadly, that is a familiar story.... I was looking for him to win the brownlow circa 2006 as he claimed.

It would be nice if he played to his capabilities.

[DST]

Nothing shocking from Matthews in that statement.

We are approaching our top age bracket but as someone else pointed out, our running players are all in the younger bracket so that should help.

Once again if Roos can fit another 2 to 3 youngsters into the team this year and with our more mature players playing a full year and to their potential where are going to have a big say come finals time.

DST

[Nico]

Leigh Mathews always was a sniper.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Nico
Leigh Mathews always was a sniper.

I played cricket against Stephen Giles some years ago and he was still dirty on Matthews for flattening him behind play, and I'm sure Neville Bruns would say the same.

[GoBloods]

i would think with a playing record and coaching record as good as leigh mathews has , he probably be an expert on the situation and entitled to his opinion , more so than me and anyone else on red and white online, or as i should call it , www.swansopinionatedfootballexperts