Expectations

[hammo]

What stopped the temptation to throw O'Keefe into the 'haven't kicked on since '05' category?

All Australian in '06 perhaps?

Good stuff you're smoking.

No, it was the reaction of apologists like you.

On his day he is an elite player but he lacks consistency.

I will guarantee you he won't be an All Australian this year because in 2007 he has gone missing in big games far too often.

After the 2005 PF it would be fair to assume he was about to become a very good, consistent player for us. Has he really kicked on that much?

[Goal Sneak]

The problem with expectations and the Swans is that over the past few years, while not really outshining all other teams in the comp, ie Geelong this year, West Coast in previous years, They have really stood up when it counted. This year, when it was time to stand up, the Swans have not quite cut it. Our fans must have known deep down, we were not playing the type of footy that was going to match the tops teams, but, because we have produced when it counted for a few years now, expectations were still high for the finals. It only took a draw and a loss to change most peoples expectations, which, when you leave it to the last minute like we have so many times (both in Seasons and Games) can really hurt because it kinda comes out of nowhere.

[mcs]

I dont know why people are suprised that O'keefe has gone missing at times this year- maybe if Roos would play him where he is suppose to play as a true half forward week in week out his return would be much more impressive. But because our midfield has been generally inept it has often been O'Keefe in there trying to clean up the mess made by many others.

Of course he wont be AA in 07 as he hasnt kicked the goals of 06 as he hasnt played where he should for a large chunk of this year! And he aint ever going to make it into the AA midfield either!!!

[Cheer Squad]

We would be travelling better if we didn't have injuries to key position players like Kennelly and Hall - don't forget we haven't had our preferred backline for most of the year. They've done quite well when you take all this into account. They haven't collapsed, and they always fight back. We just need Kennelly, Barry and LRT back, it would open up so many options on other fronts.

[The Undertaker]

My expectations at the start of the year was to again be somewhere in that top 4.

We have an inconsistent year and I believe injuries have played a huge part in that.

Looks like we go into 2007 in the bottom half of the eight with average form(not taking this week into consideration).

We can only hope of going into the finals this year and show some better form in the game against Hawthorn and hopefully go further in the finals series.

[liz]

After the 2005 PF it would be fair to assume he was about to become a very good, consistent player for us. Has he really kicked on that much?

Surely BBB's observation that he was selected as an AA one year ago answers that question to some degree. And the reason it doesn't totally answer it is because he was already a darned good player in 2005.

Not only did he win AA selection last year, he was judged BOG for Australia against the Irish (which is an achievement regardless of what one thinks about the series) and finished equal second in the club B&F, trailing only the Brownlow winner.

He's hardly been poor this year and the fact he won't be selected as one of the best 22 players in the comp is hardly reason to claim he's not come on. Expecting players already judged in the top echelon of the competition to get significantly better is asking an awful lot.

[Zlatorog]

I'm resetting my expectations for the next year to pre-2005 level not expecting top 4 anymore and will hope for finals only.

[Plugger46]

Forget the AA stuff - it's only picked by a group of people who have an opinion like the rest of us. I really don't know why people regard it so highly.

As for O'Keefe, I think he's had another good year. He's right up there with the best medium forwards in the game. He could probably kick a few more goals, but his workrate and ability to get around the ground prevent him from doing so.

As for him going missing in big games, what a lot of rubbish. Both Eagles games and the Crows game are perfect examples of him playing well in big games.