Just musing about the future

[Nico]

After the weekends game I was having a convivial chat to young P46, and what a knowledgeable chap he is. The topic came up about where we are placed for the future. This is how we saw it:

"From the backline"

Bolton, Barry, Mattner - of these only Leo is nearing retirement but will probably play in 2009 and maybe 2010.

Malceski, LRT, Kennelly - Unless Taigh goes home after 2009 - settled.

7th man back is Teddy and can easily slot into FB. Thornton back there somewhere. Throw in Brennan.

A backline of riches.

Centres:

Barlow, O'Keefe, Fosdike - no age problem there (maybe Fozzie) but no shortage of players lining up for that spot.

Backups: Ablett, Bevan, Bolton J (age/pace?),Jack

Half Forwards:

Schmidt, Hall, McVeigh - Hall needs replacing after 2009 perhaps

Backups Davis, White, Grundy

Forwards:

Buchanan, MOL, Playfair - MOL needs replacing after 2009

Backups: any other smalls or talls as Roosey sees fit.

Rucks: Jolly, Currie, Orreal

Midfielders: Moore, Bird, Veszpremi, Smith, Meredith, Goodes, Kirk

(we are really going to struggle in the midfield - not)

Others Faulks, Laidlaw, D O'Keefe, Murphy, Bruce, Dwyer, Brabazon and probably another trade to make a silk purse out of sow's ear. And Murphy is going to be a gun and could even fill the CHF spot.

Some of the latter mentioned may not make it.

So we can expect to lose Matthews, Crouch, Spida, Leo, Hall, MOL and perhaps Kirk though "old age" in the next 2 years.

So where's the problem?

So if Grundy or White don't come up we need to find "a" key forward, the backline is set for ever it seems and we have so many interchangeable onballer/midfielders it is hardly fair to the other sides. And "they" said we recruit too many midfield types.

[i'm-uninformed2]

After the weekends game I was deliriously happy and pissed at a pub and was talking about the future to a potplant I thought was a pal.

"How good was that," I said.

"@@@@ yeah," it said back.

"I lurrrvve you, mate," I said.

So we hugged and agreed Orreal both has potential and a name that makes him sound like a delicious American biscuit.

At that point we laughed heartily.

No, I have not smoked anything tonight before posting this.

Thank you and hugs to all too.

[Nico]

How refreshing it is to have the piss taken out of one every now and then.

[ernie koala]

So we can expect to lose Matthews, Crouch, Spida, Leo, Hall, MOL and perhaps Kirk though "old age" in the next 2 years.

So where's the problem?

No problem with loosing Crouch and Mathews.....but loosing all the others at the same time.....that's a lot of experience and a lot of talent to loose in one or two seasons.
But I like your optimism.

[swansrule100]

my biggest area of concern is developing people capable of 50 goals a season after we lose magic and hall.

Maybe barlow could be the man? i dont know.

The ruck is also a big concern

[hot potato]

The current group looks quite hungry, so it will make the understudies hungry too. The winning habit is lifting the confidence.
Roosey still looks still looks hungry.
They could even be hungry enough to beat The Pies at Frigid Stadium on 5th July.

[Old Royboy]

Notwithstanding what Nico and P46 have said, it will still be necessary to turn over the list. By this I mean that the Swans should cut a few off the list in addition to the obvious retirements of Everitt, Mathews and Crouch. At present I would think Braba will go (still not showing it after 2 1/2 years) and maybe one or two more, personally I would let Reg go as well. This will allow the necessary room for trading (there will always be another Richards or Mattner looking for a good home) and rookie elevations. Crunch will come the the following year when probably five core players retire or go home. The progress of blokes like Laidlaw, White, Currie, Thornton, O'Keefe, Murphy and Veszpremi, plus who-ever we draft or trade for in the interim will determine what 2010 holds.

I do not agree with the statement "set forever" After 2010 the next wave (Goodes, Boltonx2, O'Keefe and co) will start to approach retirement. Some of the blokes you have mentioned (eg Brennan) either will not or never will be top liners. The (so far) successful tactic of trading for other clubs fringe players in the 23-25 yr bracket means that these guys have only a 5-7 year shelf life compared to the 10 plus years that a sucessful draft choice brings. A shorter shelf life creates the need to turn over the list faster.

Other clubs bitter experience has shown that a combination of rookies and elder statesmen often does not work. A core of experienced and hardened 23-27YO players has to be maintained to avoid a plunge down the ladder and a painful 5 year rebuild. .

I know Roo's has said that he does not want to coach our club forever, but I feel that if he bails out before this transition he is copping out, like Malthouse did with West Coast. If he stays, we will then find out if he truly can be called a great coach. Gee I hope he stays, as I have no faith in Longmire's ability to do the job.

[venus]

Braba

WITH REF TO NOT SHOWING IT AFTER 2 1/2 YRS - SEEMS A LITTLE HARSH AS I RECALL FROM THIS FORUM HIS 1ST YR WAS A DEVELOPING ONE - HIS 2ND YR WAS RUNNER UP IN LEAGUE F&BEST (TO JARROD MOORE WHO HAS COME ON THIS YR) BRAB WAS ALSO F&B IN LAST YRS RESERVES GRAND FINAL - SO I THINK HE HAS SHOWN SOMETHING - THE ONGOING SUCCESS THIS SEASON HAS COMPOUNDED HIS & OTHERS POSSIBLE PROMOTION TO SENIOR SELECTION.

Notwithstanding what Nico and P46 have said, it will still be necessary to turn over the list. By this I mean that the Swans should cut a few off the list in addition to the obvious retirements of Everitt, Mathews and Crouch. At present I would think Braba will go (still not showing it after 2 1/2 years) and maybe one or two more, personally I would let Reg go as well. This will allow the necessary room for trading (there will always be another Richards or Mattner looking for a good home) and rookie elevations. Crunch will come the the following year when probably five core players retire or go home. The progress of blokes like Laidlaw, White, Currie, Thornton, O'Keefe, Murphy and Veszpremi, plus who-ever we draft or trade for in the interim will determine what 2010 holds.

I do not agree with the statement "set forever" After 2010 the next wave (Goodes, Boltonx2, O'Keefe and co) will start to approach retirement. Some of the blokes you have mentioned (eg Brennan) either will not or never will be top liners. The (so far) successful tactic of trading for other clubs fringe players in the 23-25 yr bracket means that these guys have only a 5-7 year shelf life compared to the 10 plus years that a sucessful draft choice brings. A shorter shelf life creates the need to turn over the list faster.

Other clubs bitter experience has shown that a combination of rookies and elder statesmen often does not work. A core of experienced and hardened 23-27YO players has to be maintained to avoid a plunge down the ladder and a painful 5 year rebuild. .

I know Roo's has said that he does not want to coach our club forever, but I feel that if he bails out before this transition he is copping out, like Malthouse did with West Coast. If he stays, we will then find out if he truly can be called a great coach. Gee I hope he stays, as I have no faith in Longmire's ability to do the job.

[smasher]

I'm looking forward to Ves playing in the one's.I was told by someone who would know that he plays in a similar way to Glen Archer, tough and hard at the ball.

[Plugger46]

Notwithstanding what Nico and P46 have said, it will still be necessary to turn over the list. By this I mean that the Swans should cut a few off the list in addition to the obvious retirements of Everitt, Mathews and Crouch. At present I would think Braba will go (still not showing it after 2 1/2 years) and maybe one or two more, personally I would let Reg go as well. This will allow the necessary room for trading (there will always be another Richards or Mattner looking for a good home) and rookie elevations. Crunch will come the the following year when probably five core players retire or go home. The progress of blokes like Laidlaw, White, Currie, Thornton, O'Keefe, Murphy and Veszpremi, plus who-ever we draft or trade for in the interim will determine what 2010 holds.

I do not agree with the statement "set forever" After 2010 the next wave (Goodes, Boltonx2, O'Keefe and co) will start to approach retirement. Some of the blokes you have mentioned (eg Brennan) either will not or never will be top liners. The (so far) successful tactic of trading for other clubs fringe players in the 23-25 yr bracket means that these guys have only a 5-7 year shelf life compared to the 10 plus years that a sucessful draft choice brings. A shorter shelf life creates the need to turn over the list faster.

Other clubs bitter experience has shown that a combination of rookies and elder statesmen often does not work. A core of experienced and hardened 23-27YO players has to be maintained to avoid a plunge down the ladder and a painful 5 year rebuild. .

I know Roo's has said that he does not want to coach our club forever, but I feel that if he bails out before this transition he is copping out, like Malthouse did with West Coast. If he stays, we will then find out if he truly can be called a great coach. Gee I hope he stays, as I have no faith in Longmire's ability to do the job.

Really good post and I have the same concerns about Longmire.

There are so many unknowns but Nico and I were both saying that our future looks a hell of a lot brighter than certain people in the media would have you believe.

I suspect that we'll be in the mix again in '09. Beyond that, I see us having a period like Brisbane have had - not playing finals but still being competitive. I certainly don't think we'll be spending an extended period in the bottom four.

Next 5 years look good!