Who Agrees Swans Year is Finished

[Dogzbody]

Great post Simon...thank you.

second that compliment.

I'm also with Cruiser when he says, we should be aiming to win a home final. That should be our focus as supporters also. I don't subscribe to the..."we're not going to win a premiership so may as well look to next year" Yes, we aren't good enough to win the flag this year, but we were written off at the start of this year, and as Simon so eloquently said...we have done tonnes of development work this year, so winning a final would be better than break even by a long way!!!

We could well miss the finals thanks to the Lions beating WB, now both they and the Saints are in picture. I sincerely am going to be cashing in all my footy god prayers that we come out and play against Collingwood next weekend like we did last night. Next Saturday is the key!

So here starts my prayer...."Dear Norm.....please allow us to play freely and play on at all costs next week against the filthy teethless ones.... ...who's with me?

[NMWBloods]

I bet your expectations have fluctuated over the season.

Definitely, but just not to the same extreme and not so rapidly.

[Ludwig]

The Swans are a team in transition, and are unlikely to challenge for top spot for at least 3 years. It's probably a good thing given how strong a team Geelong are. I doubt if the 2005 Swans could seriously challenge them. Some of the current contenders, Hawthorne, NM and WB may well peak out by the time Geelong's run of premierships is over. They have such a core of great players, and even their oldest one, like Milburn and Harley are in career best form and look far from being finished for a couple of years at least. Meanwhile their depth just keeps getting deeper.

Remember, they beat us at our home ground without the likes of Scarlett, Chapmen, Milburn, Wojo and Matty Egan, and pretty much let Taylor have a learning experience on Hall. So only a serious run of injuries will keep them off the top for the next few years.

As for the Swans, we are probably the most difficult club to gauge at the moment. Much of the next generation of players is yet unknown. The International, Murphy, and now Coney and Pyke could be anything. Project players like Orreal, Grundy, White and Barlow have shown potential, but have not shown enough just yet. Add to this the number of young players that have been injured: DOK, Laidlaw, Thornton, Schmidt and Meredith, and its anyone's guess what the future holds.

With any luck, the next Gen Swans can work their way into the team in the next couple of years as some of the older 2005 Swans retire. If we can maintain a top 8 spot during the next 2 season and see good promise for the future, I would be pretty content.

[swansrule100]

i would say we are about where i thought we would be, always hope for a bit more luck and that you can maybe sneak a different win here or there, probably would of pencilled one of the dogs games in as a win early in the season.

The club is at least bringing fresh faces in and making changes, we cant just take huge chunks out of the side at a time. Whilst in individual games i see things that frustrate and annoy me, overall i am happy with the direction the club is heading.

On the original topic i would say the season was over about round 2 for everyone when it was clear Geelong only got better and did not drop off.

[swantastic]

Definitely, but just not to the same extreme and not so rapidly.

So have they changed after last nights game?..for the good or the bad.

[NMWBloods]

So have they changed after last nights game?..for the good or the bad.

Mine? Not a lot after last night. Next week is more meaningful IMO.

[swantastic]

Mine? Not a lot after last night. Next week is more meaningful IMO.

I agree i was hopeful last night but not very confident.Next week will be a big test choka block full of pies supporters.

[Wazza]

Mine? Not a lot after last night. Next week is more meaningful IMO.

Good point - Probably expected a loss against Geelong and wanted to give guys like Monty Fossie and Mal a run before next weeks season defining game.

Cheers

Waz

[liz]

Mine haven't changed one iota after last night. What happened was pretty much as I expected. If anything, I was quite encouraged by some of the play, even if it was punctuated with errors and silly turnovers.

With hindsight, the loss that really hurts is the one to the Dogs. It's the only game they've won in over a month so on form we should have been in with a real shout. And we were the better team for 3 out of the 4 quarters - just that one disasterous quarter that did the damage.

[sfan]

Who agrees with me the Swannies 08 year is Finished.

If the Swannies where on track to challenge in this years Finals, i would've thought they might have lost to Geelong by a couple of Points, if they where to lose at all.

They simply can't cut it with the Big Boys that's for sure.

And i have supported the Swans since 1967.& Ive never thought this before.

Whats your thoughts?

i agree time to play for draft picks

[hammo]

i agree time to play for draft picks

It's a bit late for that.

[ROK Lobster]

Over. Since the break we have been comprehensively beaten by 3 top 8 teams. Last night was not close, Geelong played like it was a training drill. We had a narrow win to Carlton and got out of gaol against Freo. Neither of those sides are hopeless but today's results show that neither of them are much chop either. We might cause an upset or two this year but we are not in it. Roll on 2009.

[cruiser]

Why would any side not want to play finals. It is what they train and play for. It is written in AFL coaching folklore that there is nothing more valuable for young players than playing finals. Plus from a supporters point of view the blood pressure and excitement goes to another level. A Richmond supporter right now would give a right arm to play a final.

When we drop out of the eight, and it will happen, just wait for the empty feeling and despair after being up there for so long.

Memories of 2002 arent that old.

[Triple B]

i agree time to play for draft picks

Here's an idea, let's play for pick 15 or 16.

[Bas]

Here's an idea, let's play for pick 15 or 16.

In which year?

More like Pick 8 this year.