How Many Will Leave?

[Plugger46]

I know quite a few people will disagree here but I believe if we got rid of Brennan and Schmidt, we would be making 2 big mistakes, especially Schmidt. Honestly, I think that guy has been hard done by over the years, he gets a call up to the seniors, mainly due to someone being injured, does well, than gets dropped cause that injured player is ok now. Brennan attacks the ball and the man harder than anyone else in the team, cant kick for @@@@, but can take a mark.

Agree entirely on Schmidt, as do a number of others - see the Schmidt thread.

As for Brennan, I think he's OK and was stiff to get dropped when he did. But as a first round draft pick, he's been unable to cement a spot at AFL level so you'd have to think he'll be de-listed.

[wedge.maverick]

Vesz is not on the rookie list. Orreal while showing a lot of improvement will probably not get promoted, but will get a 2nd year on the rookie list. He's still very young of course.

IMHO, Smith, Murphy and O'Dwyer will get promoted from the rookie list.

Murphy more than likely will be left on the rookie list too Ugg.As an international rookie he's not included in the salary cap or as a number on the rookie list while a rookie.They can promote him at any time if he's going to play.
We have Myke Cook to add as a rookie as well so all of a sudden we have some very tall rookies developing.

[Nico]

Absolutely. Craig Bolton and Ted Richards are two cases in point - opportunities and the confidence that comes with that can transform a player. Dunks is another who was merely a so-so defender for several years before becoming one of the best fullbacks in the league at that time, seemingly overnight.

And yes, Grundy does seem to have made real progress this year.

I remember one day at AFL Park when Dunstall kicked 7 or 8 on Dunkley and everyone, me included, was bemoaning the fact that he was all we had to play full back.
One of the greatest transformations of a player in our clubs' history.

[Nico]

I'm a little perplexed on why people think Fosdike will go. He was injured all season and obviously could not get his fitness base up to 1's standard.

You would reckon he would have more currency than a few others given that his was very consistent from 2005 - 2007 and was one of the few still running at the end of the 2007 EF debacle.

[Wazza]

I'm a little perplexed on why people think Fosdike will go. He was injured all season and obviously could not get his fitness base up to 1's standard.

You would reckon he would have more currency than a few others given that his was very consistent from 2005 - 2007 and was one of the few still running at the end of the 2007 EF debacle.

Yeah agree with you, he has a huge tank and steps up in the big game. I dont thnik he would have much currency on the trade table but if he can get himself sorted with a big pre season and stay fit, I would rather see Fossie in the MF than Moore or Scmidt.


Cheers

Waz

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff

The difficulty the Swans faces relates to where we will be in two years if players aren't pruned now. We have to scedule a renewal program as we have one of the oldest lists in the league.

Only the champs and game winners get to stay until the end. At this time that only includes O'Loughlin, Hall and Kirk in the older players.

Fosdike was just about BOG in 05 GF but is an outside runner with fair skills who can't take a mark, Leo is a legend but his time has come, Crouch is injury prone but looked OK at very end. If some of these don't go then they all will go together with the aforementioned.

On rumours, have heard Luke Ablett is ready to go now, appears the leadership group have been protective of themselves and not of the "outsiders". Recruit players with different skill sets to the ones recruited for the last 6 years, runners, ball carriers and play the game quicker.

[ScottH]

On rumours, have heard Luke Ablett is ready to go now, appears the leadership group have been protective of themselves and not of the "outsiders". Recruit players with different skill sets to the ones recruited for the last 6 years, runners, ball carriers and play the game quicker.

Interesting WA. How accurate is your source on this?

[liz]

On rumours, have heard Luke Ablett is ready to go now, appears the leadership group have been protective of themselves and not of the "outsiders". Recruit players with different skill sets to the ones recruited for the last 6 years, runners, ball carriers and play the game quicker.

Don't understand this comment. Luke Ablett is in the leadership group. So is he protective of himself or not?

There was a fair bit of new blood into the leadership group for 2008. Mathews and Bolton stood down (or were stood down) at the start of the year, and Hall resigned during the year as a result of his "issues". O'Keefe, Kennelly and Ablett joined the group.

Given you'd expect any leadership group (except at Carlton) to comprise senior players who've won the respect of their team mates, it is hard to argue with the composition of the 2008 leadership group, with only Ablett not being up there amongst the most consistent matchwinners in the team.

Pretty much every club in the league has a leadership group nowadays and all seem to have a pretty big say in the way their clubs are run. I don't get the need of some RWOers to read sinister machinations into the way the Swans leadership group operates.

[Wardy]

Don't understand this comment. Luke Ablett is in the leadership group. So is he protective of himself or not?

There was a fair bit of new blood into the leadership group for 2008. Mathews and Bolton stood down (or were stood down) at the start of the year, and Hall resigned during the year as a result of his "issues". O'Keefe, Kennelly and Ablett joined the group.

Given you'd expect any leadership group (except at Carlton) to comprise senior players who've won the respect of their team mates, it is hard to argue with the composition of the 2008 leadership group, with only Ablett not being up there amongst the most consistent matchwinners in the team.

Pretty much every club in the league has a leadership group nowadays and all seem to have a pretty big say in the way their clubs are run. I don't get the need of some RWOers to read sinister machinations into the way the Swans leadership group operates.

I thought it was Kennelly, O'Keefe and Craig Bolton that went into the leadership group - I didnt think that Ablett was in it at all. Also Ablett hasnt done any media representing the LG - all he got was the run in the raffle add and that was about it.

I still maintain that the Swans leasership group is too much of an "us" & "them" set up. But then some like the LG thing some dont.

[liz]

Bolton was already in the leadership group. He just got promoted to co-captaincy. And yes, Ablett was part of the 2008 leadership group.

[Wardy]

Bolton was already in the leadership group. He just got promoted to co-captaincy. And yes, Ablett was part of the 2008 leadership group.

Ok - I wasnt sure thats all. Well he wasn't a very effective member then if thats the case.

[giant]

Ablett must certainly be under scrutiny. Hasn't really shown improvement for years. If Sydney are going to compete with the best midfields, Ablett needs to step up or move on.

[snappy]

Ablett must certainly be under scrutiny. Hasn't really shown improvement for years. If Sydney are going to compete with the best midfields, Ablett needs to step up or move on.

Wasnt that a reason for his addition to the LG, he has been around long enough, shows he can play, must have some respect from the playing group.
I was expecting him to "step up" this year. Though hasnt he been playing injured?
Hes tough in and under player/reasonable tagger, still young and would still have a role to play.

[pig@fullforward]

i hope that it goes something like this,
Retirements:
Spida & Mathews

Delistings:
Ablett - Can be replaced by a younger body that will improve
Crouch - won't be around for our next premiership may as well play youth
Brennan - Can't cement a spot & cant kick we have plenty with heart but skills?
Davis - Afraid you will move on mate love to see you in the side however
Smith- Brabazon or O"Dwyer afraid one of you will move on but which one is up to the coaches.

This then frees us up to replenish heavily using the draft

[goswannies]

One more thing - The Swans would have known Spida was retiring - why not let him have a Tribute match? Same with Leo? Not much dignity shown there.

Why a tribute for a guy that only played 2 seasons?