Michael O'Loughlin and Season 2009

[top40]

I really hope Michael O'Loughlin plays on in 2009. There were no signs up until the time he fell down with injury in Round 16 that he is particularly old or slow.

And, there are the milestone:

1. First player to play 300 games for the club. He needs just 14 games next year. That would be a remarkable achievement for a club that has existed for around about 130 years.

2. First indigenous player to kick 500 goals. He currently stands at 497.

[ScottH]

There has been no indications, or even speculation in the media recently that he'll retire, so I guess we should find out in the coming weeks.

I hope he plays on too.

[Lucky Knickers]

Fingers crossed the ankle comes good - would love him to make those milestones and he's still such an exciting player.

[Jeffers1984]

@@@@ i'm gonna miss him when he retires though. He has been at the club from the start of my Swans supporting life (1995) till now.

[swansrule100]

he should stay purely because we dont have a replacement left anyway. He is also on the vetrens list anyway isnt he?


Until his injury he was one of the best this year, if he stays fit he could play beyond 09 as well

[Flossie]

@@@@ i'm gonna miss him when he retires though. He has been at the club from the start of my Swans supporting life (1995) till now.

Love Mickyo!! He seemed to have a new lease of life this year until he hurt his ankle. Hope he comes right and is able to playfor us next year and for as long as his body allows him to. Will be a sad day when he retires.

[Blood Fever]

Great Player

A great team player who has set up as many goals as he has kicked - I hope he plays another 2 years

[redshaz]

Agreed Micheal needs to play on

[Big Al]

I will be mightily pissed if I don't get to farewell Magic. He is up there with Kel as my favourite Swan of all time and I want to be able to stand there and cheer him off in his last game. (Why have I got Bill Lawry in my head at the moment )

[Rod_]

Agree that if he can hobble through a pre season and get a few games (at least 14 + a few finals) Micky could be real handy... Part of a development plan.... Play a few games and rest

Kick a few goals - 500 no probs...

Rod_

[ShockOfHair]

My favourite Blood, too. Love how he goes about the game, love how he still does the unexpected. I heard Roos mid-season say he thought Mickey had a couple of years left in him. Enough time to have another crack at the fat guy behind the goals at Subi.

[xpression]

my favourite player !! ..
such a skilled and talented player.. good temperament, unselfish, and exciting to watch !! thats why he is called MAGIC !.. just an all round amazing player.

[Bear]

I really hope Michael O'Loughlin plays on in 2009. There were no signs up until the time he fell down with injury in Round 16 that he is particularly old or slow.

And, there are the milestone:

1. First player to play 300 games for the club. He needs just 14 games next year. That would be a remarkable achievement for a club that has existed for around about 130 years.

2. First indigenous player to kick 500 goals. He currently stands at 497.

If you look closely, there ARE significant signs that he is particularly old/slow. He is actually in the 5 slowest players on the list in a straight line sprint.

He now rarely beats a defender in a straight, DIRECT lead for the ball, which is a critical part of getting the ball in a position you are likely to convert accurately. In fact the defender is often in front of him by the time the ball reaches him on a lead, and he is left to push them out and hopefully get the crums.

He now relies on this - his reactions and ground skills (which are still good)and turning out of a marking contest. OR, leading sideways to the boundary line, where he now takes most of his marks.

I'd love to see him make 300 etc as it would be a great story, but Goodes will make it soon enough anyway I think.

Would be no real loss if he retired, but I assume he will play on.

[Melbournehammer]

at last the voice of experience.

michael does look slow - an example is the complete dominance of the collingwood defenders on him in recent games. he now relies almost exclusively on pushing and being the first to react when the ball hits the ground, and dont forget that we take a lot of marks inside 50 but fail to convert - and this is because mol and bbbh both need to lead to the pockets to beat their man.

however provided he kicks straight and converts with accuracy from around 35 and towards the pockets he is worth keeping because i simply do not believe goodes can be taken out of the midfield and i am not sure we have any alternatives.

this raises the bigger problem.

we lack a quality key defender to replace leo and lrt, an inside midfielder to replace bolton and kirk, quality outside midfielders to replace willo, maxxy (and now according to RWO fosdike) and within 2-3 seasons two key forwards. and according to mike sheahan we actually need a back up ruckman (nonsense !).

Put together that is some serious weaknesses structurally.

[THEREDV]

Magic still has something to offer the Swans on the field for 2009. Disappointed he was injured leading up to the finals, but I would think that 2009 would be his swansong year.