Sydney Swan sculpture for the SCG in April

[BSA5]

I have to disagree, courage is not a skill, it cannot be learned. Either you have courage or you don't. It's a trait rather than a skill.

Disagree with that. I think you could come up with many instances where people have learnt to put their fears behind them. McVeigh might be one. I think some people are naturally more courageous, just like some people are naturally better kicks, but both are aspects of one's game that can be worked on. Courage is just mostly in the mind, while kicking is mostly in the, er, foot?

[givekidsakick]

kelly 1996 v bombers

Whilst people talk about THAT point....the plugger point....I can never forget in those dying moments of the game and the ball was heading into bombers forward pocket on the right hand side of the O'Reilly....there were 3 bombers....and and and....the little bloke in the red and white taking them on and getting the ball....sending it pluggers direction. We were gone....a bombers goal looked a cert....Kelly came....and turned the tide. He may not have got a premiership but he had everything. Sometimes, these champs don't get a medal....what about the game where God kicked 14 and the cats lost..no cigar.
I remember Kelly the kid sitting with his mum & dad at the Moore Park bowling.....Kelly epitomises SYDNEY. He wasn't nicknamed Captain Courageous for nothing.

[givekidsakick]

Kelly.....

People's opinions about who are/were the best footballers is very subjective usually based on seeing the games. Age obviously gives a different view.... In my view, the best all round champion I have seen is Paul Kelly. The man with record is Plugger the Thug (Caven) and a champion to boot. The man with the best skills was God.
KELLY SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT of the sculpture.

[Bear]

People's opinions about who are/were the best footballers is very subjective usually based on seeing the games. Age obviously gives a different view.... In my view, the best all round champion I have seen is Paul Kelly. The man with record is Plugger the Thug (Caven) and a champion to boot. The man with the best skills was God.
KELLY SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT of the sculpture.

The right decision has been made by those in the best position to make it.
Get over it.

[Plugger46]

Courage is a skill.

No disrespect to Plugger but Kelly was the greatest Swan to grace the SCG.

I disagree.

I loved Kelly, great captain, inspirational, club legend - all of that. But if we're talking football ability, he is so far behind Lockett it isn't funny.

[top40]

Limiting it to retired players only, Paul Kelly and Tony Lockett are head and shoulders above the rest.

Lockett wasn't just an great player.

Two events reflecting Lockett's achievements at the SCG mark two of the probably the greatest 20 or so events in the 130 year plus history of the Sydney Cricket Ground. (And I include Cricket, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer, the 1938 Commonwealth Games, track cycling, and rock concerts).

First, that Preliminary Final point to get the Swans into the Grand Final in 1996 for the first time in 51 years. (Indeed, a HUGE behind!)

Second, that 1300th goal in 1999. Who would have believed a generation earlier that such an important Australian Rules record would be broken at the SCG!

Kelly remains the only player to play his entire playing career in the state of the New South Wales, and to win a Brownlow and later, to become an AFL Hall of Famer.