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Compare it with many of the other 'zone' sides that have been produced by the AFL in this interesting exercise, and it would regularly get towelled up and, even if well-coached and fortunate with injury, have only a slight chance of making the finals.
Just a product of:
a) where we are
b) the fact that the best of NSW's talent (e.g. Leo Barry, Shane Crawford) had already been allocated to Victorian clubs other than the Swans (contra the Blions side re Qld players), and
c) what appears likely to have been a relatively ungenerous zone for South Melbourne.
On the plus side, we would have to have the highest number of current players listed in our zone side, out of all of the sides in this exercise. So maybe I should stop being so critical about the Swans' nurturing of NSW talent... for the next 5 minutes.
Because their representation at AFL level is too small relative to their (footy-playing) population, all 4 of the WA/SA sides should be very strong under a zone system. The Blions side is also extremely strong, which was somewhat contrary to my expectations, seemingly largely as a result of:
a) some isolated superstars who have hailed from Qld (e.g. Riewoldt), and
b) the fact that they get to 'keep' NT players like Jared Brennan.
It's pretty much status quo for the Vic clubs: a huge amount of talent produced, but sliced too thinly across too many clubs. There would still be some champion teams (Essendon especially) and dire ones (Richmond and Melbourne), with Geelong really struggling despite keeping Bartel and Ablett.
Oh, and they screwed up in trying to implement their rule that "All players selected under the father-son rule would still go to their dad?s original club, including [those who have since left that club]". (It's under this rule that the Blions could lay claim to Jono Brown.) Sean Dempster is named in the Bulldogs side. And he would easily make the Swans' named 22. Although I suspect not if Roos was picking the team.
Just a product of:
a) where we are
b) the fact that the best of NSW's talent (e.g. Leo Barry, Shane Crawford) had already been allocated to Victorian clubs other than the Swans (contra the Blions side re Qld players), and
c) what appears likely to have been a relatively ungenerous zone for South Melbourne.
On the plus side, we would have to have the highest number of current players listed in our zone side, out of all of the sides in this exercise. So maybe I should stop being so critical about the Swans' nurturing of NSW talent... for the next 5 minutes.
Because their representation at AFL level is too small relative to their (footy-playing) population, all 4 of the WA/SA sides should be very strong under a zone system. The Blions side is also extremely strong, which was somewhat contrary to my expectations, seemingly largely as a result of:
a) some isolated superstars who have hailed from Qld (e.g. Riewoldt), and
b) the fact that they get to 'keep' NT players like Jared Brennan.
It's pretty much status quo for the Vic clubs: a huge amount of talent produced, but sliced too thinly across too many clubs. There would still be some champion teams (Essendon especially) and dire ones (Richmond and Melbourne), with Geelong really struggling despite keeping Bartel and Ablett.
Oh, and they screwed up in trying to implement their rule that "All players selected under the father-son rule would still go to their dad?s original club, including [those who have since left that club]". (It's under this rule that the Blions could lay claim to Jono Brown.) Sean Dempster is named in the Bulldogs side. And he would easily make the Swans' named 22. Although I suspect not if Roos was picking the team.
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