2009 - Can we handle it??

[SCGonasunnyday]

I have a feeling RWO is going to be grim this year.

We probably won't win the flag and probably won't either make or go far in the finals.

I'm excited and looking forward to:

1) seeing improvement in our young players;

2) flogging the poor teams we have flogged in recent seasons.

So if and when we get smashed by Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood etc. I will look for the positives and not be too upset.

How about everyone else? Given how emotional and negative we can be when the Swans lose - how will this board cope with cellar dwelling years?

[573v30]

Usually when we lose to Collingwood, there aren't too many positives.

[woo]

i normally throw a remote control with my anger....

[CureTheSane]

I don't understand this thread.....

The Swans are a dead cert for the flag this year.....

[Cardinal]

I'm feeling very optimistic - if I heard correctly, scoring is down, tactics are negative and the flood is back.

[Industrial Fan]

Usually when we lose to Collingwood, there aren't too many positives.

But now we have one R.Shaw, what could possibly go wrong?

[AnnieH]

I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more tackling. So much so that Theo Dimwit will want to change the tackling rules next year.
The boys did a "refresher" course with Easts thugby league club.

[msb]

Unfortuneately they will get blasted from pillar to post if they have a bad year (especially from the media down here aswell) I cant see swans being cellar dwellers though, they simply cant afford to with the fickle sin city brigade.

[Hartijon]

I have a feeling RWO is going to be grim this year.

We probably won't win the flag and probably won't either make or go far in the finals.

I'm excited and looking forward to:

1) seeing improvement in our young players;

2) flogging the poor teams we have flogged in recent seasons.

So if and when we get smashed by Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood etc. I will look for the positives and not be too upset.

How about everyone else? Given how emotional and negative we can be when the Swans lose - how will this board cope with cellar dwelling years?

I like a team that plays with character like the swans have until sometimes last season. When we lose we go down fighting and a loss becomes less frustrating when players have all tried their hardest.What more can you expect of anybody but their hardest effort? I will be frustrated if we still pick the old brigade on name and not form. I want to see our best form side every week and i believe a top 8 slot is possible for such a side. When we get smashed I like to see those individuals who don't give up,show real character when we need it most and refuse to be intimidated. So cellar dwellers? I doubt it unless the coaches and selectors are not doing their job.There is still an abundance of talent in the team and the retirements and injuries just help the promotion of young talent
I am looking forward to an interesting year.

[chalbilto]

I like a team that plays with character like the swans have until sometimes last season. When we lose we go down fighting and a loss becomes less frustrating when players have all tried their hardest.What more can you expect of anybody but their hardest effort? I will be frustrated if we still pick the old brigade on name and not form. I want to see our best form side every week and i believe a top 8 slot is possible for such a side. When we get smashed I like to see those individuals who don't give up,show real character when we need it most and refuse to be intimidated. So cellar dwellers? I doubt it unless the coaches and selectors are not doing their job.There is still an abundance of talent in the team and the retirements and injuries just help the promotion of young talent
I am looking forward to an interesting year.

I agree with your points, particularly the highlighted ones.
Provided we don't have a horror run with injuries to our key players I feel very confident about making the finals again. We will surprise many pundits.

[Legs Akimbo]

I can't help but think the wheels are falling off already. My expectations are set low, as they were last year.

If we make finish in the top 10 and seriously begin preparing for next year (the horror year a few people have been predicting for some time), I'll be happy.

[Cheese]

I reckon we will suprise the critics. Does 2003 ring a bell????? Have faith, Hopefully Jesse White, Nick Smith, Cheese Barlow and Matty Laidlaw repay the faith shown in them and play 10-15 games this year each

[liz]

I reckon we will suprise the critics. Does 2003 ring a bell????? Have faith, Hopefully Jesse White, Nick Smith, Cheese Barlow and Matty Laidlaw repay the faith shown in them and play 10-15 games this year each

Yep.

One thing in our favour is that the "kids" we are relying on to step up and contribute are not "kids" in a physical sense. While other clubs each year have brought in oodles of 17 and 18yos and had to rely on them to play senior footy before their time, the guys we need to stand up are almost all into their 3rd and 4th years on the list (longer in the cases of Grundy and Schmidt). They may lack experience and we don't know for sure how many of them are going to prove to be up to it. But at least they have 3 or more pre-seasons under their belt and the physical strength of 21 and 22 year olds, not 18 year olds.

[Bas]

[QUOTE=liz;426850]Yep.

One thing in our favour is that the "kids" we are relying on to step up and contribute are not "kids" in a physical sense. QUOTE]

Which makes it more critical because if these kids fail this year and should be released, we are stuffed because we won't get quality in the draft or in trading unless we give up some big name players.

The other option is the failures stay on another year and we repeat another bad year, that is, if that happens this year.

I suppose best to be positive and sit back and enjoy everyone bagging us to come last again.

[laughingnome]

I suppose best to be positive and sit back and enjoy everyone bagging us to come last again.

Their hatred fuels us.

(Close second: If they strike us down we shall become more powerful then they can possibly imagine.)