2009 - Can we handle it??

[Triple B]

I cannot understand the pessimism of some posters either

Year in, year out we hear the same from the Melbourne media and pundits predicting our demise, yet every year in the middle of August we are jostling for a spot in the top 4. Now it appears some of our own are jumping on board.

I've always put it down to a general lack of knowledge of the younger guys playing in Canberra that they never see, it appears if they don't see them play, they are no good.

I cannot see why we will drop to the depths some here are predicting.

Our midfield has always been very 'Cortina'ish' but with Bird and Jack now established and with another pre-season under their belts, McVeigh obviously blossoming last year and could reach even greater heights, I see our midfield as being superior to last year. Not to mention a certain dual Brownlow Medallist winning midfielder who was restricted to 60% output last season due to injury.

I am just as confident of making finals this year as I have been in any year over the past 5 or 6 seasons, all seasons in which we comfortably made September action.

[ShockOfHair]

We will play some crap footy this year, but hopefully begin to see the core of the next premiership side.

Best 20-word season preview I've seen.

A lot rides on the second-year guys like Bird, Jack, Vespa and the new guns like McVeigh, Bevan and Malceski.
We need them to provide the pace and drive and footskills that we lacked even with Kennelly in the side.

[liz]

We will play some crap footy this year, but hopefully begin to see the core of the next premiership side.

We played some crap football in 2005 (how can anyone forget that St Kilda game) but it didn't stop us doin' OK overall.

[goswannie14]

We played some crap football in 2005 (how can anyone forget that St Kilda game) but it didn't stop us doin' OK overall.

That was the worst game of football I have ever been to. It also gave me a hatred for St Kilda supporters that far outweighs even Collingwood supporters. They were just so arrogant.

BTW I quite liked how that season finished overall

[ROK Lobster]

We played some crap football in 2005 (how can anyone forget that St Kilda game) but it didn't stop us doin' OK overall.

We play some crap footy every year. The first third of 2006 springs to mind also. I think we will be competitive, win a couple of thrillers, but generally struggle to be considered a genuine threat. Finals footy would satisfy me this year. Week 2 of the finals would be brilliant.

[connolly]

I cannot understand the pessimism of some posters either

Year in, year out we hear the same from the Melbourne media and pundits predicting our demise, yet every year in the middle of August we are jostling for a spot in the top 4. Now it appears some of our own are jumping on board.

I've always put it down to a general lack of knowledge of the younger guys playing in Canberra that they never see, it appears if they don't see them play, they are no good.

I cannot see why we will drop to the depths some here are predicting.

Our midfield has always been very 'Cortina'ish' but with Bird and Jack now established and with another pre-season under their belts, McVeigh obviously blossoming last year and could reach even greater heights, I see our midfield as being superior to last year. Not to mention a certain dual Brownlow Medallist winning midfielder who was restricted to 60% output last season due to injury.

I am just as confident of making finals this year as I have been in any year over the past 5 or 6 seasons, all seasons in which we comfortably made September action.

True enough with the usual caveat. Injuries. If Jolly is injured our ruck strength is really exposed and also whether Malceski recovers his form pre-injury. The loss of Kennelly is huge as our counter attack was built around him. This season hopefully Malceski returns fit and confident. Otherwise we depend very heavily on Shaw. And heaven help us.

[msb]

That was the worst game of football I have ever been to. It also gave me a hatred for St Kilda supporters that far outweighs even Collingwood supporters. They were just so arrogant.

BTW I quite liked how that season finished overall

Totally agree, a rotten game that was. St.Kilda supporters that night were unbearable and in the preliminary final where they were talking about where to line up for grand final tickets at 3/4 time, oh the look on their faces as we were slamming on the goals in the last qtr was unforgettable!

[Cardinal]

I miss Schneider

[SCGonasunnyday]

I don't intend to be sticking any boot anywhere by saying that if not 2009 then at some stage in the next 1-3 years we would have to fall down the ladder. There are 16 (soon more) teams, every team has made the finals at least once since the draft came in. Sometime it will be our turn to miss out.

I also hope we do, because I don't want to come 9th every year like Richmond (or 5th - 8th even). With exciting young talent already at the club in the 18-23 year range and some first round draft picks over the next four years - we could build for a premiership some time in the next decade.

Possibly we could build for a premiership and still make the finals every year, but is that realistic? Can we win a premiership without some new top 10 draft picks at the club?

I'm excited about 2009 - excited about the youth and not worrying to much about the results.

[Dalai Lama]

I miss Schneider

Incy Wincy Schneider went up a water spout?

[woo]

I miss 2005

[AnnieH]

I miss 2005

Theo Dimwit called us ugly.

[ScottH]

Theo Dimwit called us ugly.

He was right about some of us.

[swans_premiers]

at the end of 2002....

Kirk, J Bolton, C Bolton, Barry, O'keefe, Goodes, Kennelly were avg players at best.

We lost Dunkley, Schwass, Kelly, Lockett, Nicks was on the way down...as was schauble and prob couple others.

This gave the opportunity for the others to step up and they did..took us to a HOME prelim... just lacked the experience to get over the finals hardened Lions.

This year there's a chance for many to stepup...some who have been on the list for 3-4years...similar to O'keefe, Kennelly etc at the time.

In 2009 under the guidance of Roos Kirk, Goodes and Bolton the swans will confound the critics again many times...how far can we go? Who knows.

[mcs]

Who knows what will happen this year? The early signs are not good, but we havent kicked a ball in anger yet and footy is a funny game. My expectations are low, but I am really looking forward to seeing some young blokes get a real chance this year, and hopefully seeing players like Jack, Bird, Vespa etc kicking on.

I'm not going to make any predictions on where we will end etc, but I think we will have a good year and who knows what might happen?