They rate us, they don't rate us.... Swans 2009 previews

[Mr Magoo]

I wouldnt rate that list as strong as the current one so I guess you never know where we could head this year.

[Mike_B]

To quote the character named Oddball(Donald Sutherland) from the movie Kelly's heroes....que hippy voice: "why all the negative vibes man?, You've got to have positive vibes man".

We've clung on to past glories in the hope to wring every last effort from our experienced players, sometimes at the expense of bringing on younger players. I'd love to see us play finals again, but being realistic, are we a shot at the flag this year? IMO, no, nor were we last year. And while we did have a few more players debut last year than in the few years prior, we still have a bunch of players on our list who have been with the club for a few years now and have yet to play a senior game and we've had a number delisted after a few years on the list without playing a senior game. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and start gearing up for the next tilt at a flag, rather than clinging to former glories.

IMHO If we can't win a flag in the current season, then we have to be taking steps to win one next season, or the season after. So only time will tell if our experienced players continue to perform and the younger players step up. And while my hope is for a successful season, I also hope that the coaching staff stay true to their word if things don't go too well and bring on the next generation of players, because we are going to see a huge reliance on them in the next 2-3 years and need to know what they're capable of now, not when we're stuck in a corner with no other option.

[Mr Magoo]

I dont think its as easy as saying "lets just gear up for another flag". I doubt for example anyone would have guessed in 2003 that we were "gearing up" for our first flag in 70 odd years.

In fact in 2003, Brisbane (and even Port to some extent) were the same shining beacons that everyone now sees Hawthorn and Geelong.

While Hawthorn now seem to be the role model for the "you have to bottom out and rebuild to get a premiership" , I dont think this is the proven model consistently over the years.

I actually dont think there is a proven model and most premierships are a combination of factors including having the right mix of players , a good coach, luck with injuries , a good draw , luck in some close games etc etc etc etc.

You have to make do with the hand you are dealt and I think we wouldnt have benefitted much at all by large scale delistings and the Okeefe trade debacle shows that even your best players dont always yield much during the trade periods.

[Plugger46]

I dont think its as easy as saying "lets just gear up for another flag". I doubt for example anyone would have guessed in 2003 that we were "gearing up" for our first flag in 70 odd years.

In fact in 2003, Brisbane (and even Port to some extent) were the same shining beacons that everyone now sees Hawthorn and Geelong.

While Hawthorn now seem to be the role model for the "you have to bottom out and rebuild to get a premiership" , I dont think this is the proven model consistently over the years.

I actually dont think there is a proven model and most premierships are a combination of factors including having the right mix of players , a good coach, luck with injuries , a good draw , luck in some close games etc etc etc etc.

You have to make do with the hand you are dealt and I think we wouldnt have benefitted much at all by large scale delistings and the Okeefe trade debacle shows that even your best players dont always yield much during the trade periods.

Agree with that totally. Have a look at the Saints - they were supposed to have won another 3 flags by now

It's not as simplistic as a lot of people make out.

[SimonH]

Some of the predictions in the Age are hilarious. But most say we are on the slide - oh well I guess they had to name a team - so may as well be ours. ...

The predictions in the Age just confirm that home-town heroes are grossly overrated. It's not just the Swans who are supposedly destined for a fall, yet again.

Victorian sides dominate the predicted top 8 pretty much wall-to-wall.

I would agree that on known form and talent, the Hawks and Geelong are a cut above the other 14; but it would take surprisingly little to go wrong for either to miss the top 4 (and therefore miss the GF). The oft-repeated idea that the Dogs will finish 3rd again (or at worst, 4th), is just a re-making of the classic error that new year = old year, with a few notable changes. It never is these days. You can throw the vast bulk of last year's table out the window.

Andrea Petrie boldly predicts that the entire top 8 will be Victorian clubs! Quite an achievement when Melbourne are the consensus spooners, and Essendon have attracted even less enthusiasm as a final 8 prospect than Sydney. Leaving only 8 other Victorian clubs. Wouldn't mind having a quiet bet with her on that one.

Most Vic writers who have a single token non-Vic entry make it Port Adelaide, seemingly on the lazy basis that 'they made the 2007 GF with a young side, so must be due to bounce back'. In fact, Adelaide look much stronger than Port at this stage (and at least as young). While Freo's claims appear iffier, any one of Brisbane, West Coast, the 2 SA teams and Sydney have at least as good a chance of making the 8 as, say, long-term mediocrities North Melbourne.

But when you work walking distance from a club's HQ, you inevitably know everything about them and all of the wonderful potential of every single player in detail, whereas for clubs based 700k or more away, a broadbrush 'oh yeah, they're a bit old and on the slide nowadays, aren't they?' is viewed as adequate.

[laughingnome]

...when you work walking distance from a club's HQ, you inevitably know everything about them and all of the wonderful potential of every single player in detail, whereas for clubs based 700k or more away, a broadbrush 'oh yeah, they're a bit old and on the slide nowadays, aren't they?' is viewed as adequate.

Says it all, really.

[ScottH]

Says it all, really.

A bit like the reporters who report on games without actually seeing the game.

[Plugger46]

A bit like the reporters who report on games without actually seeing the game.

Or comment on them on TV without watching them. Gary Lyon and Robert Walls are the worst for this.

[Mr Magoo]

I find it amazing that Sydney have been called old for a couple of years now yet when you look at Geelongs list there is a lot of the starting 22 that are 27 or older and a couple in their 30's

take these names - Chapman, Corey, enright, hunt, david johnson, ling, mooney, milburn, ottens, rooke, scarlett, wojscinski.

Thats more than half their starting 22.

Age has nothing to do with it. the overall strength of your 22 is more relevant.

[swans_premiers]

Journo's can write what they want about our chances this year it means little.

All that matters is the belief of the players. If they believe they can win the premiership they will have a chance. If all they believe is that they can sneak into the finals that's all they will do.

One win can change alot of things...just look at the 2003 Anzac day game against Melbourne. 10 goals in the final quarter gave the team the belief that took them to a prelim final and premiership 2 years later.

If the boys get a couple of early wins n get the confidence up then Geelong n Hawthorn n other premiership "favourites" better lookout because we've got a coach n leadership group that have proven theyre capable of taking us to the top and we've got some youngsters who have been in the system for a few years and are raring to go.

This is the first time for probably about 6 years we've really had no pressure to perform and that's when we've usually played out best football. Will be an exciting year.

[vonn__69]

Im excited about this season. Their is something about it that get's me stoked. 2 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ShockOfHair]

Barry's annoyed that no-one rates him!

Let's get on with the real stuff - RFNews - realfooty.com.au

[dimelb]

Barry's annoyed that no-one rates him!

Let's get on with the real stuff - RFNews - realfooty.com.au

I'd love to see him play like he talks.

[Nolie]

Reminds me a lot of 2003, remember that year people? Everyone had us winning the wooden spoon that year. One of my greatest memories was just prior to channel 10's coverage of the prelim final that year between Brissie and the swans, they played a montage of all the so called "footy experts" who tipped the swans to finish last that year to the song "SORRY" by some singer who's name escapes me. We were 1 quarter away from a grand final that year people. So all this prediction of the swans having a major slide is just fine by me, I just hope Roos uses this ammunition properly to fire up the boys for the season ahead.

Its on Youtube.

YouTube - Sydney Swans Apology 2003

[Nolie]

Reminds me a lot of 2003, remember that year people? Everyone had us winning the wooden spoon that year. One of my greatest memories was just prior to channel 10's coverage of the prelim final that year between Brissie and the swans, they played a montage of all the so called "footy experts" who tipped the swans to finish last that year to the song "SORRY" by some singer who's name escapes me. We were 1 quarter away from a grand final that year people. So all this prediction of the swans having a major slide is just fine by me, I just hope Roos uses this ammunition properly to fire up the boys for the season ahead.

Tracey Chapman