Shameless gloating with tangential relevance to the Swans (aka The ex-Swans thread)

[ShockOfHair]

Devasatating. To have been clearly and unquestionably the best team during the H&A season, then go out in straight sets by less than a goal in each final, is the cruelest way to end a season. There will be much soul seeking (again) on Brighton Road.

True, but someone had to play the St Kilda role.

[Primmy]

Thanks Ugg, that was champion.

Fascinating to see Jason Saddington still running around....same age as Leo. Guess he just wasn't ready to give up the game although the game had given him up in seniors.

Also Jonathon Simpkon....

[ugg]

Thanks Ugg, that was champion.

Fascinating to see Jason Saddington still running around....same age as Leo. Guess he just wasn't ready to give up the game although the game had given him up in seniors.

Also Jonathon Simpkon....

I was watching the VFL GF on Friday, the first time I've seen VFL footy for a long time. The commentators were going on and on about Saddo, about what great hands he had, what a reliable kick for goal he was, you'd think he was the next Wayne Carey. Anyways...

And what about Simpkin?

Just looking at those numbers, a few of those rejects have done very well for themselves since getting the cut.

- Jimmy Meiklejohn has established himself as one of the top ruckmen in the SANFL, racking up some Jolly-like hitout numbers. He'll probably get named in the SANFL team of the year.
- James Wall has come a long way from the stick figure I recall playing for the reserves. He was named in the VFL team of the year for the 2nd straight year, was the Scorpions B&F in 2008 and a strong chance to repeat this year.
- Peter Faulks's delisting raised some eyebrows among some fans here, but he's also had a solid year at the Scorpions alongside Wall in the backline.
- Sam Rowe, 40 goals, 4th in the SANFL this year.

[Primmy]

I was watching the VFL GF on Friday, the first time I've seen VFL footy for a long time. The commentators were going on and on about Saddo, about what great hands he had, what a reliable kick for goal he was, you'd think he was the next Wayne Carey. Anyways...

And what about Simpkin?

Just looking at those numbers, a few of those rejects have done very well for themselves since getting the cut.

- Jimmy Meiklejohn has established himself as one of the top ruckmen in the SANFL, racking up some Jolly-like hitout numbers. He'll probably get named in the SANFL team of the year.
- James Wall has come a long way from the stick figure I recall playing for the reserves. He was named in the VFL team of the year for the 2nd straight year, was the Scorpions B&F in 2008 and a strong chance to repeat this year.
- Peter Faulks's delisting raised some eyebrows among some fans here, but he's also had a solid year at the Scorpions alongside Wall in the backline.
- Sam Rowe, 40 goals, 4th in the SANFL this year.

Are all these guys SANFLs? Perhaps they had the "made it now I got drafted" syndrome and it came as a shock to the system when they got no further. They are not in the AFL are they although their leagues are pretty darned good. I was not one of those who questioned Faulks delisting. He hit a level and stayed there, and his anticipation was awful. Still, its interesting to see that they are all still in need of a footy fix, even if it isn't in the AFL, isn't it. They don't seem to be turning to golf or tennis!

[ugg]

Meiklejohn/Rowe - SANFL
Wall/Faulks - VFL

What is common to these 4 is that they are KPPs, backing up the commonly held theory that the big guys take a little longer to develop.
I was surprised at Faulks's sacking because he did improve as the year went on, and I really had to wonder to myself what else he could have done to save his spot.
Rowe was the unlucky one to miss out when the club had to choose between him and MOD to be re-rookied.
Meiklejohn wasn't physically ready when he played for us, he has bulked up considerably although some might argue he's still too short for an AFL ruck.
Wall was the one I had no qualms about letting go. Even the Saints had him on the rookie list for a year before cutting him. Perhaps he is one of those players that are dominant at teh VFL level, but for whatever reason, the coaches don't think he can make it at AFL level, a la James Podsiadly or Nicholas Sautner.

As for the smaller guys, Scooter McGlone is still racking up the possessions, Willoughby seems to have found a niche with Glenelg, Flipper Phillips hasn't really hit the heights playing in the midfield.

[cruiser]

Go you Blues.

I'll be hoping you beat Centrals. I guess.

[Primmy]

Glad to see Scooter still racking up possessions, and that Smokey is doing ok. He always looked a little lost/out of his depth in the ressies games I saw him play. Also I think he was pretty crook with that gut issue which takes some time to settle and manage.

JimmyMick I met and wasn't too taken with. Attitude didn't quite do it for me. But that was quite a while ago and most of us grow up eventually.

Also glad to hear that Flipper is still darting about. He would have been impaled in the bigger league. Still remember him being flung off the ball like a doll; willing but not strong enough.

Keep em coming when you can Ugg. Many thanks.

Heard just recently that Johnny Stevens is a runner for the Dogs, which made me laugh.

[ugg]

Glad to see Scooter still racking up possessions, and that Smokey is doing ok. He always looked a little lost/out of his depth in the ressies games I saw him play. Also I think he was pretty crook with that gut issue which takes some time to settle and manage.

JimmyMick I met and wasn't too taken with. Attitude didn't quite do it for me. But that was quite a while ago and most of us grow up eventually.

Also glad to hear that Flipper is still darting about. He would have been impaled in the bigger league. Still remember him being flung off the ball like a doll; willing but not strong enough.

Keep em coming when you can Ugg. Many thanks.

Heard just recently that Johnny Stevens is a runner for the Dogs, which made me laugh.

Rocket related a story on one of the panel shows recently, about how Stevens in one of his first games as runner, transgressed when he wandered into the forward 50 during the opposition kickout and gave away a 50m penalty. I think Jonny might have been on an end of a Rocket spray after that.

I'm hearing whispers that Rowe and Meiklejohn are being looked at by some AFL clubs.

[laughingnome]

I'm hearing whispers that Rowe and Meiklejohn are being looked at by some AFL clubs.

And why not? Still young enough and by all accounts are running amok in the lower leagues.

[ShockOfHair]

I'll be hoping you beat Centrals. I guess.

So you should! We barracked for the Bays last year.


At least, hoping Centrals would lose.

[SimonH]

I'm hearing whispers that Rowe and Meiklejohn are being looked at by some AFL clubs.

Meiklejohn is now 25 yoa, and so would only be looked at by a club that was looking for a steady but unspectacular back-up ruck. Still, all teams need back-up rucks, so you couldn't rule him out almost anywhere.

Sam Rowe is the sort of guy who will be quite a bit in demand as the GC concessions bite. Back at the height of draft mania (somewhere around early-mid 2000s) he would have been viewed as beyond ancient at 21-going-on-22yoa, but post-Liam Jurrah, Jason Porplyzia and the Daveys, that kind of ageism is on the wane.

It's just very hard to fault him. Solid body, good hands, always presents and works hard, has a good defensive side, fairly quick for his size, passable kick for goal (good action and a pretty long kick; just got the yips and kicked a string of points in a couple of matches), big enough to do some back-up rucking in the forward line, and will simply do his job for the team for 120 minutes week-in, week-out. Won't ever be a Wayne Carey, but won't ever get embarrassed by his direct opponent. And has the massive advantage that you could play him round 1, 2010 and know his body would be up to it. Seeing that he's still young enough to rookie, then compared with some of the wildly speculative kids who get late-round draft picks or rookie spots, you'd have to think someone would be mad not to take another look at him.

[SimonH]

... Smokey is doing ok. He always looked a little lost/out of his depth in the ressies games I saw him play. Also I think he was pretty crook with that gut issue which takes some time to settle and manage.

I really really liked Smokey in the first half of the year before he had a nasty leg break (eased himself back in with a few games in the reserves at the tail end of '09). The kind of guy who will hardly ever be listed in your best players but who'll be one of the first picked. CBolt at SANFL level. Accountable, team oriented, has a bit of dash off HBF but doesn't try to overuse/do silly things with the footy. Just showed every sign of having been taught well by the Swans.

Will never make it at AFL level (hard to put your finger on why; let's just say "presence"), but certainly a keeper as a SANFL player if he can keep himself on the park.

[SimonH]

And we should acknowledge that Trent Goodrem has written his name into the record books by winning the Jack Oatey Medal for BOG in Centrals' GF whupping of Sturt.

He's joined many legends of the game in doing so. And almost a certain bet that he's the first Sydney-bred boy to win one. Good on 'im.

[Triple B]

Sam Rowe is the sort of guy who will be quite a bit in demand as the GC concessions bite. Back at the height of draft mania (somewhere around early-mid 2000s) he would have been viewed as beyond ancient at 21-going-on-22yoa, but post-Liam Jurrah, Jason Porplyzia and the Daveys, that kind of ageism is on the wane.

It's just very hard to fault him. Solid body, good hands, always presents and works hard, has a good defensive side, fairly quick for his size, passable kick for goal (good action and a pretty long kick; just got the yips and kicked a string of points in a couple of matches), big enough to do some back-up rucking in the forward line, and will simply do his job for the team for 120 minutes week-in, week-out. Won't ever be a Wayne Carey, but won't ever get embarrassed by his direct opponent. And has the massive advantage that you could play him round 1, 2010 and know his body would be up to it. Seeing that he's still young enough to rookie, then compared with some of the wildly speculative kids who get late-round draft picks or rookie spots, you'd have to think someone would be mad not to take another look at him.

Rowe was clearly BOG in the Swans ressies GF win in 2006. He played at CHB and held the Belconnen captain/coach (and gun) Steve Maher almost kickless.

I admit I was a bit surprised when he was cut adrift.