long in the tooth?

[goswannies]

Here's an interesting stat:

Since the Swans joined the original VFL, over 1300 players have played for them.

Currently, of the top 100 players for number of games played for the Swans, 14% of them are current players. If Bevo plays every game from now until the end of the season, it will be 15%.

Put another way, nearly a third of our current senior squad are amongst the top 100 players for games played for the Swans. This is since 1897!

And that doesn't include Fozzie & Tadhg who are still on the list according to the Footy Record and are also in the top 100 for games played.

Certainly we've had a pretty settled team for a lot of years so a lot of the guys are up there in games. But that would also mean that we loose a lot of these guys at a similar time over the next 5 years. That's a lot of experience going.

[Bas]

I think these sort of stats are like comparing teams of different time periods.
There really isn't much to compare considering the many changes in the game, lifestyle, training etc.

However, you are right when you say that we will be losing alot of experience. But how different is the loss of experience now compared to when Kelly, Dunkley, Seymour, Roos, Schwass, Cresswell, Luff, Lockett et al retired over a relatively short period.

[Primmy]

I agree with you Bas. However I still cry out for Dunks at times, and if you want to really moan for the past have a look at Cressa when he was at his best. I do not mention Kell or Plugger or Roos as that is just plain masochistic.

But at present I miss Fossy. He popped up like spikes in a graph when he was needed most. I don't mention Tadgh, its too much.

So the future is going to be interesting. It keeps moving on, the kids grow up into men, some doing it well, some don't.

I still get to watch the fruits of Stuey's labour, he should be held up as an icon for the Swans. It was his leadership and clear thinking that cemented how the Swans took charge of their work ethic, honesty and leadership, and then threw up some of the best leaders any club has had. He is still there, in the background, but working for the Swans and nurturing our list. I admire Stuey most of all from all of the past players, for what he has brought to the club from the grass root level.

[connolly]

I agree with you Bas. However I still cry out for Dunks at times, and if you want to really moan for the past have a look at Cressa when he was at his best. I do not mention Kell or Plugger or Roos as that is just plain masochistic.

But at present I miss Fossy. He popped up like spikes in a graph when he was needed most. I don't mention Tadhg, its too much.

So the future is going to be interesting. It keeps moving on, the kids grow up into men, some doing it well, some don't.

I still get to watch the fruits of Stuey's labour, he should be held up as an icon for the Swans. It was his leadership and clear thinking that cemented how the Swans took charge of their work ethic, honesty and leadership, and then threw up some of the best leaders any club has had. He is still there, in the background, but working for the Swans and nurturing our list. I admire Stuey most of all from all of the past players, for what he has brought to the club from the grass root level.

Hopefully our next coach when Roosey calls it a day at a press conference. The script will go some thing like - lost the passion, done everything i can, have to know when to hold them and to fold them, etc, etc )

[snajik]

Here's an interesting stat:

Since the Swans joined the original VFL, over 1300 players have played for them.

Currently, of the top 100 players for number of games played for the Swans, 14% of them are current players. If Bevo plays every game from now until the end of the season, it will be 15%.

Put another way, nearly a third of our current senior squad are amongst the top 100 players for games played for the Swans. This is since 1897!

There has probably been an over-representation of 100 game players on our current list simply due to their opportunity to have played more games due to increased season length and our current relative success, i.e. the current list have played in finals matches more often.

A contrast between a player that played every game through seasons 1960-69 and a player that played every game through seasons 2000-09 (not that this occurred in reality) shows that 20th century man had the opportunity to play 184 games whereas 21st century man had the opportunity to play 235 games assuming we miss this year's finals. A difference of 50+ games. Therefore current players have been able to reach their 100 game milestones more quickly and more often. I imagine the role of fitness conditioning staff would be another factor. Still, this will still be a period of significant change and one that will require careful navigation.

What is of more concern is that we only have 2 players (Richards and Malceski) in that next bracket of 50-100 game players who we need to go on and make the next step, and possibly assume leadership roles.

[Primmy]

Don't ever think Stuey would become a coach Connelly. He has a family in Melbourne and a life in Sydney. He hated being out in front, much preferred being a buttress than the wall. The type that holds things together without being noticed. I admire him a lot.

[Jewels]

Oh Stuey, the reason I became a Swans tragic!
I liked them before but it became love when Stuey joined up and the love has never died.
I actually cried (something I'm not prone to do) when I heard he had to retire.

[Primmy]

Oh Stuey, the reason I became a Swans tragic!
I liked them before but it became love when Stuey joined up and the love has never died.
I actually cried (something I'm not prone to do) when I heard he had to retire.

Oh Jewels, we got standards don't we! I still want to take him home with me.

[Jewels]

Oh Jewels, we got standards don't we! I still want to take him home with me.

We certainly do and great taste to boot!

[DST]

Just goes to show how successfull this recent patch of history has been for the club as opposed to the previous 150+ years.

The more successfull you are, the more stable your playing group is and vice versa based on history.

DST