SWans Under 25 Club

[barry fu u]

BT is not a credible football pundit, any man with moustache outside of Movember is in a poor frame of mind. Remember if it looks like Basil fawlty and acts like Basil it is Basil Fawlty.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but these ratings are based on youngsters alone, not the entire competition, so if we're rating them purely as youngsters then those marks are way off.

I don't care if Meredith is injured, he should be in that list and should be given a B on his efforts so far. He's looked very polished at times! McVeigh can't be rated purely as a youngster because he's been in the seniors for too long, but he is under 25 so where's his name?

I wont bother commenting on the rest, it'll just get me frustrated and the idiots in the Melbourne media aren't worth it. Our list will suprise them again in 2-3 years, mark my words on that one!

Edit: LOL at Bevan and Grundy ahead of Bird. Oh dear!

[Jewels]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but these ratings are based on youngsters alone, not the entire competition, so if we're rating them purely as youngsters then those marks are way off.

I don't care if Meredith is injured, he should be in that list and should be given a B on his efforts so far. He's looked very polished at times! McVeigh can't be rated purely as a youngster because he's been in the seniors for too long, but he is under 25 so where's his name?

I wont bother commenting on the rest, it'll just get me frustrated and the idiots in the Melbourne media aren't worth it. Our list will suprise them again in 2-3 years, mark my words on that one!

Edit: LOL at Bevan and Grundy ahead of Bird. Oh dear!

Yep, that one got me too. Shows just how closely they watch our games

[connolly]

Edit: LOL at Bevan and Grundy ahead of Bird. Oh dear!

Why should that rating surprise? Both players are ahead of Bird at this stage of his career. Bird is very slow which will limit his versatility in the midfield. He has potential but is caught a lot. His disposal is not outstanding. Just because he has a number 14 on his back doesn't make him elite. Bevo was ranked our third best defender last season behind St. Bolton and the traitor. So why wouldn't he be rated in front of Bird? If an inebriated bum can see it it must be obvious.

[top40]

In many ways season 2009 might be compared with season 2002.

For both years Sydney had ageing lists, with no apparent young superstar in the horizon.

Can anyone recall which Swan in 2002 was identified as a future superstar? Perhaps Schneider, but no one else that I can recall. No one saw the future potential of Tadhg Kennelly, (too skinny), Ryan O'Keefe (originally not a forward), or Leo Barry, (whom had just started his career as a defender in 2002).

Kelly, Dunkley, Lockett, Schwass all retired in 2002, with Cresswell not far off. Ball and Williams were both nearly 30.

I remember in 2002 that Brett Kirk was on the cusp of delistment. People like Brian Taylor were asking the question: what happened to that Adam Goodes, the 1999 Rising Star winner? Micky O'Loughlin was in 2002 perceived as a shadow of his 1997-2000 All Australian form.

By the summer of 2002/2003 there was a virtual consensus among those bright journos from our Victorian capital, (noteworthy Mike Sheahan), who comfortably predicted that Sydney in 2003 would finish either 15th or last.

So what happened in 2003? or for that matter just three years later in 2005?

There are two fundamental problems with this arrogant southern analysis.

First, teams can improve and shine without any expectation, or visa versa. It is very hard to predict. I remember Mick Malthouse writing for the Australian the Monday after the Eagles' 2006 Premiership win predicting that his old club was at the start of a very long dynasty, whilst Sydney would not play finals again in the near future. WRONG! When Adelaide sacked Gary Ayes in 2004, every man and his dog predicated that the Crows would spend a few years to come out of the 8. WRONG! Who predicated that just three years after Port Adelaide had climbed the mountain and won a flag, they would then drop out of the finals, but THEN come back with another Grand Final appearance?

Second, these Victorians are so far out of touch with the Sydney Football club and their player list, that their comments about the Swans are beyond blind arrogance, there just hit and miss commentary or worse, made up. Herein, I respect the opinions of Tim Morrissey from the (Sydney) Daily Telegraph, or Neil Cordy from the (Sydney) Ten Network. They at least live in Sydney and can see the Swans players regularly and at close range.

[premiers05]

Oh, it is shocking the treatment we have got down here by the media! Types like BT, Mark Robinson, Walls, Sam Newman etc. I have always wondered why is there so much hatred? Could it be the melbourne - sydney city rivalry perhaps? They love to report bad things re the swans and talk about it like they are loving it! It still irks me when after the 05 gf win, people here were saying it was a fluke and more or less tipped us to miss the 8 in 06! It has been very satisfying to prove these @@@@@ wrong over the last 6 years and if we could SOMEHOW make the 8 this year it would prove them wrong again!

In years gone by none of these guys would have had a job in the media. The programs they are on have only come about because of the expansion of the competition. They still talk like the afl world stops at the Victorian border but are very happy to take the media money made available because afl is now australia wide. IMO the swans should ban fox sports from the rooms. The old hack has beens might then realize what a load of crap they talk. The only people worth listening to are the professional sport journos.

[laughingnome]

The only people worth listening to are the professional sport journos.

And Luke Darcy, because he throws punches at Mark Howard on Thursday Night Live.

[top40]

[QUOTE=top40;446672]In many ways season 2009 might be compared with season 2002.

For both years Sydney had ageing lists, with no apparent young superstar in the horizon.

Can anyone recall which Swan in 2002 was identified as a future superstar? "



Can anyone go back 7 years and recall such a player?

[connolly]

IMO the swans should ban fox sports from the rooms. The old hack has beens might then realize what a load of crap they talk. The only people worth listening to are the professional sport journos.

Yep way to go. Banning journalists is another sure sign that the club management hasn't got a clue and can't cop criticism. Why don't Colless and Co have something interesting to say rather than applying a ban? This is the bloke who stiffed the members, told the press he didn't have a clue about the membership collapse and then commissioned a survey. Weak as. The club and players should expect to be criticised. Its part of footy. Its also a bit rich when the President threatens to ban a media organization for citicising players when his own coach and captain have been publicly bagging a former captain, big hearted player and one of our stars. Hypocracy do ya reckon? Dick is making this club a laughing stock. Tine to send out the clowns. Heres an example of a coach under pressure that threatened to ban a journalist just before he was given the heave ho.

Video: Newcastle United Boss Joe Kinnear Flips On Journalist | BuzzCuts | buzzcuts.com

[johnno]

I have come to the conclusion over the years that its a 'strange' form of respect for Paul Roos and the swans. Deep down they know how good we are and how well Roos coaches. They also can't wait for us to fail so they can sink the boots in. Over the years, whenever i have been out and about, to games, socialising with friends, meeting new people etc etc, when the converstion innevitabily turns to AFL, and I mention that I'm a swans supporter to someone new who is a Magpies, Hawks, Blues or whatever supporter, every single time they tell me how they admire the swans and the way they play, they tell me of their admiration of Paul Roos and his ability to get the best out of his players week in and week out, and how no matter how well thier team is playing and how poorly we are playing, if they come up against us in a certain round, it woo\rries the absolute crap out of them as they know that there is a very good chance that the swans will win. This is what makes me feel better whenever I hear the crap that comes out of certain footy experts' mouths whenever they rubbish the swans. On another note, on triple M on Sunday, they had an hour with James Bradshaw, Grant Thomas and Sam Newman doing a review of the season so far covering all topics AFL, to my surprise apparently Sam Newman labelled Paul Roos the best coach in the competition, this coming from a man who has rubbished the swans for quite some time now.

[Margie]

I have come to the conclusion over the years that its a 'strange' form of respect for Paul Roos and the swans. Deep down they know how good we are and how well Roos coaches. They also can't wait for us to fail so they can sink the boots in. Over the years, whenever i have been out and about, to games, socialising with friends, meeting new people etc etc, when the converstion innevitabily turns to AFL, and I mention that I'm a swans supporter to someone new who is a Magpies, Hawks, Blues or whatever supporter, every single time they tell me how they admire the swans and the way they play, they tell me of their admiration of Paul Roos and his ability to get the best out of his players week in and week out, and how no matter how well thier team is playing and how poorly we are playing, if they come up against us in a certain round, it woo\rries the absolute crap out of them as they know that there is a very good chance that the swans will win. This is what makes me feel better whenever I hear the crap that comes out of certain footy experts' mouths whenever they rubbish the swans. On another note, on triple M on Sunday, they had an hour with James Bradshaw, Grant Thomas and Sam Newman doing a review of the season so far covering all topics AFL, to my surprise apparently Sam Newman labelled Paul Roos the best coach in the competition, this coming from a man who has rubbished the swans for quite some time now.

Good post Johnno.

I hear similar comments to what you have heard when talkiing to oppoisition supporters. It's just the noisy minority trying to be funny/controversial/attention-seeking.

Someone who has been involved with football for decades and worked with many different coaches, told me Roos and Malthouse are the two best (and most innovative) on the scene. (In his opinion).

[johnno]

Good post Johnno.

I hear similar comments to what you have heard when talkiing to oppoisition supporters. It's just the noisy minority trying to be funny/controversial/attention-seeking.

Someone who has been involved with football for decades and worked with many different coaches, told me Roos and Malthouse are the two best (and most innovative) on the scene. (In his opinion).

Thanks Margie, I'm thinking maybe you can add Ross Lyon to that list, or maybe we have to give him a few more season yet. I can't put Mark thompson there, because with the cattle he has at his disposal, my aunt in Greece who has never seen a game of AFL in her life could get Geelong over the line on most weekends.

[AnnieH]

Thanks Margie, I'm thinking maybe you can add Ross Lyon to that list, or maybe we have to give him a few more season yet. I can't put Mark thompson there, because with the cattle he has at his disposal, my aunt in Greece who has never seen a game of AFL in her life could get Geelong over the line on most weekends.

Way, way, way too early to make a call on Lyons. Lyons has just carbon-copied Rooseys game plan A (with maybe a bit of his own plan B shoved in there as well). I'd give him at least another four or five seasons to see how many times St Kilda appear in the finals over that time. In the meantime, he IS doing great things at the ainters.

[johnno]

[QUOTE=Margie;447081]Good post Johnno.

I hear similar comments to what you have heard when talkiing to oppoisition supporters. It's just the noisy minority trying to be funny/controversial/attention-seeking.

Someone who has been involved with football for decades and worked with many different coaches, told me Roos and Malthouse are the two best (and most innovative) on the scene. (In his opinion).[/QUOTE]

Another thing Margie...care to name any names??

[Margie]

Another thing Margie...care to name any names??

Sorry, no.

We'll see how Lyons goes - so far, so good.