Brian Lake

[Alibi Monday]

The way we have been playing of late I can realistically see us back in the 8 next year.

Whats the difference between a top 8 team and a top 4 team?

A. A top defender.

So this is as far as the great Sydney rebuilding experiment went? As soon as we got a top 10 pick we sold it off again. He'd be a top up player, nothing more. Made sense for Jolly and Richards, both early 20's and we were playing for premierships. This just doesn't make sense unless it's for a 2nd rounder (not likely at all) or PSD.

[goswannie14]

Yep, must have told him to snap again and hit Rutten, passed on a note to Roosey asking for a favour by getting him to retire, at which point they pick him up via PSD.

Brilliant work from the Doggies.

We are not going to be looked upon favourably here in Melbourne if we use some of our additonal COL allowance to out bid the Doggies on Lake and entice him to go into the PSD without any compensation for his loss.

I would prefer us to build by other methods than that.

DST

Who really cares what anybody down here thinks about us?

[CJK]

I, for one, cannot sleep with worry over what the Mexicans might think of the Swans.

[johnno]

I cant believe this has not been said yet, but if we do get him, I for one will be queing up for tickets to see the first performance of SWAN LAKE.

[Plugger46]

Ironically, it's similar to the ROK situation last year, but the clubs in the race were genuine contenders, therefore it made sense. We're deluding ourselves if we think we're our premiership window will re-open in 2-3 years time.

2-3 years is an eternity in footy. I bet you weren't expecting us to go into a brilliant era of success mid-way through 2002? Did you think that St.Kilda would win 20 out of 21 this year? No.

I truly believe that footy clubs are about more than the 'cycle'. If they weren't, Richmond would have challenged several times over the last 10 years.

[Lohengrin]

I would be really disappointed if we traded our round 1 pick for Lake. He's worth a 1st round pick, but at 28yrs old, he's not really going to see us to our next premiership opportunity.

Ironically, it's similar to the ROK situation last year, but the clubs in the race were genuine contenders, therefore it made sense. We're deluding ourselves if we think we're our premiership window will re-open in 2-3 years time.

I agree. The current team + Lake is not likely to equal a premiership in that time frame.

But if we get him for not much (can't see the 'Dogs taking Richards as per an earlier suggestion, but that's a great trade for us) then it'd be great.

[Plugger46]

Who really cares what anybody down here thinks about us?

My thoughts exactly. Supporters of clubs down here and the media bad-mouthing us doesn't bother me at all. Why would anyone want their respect?

[Dave]

My thoughts exactly. Supporters of clubs down here and the media bad-mouthing us doesn't bother me at all. Why would anyone want their respect?

Yep. When I was at the Swans/Pies match at ANZ, a moronic Pies supporter was going on about how crap the Swans were and how the AFL bought us our '05 Premiership (however the hell that works I would not know).

So I couldn't give a flying fig what he or anyone else thinks about how we obtain players, because that's generally the mentality we're dealing with.

[Bloods05]

My thoughts exactly. Supporters of clubs down here and the media bad-mouthing us doesn't bother me at all. Why would anyone want their respect?

Nobody cares about ignorant supporters and the ignorant tabloid media that feeds off them. What I care about is the respect of the football world, which we have earned both through the way we play and through the dignity and respect we have shown to other clubs, coaches and players over the years. That respect is reciprocated in all sorts of ways, such as Richard Tambling's and Chris Newman's acknowledgement of Mick O'Loughlin on the occasion of his 300 games a couple of weeks ago. That is a valuable thing in both moral and practical terms, and it shouldn't be dismissed lightly. Over the long haul, you get back what you give out. A respectful and ethical stance is an asset to our club.

[hammo]

My thoughts exactly. Supporters of clubs down here and the media bad-mouthing us doesn't bother me at all. Why would anyone want their respect?

This is true. It's no different to the way Carlton played hardball with Judd and in the end got him for far less than West Coast wanted. Carlton couldn't care less about their reputation and in the end got their man and retained their number one pick for Kruezer.

If anything, the Swans trading conduct is too good because in trying to deal fairly in the past (first rounder for a then-unproven player in Jolly) other clubs, particularly Hawthorn, have tried to screw us at the trade table.

[Lohengrin]

I guess one reason why it does matter what Melbourne thinks of the Swans is that if it looks like the Swans are using their extra salary cap to poach players, there will be a greater clamour for it to be removed or reduced.

[dimelb]

I cant believe this has not been said yet, but if we do get him, I for one will be queing up for tickets to see the first performance of SWAN LAKE.

[Alibi Monday]

2-3 years is an eternity in footy. I bet you weren't expecting us to go into a brilliant era of success mid-way through 2002? Did you think that St.Kilda would win 20 out of 21 this year? No.

I truly believe that footy clubs are about more than the 'cycle'. If they weren't, Richmond would have challenged several times over the last 10 years.

I think you're right regarding clubs are more than just the 'cycle', that's evidently true. But it's overly optimistic to expect that we're only a good defender away from being a top 4 side - it's just not the case.

I would much prefer to see some longer term investment at this stage. Either trading for someone who can give us 10 years or selecting some high quality junior talent.

[Claret]

But if two players are out of contract, and both players nominate the other club as their preferred destination, a trade could be done just to make sure both get to where they want to go, bypassing the uncertainty of the PSD. Similar to Brisbane trading Corrie to Collingwood for pick 93, except it would work both ways.

Exactly, yet I was laughed down for mentioning this possible trade a few weeks back

[Bloods05]

This is true. It's no different to the way Carlton played hardball with Judd and in the end got him for far less than West Coast wanted. Carlton couldn't care less about their reputation and in the end got their man and retained their number one pick for Kruezer.

If anything, the Swans trading conduct is too good because in trying to deal fairly in the past (first rounder for a then-unproven player in Jolly) other clubs, particularly Hawthorn, have tried to screw us at the trade table.

I'd rather support a team that has respect than a team that is widely regarded as ruthless, unscrupulous and unethical, like Carlton and Hawthorn. In the long run, the kind of conduct engaged in by Carlton and Hawthorn will come back to bite them. Under Sheedy, Essendon used to have a reputation for shonky dealing (we were their victims a couple of times) and I'm sure that has made clubs less willing to do deals with them for the last few years. You might get a short-term advantage by playing hardball, but you'll pay for it in the end.