Bradshaw a Swan

[Xie Shan]

enjoy gladwell dot com - in the air

PS - his book on success "Outliers" is a very good read........

Apologies for dragging this thread slightly off-topic, but I really enjoyed that article, Gladwell writes very well. Parts of it reminded me of our premiership team of 2005:

"What that defense did for us is that we could hide our weaknesses," Rometra Craig said. She helped out once Redwood City advanced to the regional championships. "We could hide the fact that we didn't have good outside shooters. We could hide the fact that we didn't have the tallest lineup, because as long as we played hard on defense we were getting steals and getting easy layups. I was honest with the girls. I told them, 'We're not the best basketball team out there.' But they understood their roles." A twelve-year-old girl would go to war for Rometra. "They were awesome," she said.

Different sport... but she could have equally been describing our team of 'Cortinas', IMO.

But it's an exhausting strategy (remember Mick Malthouse's comment that the Swans play finals footy every week?) with much endurance and courage required.

Can we replicate that again? Who knows. We've still got eight in our team who've done it before, so they know what it takes.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Western Sydney given free kick - AFL Premiership - Fox Sports

should be easy to pick up talent in 2011 anyway ...... if youre western sydney !

Western Sydney recruitment concessions
-Picks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15 and first pick in each subsequent round in 2011 national draft.
-Can sign a total of up to 16 uncontracted players from existing AFL clubs at end of 2011 and 2012.
-Can sign 12 17-year-olds in 2010.
-A total of four extra 17-year-olds in 2011 and 2012 to be traded to other clubs.
-First eight picks in 2010 rookie draft.
-Can sign 10 players previously on AFL lists or previously nominated for draft in 2010-11.
-Northern Territory as recruiting zone from 2011-13.

[Robbo]

I think it's a bad thing for the club. In 3 years when we should be starting to really enter a premiership window our main goal kicker will retire, which will @@@@ us right up.

[mcs]

I think it's a bad thing for the club. In 3 years when we should be starting to really enter a premiership window our main goal kicker will retire, which will @@@@ us right up.

Will it really be such a bad thing and will it really stuff us right up. I'd say that only for 2010 will Bradshaw be seen as our key forward. In 2011 and 2012 I'd like to hope that White takes over the mantle as our no 1 forward and Bradshaw becomes the no 2 target. That is what I think Roos and longmire would be thinking- plug a gap for now and give White a bit more time to develop.

I can't see how we lose out of getting Bradshaw- you can argue he will block up a spot in the forward line someone else could be developing in, but he is still a quality footballer and can win games off his own boot. The last thing we want to do is become vastly uncompetitive, especially next season and 2011, and Bradshaw will at least in some small part help to stop that from happening.

[Robbo]

Will it really be such a bad thing and will it really stuff us right up. I'd say that only for 2010 will Bradshaw be seen as our key forward. In 2011 and 2012 I'd like to hope that White takes over the mantle as our no 1 forward and Bradshaw becomes the no 2 target. That is what I think Roos and longmire would be thinking- plug a gap for now and give White a bit more time to develop.

There was absolutely no reason why White couldn't develop without Bradshaw.

[BSA5]

There was absolutely no reason why White couldn't develop without Bradshaw.

Of course not. But neither will it hamper his development, and in the mean time we get a gun player for free for 2-3 years. Bradshaw is at a good age for us. A little younger, and he'd be on the decline just as we were looking for a Premiership. As he is, he'll decline, and then retire, before that happens, allowing other players like White (hopefully) to settle in to a more senior role before we really have a crack at the flag.

[T-bag]

God I hope he goes to Carlton. Would love to see us with a fresh young forward line next year.

No news is good news.

SUFFER IN YA JOCKS!

[eggbeater]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/bradshaw-to-join-the-swans/story-e6frexni-1225790907308

[Foreign Legion]

Hmm, If a hardnut brilliant triple premiership player in Jonathon Brown can enjoy playing with Bradshaw and then be happy about Fevola's recruitment, I would have serious concerns about Jesse White if recruiting Bradshaw caused him any issues, even the SLIGHTEST.

As much as I am hopeful for him, White has proved nothing and remains an unproven low draft pick but luckily has a bit going for him. I am a bit worried about some posts on this board that seem to suggest White is anymore than a potential up and comer.

For what it's worth, I think Bradshaw's recruitment adds something totally new and exciting to 2010. If the Seaby/Mumford combo works and Hannebury/Veszpremi keep coming along, mix in a potential potency in attack. Who knows? All I know is that I feel a lot more excited about possibilities over the next few years now than I did 2 months ago.

Agree 100% Damien.

White has tons of potential and is most likely (70%ish) going to be a very good player. Bradshaw's recruitment (if it goes through) means that we have had a BRILLIANT trading period in the off season. IF we manage to get Bradshaw without any problems then I would have taken the list changes in 1 second if offered them 6 weeks ago.

White has a fair way to go and I think will be better away from the SCG - big body, needs a lot of room to lead as the lead is his go - very much in the Dunstall rather than Lockett mode.

Wow - a couple of good 'uns in the National Draft and I'll be thinking a tilt at top 4 is serious next year!

[Robbo]

SUFFER IN YA JOCKS!

Good to see you celebrating a young player being kept out of the side.

[Bloods05]

Good to see you celebrating a young player being kept out of the side.

Ridiculous.

[T-bag]

Good to see you celebrating a young player being kept out of the side.

Tissue?

[Robbo]

Ridiculous.

What's ridiculous?

[desredandwhite]

Good to see you celebrating a young player being kept out of the side.

While I agree T-Bag's initial statement was provocative and pointless, this is an equally ludicrous response.

Jesse White will get his chance. He will get the 2nd or 3rd best defender, probably do very well and get the odd chance to shine as the top forward. He will learn from the way Bradshaw positions himself, leads, uses his body and blocks for his teammates. Bradshaw already KNOWS how to function very well in a two-forward attack. When he retires in a few years time, J-Dub will slide effortlessly into the key forward role, probably with Goodes as his foil.

J-Dub could be anything. He could be that 80 goal a season player we are looking for, or he could be like Ryan FitzGerald - booted five great goals on debut, and then ended up on Big Brother. Having an experienced head next to him in the goalsquare will only assist his development.

[Bloods05]

What's ridiculous?

Have a look at the post after yours.