Who would have thought?

[Mr Magoo]

You and me both GS. Love that man. In my heart I am stalking him on every level.

Good post, and exactly what I was thinking. So you see, if you ressie watch its an added bonus knowing/hoping/expecting some kid is going to get a break because "I have seen what he can do".
This year was a majorly bumper crop. And Stuey, smoochy kiss, was in the mix for spotting and recruiting. He needs to be paid more.

It will be interesting to see if Kirky can keep away. He has amazing powers of concentration, but......I think he would make a fantastic player welfare officer.

And to think he came from Richmond. Unbelievable what some clubs give away isnt it.

[bondy]

This is a great thread. We support a great team don't we. I love the ethos behind our weekend action.

2010 has seen our youngsters shine and buy into what I love about the Bloods - accountable, hard running, desperate footy. I LOVED Mumford's bump this weekend. I love Pyke's composure with the footy during a final (who would have thought we'd entertain that idea?), I love Nick Smith's single-mindedness, I love Kennedy's in and under football.

What a year it has been so far, with more to come (I hope).

[shaun..]

This is a great thread. We support a great team don't we. I love the ethos behind our weekend action.

2010 has seen our youngsters shine and buy into what I love about the Bloods - accountable, hard running, desperate footy. I LOVED Mumford's bump this weekend. I love Pyke's composure with the footy during a final (who would have thought we'd entertain that idea?), I love Nick Smith's single-mindedness, I love Kennedy's in and under football.

What a year it has been so far, with more to come (I hope).

I love Jetta's pace, I love Rohan's intensity, I love White's selflessness...

[cruiser]

Great thread. Thanks for starting it GS. I am just so proud of the team, the club and its supporters. The most I hoped for this season was a home final, anything else is now a bonus.

Stewie Maxfield's involvement has been integral to the success of this club and I am so pleased that he isnt going anywhere yet. Deserves his own thread (maybe leave that until the season is over).

[Midfield]

Yep great thread. Often you dont know what you have until its gone. I'm pleased that we can appreciate this team in the present, cause it wont last forever (just one (or two) more please.......).

[Flossie]

At the start of the year, the season seemed quite bright for Swans supporters. Sure we'd lost Leo and Magic and Crouchy but we'd picked up a couple of okay Hawks and skinny kid from WA plus an okay ruckman to replace Jolly. White was going okay and he was joined by Braddy who could probably get us to finals if he stayed fit.

Then the injuries struck. Our most important backman B2 was out, and our No1 ruckman Seaby and then our best forward, Braddy were out. If you'd asked me at the start of the season, how we'd go after that and I would have said "season over" and it looked that way for a bit. But it turned out Ben was a great goal sneak - then he was gone too. And so was LRT. We were relying on Reg and Ted up back for goodness sake.

Yesterday we had a team cobbled together after injuries. And how they produced. Imagine TDL blossoming from the nervous kid in his first senior to be our most composed finals forward. Did I read it right - Shaw two goals from three possessions and Bevan (Bevan for god's sake) three goals from four - they aren't even meant to be at that end of the ground. Nick Smith (who?) is the negator Kirk used to be while Kirk the old warrior is leading possessions (did I see that right?) at the end of Q1. Get on with your retirement, will you - this is going on like Jason Ball's. Mummy was back from injury and playing the way he plays - like a twin tackling, tapping tractor with Mike Pyke. Pyke - he might be learning the game but he knows what to do in finals intensity alright. Within a year Dan H has become an important integral part of the team along with Jetstar and Smith. He still looks 12 though. And then there's Josh - we heard he was a slow, poor kicking inside mid and it proves that he is the perfect replacement from Brett if he ever finally retires. Not just in the role he plays but the way he plays it - in a tough game he becomes all heart and brawn and stands up to lead by example.

What a great team we have for the future. Watching Stewie on the ground yesterday you realise the Swans spiritual leaders never really leave and lets hope that's the way it is for Roos and Kirk. But they have left the playing group in very good hands in any case. We're in far better shape that we could ever have imagined 12 months ago. And 2010 isn't even over yet - two huge games and we could be in another grand final.

So many of us love this team - and we heard that loud and proud yesterday. It's a great feeling being a Swans supporter and, for me it has been since the finals series in 2003 when a largely different group of players stood up and achieved the impossible at AAMI.

How could we not love them when the team repays us so well? Since dusk yesterday I haven't been able to stop smiling.

Go Swannies!

This x 100. I am so proud of the Swans. I have been walking around all day with a big grin on my face and no matter what happens over the next two weeks the boys have done us proud.

[Cant turn right]

After finishing 12th last year and all the list changeover we had, the best i was hoping for was an away final in 7th or 8th. So it's all bonus from my point of view to even finish the h&a where we did. So from last week on it's all tops, with no expectations (unlike 2007 & 2008). I am just enjoying riding this wave wave as long as it lasts.

[Blood]

Making the finals?

Was never, ever in doubt!!

[voodooguru]

Kinnear Beatson and the List Management crew, with some assistance from D. Jolly's better half, have done an amazing job.

[Badger]

Has been a great season whatever happens next. The coaching and support team deserve credit and recognition for the recruitment undertaken during the offseason. Roosy has certainly left the team in good shape for John Longmire.

[Red]

Kinnear Beatson and the List Management crew, with some assistance from D. Jolly's better half, have done an amazing job.

x2. Props should also go to Stuart Dew -- the kids have been amazing this year.

Great post GS

[Go Swannies]

At the start of the year, the season seemed quite bright for Swans supporters. Sure we'd lost Leo and Magic and Crouchy but we'd picked up a couple of okay Hawks and skinny kid from WA plus an okay ruckman to replace Jolly. White was going okay and he was joined by Braddy who could probably get us to finals if he stayed fit.

Then the injuries struck. Our most important backman B2 was out, and our No1 ruckman Seaby and then our best forward, Braddy were out. If you'd asked me at the start of the season, how we'd go after that and I would have said "season over" and it looked that way for a bit. But it turned out Ben was a great goal sneak - then he was gone too. And so was LRT. We were relying on Reg and Ted up back for goodness sake.

Yesterday we had a team cobbled together after injuries. And how they produced. Imagine TDL blossoming from the nervous kid in his first senior to be our most composed finals forward. Did I read it right - Shaw two goals from three possessions and Bevan (Bevan for god's sake) three goals from four - they aren't even meant to be at that end of the ground. Nick Smith (who?) is the negator Kirk used to be while Kirk the old warrior is leading possessions (did I see that right?) at the end of Q1. Get on with your retirement, will you - this is going on like Jason Ball's. Mummy was back from injury and playing the way he plays - like a twin tackling, tapping tractor with Mike Pyke. Pyke - he might be learning the game but he knows what to do in finals intensity alright. Within a year Dan H has become an important integral part of the team along with Jetstar and Smith. He still looks 12 though. And then there's Josh - we heard he was a slow, poor kicking inside mid and it proves that he is the perfect replacement from Brett if he ever finally retires. Not just in the role he plays but the way he plays it - in a tough game he becomes all heart and brawn and stands up to lead by example.

What a great team we have for the future. Watching Stewie on the ground yesterday you realise the Swans spiritual leaders never really leave and lets hope that's the way it is for Roos and Kirk. But they have left the playing group in very good hands in any case. We're in far better shape that we could ever have imagined 12 months ago. And 2010 isn't even over yet - two huge games and we could be in another grand final.

So many of us love this team - and we heard that loud and proud yesterday. It's a great feeling being a Swans supporter and, for me it has been since the finals series in 2003 when a largely different group of players stood up and achieved the impossible at AAMI.

How could we not love them when the team repays us so well? Since dusk yesterday I haven't been able to stop smiling.

Go Swannies!

Well now the season is over and I still feel the same positive way. Apart from not giving Jesse another week of finals experience we did everything we could to set ourselves up for next year. So many kids and so much talent and conviction. If we do nothing in trade week we have the basis for the Swans next run for a flag. 2010 has been so exciting, mainly because of the early injuries. Let's hope 2011 is Top 4 then anything could happen.

[Matty10]

I like it how you keep the conversation going (in this and another thread) by quoting yourself -

[Swansinger]

And to think an injury-riddled side , with a few down on form on Saturday , were just one straight
kick away from making a PF.
I have not been so optimistic about a new season since 2006.