Tweet
To celebrate the greatest footy stats website, AFL Tables , stretching back to the very first year of the Sydney Swans - and to keep myself sane converting scanned images of stats to HTML for game after game for that site - I put together a "Team of the Sydney Era", covering 1982-2009.
I set a somewhat arbitrary limit of 80 games, reasoning that players should have played at least four solid seasons in that 29-year period to be considered among the best team of the era.
All stats and details cover that period, and are a combination of stats.rleague.com and my own records.
Abbreviations stand for: Games, Goals, Possessions Per Game, Marks Per Game, Swans' Best & Fairest, All Australian and Brownlow Medal votes.
Notable players who are ineligible (<80 gms)
Barry Round
Bernie Evans
Greg Smith
Paul Hawke
Merv Neagle
BP: David Ackerly (86 gms, 10 gls, 16.4 PPG, 3.3 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 29 BM)
FB: Andrew Dunkley (217 gms, 11 gls, 10.7 PPG, 3.8 MPG, 26 BM)
BP: Leo Barry (237 gms, 56 gls, 12.9 PPG, 5.0 MPG, 2 AA, 13 BM)
The main challenge here was choosing between Rod Carter and Dunkley at full back. Both played plenty of games, were with the side in successful times and were low-possession, strong and tough defenders over an extended period. I went with Dunkley, who was ahead on games, Brownlow votes and stats, but it could have gone either way.
I considered a small back pocket like Crouch, Mathews or Roberts, or taller specialist back pockets like Cordy or Seymour, but Ackerly and Barry achieved outstanding success (albeit in limited time for the former)
HB: Dennis Carroll (205 gms, 112 gls, 19.3 PPG, 3.8 MPG, 1 AA, 58 BM)
CHB: Paul Roos (87 gms, 19 gls, 18.9 PPG, 5.2 MPG, 2 AA, 23 BM)
HB: Mark Browning (129 gms, 63 gls, 19.3 PPG, 2.8 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 11 BM)
Several quality candidates for the half-back roles, with Toohey and Kennelly also in contention for the flanks and Schauble and Craig Bolton at CHB, but this makes for an exceptionally attacking and versatile trio. Not only do they provide weight of numbers for rebounding out of defence, but they can also kick a few goals, as well as, of course, shutting down an opponent.
W: Wayne Schwass (98 gms, 57 gls, 22.8 PPG, 3.6 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 1 49 BM)
C: Greg Williams (107 gms, 118 gls, 28.4 PPG, 3.4 MPG, 4 AA, 63 BM)
W: Adam Goodes (276 gms, 311 gls, 17.2 PPG, 5.6 MPG, 2 B&F, 3 AA, 137 BM)
No shortage of options here - Maxfield, Murphy, McVeigh, David and Jude Bolton, O'Keefe, Paul Williams, Kirk, Cresswell... Williams is a certainty, given his outstanding performance, and the only issue with Goodes is his positioning. I think he is best with the freedom of a winger, and there's only so many tall players you can throw into the forward line. Schwass may be the one on the fringe, but for quality of possession backed by numbers, he is the best in my eyes.
HF: Ryan O'Keefe (209 gms, 207 gls, 16.2 PPG, 4.6 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 48 BM)
CHF: Barry Hall (162 gms, 467 gms, 13.2 PPG, 7.6 MPG, 1 B&F, 3 AA, 63 BM)
HF: Tony Morwood (151 gms, 257 gls, 14.1 PPG, 5.1 MPG, 36 BM)
I had to weigh up whether to go with Lewis or Morwood/O'Keefe. I'm a big fan of Lewis, but Morwood was the more dangerous goalscorer, and was a key part of a stronger side. He also had the versatility to play as a key target. O'Keefe is actually inferior to Lewis in overall stats, but his best has been more outstanding, and in a stronger team. Hall was obvious.
FP: Michael O'Loughlin (303 gms, 521 gls, 13.9 PPG, 5.0 MPG, 1 B&F, 2 AA, 40 BM)
FF: Tony Lockett (98 gms, 462 gls, 9.7 PPG, 6.0 MPG, 1 B&F, 3 AA, 43 BM)
FP: Paul Kelly (234 gms, 200 gls, 20.4 PPG, 3.6 MPG, 4 B&F, 3 AA, 103 BM)
I would have loved to have squeezed in Wright, but Kelly already had the small pocket role. Hard to argue with the other two, though O'Loughlin could have been named on a flank to make room for Capper.
Ruck: Greg Stafford (130 gms, 58 gls, 11.9 PPG, 4.4 MPG, 39 BM)
R/R: Gerard Healy (81 gms, 87 gls, 26.4 PPG, 3.6 MPG, 3 B&F, 3 AA, 39 BM)
Rov: Barry Mitchell (170 gms, 212 gls, 25.7 PPG, 2.5 MPG, 1 B&F, 2 AA, 22 BM)
I think Healy and Mitchell are obvious choices. It came down to Stafford, Ball or Jolly for the ruck. Statistically, they are all pretty much equal, except Jolly is well ahead on hit-outs and down on possessions. However, that also comes about from the style the team played while he was around. It could really have gone to any of them, though.
Int: Brett Kirk (241 gms, 96 gls, 18.5 PPG, 2.7 MPG, 2 B&F, 1 AA, 81 BM)
Int: Daryn Cresswell (244 gms, 209 gls, 23.0 PPG, 4.2 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 61 BM)
Int: Paul Williams (117 gms, 84 gls, 18.3 PPG, 3.2 MPG, 2 B&F, 1 AA, 10 BM)
Int: Mark Bayes (246 gms, 174 gls, 13.0 PPG, 2.9 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 30 BM)
Kirk is a pretty outstanding option for leadership, grunt and dedication, and Cresswell has sheer weight of numbers in the engine room. Williams provides plenty of class, and Bayes is the best of the big utilities. I suppose Craig Bolton would be the most obvious choice to replace Bayes, but the latter is more versatile. Of course, there are no shortage of outstanding smaller players who also could have made it: see below.
The unlucky ones...
Warrick Capper (90 gms, 317 gls, 10.4 PPG, 5.0 MPG, 10 BM)
Dale Lewis (182 gms, 186 gls, 17.5 PPG, 5.2 MPG, 37 BM)
Jude Bolton (257 gms, 125 gls, 18.0 PPG, 3.2 MPG, 69 BM)
Steve Wright (191 gms, 195 gls, 18.3 PPG, 1.6 MPG, 2 B&F, 17 BM)
David Murphy (156 gms, 93 gls, 19.0 PPG, 3.1 MPG, 40 BM)
Jarred McVeigh (147 gms, 104 gls, 15.0 PPG, 3.6 MPG, 1 B&F, 20 BM)
Stuart Maxfield (200 gms, 87 gls, 15.1 PPG, 2.8 MPG, 29 BM)
Craig Bolton (170 gms, 15 gls, 14.1 PPG, 4.9 MPG, 2 AA, 12 BM)
Andrew Schauble (88 gms, 23 gls, 10.2 PPG, 4.1 MPG, 1 B&F, 3 BM)
Rod Carter (177 gms, 1 gl, 8.4 PPG, 1.8 MPG, 11 BM)
Tadgh Kennelly (178 gms, 29 gls, 15.7 PPG, 3.7 MPG, 28 BM)
Darren Jolly (118 gms, 59 gls, 9.8 PPG, 3.5 MPG, 9 BM)
Jason Ball (90 gms, 45 gls, 11.6 PPG, 3.9 MPG, 10 BM)
For what it's worth, I have all those players in a seconds side - and with a minimum of 15 games, have teams going all the way down to an eighths! That has the not so inspiring midfield of Fixter, Schmidt, Arnott, Bomford and Lucas...
So...what changes would you make to that side?
I set a somewhat arbitrary limit of 80 games, reasoning that players should have played at least four solid seasons in that 29-year period to be considered among the best team of the era.
All stats and details cover that period, and are a combination of stats.rleague.com and my own records.
Abbreviations stand for: Games, Goals, Possessions Per Game, Marks Per Game, Swans' Best & Fairest, All Australian and Brownlow Medal votes.
Notable players who are ineligible (<80 gms)
Barry Round
Bernie Evans
Greg Smith
Paul Hawke
Merv Neagle
BP: David Ackerly (86 gms, 10 gls, 16.4 PPG, 3.3 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 29 BM)
FB: Andrew Dunkley (217 gms, 11 gls, 10.7 PPG, 3.8 MPG, 26 BM)
BP: Leo Barry (237 gms, 56 gls, 12.9 PPG, 5.0 MPG, 2 AA, 13 BM)
The main challenge here was choosing between Rod Carter and Dunkley at full back. Both played plenty of games, were with the side in successful times and were low-possession, strong and tough defenders over an extended period. I went with Dunkley, who was ahead on games, Brownlow votes and stats, but it could have gone either way.
I considered a small back pocket like Crouch, Mathews or Roberts, or taller specialist back pockets like Cordy or Seymour, but Ackerly and Barry achieved outstanding success (albeit in limited time for the former)
HB: Dennis Carroll (205 gms, 112 gls, 19.3 PPG, 3.8 MPG, 1 AA, 58 BM)
CHB: Paul Roos (87 gms, 19 gls, 18.9 PPG, 5.2 MPG, 2 AA, 23 BM)
HB: Mark Browning (129 gms, 63 gls, 19.3 PPG, 2.8 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 11 BM)
Several quality candidates for the half-back roles, with Toohey and Kennelly also in contention for the flanks and Schauble and Craig Bolton at CHB, but this makes for an exceptionally attacking and versatile trio. Not only do they provide weight of numbers for rebounding out of defence, but they can also kick a few goals, as well as, of course, shutting down an opponent.
W: Wayne Schwass (98 gms, 57 gls, 22.8 PPG, 3.6 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 1 49 BM)
C: Greg Williams (107 gms, 118 gls, 28.4 PPG, 3.4 MPG, 4 AA, 63 BM)
W: Adam Goodes (276 gms, 311 gls, 17.2 PPG, 5.6 MPG, 2 B&F, 3 AA, 137 BM)
No shortage of options here - Maxfield, Murphy, McVeigh, David and Jude Bolton, O'Keefe, Paul Williams, Kirk, Cresswell... Williams is a certainty, given his outstanding performance, and the only issue with Goodes is his positioning. I think he is best with the freedom of a winger, and there's only so many tall players you can throw into the forward line. Schwass may be the one on the fringe, but for quality of possession backed by numbers, he is the best in my eyes.
HF: Ryan O'Keefe (209 gms, 207 gls, 16.2 PPG, 4.6 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 48 BM)
CHF: Barry Hall (162 gms, 467 gms, 13.2 PPG, 7.6 MPG, 1 B&F, 3 AA, 63 BM)
HF: Tony Morwood (151 gms, 257 gls, 14.1 PPG, 5.1 MPG, 36 BM)
I had to weigh up whether to go with Lewis or Morwood/O'Keefe. I'm a big fan of Lewis, but Morwood was the more dangerous goalscorer, and was a key part of a stronger side. He also had the versatility to play as a key target. O'Keefe is actually inferior to Lewis in overall stats, but his best has been more outstanding, and in a stronger team. Hall was obvious.
FP: Michael O'Loughlin (303 gms, 521 gls, 13.9 PPG, 5.0 MPG, 1 B&F, 2 AA, 40 BM)
FF: Tony Lockett (98 gms, 462 gls, 9.7 PPG, 6.0 MPG, 1 B&F, 3 AA, 43 BM)
FP: Paul Kelly (234 gms, 200 gls, 20.4 PPG, 3.6 MPG, 4 B&F, 3 AA, 103 BM)
I would have loved to have squeezed in Wright, but Kelly already had the small pocket role. Hard to argue with the other two, though O'Loughlin could have been named on a flank to make room for Capper.
Ruck: Greg Stafford (130 gms, 58 gls, 11.9 PPG, 4.4 MPG, 39 BM)
R/R: Gerard Healy (81 gms, 87 gls, 26.4 PPG, 3.6 MPG, 3 B&F, 3 AA, 39 BM)
Rov: Barry Mitchell (170 gms, 212 gls, 25.7 PPG, 2.5 MPG, 1 B&F, 2 AA, 22 BM)
I think Healy and Mitchell are obvious choices. It came down to Stafford, Ball or Jolly for the ruck. Statistically, they are all pretty much equal, except Jolly is well ahead on hit-outs and down on possessions. However, that also comes about from the style the team played while he was around. It could really have gone to any of them, though.
Int: Brett Kirk (241 gms, 96 gls, 18.5 PPG, 2.7 MPG, 2 B&F, 1 AA, 81 BM)
Int: Daryn Cresswell (244 gms, 209 gls, 23.0 PPG, 4.2 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 61 BM)
Int: Paul Williams (117 gms, 84 gls, 18.3 PPG, 3.2 MPG, 2 B&F, 1 AA, 10 BM)
Int: Mark Bayes (246 gms, 174 gls, 13.0 PPG, 2.9 MPG, 1 B&F, 1 AA, 30 BM)
Kirk is a pretty outstanding option for leadership, grunt and dedication, and Cresswell has sheer weight of numbers in the engine room. Williams provides plenty of class, and Bayes is the best of the big utilities. I suppose Craig Bolton would be the most obvious choice to replace Bayes, but the latter is more versatile. Of course, there are no shortage of outstanding smaller players who also could have made it: see below.
The unlucky ones...
Warrick Capper (90 gms, 317 gls, 10.4 PPG, 5.0 MPG, 10 BM)
Dale Lewis (182 gms, 186 gls, 17.5 PPG, 5.2 MPG, 37 BM)
Jude Bolton (257 gms, 125 gls, 18.0 PPG, 3.2 MPG, 69 BM)
Steve Wright (191 gms, 195 gls, 18.3 PPG, 1.6 MPG, 2 B&F, 17 BM)
David Murphy (156 gms, 93 gls, 19.0 PPG, 3.1 MPG, 40 BM)
Jarred McVeigh (147 gms, 104 gls, 15.0 PPG, 3.6 MPG, 1 B&F, 20 BM)
Stuart Maxfield (200 gms, 87 gls, 15.1 PPG, 2.8 MPG, 29 BM)
Craig Bolton (170 gms, 15 gls, 14.1 PPG, 4.9 MPG, 2 AA, 12 BM)
Andrew Schauble (88 gms, 23 gls, 10.2 PPG, 4.1 MPG, 1 B&F, 3 BM)
Rod Carter (177 gms, 1 gl, 8.4 PPG, 1.8 MPG, 11 BM)
Tadgh Kennelly (178 gms, 29 gls, 15.7 PPG, 3.7 MPG, 28 BM)
Darren Jolly (118 gms, 59 gls, 9.8 PPG, 3.5 MPG, 9 BM)
Jason Ball (90 gms, 45 gls, 11.6 PPG, 3.9 MPG, 10 BM)
For what it's worth, I have all those players in a seconds side - and with a minimum of 15 games, have teams going all the way down to an eighths! That has the not so inspiring midfield of Fixter, Schmidt, Arnott, Bomford and Lucas...
So...what changes would you make to that side?
Comment