Swans - 10-year cycle for success?

[Donners]

I was going through an exercise on another forum where I named the four best Swans teams within relatively recent times, and it occurred to me that they were almost exactly ten years apart - 1977, 1987, 1996, 2005 (only slightly ahead of '06).

The only times we made the top six for three decades after 1970 were 77, 86-87 and 96-98.

While we made the top six in 03-06, 08 and 10, 05-06 were the years we made the grand final.


Is this the decade - perhaps the year - to break the cycle?



For what it's worth, here are the teams...

1977

I actually think in some respects the 1978 side was better, but they just didn't get the results.

How's this for a side:

F - Morrison, Teasdale, Dean
HF - Woodman, T. Daniher, Young
C - Browning, Hoffman, Zantuck
HB - Rantall, Jackson, Brice
B - Scarlett, O'Neill, McLeish
R - Round, Quade, Goss
I - Hounsell, Dempster

Two Brownlow medalists, a couple of 300-gamers, rising young talent like Daniher and Browning, top on-ballers like Quade and Goss...

1987

F - Hawke, Capper, Wright
HF - Morwood, Bayes, Bolton
C - Neagle, Williams, Murphy
HB - Browning, Henwood, Carroll
B - Cordy, Carter, Holden
R - Ironmonger, Healy, Mitchell
I - Toohey, Thripp

A midfield with Gerard Healy, Barry Mitchell, Greg Williams, Merv Neagle and David Murphy, with David Bolton, Stevie Wright and Dennis Carroll to rotate through? Hard to think of many better

1996
F - O'Brien, Lockett, Luff
HF - Kickett, Mooney, O'Loughlin
C - Maxfield, Dyson, Grant
HB - McPherson, Roos, Heuskes
B - Seymour, Dunkley, Filandia
R - Stafford, Cresswell, Kelly
I - Lewis, Chapman, Garlick

I don't think this side was really that great on paper, but they performed above themselves. There was some pretty exceptional young talent there, though - O'Loughlin, Grant, Heuskes, Garlick, Rocca, Barry, Stafford...

2005

F - Buchanan, O'Loughlin, Schneider
HF - O'Keefe, Hall, Davis
C - Goodes, Williams, Ablett
HB - Mathews, Roberts-Thomson, Kennelly
B - C.Bolton, Barry, Crouch
R - Jolly, Kirk, J.Bolton
I - Dempster, Fosdike, Bevan, Ball

I don't think this side is that flash either, but can't argue with the Premiership. It's hard to split this side and 2006, but this one had Williams and Ball, which gives it a bit more depth.

[Doctor J.]

Its strange, when I look at those 4 sides, its hard to go past the 1987 side. It still staggers me that this team which was essentially the same team as the 86 team, was totally obliterated in the 87 finals series and put out in 2 close games in the 86 finals series. Such talent yet couldn't win a single finals game.

[Cephalik]

Wasn't Bayes in the 96 side as well?

If we can start pushing it to an 8 year turnaround for chances at a flag I'll be stoked.

[Donners]

Yes, but Bayes only played eight games that year.

I was surprised at '87's lack of success when it counted, going on the stats and tapes I've got from that season. They were without Capper, but otherwise they had the side which did so well in the regular season. Rather striking that in the semi final, Melbourne had 996 games experience; we had 2300!

[Doctor J.]

Yes, but Bayes only played eight games that year.

I was surprised at '87's lack of success when it counted, going on the stats and tapes I've got from that season. They were without Capper, but otherwise they had the side which did so well in the regular season. Rather striking that in the semi final, Melbourne had 996 games experience; we had 2300!

The 87 team had Capper in it at least for 1 final. The first final against Hawthorn was the game he took that mark of the year hanger (and he certainly did hang in the air for ever) over Chris Langford, and on the same day kicked his 100th goal for the season. Didn't stop us getting flogged by 99pts. Can't remember if he played the following week against Melbourne, but then the only thing I can remember about that game was holding my head in my hands in disbelief as a very inexperienced Melbourne team ran rampant.

[Donners]

He was definitely missing for the semi against Melbourne, but he kicked four against Hawthorn. To be fair, Hawthorn were an awesome side, but I was staggered at the Melbourne result.

Must remember to speak to Moose Henwood about this next time I see him in Court.

[timthefish]

i wasn't following footy in 1987 (lived in league heartland hunter valley and knew no better) but an older friend who knows his stuff believes that it was Hafey flogging them too much on the track and letting them peak too early in the season.

[bloodsbigot]

Have thought this also. We seem to go well in ten year intervals.

I think the trend has already been broken a little with the swans featuring in finals consistently for the last decade. Long may it continue.

[Doctor J.]

I have had the pleasure of playing a game of golf on the odd occasion with Moose Henwood and apart from him being a top bloke he didn't have too many positives to say about the coaching methods of Hafey toward the end of the year

[Bas]

Its strange, when I look at those 4 sides, its hard to go past the 1987 side. It still staggers me that this team which was essentially the same team as the 86 team, was totally obliterated in the 87 finals series and put out in 2 close games in the 86 finals series. Such talent yet couldn't win a single finals game.

The got pink helicoptered!