14?

[BSA5]

Another top notch game today. Thread's starting to look a little bit silly, really.

[bandwagon]

Another top notch game today. Thread's starting to look a little bit silly, really.

Absolutely. Happy to come back to this thread every week and have a little giggle.

[707]

A bit silly?? after last night against Brisbane, this is now a VERY silly thread, maybe it needs to be mothballed?

[goswannies]

The initial intent of this thread was more about the significance of the number 14 gurnsey to the Swans ... NOT Craig Bird.
In the same way Royce Hart's number 4 at Richmond holds significance, and Michael Jordan's 23 for the Chicago Bulls, Port's captain - I think - always wears the number 1; the point of the thread was more about whether the number 14 at the Swans does - or if it should - hold a special significance over and above the fact that two similar Swans champions in Skilton & Kelly wore it. Not once in the initial post did it question whether Bird was an unworthy player to be at the Swans or to have his place in the senior side.

[BSA5]

The initial intent of this thread was more about the significance of the number 14 gurnsey to the Swans ... NOT Craig Bird.
In the same way Royce Hart's number 4 at Richmond holds significance, and Michael Jordan's 23 for the Chicago Bulls, Port's captain - I think - always wears the number 1; the point of the thread was more about whether the number 14 at the Swans does - or if it should - hold a special significance over and above the fact that two similar Swans champions in Skilton & Kelly wore it. Not once in the initial post did it question whether Bird was an unworthy player to be at the Swans or to have his place in the senior side.

I was more referring to some of the responses that followed, rather than the OP.

Although, Bird has plenty of talent. The coaching staff gave the number to him for a reason, and they didn't do it lightly.

[goswannies]

I was more referring to some of the responses that followed, rather than the OP.

Fair call on that, though I think the consensus for most posts is quite rightly pro- Bird.

Although, Bird has plenty of talent.

Agreed. Just needs some luck with injuries. IMO Heath James was skilled too but fragile hammys never allowed him to fulfill his potential... Although the Swans persisted with him as long as they could (and then some).

The coaching staff gave the number to him for a reason, and they didn't do it lightly.

Personally, I'm not sure there needs to be a reason for giving the number 14. It was retired for a couple of years out of respect for Kells (like they did for 5 for Ablett at Geelong). But, apart from Skilts & Kells, there were a lot of players in between who were no more (and possibly less) significant than Craig (except, maybe, player, caretaker coach & long-time servant Tony Franklin). In fact, had Paul Kelly stuck with the original number 45 that he wore for his first 2 seasons, for his entire career, I think the number 14 jumper would have considerably less significant at the Club.

The man maketh the jumper, not the other way around.

[Primmy]

Played like a grownup. Taken a step I would say.

[Cpt. Kirk]

Played like a grownup. Taken a step I would say.

Unfortunate that he has had a bad run with injuries when he started playing around the same time as Jack they both looked to have great potential.