Swans forwards of 2005 compared with today

[Vonsteinman]

It's a little unfair I think to compare the current forward line to 2005. That group was at the peak of its powers, as was the midfield group delivering to it.

As for the best of all time....?

This was Hawthorn's forward line for the '86 GF.

HF: Gary Buckenara Dermott Brereton John Kennedy
F: Peter Curran Jason Dunstall John Platten

[penga]

True, a genuinely great lineup. Has there been a better?

That is a great line up for the Hawks, but IMO, the Brisbane best 18 has to be the most brilliantly balanced ever:

FB: Chris Johnson Mal Michael Chris Scott
HB: Martin Pike Justin Leppitsch Nigel Lappin
C: Tim Notting Michael Voss Aaron Shattock
HF: Jason Akermanis Jonathan Brown Luke Power
FF: Craig McRae Alastair Lynch Daniel Bradshaw
Fol: Clark Keating Brad Scott Simon Black

The Shatting Brothers, Notting and Shattock, are probably the only weak points. But they had their break out days, too. And provided plenty of carry.

[aardvark]

Best Swans forward line ever. 1933 Grand Final.

HF: Jim O'Meara Brighton Diggins Peter Reville
F: Herbie Matthews Bob Pratt Ossie Bertram

Matthews won the Brownlow and was runner up twice, Pratt was the best FF ever and Brighton Diggins was considered the Greatest key position player of the time. Pete Reville was runner up in the Brownlow in 1930. Ossie Bertram was twice a S.A. representative player.

Matthews and Pratt are both AFL Hall of Fame members.

[royboy42]

Lamb isn't much chop (sorry! ) up forward IMO. OK, but Gordon and TDL offer much more I reckon. Lamb's strength when I saw him was in the midfield. Genuine inside/outside midfielder, capable of finding space when there was none, ran brilliant lines, made clever use of the handball and could kick beautifully even as he burst away from the pack. Not great top speed but plenty of acceleration. He may get a few games as a small forward to start with, but I think it will be when he's part of the midfield rotation that he'll cement his place in the side.

I reckon one or both of Gordon and TDL will play that clever medium-forward role that Davis and Magic (who was simultaneously our FF!) played.

I've seen Lamb work in the forward line..he reminds me the way he uses space of a young Nic Fosdike..he was man who could do great things when hopelessly hemmed in. I
'm not saying this kid is as good, just that he utilizes space similarly.

[royboy42]

Best Swans forward line ever. 1933 Grand Final.

HF: Jim O'Meara Brighton Diggins Peter Reville
F: Herbie Matthews Bob Pratt Ossie Bertram

Matthews won the Brownlow and was runner up twice, Pratt was the best FF ever and Brighton Diggins was considered the Greatest key position player of the time. Pete Reville was runner up in the Brownlow in 1930. Ossie Bertram was twice a S.A. representative player.

Matthews and Pratt are both AFL Hall of Fame members.

But i don't recall ever seeing Bertram kick with his left foot!

[aardvark]

But i don't recall ever seeing Bertram kick with his left foot!

Rnd 9. 24th June 1933 v Fitzroy at the Junction oval we lost 15.7 to 11.12. Hans "Ozzie" Bertram (his real name was Hans) kicked one off the ground in the square with his left foot. Granddad says it was the only time he ever used it in his whole career.


Its worth noting that even with the worlds best forward line we still couldn't kick straight. I wonder how many times in history we have had more scoring shots and lost. Ugg, get on to that will you ????

[royboy42]

Rnd 9. 24th June 1933 v Fitzroy at the Junction oval we lost 15.7 to 11.12. Hans "Ozzie" Bertram (his real name was Hans) kicked one off the ground in the square with his left foot. Granddad says it was the only time he ever used it in his whole career.


Its worth noting that even with the worlds best forward line we still couldn't kick straight. I wonder how many times in history we have had more scoring shots and lost. Ugg, get on to that will you ????

I remember it well. He actually tripped over the ball, but I guess it could be regarded as a left foot kick.. I concede.

[aardvark]

I remember it well. He actually tripped over the ball, but I guess it could be regarded as a left foot kick.. I concede.

Ozzie would have turned 102 this April and although there is no record of his death its unlikely he is still alive, so I guess we will never know the truth. Sigh !!

[Captain]

I remember it well. He actually tripped over the ball, but I guess it could be regarded as a left foot kick.. I concede.

You remember something from 1933 well? Wow you must be really old and have a great memory

[Hartijon]

The best attacking side I ever saw was the Sturt Football Club of the late 60's that could bang on 10 goal quarters against anyone. When they took Collingwood apart in an end of season game in 1966 Tom Sherrin the Collingwood President said words to the effect" I was amazed at their skill.They would be strong contenders for a VFL premiership" Next year Premiers again they took Carlton apart causing Ron Barassi to label them "certainly one of the top teams in Australia".

Their Full forward Emmy Jones was an incredible kick for goal from wide on the boundary to 50 metres out to snapping in close.A perfect kick 8 kicks for 8 goals I believe in a GF.I can't remember him missing (Iwas just a kid!) Johny Halbert or Rick Schoffs at CHF then Diamond Jim Tilbrook on the flank who was in the Hawkins/Rene Kink mode,Who could ever forget 2 identical goals from the boundary with a reverse banana in a Grand Final from Peter Endersbee or Roger Rigney,Rick Davies in ruck, Bob Shearman in the centre.What a team! Coached by the legendary Jack Oatey

[Velour&Ruffles]

I'm very pleased that this post has been started. Time a few people on this site got the message about exactly how crucial Barry Hall was to our 2005 premiership, and what an outstanding player he was. Bottom line - no Hall = no premiership. From 2002 to the final siren in the 2006 Prelim he was arguably the most influential player in the AFL. You can have your Judds and Cousinses and Abletts, but the difference in 2005 was a big key forward who did it when required. We don't have one now, and not many clubs do. While I have my hopes for a couple of our young'uns (g'day Sam, Jesse and Tommy), don't let what happened later obscure what a colossus BBBBH was with us. You can always cover an onballer (hello 2011 Cats) but you there is simply no substiute for a key position gun.

[Sandridge]

I hear what you are saying, but watching this last night I was staggered at just how good Buchanan was when he was at his best. Also, Ablett started the season on fire in the middle and was clearing packs and kicking goals (long ones, too). One of the big differences was also the quality of the outside runners like Williams and Fosdike - what a great team.

I guess one thing that encouraged me was the fact that in a lot of the h&a games we were as inaccurate in front of goals as we are today.

Soooooooooooo right about Buchanan! He was an absolute star in 2005! (Kicking the goal that put us in front in the Grand Final was handy, too!) I was really sorry to see him go but he was never able to reproduce 2005 form for us or Brisbane.

[Hartijon]

Soooooooooooo right about Buchanan! He was an absolute star in 2005! (Kicking the goal that put us in front in the Grand Final was handy, too!) I was really sorry to see him go but he was never able to reproduce 2005 form for us or Brisbane.

Could have easliy been Norm Smith winner in 2005 and his 2006 GF was sensational too! Love players who come good when it matters! Its worth carrying them all year for that Premiership game.

[liz]

I'm very pleased that this post has been started. Time a few people on this site got the message about exactly how crucial Barry Hall was to our 2005 premiership, and what an outstanding player he was. Bottom line - no Hall = no premiership.

I would be surprised if anyone thought any differently.

Views towards Hall differ due to his subsequent behaviour. I doubt anyone denies his importance or his brilliance during the peak of his career with us. Indeed, I think it is this that has many of us so disappointed with how things turned out. I wanted to salute him in his final AFL game as a Swan, and shed a tear or two for what would be missed, just as I did for Plugger, Kirk, PK, MickyO, Dunks et al.

[sharp9]

So name the AFL team of 2011 that had one (yes one) player in the starting line-up who averages more than one goal per game...yes that would be Adam Goodes of the Sydney Swans!!! 1.1 goals per game!!! Kicking around the 2s is Trent Dennis-Lane at nearly 2 goals per game and soon to be on board is Mitch Morton on 1.5 goals per game. Reid, White, McGlynn and O'Keefe are all just a tiny fraction off one goal per game. I remember when a quality midfielder (like Paul Williams) was expected to average a goal a game. I guess good foot skills would be required though.