Can the Sydney Swans win the Premiership?

[ShockOfHair]

Isn't this the reason Morton and Walsh were brought in?
The club realized that there was too much load on Sammy and have set about trying to correct it. The author doesn't seem to have explored that avenue at all.

For sure. Morton kicked 41 goals for Richmond last year. If he can do that for us and Reid straightens up, we're 60-odd goals better than last year.

We have a pretty friendly draw, so if we can also improve our field disposal we're a good chance for the four. The big three still look beyond us at this stage.

[satchmopugdog]

As much as I love us I don't think we are quite there due to our ball use.....but there is always the image of that ice skater..Bradley/bradford/bradfield ..to hang on to.Who knows who will get injured or develop tensions etc and we will be the last ones standing....Just watched Shawshank redemption last night and there is always hope.

[Ratna]

As much as I love us I don't think we are quite there due to our ball use.....but there is always the image of that ice skater..Bradley/bradford/bradfield ..to hang on to.Who knows who will get injured or develop tensions etc and we will be the last ones standing....Just watched Shawshank redemption last night and there is always hope.

Bradbury , one of the great moments in Australian sporting history.

As for goals, looking at last weeks games I think we will adopt a more attacking game plan this year and it may convert into more goals.

I do also begrudgingly agree with the article, will be a stretch to lift the flag. With the potential of the group I think it will take a good run with injury and each player to play to their maximum potential as individuals and as a team. Top four should be the goal for mine and with a little....lot of luck anything can happen from there.

[swansrob]

For sure. Morton kicked 41 goals for Richmond last year. If he can do that for us and Reid straightens up, we're 60-odd goals better than last year.

It was 2009 that Morton kicked 41 goals. If he can recapture that kind of form this year, we'll be looking good. Also, Pyke needs to play FF/ruck. As well as taking some heat off Sam, he can take a good contested mark and he can kick. Can also ruck. For mine, we need to play both Mumford and Pyke.

[Velour&Ruffles]

Before he was so "lucky", Steve Bradbury twice made it to being among the top 5 exponents of his sport out of all the male human beings on the planet. The guy was an absolute gun. If he is your comparator, you are asking for the Swans to cop a break at the 34 minute mark of the final quarter after having made it to the Grand Final. I think we need a lot more luck than that.

[Velour&Ruffles]

As much as I love us I don't think we are quite there due to our ball use.....but there is always the image of that ice skater..Bradley/bradford/bradfield ..to hang on to.Who knows who will get injured or develop tensions etc and we will be the last ones standing....Just watched Shawshank redemption last night and there is always hope.

Before he was so "lucky", Steve Bradbury twice made it to being among the top 5 exponents of his sport out of all the male human beings on the planet. The guy was an absolute gun. If he is your comparator, you are asking for the Swans to cop a break at the 34 minute mark of the final quarter after having made it to the Grand Final. I think we need a lot more luck than that.

[grarmy]

The article lacked some depth and foresight. The Swans year ended so well really, due to Spangher and Rohan rejoining. They made a difference and their inputs lifted the weights off the usual suspects. To make the four this year, we will need to have a major lift from McGlyn who was not playing at the same level as he was in 2010 and neither was a few mid-level players. White is a worry. I just cannot see him doing any better than he has and should be replaced by Pike where there is real upside - the guy works at it. Everitt is finished. Just cannot reach the required level. Moore needs to have a big one, and by accounts has really put in the effort For mine, Trent Dennis-Lane and Nick Malceski need to get over the injury blues and win their places back if we are to go higher this year. If they do, we will win. So far Walsh hasn't lived up to the promise. Trust he is a late bloomer and not another Everitt, who played his promised two games and will end up in the SANL.

[mcs]

I think the article is decent, and probably about spot on. However, the season has not started yet, and I have a good feeling we will make more progress again this season. If Sammy really clicks in front of goal (with help from Walsh/Morton/Spangher whoever takes the chance to be the support act), then we will have a key position forward that will become one of the very best players in the game.

There is only upside risk in my opinion this season - and footy is a funny game - rarely does the best list 'on paper' win the flag. I just want more improvement from our team and our younger guys to take those next steps forward. For if they do, I think we are a real good shot to challenge for top 4, and looking further forward I think we will seriously challenge for a flag in the near future!

[liz]

For me the article is a little simplistic about what makes a successful team. It isn't just about the sum of the parts, and the improvement possible in individual players. It is also about how well the team functions together to execute a game plan that can match other teams' styles, and the confidence that comes with it.

It wasn't individual improvement alone that elevated the Weagles from wooden spooners to a top 4 team last year. Or turned the rabble that was the 2006 version of Geelong into one of the powerhouses of recent years. Or enable a team still lacking in experience to win the premiership in 2008. Or even that permitted a team with an ultimate blue collar midfield to win a premiership in 2005.

Rapid improvements in teams can and do happen, and at a rate that can't solely be down to individuals improving.

That is not to say that it will happen with the Swans in 2012. But it certainly could, as it could happen with many other teams who didn't finish top 5 last year.

[jono2707]

I would at least be happy if uninformed 'experts' stop referring to the Swans as 'dour' and 'defensive' ad nauseum. Surely we have moved on from that over the last few years? I don't mind people tipping us to miss the 8 - in fact I probably prefer it - but it really sticks in my craw when people think they can describe our current playing style when they obviously don't watch our games...

[giant]

For me the article is a little simplistic about what makes a successful team. It isn't just about the sum of the parts, and the improvement possible in individual players. It is also about how well the team functions together to execute a game plan that can match other teams' styles, and the confidence that comes with it.

It wasn't individual improvement alone that elevated the Weagles from wooden spooners to a top 4 team last year. Or turned the rabble that was the 2006 version of Geelong into one of the powerhouses of recent years. Or enable a team still lacking in experience to win the premiership in 2008. Or even that permitted a team with an ultimate blue collar midfield to win a premiership in 2005.

Rapid improvements in teams can and do happen, and at a rate that can't solely be down to individuals improving.

That is not to say that it will happen with the Swans in 2012. But it certainly could, as it could happen with many other teams who didn't finish top 5 last year.

Hear what you're saying Liz but I take it as a positive that the experts don't talk about our game plan. I think there's a recognition that, unlike many other pretenders, we already have the game plan that would stand up well in finals footy - our issue comes down to execution. In 2011, that was specifically around decision-making under pressure, execution of skills through the midfield and converting forward entries. A lot of that speaks to the individuals charged with executing the game plan, and hence the hope that the youngsters step up and the new blood brings more forward firepower.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

A reasonable anyalysis, although like grarmy I think the writer underestimates how important Matt Spangher was to us last year. His appearance up forward seemed to help young Sam enormously.

Lets face it Sam is probably our most important resouce for the future (the length of his new contract is recognition of that). CHF is the most important posi on the ground, and Sam may be our best CHF prospect since Ron Clegg! The question is, will his career is as illustious, or will it be cut short by "issues" like Stewie Gull or Greame John?

While our backline looks good, our small defenders have been great for years but for the first time that I can remember in decades we have sufficient big bodies down back too.

Likewise our midfield: Giant is right we play finals football week in week out, a frequent citicism was a lack of pace out wide, at the time of the 2009 draft the Swans said they were trying to address this. But while we remain a touch slower than other teams, the sub rule appears to have slowed everyone down a bit, so our lack of footspeed is somewhat less obvious. We can only hope that the midfields disposal improves this year.

Which brings us back the forward line: for the last few years it's been horrible, and while there are a lot of options/questions about it this year, at least seems to be the potential that it might actually click. Even after discounting Walsh, I still think YoungSam, FantaPants, Morton, Goodes, Spanky and the reappearance of ROK in the front half will be very exciting.

Liz is correct the Swans as a whole are greater than the sum of there parts. But the question I'd like to see answered is what if our forward line did click? What would the football world make of a hard as nails Swans team that averaged more than 100 points per game, instead of 80 odd? It's possible that it quite literally wouldn't know what hit it.

And as ShockOfHair remarks we do have a pretty friendly draw, at least in the front half of the season. So perhaps if we open the season with 6 strait the press might (to misquote jono) might even stop making us Swans fans nauseous with the endless 'dour' and 'defensive' comments.

[Cant turn right]

In 2005 the swans were 34-1 to win the flag pre season. After they won it I remember Roos saying the success came a little earlier than he thought. To me all this points to the reality that the Swans winning this year is possible but oure list hasn't yet hit it's peak. Sometimes the success can happen a bit earlier than you think. EG Hawks 2008 and maybe even the Pies 2010. So I think there is more upside to come in the next few years but it's not impossible in 2012

[S120]

It doesn't come down to Reid as much as it comes down to the output of Pyke/Spangher/Walsh/White/Seaby as the other talls up forward in my view. Goodes will play forward at times and always do well (he's a champion after all) and then Morton/Parker/Jetta/Rohan/ROK/McGlynn/Jude should all give enough forward of centre as small and mediums but it's what we can get out of the talls that will make or break our forward line and hence make or break our chances IMO.

1 or 2 of those I've listed have to step up and give a consistent presence next to Sammy and be able to bring down marks and kick goals relatively consistently. At least make a contest all of the time. If 2 of them can average 1.5 goals a game, that will do us and help us go close to top 4 (given Goodes and the small play as they did last year and Reid/Rohan give us improved output which is to be expected). If we can get around 50 goals out of those other talls overall in 2012, that is a win in my eyes.

[Swansinger]

Crucial is a good first half of the season. We are notoriously slow starters , but the early part of the draw is reasonably kind to us.
I can see us being in with a shout , but not if come July we have a lot of ground to make up.