Challenges season 2013

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  • Hartijon
    On the Rookie List
    • May 2008
    • 1536

    Challenges season 2013

    This season is quite different .We are the reigning Premiers ,a point which will not be overlooked by opposition coaches. "Knocking off the reigning Premiers " will be used as a motivation and a good motivation it is. Regardless of what the media prattles on about we will not be under rated by the opposition teams.They know exactly how we play.This will make winning harder.

    Going back to back is an enormous challenge as there is also the Premiership hangover syndrome where other teams are hungrier for the success you have already enjoyed.

    We have a great bunch of players but not enough spots for all of them.For example Mike Pyke played his best game in the GF yet with Tippet a certainty to get in the team along with LRT,what do we do with Mike?Success brings its own set of problems and selection of players will be a major headache with deserving players regularly missing out.

    IMO 2013 will be harder for the Swans than 2012 despite having a better team ! I am anticipating a first half of the season where we struggle and lose a few too many.However we will come home strongly in the second half to make the finals and defend our cup!
  • ernie koala
    Senior Player
    • May 2007
    • 3251

    #2
    Originally posted by Hartijon
    This season is quite different .We are the reigning Premiers ,a point which will not be overlooked by opposition coaches. "Knocking off the reigning Premiers " will be used as a motivation and a good motivation it is. Regardless of what the media prattles on about we will not be under rated by the opposition teams.They know exactly how we play.This will make winning harder.

    Going back to back is an enormous challenge as there is also the Premiership hangover syndrome where other teams are hungrier for the success you have already enjoyed.

    We have a great bunch of players but not enough spots for all of them.For example Mike Pyke played his best game in the GF yet with Tippet a certainty to get in the team along with LRT,what do we do with Mike?Success brings its own set of problems and selection of players will be a major headache with deserving players regularly missing out.

    IMO 2013 will be harder for the Swans than 2012 despite having a better team ! I am anticipating a first half of the season where we struggle and lose a few too many.However we will come home strongly in the second half to make the finals and defend our cup!
    Yeah, I agree with your thoughts entirely.... Even the first 2 games against GWS and GCS will be challenging....

    They have a 5-6 week headstart, will be fresh and highly motivated. I'm not saying we'll loose, but these games will be hard fought.

    These young teams will be much easier to beat later in the season.

    I would of much preferred us to be playing Hawthorn and Adelaide in the first 2 rounds.
    Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect... MT

    Comment

    • Doctor
      Bay 29
      • Sep 2003
      • 2757

      #3
      I think the Giants will be very tough first up, but we should be ok with the Gold Coast.
      Today's a draft of your epitaph

      Comment

      • Primmy
        Proud Tragic Swan
        • Apr 2008
        • 5970

        #4
        The biggest challenge in my opinion is whether the younger boys can get their minds back to Game One 2013 mode, and not rely Last Game of 2012 mode.

        The 2005 and 2006 Granny players will have a better grip. But I do place a lot of respect and trust in our leadership group to push everyone past this (even some redandwhiters).

        there is another factor I consider to be a plus. the number of new kids on the block who are kind of ready to go will probably act as a red light alarm to any complacency that may surface. Knowing there is someone ready to step into your shoes is a great motivator.
        If you've never jumped from one couch to the other to save yourself from lava then you didn't have a childhood

        Comment

        • Swansongster
          Senior Player
          • Sep 2008
          • 1264

          #5
          I think injuries might be our challenge in 2013. Goodes may never be the same with a 30-something knee injury legacy. Jude, likewise. Mummy's hammy, Tippett's noggin, ROK's groin, Hanners' shoulders etc. We have players to cover but if they all go down, we are quickly a shadow of the Premiership line-up.

          A bit pessimistic, I know, but we have had a good run with injuries (arguably because of great management from the meds team) in recent years. Can our luck hold? Do we have enough cover?

          All that said, we have strengthened the list in the off-season and I genuinely think we should be favourites for the flag.

          Comment

          • chuckie
            Warming the Bench
            • Jan 2003
            • 301

            #6
            I am not sure if we have strengthen our list.
            Last year we had depth players that had senior experiences.
            Seaby
            Meredith
            Dennis Lane
            Spangher
            Moore
            Gordon
            This year i reckon there will be a lot of players making their debuts which is exciting but can take a slight edge of the teams performance ala Geelong last year when they played so many debutants.

            Comment

            • wolftone57
              Veterans List
              • Aug 2008
              • 5835

              #7
              Originally posted by chuckie
              I am not sure if we have strengthen our list.
              Last year we had depth players that had senior experiences.
              Seaby
              Meredith
              Dennis Lane
              Spangher
              Moore
              Gordon
              This year i reckon there will be a lot of players making their debuts which is exciting but can take a slight edge of the teams performance ala Geelong last year when they played so many debutants.
              Meredith, Gordon and Dennis-Lane were fringe players but yes can do a job. They are replaced by Cunningham, Rampe, Towers and Lamb and Lloyd. There seems to me to be a bit more talent in that pool. Bulldog was a great clubman and a good player for us but the pace of the game found him out. Seabs and Spangher were injured most of last season or just not up to the grade. Seabs was never going to be our third ruck and even Jesse surpassed him in the 'Two's' by the end of last year. Speaking of Jesse he is going quite well I think, I hope for his sake he keeps it up as he has the talent just lacks confidence. I hope he has been talking to Teddy's Psychologist as he will have confidence after that. We also have Tippett to come in. Tony Armstrong is a strong chance for round one. towers spent last season in the VFL playing in a Premiership team and I don't think it is going to take him long to adjust.

              Comment

              • ScottH
                It's Goodes to cheer!!
                • Sep 2003
                • 23665

                #8
                Originally posted by chuckie
                I am not sure if we have strengthen our list.
                Last year we had depth players that had senior experiences.
                Seaby
                Meredith
                Dennis Lane
                Spangher
                Moore
                Gordon
                This year i reckon there will be a lot of players making their debuts which is exciting but can take a slight edge of the teams performance ala Geelong last year when they played so many debutants.
                Seaby, Spangher and Moore yes.
                Meredith, TDL have played only a handful of games,
                And Gordon was 1, IIRC.

                Seaby and Spangher struggled with injury last year.
                Pyke has stepped up leaving no place for Seaby.
                Moore was too slow for the modern game, although he had some skill.

                I don't think we've lost too much there.

                Comment

                • Big Al
                  Veterans List
                  • Feb 2005
                  • 7007

                  #9
                  Re: Challenges season 2013

                  Originally posted by chuckie
                  I am not sure if we have strengthen our list.
                  I'll give you a tip it has been strengthened this season.
                  ..And the Swans are the Premiers...The Ultimate Team...The Ultimate Warriors. They have overcome the highly fancied Hawks in brilliant style. Sydney the 2012 Premiers - Gerard Whately ABC

                  Here it is Again! - Huddo SEN

                  Comment

                  • Triple B
                    Formerly 'BBB'
                    • Feb 2003
                    • 6999

                    #10
                    In fairness to Chuckie, he was commenting that last year our depth had seniors experience, in some cases considerable experience including a premiership.

                    This year our depth has CONSIDERABLY less seniors experience, although in terms of pure talent and potential we may have lost nothing.

                    Just sayin'
                    Driver of the Dan Hannebery bandwagon....all aboard. 4th April 09

                    Comment

                    • Auntie.Gerald
                      Veterans List
                      • Oct 2009
                      • 6474

                      #11
                      yeah it is a fair comment re depth

                      I was extremely bullish on our depth.........i might be half a season to a season ahead but I still think there is some serious depth below........8 players minimum

                      White
                      Armstrong
                      Dre
                      Lambie
                      Rampe
                      Cunningham
                      Towers
                      Walsh
                      etc

                      it would be fair to say that Morton maybe in this list given he is coming back from injury and 22 players may jump ahead of him

                      That makes 9 players that will do us proud

                      plus Tommy Mitchell and Gaz if they both recover from injury !!!!
                      Last edited by Auntie.Gerald; 6 March 2013, 05:57 PM.
                      "be tough, only when it gets tough"

                      Comment

                      • jono2707
                        Goes up to 11
                        • Oct 2007
                        • 3326

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Big Al
                        I'll give you a tip it has been strengthened this season.
                        I'll give you a curt response....

                        Comment

                        • Rod_
                          Senior Player
                          • Jan 2003
                          • 1179

                          #13
                          I do like the prospect that Tip that and go Gaz may be back and firing late in the season. (2nd Half of the season anyway)

                          Some serious grab and go in the forward line = Nice!

                          Rod_

                          Comment

                          • Clammers
                            On the Rookie List
                            • Aug 2010
                            • 6

                            #14
                            Tippett not till Round 13? Plenty of time for Pyke (highly intelligent) to adjust his game and cement a spot. For example, Mumford always looks proppy to me. Is he a candidate for injury?

                            Comment

                            • chuckie
                              Warming the Bench
                              • Jan 2003
                              • 301

                              #15
                              12-18 months down the track we may have a better list but right now we may struggle.
                              No Tippett till Rnd 13
                              Rohan doubtful all season
                              Johnson out all season
                              Mitchell who knows seems to always be injured
                              Brown as above
                              Dick,Marsh & Membrey 12 months away
                              Lamb & Towers are they any better in March than what Laidlaw, O'keefe, Vezspremmi & Johnston were.
                              Walsh doubtful
                              Cunningham looks ok.
                              It leaves a lot of pressure on the remaining guys on our list.

                              Comment

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