Feeling the love

[undy]

Having recently read Football Ltd by Gary Linnell, I would add Ron Joseph to the list. He supported South as a kid and had the nerve to get Bobby Skilton to let him wear the No. 14 guernsey to school after his first (I think) Brownlow. After the move to Sydney he persuaded Bobby to come to a Brownlow night in Sydney for the first time ever. I quote:

Ron Joseph is not listed as a Life Member, but I think he might have earned it for that effort, let alone other things he has done for the club over the years.

Did you listen to the long interview that the ABC did with Richard Colless after he announced he would retire ? He said that a major contributor to getting the Swans rolling in the period when first came was ...






















Dermie !

[Hartijon]

Has there been a better time?

Has there ever been a better time to be a Swans supporter? We are the Premiership Holders,We are Top 4, We are improving with every game, We have magnificent replacements for injured players, Kurt Tippet is about to join us,We have a wonderful blend of youth and experience,Our youngsters are outstanding(Mitchell is yet another potential champion),We have beaten (thrashed)Collingwood and Adelaide.(this was big!!)with 7 players missing from the GF team,We have a game plan that works,The coaching has never been better.We have good captains...etc etc........

I am sure I could add a few more but truly Swans supporters have got to be happy with their team!

[ScottH]

Having recently read Football Ltd by Gary Linnell, I would add Ron Joseph to the list. He supported South as a kid and had the nerve to get Bobby Skilton to let him wear the No. 14 guernsey to school after his first (I think) Brownlow. After the move to Sydney he persuaded Bobby to come to a Brownlow night in Sydney for the first time ever. I quote:

Ron Joseph is not listed as a Life Member, but I think he might have earned it for that effort, let alone other things he has done for the club over the years.

Wasn't Ron the one show camped outside Lockett's house until he signed??

[dimelb]

Wasn't Ron the one show camped outside Lockett's house until he signed??

I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me!

[Primmy]

Richard Colless - he got Rodney Eade out of here, and somehow buried the alleged Wallace agreement before getting Paul Roos, and then and then and then.....they have some serious personnel management plan personnel here, and some serious nouse on how to get it together......

- - - Updated - - -

It's almost as if we didn't win the flag last year and this is all a big surprise.

Well, yeah. And I am not sure how I am going to cope with the idea of the rest of the world rating our team.....its unnatural. I feel uncomfortable with these accolades, they have all ignored us, gave us no chance to get to the Granny again (again), and now everyone has a new title to add to their bye lines......wish someone in Perth would do something interesting! I like the little rock I have been comfortably hiding under, coming out and saying Boo!!! all this exposure is making me feel nekkkid!!

[Velour&Ruffles]

When I started supporting South Melbourne, we were the team to be pitied. And that attitude towards us lasted a long, long time.

It's just such a magnificent feeling to now be a supporter of the club that everyone wants to be!

With you there Sandridge. Even after two premierships it still feels surreal.

[ShockOfHair]

AFL.com mid-year report:

Their beat-down of Adelaide on Saturday was the most impressive footy by any team this season and now Tippett is available for selection. They remain a huge premiership chance.

[royboy42]

SO, now that we are the "talk of the AFL world", who do we put it all down to ?
I'm torn between:-
- Richard Colless
- Paul Roos
- Ron Barassi
- Tony Lockett
- Paul Kelly

I'm leaning towards Ron Barassi who took hold of the basket case and seemed to put in place the structures that brought Roos and Lockett - did Barassi bring Colless or did Colless bring Barassi ?

Barassi's influence on Swans

When we got Barass in 93, the Swans were an absolute shambles.
The Edelsten era, and a series of ineffective coaches, added to a total lack of engagement by the Sydney public, had us in the cellar , and heading even further south.
He came in (albeit reluctantly) and took the whole outfit by the scruff of the neck and shook...and shook.
He made enemies and made footballers at the same pace.
All of a sudden discipline, which had been non existent , became a byword.
Slowly he weeded out what he saw as bad apples; we won a few, crowds started to seep back.
By the time he moved on after 95, he was handing Rocket the basis of a genuine football team (certainly helped by Barassi's work in getting Plugger up here).
Proof of his influence came when we made the 96 GF,mostly with his boys and a lot of his residual influence.
I reckon that his role in the swan's history is a huge one. His work should never be undervalued.
Thanks Ron.
Any thoughts?

I wrote this a few months ago on another thread..Still relevant.

[Alan]

Barassi's influence on Swans

When we got Barass in 93, the Swans were an absolute shambles.
The Edelsten era, and a series of ineffective coaches, added to a total lack of engagement by the Sydney public, had us in the cellar , and heading even further south.
He came in (albeit reluctantly) and took the whole outfit by the scruff of the neck and shook...and shook.
He made enemies and made footballers at the same pace.
All of a sudden discipline, which had been non existent , became a byword.
Slowly he weeded out what he saw as bad apples; we won a few, crowds started to seep back.
By the time he moved on after 95, he was handing Rocket the basis of a genuine football team (certainly helped by Barassi's work in getting Plugger up here).
Proof of his influence came when we made the 96 GF,mostly with his boys and a lot of his residual influence.
I reckon that his role in the swan's history is a huge one. His work should never be undervalued.
Thanks Ron.
Any thoughts?

I wrote this a few months ago on another thread..Still relevant.

Yep, spot on. His actions and their legacy is one of the reasons we are where we are today. Rodney Eade is another, so is Stuart Maxfield and of course Mr. Roos are all part of what we have today. A daunting though for the Melbourne Football Club, no doubt as they face a similar re-build.

[ShockOfHair]

Barass really got things turned around on the field, but the arrival of Colless, Roos and Lockett were also hugely important.

Isn't Eade's contribution being overlooked though? Not as important as Barassi and co, but surely he rates a mention. We may have been glad to see the back of him but by the standard of Swans coaches 1946-2002 he was surely one of the most successful.

[Dosser]

What about Buckenara?!?

Seriously, Barassi was the best thing to happen to the Swans. I remember his first game as coach and we traveled to Gold Coast to have our pants pulled down by the Bears. I think we were down by about 100 points at half time and Barassi was deadpan. I was expecting good old Barassi fireworks, but I think it was just dawning on him what he had got himself into. From that moment all he did was skills and discipline (and put a young, small bloke with seemingly limited ability but a ferocious attitude as captain) For me, today's dynasty started with the moustached one.

[Swanner]

Couldn't agree more. Ronald Dale Barassi is a champ.