2014 Swans prediction

[Alan]

I think our team will be based around youngsters

FB: Smith, LRT, Rampe
HB: Malceski, Richards, Johnson
C: Jetta, Jack, Bird
HF: Parker, Franklin, MC Veigh
FF: O'Keefe, Tippett, Mc Glynn
Ruck: Pyke, Kennedy, Hannerbery
Int: Mitchell, Reid, Rohan, Lamb

I think Goodes, Shaw and possibly LRT will play 12-15 max games next year as a matter of body management and Biggs, Towers, BJ, Membrey, Cunningham will be regular contributors. I can't see any reason we should not finish in the top six at worst case.

[Bloods05]

As a keen student of the history of our club: I think there are distinct historical parallels between the present and the past.

First Parallel (happy):
The 2005 and 2012 premierships mirror those of 1909 and 1918, indeed the Maxfield, Kirk et al even reclaimed the Bloods nickname from the Belcher era. Neither team were based on high profile recruits, but had a reputation for toughness.

2nd Parallel(scary):
Recent high profile/high priced recruits seem to hark back to the South Melbourne's misnamed "Golden Era" of the 1930's. At that time we won one flag then followed it with three years of falling agonizingly close to winning a second flag (injuries were blamed then too). The team of superstars then disintegrated, sending the Swans into a death spiral that lasted for over 50 years.

We played in a GF in 1945.

[Nico]

I think that McGlynn may end up a fringe player. He goes missing against top sides and whe gets the footy he is like a Catholic outside the chemist shop. Gets the pill and doesn't know what to do with it.

If we have our full backline up and running we will be a very hard team to crack. Jetta was good when came back and will be back to his exciting best. The signs from Rohan in the PF were spine tingling and ROK in the twighlight of his career goes forward and rotates forward and back when needed. How good will it be if we get one more scintillating season from Goodes. And chances are one of the younger brigade will jump out of nowhere. Looking good folks, but we must remember all sides will strive to improve 10% plus so expect a tougher comp next year.

[BillyRayCypress]

We played in a GF in 1945.

So did Hitler and we had about as much luck as what he did that year.

Eva, Eva, stop drinking all the poison and leave zum for me !!!!

[Ludwig]

So did Hitler and we had about as much luck as what he did that year.

Eva, Eva, stop drinking all the poison and leave zum for me !!!!

- - - Updated - - -

Looking good folks, but we must remember all sides will strive to improve 10% plus so expect a tougher comp next year.

But we can improve 19.8% because we have the COLA.

[dimelb]

Id say if we can hold onto reid wed be flag favourites.

Having a fit shaw in 2014 is critcal.

We were $7.50 begore buddy.

Our small forward stocks are quite low too.

I think our small forward stocks are pretty good. Apart from Benny, who needs a few more sessions with the kicking coach, we have Lamb and Jetta when he goes forward, as well as some very good medium-tall forwards like ROK and Gaz the Great, not to mention the rotating mids like Parker, Hanners, Jack and the list goes on. I actually think there's not a weakness anywhere. (touches wood to avert the wrath of the footy gods, who really hurt us this year)

[ScottH]

Would we be able to fit gaz jets and bj in the same team?
They'd make some defenders pretty nervous

[MightyBloods]

Barring injuries like this year, I expect to make top 4 again. My only worry is our lack of 'zip' on the forward line. I think we need a quick and clever forward pocket at the feet of Tippett, Pyke, Goodes or Buddy. I'm still getting used to saying Buddy but boy I'm enjoying it!

[Mug Punter]

It's hard to see us being anything other than contenders for the next 3-4 years. I just feel that Buddy could be the difference between losing a Prelim and to going all the way.

The number of good young uns we blooded this year (Rampe, Brandon Jack, Lamb, Mitchell, Cunningham etc) will stand us in great stead.

The SCG will be rocking when the Buddy Show comes to town

[Bloodthirsty]

So did Hitler and we had about as much luck as what he did that year.

Eva, Eva, stop drinking all the poison and leave zum for me !!!!

Well the Victorian masses are now thinking that the Swans are also funded by Wall Street!

...Ahhh. Still haven't processed the fact that Franklin will be a Swan. I processed the Tippett one pretty quickly. I could see that. But this....it's surreal. The Swans line-up looks like someone's Dream Team. Tippett, Franklin, 3 AA midfielders and a swarm of good value Rampes, Johnsons, et al.

[tasswan]

Top four is more than a chance next year.
However If Pyke gets injured and we dont pick up a second ruck option in the draft we may be in trouble.

[Doctor]

Now that Franklin is confirmed (I didn't want to make assumptions prior to that) I was idly musing at lunchtime about our best XXII assuming all are fully fit and match ready. It was really hard to do without leaving several strong players out!

[Wazza]

Barring injuries like this year, I expect to make top 4 again. My only worry is our lack of 'zip' on the forward line. I think we need a quick and clever forward pocket at the feet of Tippett, Pyke, Goodes or Buddy. I'm still getting used to saying Buddy but boy I'm enjoying it!

I think Rohan/Jetta can give us this, I was more concerned we may be one big bodied MF short and lack of emerging depth for Key defender positions.
'

Cheers

waz

[On-Baller]

Hopefully LRT will take up CHB next year and Grundy can then take the third tall/resting ruck. Great to have depth especially on the halfback line and midfield but there will be at least 4-5 players who would be good enough to play all year at lesser clubs that will miss alot of footy if everyone stays fit. Rampe,Smith,Mal,Macca,Shaw and AJ all have to fit into 3 spots in the backline if Ted,LRT and Reg all play.

I guess Macca back to the midfield is an option but that then outs a midfield player. I guess injuries will come but surely couldnt be anything like the season just gone. To me if everyones fit guys like Shaw,Lamb,Cunningham,Mcglynn,B.Jack and Towers just to name a few are really going to find it hard to break into the team. Good issue to have but dont envy those on selection committee next year.

[GordonS]

i think the main worry now is getting a solid ruckman to back up pyke. over the last couple years pretty much all teams have gone for or gradually moved towards having two ruckman because it has pretty much become a necessary thing to do (particularly with the interchange cap coming up). i dont like the idea of having tippett as a ruck/forward (which has been raised plenty of times in the past) cos it would seem like a huge waste paying him 900K to do substantial ruck duties and so far he has more than proved himself as a good forward and i think he should stay there (despite buddy coming along). i dont think naismith should be handed all the responsibility so soon, although i'm happy to be wrong there. therefore, i assume we'll pick a decent one up in the draft. any good ones people know of?? (i'm also assuming there arent too many decent ones we get through trades. longer is off to hawthorn and most of the others are contracted)

- - - Updated - - -

and what do we reckon reid will do? assuming tippett and buddy take the tall forward posts, does that push reid somewhere else on the ground? do people reckon he'll become a swingman like roberts-thompson and everitt?