The Real Cost of Buddy?

[magic.merkin]

Matt we don't actually know this for a fact. It's only an assumption.

I think an extra 5k signed up members even with some bandwagon leavers is a good start. Especially as last year was on the back of a premiership.

"The Swans this week topped the membership tally of 32,452 they reached in 2007 after back-to-back grand final appearances." Sydney Swans membership at all-time high | The Roar

"The 36,370th member signed up with the Swans today, eclipsing the previous record which was set in 2013."
Swans break membership record - sydneyswans.com.au

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Mike has been doing a great job but his best position is a forward/back-up ruck. We need to develop Naismith as our No.1 ruckman. A potential mummy clone.

I agree on Pyke.

I hold high hopes for Sammy if he keeps his current form trajectory.

[Red]

The article backs up the feeling I have about our season so far, that we're feeling the absence of Mumford (and the others to a lesser degree) a lot more than the presence of Franklin.

But it's only Rd. 2, and we're traditionally slow out of the blocks.

[magic.merkin]

Let's not go down the path of finding negatives about Mummy to make us feel better about losing him, that just aligns us with the Hawthorn flogs who have gone out of their way to invent theories why they are better off without Buddy.

Bottom line is we would be better off if we could have found a way for Mummy to stay, the same as Hawthorn would be better off if Buddy was still there. Whether it works out for us in the end remains to be seen and will be judged on whether we can snag a flag in the 'Buddy years'....

I agree, but its hard to ignore Mummy fading out 2 years in a row in the last stage of a season, mixed with some downs mid season. I love him, he was my wife and I's favorite. But when the club offers him a shortened contract and he keeps breaking down i worry more than buddy who has been more durable and just won another flag at the best club in the land.

[Triple B]

Matt we don't actually know this for a fact. It's only an assumption.

I'm really struggling to think of another reason why we passed record membership, quite early in the year as well. I find it hard to believe that people rushed to sign up in response to our Rd 1 performance.

I'm happy to run with Matt!! on this one, it's most certainly the Buddy factor.

[Flying South]

In mumford's defense, he was carrying a back injury in his last 2 years. Though he does look super fit this year and hopefully he doesn't have a reoccurrence. Back injuries, like foot injuries, are notoriously fickle and maybe the club was mindful of that when offering a contract. ???????

[magic.merkin]

In mumford's defense, he was carrying a back injury in his last 2 years. Though he does look super fit this year and hopefully he doesn't have a reoccurrence. Back injuries, like foot injuries, are notoriously fickle and maybe the club was mindful of that when offering a contract. ???????

My thoughts^

[Ludwig]

When Mummy is fit and going, he's a great ruckman and is capable of dominating games. It must have been a tough decision signing Buddy and knowing that it would cost us Mummy. We all recognise that this has left us vulnerable in the ruck division, particularly at the start of the season when, with the exception of Pyke, all the rest are relative newcomers to the Swans.

It didn't turn out well, because the top 2 members of our ruck division were recovering from injury and didn't get the preseason desired. Tippett is still out, with an uncertain start.

When the decision was on the table to be made, we didn't have a crystal ball. Injuries are always waiting to spoil the party. Remember when we signed Bradshaw and everything looked rosy for a few games, then he got injured, and we know the rest.

I don't think it's fair to judge these decisions so early in the season. Mummy could go on to be the best ruckman for the next 5 years or he could injury his back and fade away into oblivion; would that change what we faced last year when the decision was actually made? You can only go with the information you have on hand at the time. Decisions are always easier with the benefit of hindsight.

[Matt80]

When Mummy is fit and going, he's a great ruckman and is capable of dominating games. It must have been a tough decision signing Buddy and knowing that it would cost us Mummy. We all recognise that this has left us vulnerable in the ruck division, particularly at the start of the season when, with the exception of Pyke, all the rest are relative newcomers to the Swans.

It didn't turn out well, because the top 2 members of our ruck division were recovering from injury and didn't get the preseason desired. Tippett is still out, with an uncertain start.

When the decision was on the table to be made, we didn't have a crystal ball. Injuries are always waiting to spoil the party. Remember when we signed Bradshaw and everything looked rosy for a few games, then he got injured, and we know the rest.

I don't think it's fair to judge these decisions so early in the season. Mummy could go on to be the best ruckman for the next 5 years or he could injury his back and fade away into oblivion; would that change what we faced last year when the decision was actually made? You can only go with the information you have on hand at the time. Decisions are always easier with the benefit of hindsight.

We all admire Mumford's on-field ability, but is it possible that the club did not like some of his off-field behaviour?

Mumford was fined during the 2013 season for some off-field behaviour. The club did not reveal what that off-field behaviour was.

[Industrial Fan]

He went on a bender in Melbourne after the St Kilda game. Same time as he had the porno facial hair.

[Flying South]

When Mummy is fit and going, he's a great ruckman and is capable of dominating games. It must have been a tough decision signing Buddy and knowing that it would cost us Mummy. We all recognise that this has left us vulnerable in the ruck division, particularly at the start of the season when, with the exception of Pyke, all the rest are relative newcomers to the Swans.

It didn't turn out well, because the top 2 members of our ruck division were recovering from injury and didn't get the preseason desired. Tippett is still out, with an uncertain start.

When the decision was on the table to be made, we didn't have a crystal ball. Injuries are always waiting to spoil the party. Remember when we signed Bradshaw and everything looked rosy for a few games, then he got injured, and we know the rest.

I don't think it's fair to judge these decisions so early in the season. Mummy could go on to be the best ruckman for the next 5 years or he could injury his back and fade away into oblivion; would that change what we faced last year when the decision was actually made? You can only go with the information you have on hand at the time. Decisions are always easier with the benefit of hindsight.

Well said!!!!

[magic.merkin]

agreed

[Matimbo]

Also agreed. The Swans mgt decision was that in the light of the interchange limit we only need one specialist ruckman and one pinch hitter - Pyke plus Tippett. We were not the only club or commentator supporting this school of thought. So we let Mummy go to afford Buddy. However, until we have KT back from injury and we can see the full plan in operation, it is too early to say the decision to let Mummy go was poor. Also remember that each of the last few years we have also lost Mummy to injury. With luck going the other way, we might just as easily have been at this point with Tippett fit but Mummy injured and our mgt being criticised for holding onto Mummy when the new school of thought says you don't need 2 specialist ruckmen. In any event, we have not lost the last 2 games due solely to the gap Mummy has left.

[Meg]

And it was reported that Mumford got a. 3 year contract with GWS worth around $650,000 a season, thought to be nearly double what the Swans were paying him. He may have stayed for less than GWS offered but nevertheless he would have wanted a sizeable deal.

[erica]

I'm really struggling to think of another reason why we passed record membership, quite early in the year as well. I find it hard to believe that people rushed to sign up in response to our Rd 1 performance.

I'm happy to run with Matt!! on this one, it's most certainly the Buddy factor.

An opinion is not a fact unless you subscribe to the politician's principle of repeating something so often to make people believe it.

I'm not saying your opinion is wrong - you may be correct - but it is still an opinion/assumption, not a fact.

[Triple B]

An opinion is not a fact unless you subscribe to the politician's principle of repeating something so often to make people believe it.

I'm not saying your opinion is wrong - you may be correct - but it is still an opinion/assumption, not a fact.

The day we are mandated to put 'imo' after every statement is the day I won't bother.

Do you have any theory why we just reached record membership other than the opinion expressed by Matt!! and myself? I'd be interested as I'm all out of ideas...