We've had enough McGuire!

[Meg]

Which reminds: for all the millions of words spilled about Buddy, no-one seems to have made the obvious point that he's bound to be a lot happier if he's living in connubial bliss with his girlfriend, which was the point of him coming to Sydney in the first place. No wonder he's playing well.

On another blog, where the anti-Swans brigade were banging on with the usual Buddy/COLA/tainted premierships blah, blah, I put up a comment that it was the JLISA not COLA that got Buddy to Sydney. (JLISA = Jesinta Lives In Sydney Attraction.)

And Jesinta seems to be a down-to-earth, articulate, friendly young woman (and beautiful) so good luck to Buddy, moving to Sydney seems to be a win on and off the field!

[Dosser]

What I was trying to say is that I get the impression that the Swans have recognised 'away from home' as a potential issue and seem to have particularly strong player welfare & support networks. Possibly Brisbane has not done as well in this area. Total speculation on my part.

That is correct. It was a deliberate strategy that was put in place after we lost Rocca and Grant due to "family" reasons. I remember reading at the time that we were going to put extra processes in place to combat the homesickness. Whoever put these processes in place now deserves a medal as the culture is so strong that other players now want to come here.

[jono2707]

This is a great feature that brings home how clubs can build teams without substantially relying on multiple top 20 draft picks, tracking the players (from both sides) likely to run out on Saturday afternoon who started their life on a rookie list somewhere (nicely coming on top of Priddis' triumph at the Brownlow). As a bonus, there are some fantastic pictures of these players before they joined their clubs, most as U18 youngsters.

No Cookies | dailytelegraph.com.au

Try as I might but I just can't bring myself to hate Hawthorn - when I look at the way they've put their list together, there are many similarities to us. They've traded smartly and recruited well. And used the rookie list cleverly. Plus they have a few NSW boys. Oh yeah and thanks to for Benny, JPK and that other bloke.....

I don't like them, but I do respect them........

[Go Swannies]

Try as I might but I just can't bring myself to hate Hawthorn - when I look at the way they've put their list together, there are many similarities to us. They've traded smartly and recruited well. And used the rookie list cleverly. Plus they have a few NSW boys. Oh yeah and thanks to for Benny, JPK and that other bloke.....

I don't like them, but I do respect them........

Hard to hate the players or even the coach. I thought Sam Mitchell's 2012 speech about respect was excellent (remember Hird's petulant one in 2001?).

But it's very easy to hate their arrogant supporters.

[Mel_C]

Try as I might but I just can't bring myself to hate Hawthorn - when I look at the way they've put their list together, there are many similarities to us. They've traded smartly and recruited well. And used the rookie list cleverly. Plus they have a few NSW boys. Oh yeah and thanks to for Benny, JPK and that other bloke.....

I don't like them, but I do respect them........

It's not so much the club but their supporters that I can't stand. My experience with them in both swans games and as a neutral supporter at Geelong games has been terrible.

[mcs]

Hard to hate the players or even the coach. I thought Sam Mitchell's 2012 speech about respect was excellent (remember Hird's petulant one in 2001?).

But it's very easy to hate their arrogant supporters.

+1. I have nothing but respect for the club and the players - they done a formidable job over the past 7 or 8 years to stay consistently at the top, and are the best chance since us in 05-06 to go back to back.

But their fans are another story alltogether - still haven't got over the pathetic rubbish I heard, and had directed at me and my partner at the Rd 18 game. Their fans have always had an arrogance about them, but it has got to sickening levels recently. We will hopefully give them little to be arrogant about on Saturday...

[Jewels]

Hard to hate the players or even the coach. I thought Sam Mitchell's 2012 speech about respect was excellent (remember Hird's petulant one in 2001?).

But it's very easy to hate their arrogant supporters.

Yep completely agree and might add the respectful way that all the players and Clarkson have spoken about Buddy, I don't recall once hearing any of them say a bad word about him. So opposite to how the Crows players speak about Tippett.

[Meg]

Yep completely agree and might add the respectful way that all the players and Clarkson have spoken about Buddy, I don't recall once hearing any of them say a bad word about him. So opposite to how the Crows players speak about Tippett.

Exactly my sentiments.

[liz]

Yep, the Hawks as a club are all class. When they lost 2012 after being probably the best team for the season, they didn't moan and gripe. They just accepted they were matched by the Swans on the day and ultimately beaten. Then they put their heads down and worked out a way to get better so they were less likely to be pipped at the post the following year. Contrast this with some at Geelong who still gripe about their 2008 loss, despite the fact they went on to triumph twice more in the following years.

What they have achieved this year is also remarkable. To get to three successful grand finals, and put themselves in with a shot of achieving B2B has to be admired. That they've done it with a draw harder than every other club and the injuries and coach illness they had is even more remarkable.

I still hope we smash'em on Saturday afternoon.

[Reggi]

Andrew Ireland's interview onSEN this afternoon this afternoon is well worth a listen.

He is a little bit pessimistic about Saturday

[Swanny40519]

+1. I have nothing but respect for the club and the players - they done a formidable job over the past 7 or 8 years to stay consistently at the top, and are the best chance since us in 05-06 to go back to back.

But their fans are another story alltogether - still haven't got over the pathetic rubbish I heard, and had directed at me and my partner at the Rd 18 game. Their fans have always had an arrogance about them, but it has got to sickening levels recently. We will hopefully give them little to be arrogant about on Saturday...

I agree 100% MCS. I went down for that game as well and copped heaps as we were walking out the ground. Far enough when you win you are happy and on top of the world, but their general attitude towards Sydney supporters, no matter their age or whether they were males or females,was one of hatred and anger. Anger that we we had the audacity to win in 2012, but to then steal their hero god in Buddy - well they were full of anger.

I have no time for any of them.

[Reggi]

Yep, the Hawks as a club are all class. When they lost 2012 after being probably the best team for the season, they didn't moan and gripe. They just accepted they were matched by the Swans on the day and ultimately beaten. Then they put their heads down and worked out a way to get better so they were less likely to be pipped at the post the following year. Contrast this with some at Geelong who still gripe about their 2008 loss, despite the fact they went on to triumph twice more in the following years.

What they have achieved this year is also remarkable. To get to three successful grand finals, and put themselves in with a shot of achieving B2B has to be admired. That they've done it with a draw harder than every other club and the injuries and coach illness they had is even more remarkable.

I still hope we smash'em on Saturday afternoon.

We shouldn't fawn over Hawthorn. They built their list by tanking, very deliberately.

Melbourne were just copying them. Pretty much they are tankers and therefore borderline cheats

[Doctor J.]

Andrew Ireland's interview onSEN this afternoon this afternoon is well worth a listen.

He is a little bit pessimistic about Saturday

Just listened to it. Not so much pessimistic but more keeping a lid on it.

[Ludwig]

This article should set a few things straight No Cookies | Fox Sports News, Live Sport, Sports | Fox Sports

[Melbourne_Blood]

Geez, I normally find Robbo a bit tedious. But not this time , it's about time a co worker of Eddies told him to pull his head in, thank you Robbo !!