List changes and trade bait

[mcs]

Yep. This has me particularly irritated. I don't think anyone would question the Hawks as being by far the best team / squad of the last few seasons. Three grand finals in a row for back-to-back premierships is pretty clear evidence. The fact they were able to achieve another premiership in 2014 with the injuries they had shows they not only have quality at the top of their list, but enviable depth too.

Yet everyone seems to just accept it is "normal" for them to be able to add another high quality free agent.

When the Swans won in 2012 (with a list most then considered to be inferior to the Hawks'), it was inconceivable that we did it without already having the salary cap filled to the limit. The ability to add Tippett was therefore cheating. I am not sure if the likes of Brereton and McGuire are stupid or plain dishonest with all the crap they have peddled about the Swans and the way their cap is managed.

This really bugs me to. They can't get that the 2012 premiership can before its time, and with a list that relatively was an 'almost there' situation - and that it is easily comprehensible that we had significant cap space in it to fit Tippett.

But the football world won't blink once if the Hawks go out, after going back to back and being in a third successive grand final, if they go out and spend a lot of money on another free agent/experienced player (to go with a number in recent years), and also chase a hot property youngster as well. The hypocrisy stinks - I'm not saying for one minute that the Hawks aren't well within the cap or breaking any rules, but its just so annoying that at very least the same questions aren't asked of them that are pounded down our throat every week by Eddie and Brereton and the like.

[Doctor]

Dosser, Liz and mcs are all 100% right. Couple that with the uproar around Beams wanting to leave Victoria compared with the prodigal son carry on when someone wants to return and it doesn't seem all that consistent does it?

[Mel_C]

What annoys me is:
- 2012, hawks lose GF & get Lake from the bulldogs, a bottom club.
- 2013, hawks win GF and get McEvoy from the saints, a bottom club.
- 2014, hawks win GF and may get Frawley from the demons, a bottom club.

Where is the outcry?? And what about equalisation that we keep hearing about??

I have nothing against the hawks for who they have recruited but there are double standards here.

People seem to forget that Buddy came to us and we didn't seek him out. And all this crap about us buying players...two players don't make a team and they can't win you the flag on their own as witnessed on Saturday!

Ok end of rant ????.

[Matt80]

What annoys me is:
- 2012, hawks lose GF & get Lake from the bulldogs, a bottom club.
- 2013, hawks win GF and get McEvoy from the saints, a bottom club.
- 2014, hawks win GF and may get Frawley from the demons, a bottom club.

Where is the outcry?? And what about equalisation that we keep hearing about??

I have nothing against the hawks for who they have recruited but there are double standards here.

People seem to forget that Buddy came to us and we didn't seek him out. And all this crap about us buying players...two players don't make a team and they can't win you the flag on their own as witnessed on Saturday!

Ok end of rant ????.

There is a difference between Lake, McEvoy, Frawley and Tippett and Franklin.

Tippett was the biggest deal in AFL football in Adelaide. He was the crows hero who filled the superstar breach between the retirements of Roo and McLoud and the emergence of Danger. Outside of Penny Wong he was probably the best known person in South Australia at the time. It was a great loss for South Australia to lose him.

Buddy has always been Melbourne's biggest sporting mega star. After the international retirement of Warnie, Buddy was the city's dominant sporting star.

The Swans not only got two brilliant players but they also took away the dominant sporting and cultural icons of both Adelaide and Melbourne.

[DanJPM]

What annoys me is:
- 2012, hawks lose GF & get Lake from the bulldogs, a bottom club.
- 2013, hawks win GF and get McEvoy from the saints, a bottom club.
- 2014, hawks win GF and may get Frawley from the demons, a bottom club.

Where is the outcry?? And what about equalisation that we keep hearing about??

I have nothing against the hawks for who they have recruited but there are double standards here.

People seem to forget that Buddy came to us and we didn't seek him out. And all this crap about us buying players...two players don't make a team and they can't win you the flag on their own as witnessed on Saturday!

Ok end of rant ??.

Definitely not a rant; it was a perfectly valid - and factual - comment.

Was pretty miffed when walking away from the MCG Saturday night, and told by a muppet in a hawks jumper "How'd the Bondi Billionaires go for ya? gonna get in your mercedes?"

You would think that hawks players are all volunteers, every player is there for the love of the game and all players were immaculately conceived, being born on Glenferrie oval, having never played or touched a football outside of Hawthorn.

[joemoore12]

There is a difference between Lake, McEvoy, Frawley and Tippett and Franklin.

Tippett was the biggest deal in AFL football in Adelaide. He was the crows hero who filled the superstar breach between the retirements of Roo and McLoud and the emergence of Danger. Outside of Penny Wong he was probably the best known person in South Australia at the time. It was a great loss for South Australia to lose him.

Buddy has always been Melbourne's biggest sporting mega star. After the international retirement of Warnie, Buddy was the city's dominant sporting star.

The Swans not only got two brilliant players but they also took away the dominant sporting and cultural icons of both Adelaide and Melbourne.

Their popularity should be totally irrelevant Matt. We've copped untold abuse this year for signing two players. Hawks are applauded for the 'shrewd recruiting' of Burgoyne, Hale, Gunston, McEvoy, Lake, Gibson and now possibly Frawley. I know which team has 'bought a flag' and it aint us. It's pure bull@@@@ driven by the pathetic sheep in the Melbourne media.

[Melbournehammer]

Their popularity should be totally irrelevant Matt. We've copped untold abuse this year for signing two players. Hawks are applauded for the 'shrewd recruiting' of Burgoyne, Hale, Gunston, McEvoy, Lake, Gibson and now possibly Frawley. I know which team has 'bought a flag' and it aint us. It's pure bull@@@@ driven by the pathetic sheep in the Melbourne media.

cant we let it go. the hawks and the swans have both recruited well.

we had an advantage with the cap. we did. to the extent that it was an advantage it will shortly go.

forwards always command bigger salaries than defenders. its the way of the world in nearly every sport. maybe the hawks have just had a great salary scale for an extended period. who knows ?

[Matt79]

After reading the comments from Malceski's manager yesterday I get the feeling we should be resigned to losing him. The manager clearly stated that we (the club) as salary cap issues etc.

To trade / draft in...yes we need a key position defender but they are hard to come by. I honestly think Reid needs to be trained as a CHB...leave him in one position and let him develop. We also need a true crumbing forward to rove our tall forwards! Leroy Jetta worth a go? Would not cost much?

[Mel_C]

cant we let it go. the hawks and the swans have both recruited well.

we had an advantage with the cap. we did. to the extent that it was an advantage it will shortly go.

No one is disputing this. Both the swans and hawks have recruited really well.

It was ok when we were trading for players that weren't getting a game for their side but as soon as we went after a big name then that was a no no.

Not going to comment on the salary cap because it has been done to death. I'm just glad it is going.
Now let's get ready for the academy rubbish!

[aardvark]

We also need a true crumbing forward to rove our tall forwards! Leroy Jetta worth a go? Would not cost much?

I'd prefer Ben McGlynn to play small forward, I reckon it's his best role. Mitchell can have his midfield spot.

[liz]

we had an advantage with the cap.

We also had (and still have) a disadvantage in that it costs significantly more for players to live in Sydney than it does in pretty much every other capital city. Which means that the Swans are at a comparative disadvantage in attracting / retaining players at the lower end of the pay scale. Sure, Buddy and Tippett don't need an extra 10% but it does make a difference to the lower paid players. The COLA was designed to address that, a fact acknowledged by the fact that a rental allowance will remain.

I don't care about the replacement of COLA with the rental allowance - it is more transparent but effectively the same thing. What I do care about is the two-faced lies peddled by certain members of the Melbourne media mafia and the accusations of cheating that some have thrown in the Swans' direction.

[Jewels]

Actually fruedian slip - there - it wasnt that sad. watching it the first time round was sad. In fact i dont remember watching all that much. I just sat there with my head in my hands listening to "breust there it is, breust there it is"

watching it again was kind of cathartic

I'll take your word for it Melb, personally I can't face anything to do with footy at the moment except this site as I know we are all hurting together.
Since the debacle I have not opened a newspaper, deleted all the footy shows I had IQ'd before I went to Melbourne and I have not looked at either the Swans or AFL website - I am an ostrich!

[Melbournehammer]

We also had (and still have) a disadvantage in that it costs significantly more for players to live in Sydney than it does in pretty much every other capital city. Which means that the Swans are at a comparative disadvantage in attracting / retaining players at the lower end of the pay scale. Sure, Buddy and Tippett don't need an extra 10% but it does make a difference to the lower paid players. The COLA was designed to address that, a fact acknowledged by the fact that a rental allowance will remain.

I don't care about the replacement of COLA with the rental allowance - it is more transparent but effectively the same thing. What I do care about is the two-faced lies peddled by certain members of the Melbourne media mafia and the accusations of cheating that some have thrown in the Swans' direction.

I agree with all of this.

I guess I don't want to end up like those hawthorn fans who just appear so fixated on the swans and COLA and such crap. in fact I don't want to fixate on them at all. Their fan base is so obnoxious that i would feel dirty if I came to in any way resemble them.

the whole experience of dealing with them over the past three seasons has just been too much. I want to let it go for selfish reasons. otherwise I can see a Pavolvian reaction on my part to anything to do with that club.

[ScottH]

We really need a "silky" skilled mid, one who can hit a target in the clear.
A Pendlebury style player. I've watched him drag the pies across the line a few times but winning the ball in traffic and getting to the free target. Player like him always amaze me.
Whilst we have some great midfielders, not many of them have that "silky" skill. They are more a bash, crash and kick to any one type.
Maybe young Tom is the answer I'm looking for. Maybe he can be that player.

[liz]

I don't think that is necessarily Mitchell, but it might be one or both of heeney or Hewett, if they can do at AFL level what they have shown at NEAFL level.