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  • wolftone57
    Veterans List
    • Aug 2008
    • 5857

    #61
    Originally posted by Scottee
    No , these were the days![ATTACH=CONFIG]1194[/ATTACH]
    So that's the reason we couldn't win a bloody match in those days. too much bloody turf and not enough ball.

    Comment

    • wolftone57
      Veterans List
      • Aug 2008
      • 5857

      #62
      Originally posted by S.S. Bleeder
      James Graham. He played in the 1918 premiership. He didn't play the next year. He went up the Murray somewhere to coach. The VFL didn't have the glamour or as much attraction as it has now.
      They didn't really pay much. Both my grandfathers and all the blokes in Broken Hill could earn more at their ordinary jobs than playing footy. So many great players played in the bush instead of the VFL, SANFL or WAFL. The miners earned up to 10 times more than a VFL footballer up until the 1970's, then it became about twice as much as a run of the mill footballer. Not until the late '70's to early '80's did the money get better playing footy. Hence some great names in Australian footy will never be known outside their home town because they chose to stay there.

      Comment

      • wolftone57
        Veterans List
        • Aug 2008
        • 5857

        #63
        Originally posted by Matt80
        I had a brief look at Swans training session during the week and picked up a couple of things.

        - Apparently they always start at 8.30am at the Bus Loop Oval.

        - Adam Goodes was doing his own movement training and was not participating in the match simulation.

        - Mike Pyke was doing a lot of specialist ruck work taps to Heeney. I wonder if Heeney is being prepared to play in the senior midfielder early in the season, or maybe Pyke does this with all midfielders?

        - In the match simulation Grundy and Richards looked very strong. Richards was not giving Franklin any space.

        - Garry Rohan looked bigger. Maybe he has put on bulk, maybe sitting in the stands you don't appreciate how big these athletes are.
        It's actually called the Lakeside Oval.

        Comment

        • wolftone57
          Veterans List
          • Aug 2008
          • 5857

          #64
          Originally posted by graemed
          Saw all 3 training days last week and there were a number of interesting items:

          Monday: The following all left early as part of the rehab group:
          Tippett, Goodes, Shaw, Bird, Reid, Mitchell, Pyke and Rohan
          McGlynn also trained alone as did Rookie Newman.
          When I got there around 9 am they were doing skill work and of the new flock:
          Heeney is a stand out, Hiscox has got amazing pace and improving skills (have to admit to bias here, as with Rampe, had a lot to do with Jack through school) and Rose looks solid. Davis is the biggest body and may take longer to develop.
          Foote was missing and Melican is a bigger George Hewitt look-a- like. McLaran looks interesting but again with big men will be long term prospect.

          Did not see Grundy.

          Wednesday:
          Long training did not finish till after 11 in the sun. Very hot.
          Lots of training drills involving switched of play, outnumbering opposition and long kicking to position. Combining with close quarter skills, handling and ground balls.
          Jetta looked fit and eager during these drills but Franklin was outstanding, dominate and commanding. Tippett was present for some of the skill work but trained alone, concentrating on running for the majority of the session. Goodes and McGlynn also had separate programs. Again Heeney was a standout, receiving lots of "atta-boys" from Longmire.

          Friday:
          Full on Practice match conditions. Tippett played on Grundy and monstered for most of the time, Franklin on T Richards and interestingly only Derickx and Nankervis contested ruck duels. (Pyke was working with Heeney off the ground on centre ruck contests) Sam Reid was playing a swing man role and Allir picked up the third tall at one end and X. Richards did likewise at the other end. Allir looks to have bulked up and looks an improved player
          Lloyd, Cunningham, Jones and Towers all made significant contributions. Rampe was outstanding, his field nicking to position was a highlight.
          All the regulars look great, Hannebrry, Mcveigh and Jack leading the group.
          Shaw was interesting speaking to one of the groups during the break.

          Stewart Dew ran most of the drills throughout the week, Mattner was looking at the progress of Newman who is doing rehab by the looks of it because he looks absolutely cut so I doubt its a fitness thing.

          Well back to work next week so I will rely on someone else for further reports.

          Firstly thank you Graeme.

          Newman had an operation in the of-season.

          Interesting to see Heeney doing so much work with Pykie. Tells me he will be thrown in the deep end come NAB Cup time.

          The difference between Melican and Hewett is 9cm and at least 5kg. Melican is a really agile big guy. Yes they do look a little alike. Both dark and reasonably handsome. Some people are going to get very smitten with both. I think Melican reminds me of a good looking Jonno brown. He moves the same way. His old coach reckons he is fearless, we shall soon see.

          It sounds like Wednesday was devoted to new drills and strategies that make a new game plan. They bring new strategies in a couple at e time and work on them. As preseason goes on they will incorporate more & more into the different game plans they are developing. Better be really different as I think everyone is a wake up to everything we did last year and Horse really only had a few options. Best to develop a group of strategies that can work at a minutes notice that structured set game plans that can't be changed. That is how Clarko works.


          Friday seems to be put the plan into action day. I was most interested in this comment;

          'Lloyd, Cunningham, Jones and Towers all made significant contributions. Rampe was outstanding, his field kicking to position was a highlight.' i am interested this season to see how much transition the Swans make to a new look first 22. I think it will be far more extensive than people think. after all it is the young players who are leading the way at the moment and the bloke with the most respect around the club from all and sundry is one Luke Parker. I don't give a flying fart if this bloke is only 21 I think he shows a maturity far in excess of his years. Tom Harley last year flagged him as a future captain of the Swans & I agree with him. This lad is all class, from his play to his attitude and training. George Hewett looks up to Lukie more than any other player at the club. Doesn't that tell you something about the young man. When asked about who they thing]k is the benchmark most players now mention Goodes, Parker & Kizza or Kennedy. Parker is either always first or second mentioned. If not captain he should be a member of the leadership group.

          I thought Aliir was really good until he got injured last year. He looked on track for at least a few appearances as an emergency. I think he has come back really fit and looked good the day I went down for a looksie.

          Comment

          • wolftone57
            Veterans List
            • Aug 2008
            • 5857

            #65
            Originally posted by Matt80
            I'm concerned that Heeney will get ahead of Mitchell for a midfield birth and make the Swans look like fools for not accepting Carlton's pick 6 for him.

            Time will tell!
            They're different types Matt. Heeney is a tall Kennedy, Mundy, Fyfe type and Mitchell is a Sam Mitchell type. tommy's handball is lightning whereas Heeney is a better field kick and kick for goal. Mitchell is a burrower and extractor, Heeney is a stand up extractor like Kennedy. I personally think there is room for them both. Heeney will not take Mitchell's place but he could take Macca's as he heads back to the HBF. I think Shaw is probably going to be a week to week proposition as is Goodes, who is yet to join the main group once again. Light preseasons do not give me a good fuzzy feeling. If you can't do a whole preseason, retire, simple! Love Goodsie, he is an absolute star but lack of fitness doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.

            Comment

            • wolftone57
              Veterans List
              • Aug 2008
              • 5857

              #66
              Originally posted by Nico
              My mail was he reluctantly accepted a house in Kew ++++++
              Mitchell never had any intention of leaving. He is not Greg Williams for whom money was the most important factor. Anyway Mick's scowl is enough to put anyone off. what's more where would you rather live the Eastern suburbs of Sydney or Carlton? I know where I'd pick, I'm not fond of Carlton.

              Comment

              • JPK12
                Suspended by the MRP
                • Oct 2014
                • 246

                #67
                Carlton is nice. And plus at his age its where all the cool kids want to live these days.

                Comment

                • Matt80
                  Suspended by the MRP
                  • Sep 2013
                  • 1802

                  #68
                  Originally posted by wolftone57
                  Mitchell never had any intention of leaving. He is not Greg Williams for whom money was the most important factor. Anyway Mick's scowl is enough to put anyone off. what's more where would you rather live the Eastern suburbs of Sydney or Carlton? I know where I'd pick, I'm not fond of Carlton.
                  It was Mitchell's decision to stay, but he would have thought differently if the coaching staff had encouraged him to leave.

                  Pick 6 is good pick and a $400,000 a year salary saving is significant.

                  The club has given up a lot of potential benefits to keep Mitchell on the list. I hope he is worth it.

                  I'm concerned however that I'm not hearing anything about Mitchell's pre-season. You would have liked to have read some articles about how he is fitter than ever and killing pre-season.

                  Comment

                  • Melbourne_Blood
                    Senior Player
                    • May 2010
                    • 3312

                    #69
                    I'm sure I've read an article on the swans website that mentions he is killing it in pre season.

                    Comment

                    • 0918330512
                      Senior Player
                      • Sep 2011
                      • 1654

                      #70
                      Originally posted by Matt80
                      It was Mitchell's decision to stay, but he would have thought differently if the coaching staff had encouraged him to leave.
                      Really? Same could be said for every player. Fact: they encouraged him to stay, for whatever reason (eg he fits into the a Swans' plans for the future). Fact: he stayed. No need for further speculation on this topic is there?

                      Originally posted by Matt80
                      Pick 6 is good pick and a $400,000 a year salary saving is significant.

                      The club has given up a lot of potential benefits to keep Mitchell on the list. I hope he is worth it.

                      I'm concerned however that I'm not hearing anything about Mitchell's pre-season. You would have liked to have read some articles about how he is fitter than ever and killing pre-season.
                      Be nice if we killed off the getting rid of Mitchell speculation until the end of the season, or better still, until the end of his current contract. He's here to stay for the moment. Climb the Harbour Bridge & get over it.

                      Comment

                      • graemed
                        Swans2win
                        • Jan 2003
                        • 410

                        #71
                        Originally posted by wolftone57
                        The difference between Melican and Hewett is 9cm and at least 5kg. Melican is a really agile big guy. Yes they do look a little alike. Both dark and reasonably handsome. Some people are going to get very smitten with both. I think Melican reminds me of a good looking Jonno brown. He moves the same way. His old coach reckons he is fearless, we shall soon see.
                        Thanks Wolf, I was a bit taken aback originally watching because I think his nickname is "George", based on his resemblance, and at first I thought, "Wow, Hewitt has built up!!

                        He can take a grab, he took one pack mark on the Friday amongst quality opposition including Reg, Reid and Richards. He really clunked it.

                        With respect to the Heeney v Mitchell comments I really worry that people will lose sight of the fact that whilst Heeney is certainly a great talent, Mitchell is a proven ball winner at the highest level and his distribution skills and decision making are first rate.

                        I think that the pressure will be on players like Shaw and Bird, and to a lesser extent McGlynn to hold their respective places when faced by the rising talent in the junior ranks

                        Comment

                        • Scottee
                          Senior Player
                          • Aug 2003
                          • 1585

                          #72
                          Originally posted by wolftone57
                          So that's the reason we couldn't win a bloody match in those days. too much bloody turf and not enough ball.
                          Probably should start a new thread for this but I think there may have been some liquid refreshments as well as the "Turf", although this was the same around the whole VFL and a lot of the match winners were smokers and more than occasional drinkers.The Sunday morning recovery sessions weren't necessarily just for match soreness.

                          BTW , Don Scott didn't smoke at all and Dad didn't smoke Turf. He was a Phillip Morris man.
                          We have them where we want them, everything is going according to plan!

                          Comment

                          • swansrob
                            Senior Player
                            • May 2009
                            • 1265

                            #73
                            Originally posted by Matt80
                            I'm concerned however that I'm not hearing anything about Mitchell's pre-season. You would have liked to have read some articles about how he is fitter than ever and killing pre-season.
                            Swan Mitchell primed for a big year - AFL.com.au

                            Comment

                            • Primmy
                              Proud Tragic Swan
                              • Apr 2008
                              • 5970

                              #74
                              Again?
                              If you've never jumped from one couch to the other to save yourself from lava then you didn't have a childhood

                              Comment

                              • wolftone57
                                Veterans List
                                • Aug 2008
                                • 5857

                                #75
                                Originally posted by Primmy
                                Again?
                                He might get to actually complete a full preseason this year Primmy. Was looking good the day I went down. Mind you that article is 15 days old and Mitchell hasn't managed to injure himself as yet. Let's pray to the footy Gods he won't.

                                Comment

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