Season 2017

[Ludwig]

Why is Tom Derickx still on our list ?

Because he is a player of unique talent. He also has the same birthday as Noam Chomsky. That's got to count for something.

[rojo]

I don't agree that our great need is 'speed and endurance' in that Hiscox has speed and endurance, Harry C. has speed also BJ. More players with speed and endurance would be great but only if it is accompanied by excellent disposal skills, clean hands, footy smarts and above all ticker.

I think the clubs that get the players out of their comfort zones sometime during pre-season, like the Hawks taking the players on the Kokoda trail, or to jungle training or military training camps as a couple of clubs do, are providing players with the opportunities to toughen up both mentally and physically. Even climbing sand dunes somewhere - under Roosey. Confidence and self-belief is what the Doggie's have in spades, they believed they could beat us and were determined to do everything possible to make it so and as it turned out they did. They had more players who were mentally and physically tough enough to get the job done. That is the area the Swans need to address going forward.

[rb4x]

We need speed but our fastest player was also our worst. After snapping that goal Rohan went totally AWOL for the rest of the game. His second stinker in a GF I believe.

[dejavoodoo44]

Because he is a player of unique talent. He also has the same birthday as Noam Chomsky. That's got to count for something.

Didn't know that he was that old? Is it blood transfusions that keep him looking so young?

[stevoswan]

We need speed but our fastest player was also our worst. After snapping that goal Rohan went totally AWOL for the rest of the game. His second stinker in a GF I believe.

.....and all that after vowing to atone for '14. Major disappointment, GF goat.

[goswannies]

I just looked at the indicative draft order and was miffed that the Dogs have our 4th rounder (giving them 2 in a row in round 4) because of the trade for Talia. He better come good this year!

[Flying South]

We need speed but our fastest player was also our worst. After snapping that goal Rohan went totally AWOL for the rest of the game. His second stinker in a GF I believe.

Yes Rohan had a poor game on the biggest stage. Again. But on my account he won us a few games during the year. Without which we probably wouldn't have got to the big dance.
I have been a big critic of his in the past. But i have come to accept his limitations. He's
never going to win a Brownlow, but he will win us the odd game or two. And I'll take that.

[mcs]

Yes Rohan had a poor game on the biggest stage. Again. But on my account he won us a few games during the year. Without which we probably wouldn't have got to the big dance.
I have been a big critic of his in the past. But i have come to accept his limitations. He's
never going to win a Brownlow, but he will win us the odd game or two. And I'll take that.

The sadness of the rohan story is he could of been an absolute superstar on the basis of his junior footy, and the way he was developing before his broken leg. But his career i fear will never get near the level it should have

As good as some of our players are at various times during the season, we now have 2 gf in 3 years where some big names simply havent turned up - and i wonder how much of it is between the ears and a mentality issue, that we must find a solution too.

[Industrial Fan]

Not sure Mcs. He kicked 5 great goals against the Hawks in a dominant display. Had a good prelim final again. Crap gf again.

Even a lock down role on Johannison would have been handy.

[Cheer_Cheer]

I think the problem in the GF is that he didn't cop a knock early on. He seems to play best when he is limping a bit. The opposition have worked him out and left him alone

[mcs]

Not sure Mcs. He kicked 5 great goals against the Hawks in a dominant display. Had a good prelim final again. Crap gf again.

Even a lock down role on Johannison would have been handy.

He has his moments - but I still don't think he is anywhere near fulfilling the promise we had hoped when we selected him as a first round draft pick. He has his moments - but can go completely missing in big games as well. You can't afford passengers on the biggest day, as we again found out yesterday

[Burra]

I'm a big fan of Gary Rohan, but I don't think you can use his broken leg as an excuse for going MIA at times. He can still run like the wind, take big marks and kick great goals. We all know what he can do, just doesn't do enough of if, and I certainly can't figure out why.

[liz]

I'm a big fan of Gary Rohan, but I don't think you can use his broken leg as an excuse for going MIA at times. He can still run like the wind, take big marks and kick great goals. We all know what he can do, just doesn't do enough of if, and I certainly can't figure out why.

It's hard for we spectators to know, but the obvious pain he was in against the Crows after than knock to the knee shows that his mended leg is susceptible to pain in a way a normal leg probably isn't. I have no idea whether he got a knock yesterday that inhibited him, but I suspect he plays under constant duress that most other players don't.

[Mug Punter]

The good players stand up in big games.

Gary and Kurt were both very very poor yesterday and in 2014. Yes they weren't alone but their lack of contribution in a forward line that only contributed 2 goals was incredibly telling.

In terms of what yesterday means for 2017 I'll make the following suggestions

* Ben McGlynn should not be offered a contract for 2017
* A fit and motivated Sam Reid is an absolute must for a successful 2017, Xavier was found out massively yesterday and whilst his development has been pleasing I'm still of the opinion he may end up in our backline, possibly next year
* McVeigh should not be captain in 2017

Overall the development of new players this season has been an absolute highlight for me but a few got found out yesterday. I have been nervous about Hewett being good enough to be in a premiership team all season and for mine he was very poor yesterday so he needs another big pre-season for mine as I just don't think he does enough. Mills I think we can excuse and Heeney had a good finals series so you'd hope they'll come back burning next year. Papley is a player I worry about getting found out next year so he needs to really crack on as well.

As for next year I fully expect Aliir to become an elite defender in the comp. O'Riordan and Newman I expect to play a lot of senior footy, possibly along with Foote and Dawson.

Our trade period will be interesting. We traditionally bring one experienced player in so I wonder if we'll do that this year. I'd personally like to see us keep our powder dry and bank a future pick for Mitchell and keep faith with the guys from this year and maybe also keep some cap space free as well but time will tell on that one

[goswannies]

It's hard for we spectators to know, but the obvious pain he was in against the Crows after than knock to the knee shows that his mended leg is susceptible to pain in a way a normal leg probably isn't. I have no idea whether he got a knock yesterday that inhibited him, but I suspect he plays under constant duress that most other players don't.

It's difficult to eliminate the pain of a fractured leg completely. As time passes it subsides and there are usually/often pain free periods, however, pain still occurs & not necessarily consistently (either for the individual or comparing different individuals). There are also a near infinite number of variables that contribute to their pain frequency and severity. I am astounded that Gary has actually come back to play some good footy (at times) but I can fully appreciate that he is not his pre-injury self ... and may never will be. A fractured leg can have a lifelong impact.