Past players - what are they up to?

[goswannies]

Sad News: HS reporting Former Hawthorn and Sydney footballer Justin Crawford – the younger brother of Brownlow medallist Shane – has died suddenly, aged 45. Played 17 games as a Swan 1995-96.

Debuting at just 18 years of age, 17 games for the Swans including a Rising Star nomination in his debut season. 29 games for the Hawks. 46 AFL career games. Retired by the age of just 21 in 1998, citing burnout. Seven years late made a comeback in the WAFL in 2005 to play with South Fremantle and was part of the club's premiership that year & was among South’s best players on grand final day but left the club at the end of that season, lost to the game at League level … again. Potentially a prodigious talent that perhaps could have been anything. A sad and tragic loss of one of our flock. RIP Justin Crawford

[goswannies]

Just learned that we lost former player Ken Colvin (55 games 1962-65) last November to Covid

[goswannies]

Former Swan (& Magpie) Billy Picken just passed away condolences to the Picken family, his clubs and former teammates

[KSAS]

Very sad to hear of Billy Picken's death. Played 28 games for us over 2 seasons at the end of his career in 1984-85. I recall him being given the no.14 jumper which he was stoked to receive. I vidily remember him taking that sky scraping mark against St.Kilda at Victoria Park in 1976, which was Mark of the Year.

He was one of those opposition players you admired, particularly being from Collingwood. He would rack up big numbers of contested marks, a lot of them spectacular in similar fashion to Jeremy Howe today.

I recall getting his autograph in the late 70's for my fanatical Collingwood mate, who was too over awed to approach him. This was when we scored a summer job during our school holidays operating the Junction Oval scoreboard and Billy was playing district cricket for Collingwood, which wasn't uncommon for VFL players back then.

AFL 2022: Billy Picken dead, cause of death, age, reaction, achievements, Collingwood Magpies, Con Britt

[stevoswan]

It is sad to hear of Pickens death but all the articles on this are linking the deaths of he and Con Britt, with nothing on the cause of their deaths. Did they die in the same incident ie: a car crash? Did they die in separate incidents? Was it natural causes? Was it something else that they don't want to mention? It's all very cryptic.....and a little annoying. I am loath to speculate but at this point, it's all we can do.

RIP Billy.....the entertainer.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Billy was certainly a character, his mouth was in almost constant motion commentating on his game - even during practice.

[Velour&Ruffles]

Justin Crawford, former Swan and brother of Shane, has also died. In his 40s. Very sad. Was a bit of an unfulfilled talent who left the game young.

[crackedactor 01]

Just seen that Justin Crawford passed away. Vaguely remember him being recruited in the 90's. Only played about 20 games for the Swans before moving to Hawthorn.

[Nico]

Just learned that we lost former player Ken Colvin (55 games 1962-65) last November to Covid

"Chips" Colvin was aptly nick named Chips as there was a potato chip brand at the time called Colvan Chips. Was a country lad and a handy defender. Might have been CHB.

[Nico]

"Chips" Colvin was aptly nick named Chips as there was a potato chip brand at the time called Colvan Chips. Was a country lad and a handy defender. Might have been CHB.

Half Backline: Rantall (5), Harrison (18), Colvin (2). One of the best half backlines in the comp.

We had some really good players yet we were only a middle of the ladder team. Skilton was in his prime.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

We had some really good players yet we were only a middle of the ladder team. Skilton was in his prime.

Some great players, but the depth of supporting cast was almost never there.
I think it exlains the number of Swans that won Brownloaw's over the years - 2 a decade, higher than any other club, and double what we should win if the competition was an even one.

This thinness in talent is also why more players have represented the Swans, than say are Carlton or Collingwood (15% less players) - yet more Carlton or Collingwood players are eligable to generate Father/Son draft selections than the Swans (22-3% more 100+ gamers).
The AFL isn't a level playing field in any aspect, and the Swans disadvantages include the free kick counts, cost of living (COLA v's the endless freebies enjoyed in the AFL states), interstate travel, exclusion from the MCG, recruiting zones, and even this. They vary in their effects, but its all one-way traffic - an makes me so proud of our last 2 flags - and even more of our next one.

[Aprilbr]

Some great players, but the depth of supporting cast was almost never there.
I think it exlains the number of Swans that won Brownloaw's over the years - 2 a decade, higher than any other club, and double what we should win if the competition was an even one.

This thinness in talent is also why more players have represented the Swans, than say are Carlton or Collingwood (15% less players) - yet more Carlton or Collingwood players are eligable to generate Father/Son draft selections than the Swans (22-3% more 100+ gamers).
The AFL isn't a level playing field in any aspect, and the Swans disadvantages include the free kick counts, cost of living, interstate travel, exclusion from the MCG, recruiting zones, and even this. They vary in their effects, but its all one-way traffic - an makes me so proud of our last 2 flags - and even more of our next one.

Melbourne clubs love to bleat about COLA and the Academy but remain silent about the father-son rule. Clubs like Collingwood and Geelong have had numerous stars come through this route. I am not a fan of it. Its a total free kick to those Clubs. Next thing you know we will have a brother-brother rule or father-daughter rule. Interstate clubs just do not have the same opportunity to recruit father-son picks. We have had only one decent one in our history, Tom Mitchell, and he left after 3 or 4 seasons. Maybe Dempster at a stretch but that's about it. Rest were not up to it.

[Bloods05]

Melbourne clubs love to bleat about COLA and the Academy but remain silent about the father-son rule. Clubs like Collingwood and Geelong have had numerous stars come through this route. I am not a fan of it. Its a total free kick to those Clubs. Next thing you know we will have a brother-brother rule or father-daughter rule. Interstate clubs just do not have the same opportunity to recruit father-son picks. We have had only one decent one in our history, Tom Mitchell, and he left after 3 or 4 seasons. Maybe Dempster at a stretch but that's about it. Rest were not up to it.

That's just the luck of the draw. The rule itself disadvantages GWS and Gold Coast, and maybe the SA and WA clubs a bit, but give it another ten years and it will be a level playing field. It's a great part of the game.

[Mark26]

Melbourne clubs love to bleat about COLA and the Academy but remain silent about the father-son rule. Clubs like Collingwood and Geelong have had numerous stars come through this route. I am not a fan of it. Its a total free kick to those Clubs. Next thing you know we will have a brother-brother rule or father-daughter rule. Interstate clubs just do not have the same opportunity to recruit father-son picks. We have had only one decent one in our history, Tom Mitchell, and he left after 3 or 4 seasons. Maybe Dempster at a stretch but that's about it. Rest were not up to it.

Did Blakey qualify under the FS rule or was he purely an academy pick up?

[ugg]

Did Blakey qualify under the FS rule or was he purely an academy pick up?

How many games did John Blakey play for the Swans?