Past players - what are they up to?

[KTigers]

I think if we had a player now that took as many great marks as Wazza did in his heyday we'd be going completely nuts. His recovery once
he came back earth was amazing, he barely missed a beat. He tended to try and guide the ball through when kicking in that 85-87 period and
it worked. He averaged about 66% in that period.

[Faunac8]

And if you weren’t lucky enough to see him at the time here is a highlight reel that will make you go wow. I think Isaac is the closest we currently have in regards to aerial marking ability but there was only one Wiz.
Warwick Capper Highlights - YouTube

[Faunac8]

I think if we had a player now that took as many great marks as Wazza did in his heyday we'd be going completely nuts. His recovery once
he came back earth was amazing, he barely missed a beat. He tended to try and guide the ball through when kicking in that 85-87 period and
it worked. He averaged about 66% in that period.

Makes me wonder given his accuracy why have we not ever reached out to him to provide some guidance to other players in the last 35 years .
I think he would definitely offer something.

[goswannies]

Great post Goswannies. I was there at VFL Park that day when the Wizz took that Mark of the Century in the 1987 QF against Hawthorn. He took it right in front of me from where I was sitting and was truly breathing taking, hanging in the air like a kite perpendicular over Langford's head. So much so, he even got standing ovation from some of the Hawthorn supporters around me. Only thing missing was Superman's cape as he flew over Langford in a single bound.

Sadly that was the only highlight for the day as we got absolutely smashed by the tune of about 80 points. Even when the Wizz kicked his 100th late in the game, there was little fanfare (light applause) such was the drubbing. No ground invasion which it truly deserved.

I was there too! Courtesy of Craig Potter. It was a very somber mood down in the rooms after the game.

The Wizz is one of my all time favourite Swan. One of many who we recruited from our Noble Park zone with the likes of the Wright and Morwood brothers. His high marking & goal kicking gave me insight what it must've been like to watch Pratt in his hey day at the next level!

Ah, to have seen the South sides of the 1930s! I’ve got some great books about them (The Bloodstained Angels, The Swanlake Spectacular, Days by the Lake, The Great Laurie Nash) but sadly little video footage exists of that era.

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Makes me wonder given his accuracy why have we not ever reached out to him to provide some guidance to other players in the last 35 years .
I think he would definitely offer something.

His kicking style might be one reason. Worked well for the Wiz, but you wouldn’t want everyone to emulate it.

[bloodspirit]

Makes me wonder given his accuracy why have we not ever reached out to him to provide some guidance to other players in the last 35 years .
I think he would definitely offer something.

His kicking style might be one reason. Worked well for the Wiz, but you wouldn’t want everyone to emulate it.

Yeah, his kicking style (due to problems with gammy knee). That and the fact that his relatively decent conversion percentage was boosted by the fact that he took most of his shots pretty close to goal because he didn't like to kick from more than 20-30 m out (with at least one notable exception where he kicked a goal from 50 after the siren in R10 1989 while playing for the Brisbane Bears to upset Carlton which led to Robert Walls sacking as coach despite having won the flag in 1987).

[KTigers]

I think Capper's kicking style was unique, but no more so than any number of other players. It wasn't that weird really. And if it works for
them then it's a good (ie successful) style. He wasn't a long or powerful kick and I used to think he couldn't really kick much further than
35M or 40M. But he played in an era where full forwards stayed a lot closer to the goal square. So yeah, he took a lot of shots from 10M to
20M out. As did Plugger by the way. But does it matter? They are all still goals. If Papley kicks one from 5M out on Friday night it's not
a "lesser goal" is it?
Capper was probably a victim of the "Wild West" football business culture that existed around the early days of the AFL and the Swans
in particular, effectively being sold off to Brisbane for an English soccer style transfer fee. If the Swans had been funded properly in those
days maybe that wouldn't have happened.

[bloodspirit]

Comments about Capper's kicking style are not to cheapen his goal, KT, but to respond to Faunac8's comment that based on Capper's goal kicking accuracy it's surprising that he hasn't been called on by the club to mentor other players in goal kicking.

[goswannies]

Capper was probably a victim of the "Wild West" football business culture that existed around the early days of the AFL and the Swans
in particular, effectively being sold off to Brisbane for an English soccer style transfer fee. If the Swans had been funded properly in those
days maybe that wouldn't have happened.

True, but without the transfer fees we wouldn’t have got Williams, Healy Toohey, Bolton, Neagle and countless others, without whom Capper might not have had anywhere near the service & delivery (both in frequency and quality) to enable him to achieve what he did (both airily and goal scoring capacity).

[KTigers]

True, but without the transfer fees we wouldn’t have got Williams, Healy Toohey, Bolton, Neagle and countless others, without whom Capper might not have had anywhere near the service & delivery (both in frequency and quality) to enable him to achieve what he did (both airily and goal scoring capacity).

Sure, he was the beneficiary and then the victim of the transfer fee era. As were many others I suppose. Certainly we were doing okay
till the money started to run out. Now of course we're told we're in the level playing field era. Which is not very level. But that's probably
another thread or ten. Capper was born in 1963, so he'll turn 60 next year. All that hair has likely gone grey by now, though I'd be
disappointed if he doesn't dye it.

[goswannies]

For $145, Warwick (and many celebrities) will do a personalised video message for you that you can send to someone. Waz is very enthusiastic when he does his

Phttps://v.cameo.com/bTNUvy7aUsb

Josh Kennedy is $109
Kieren Jack is $58
Callum Mills $94
Paul Roos $109
Daniel Menzel $44
Sam Naismith a bargain at $42
Sam Wicks $44
Dan Hannebery $73
Barry Hall $102
Tom Derickx $52 (I’m sure he’d do a deal of you drop Ludwig’s name)

[Velour&Ruffles]

Another thing about the Wiz was that, despite appearances, he was actually very tough. He played back in the days when virtually anything went, and he week in week out copped all sorts of ridiculous thuggery that simply would not be tolerated today. He'd get 17 frees a week now. Anyway, it didn't put him off - he just used his opponent as a step-ladder and went straight over the top of them. It seemed situation normal that he'd take a couple of screamers every week. He was a joy to watch.

[Faunac8]

Another thing about the Wiz was that, despite appearances, he was actually very tough. He played back in the days when virtually anything went, and he week in week out copped all sorts of ridiculous thuggery that simply would not be tolerated today. He'd get 17 frees a week now. Anyway, it didn't put him off - he just used his opponent as a step-ladder and went straight over the top of them. It seemed situation normal that he'd take a couple of screamers every week. He was a joy to watch.

Absolutely agree with this on all levels . Warwick used to cop treatment that forwards nowadays would never accept without complaint and to overcome this he just waited for an opportunity to take a hanger and would then point to the big screen replay as if to say you are just a prop for the main show i.e me the Wiz ????
Still in my opinion one of the most entertaining players I have ever seen play .

[stevoswan]

Superstar Villain - Warwick Capper - The Mongrel Punt

Great article.....and yes, he was certainly great to watch. Criminally underrated.

[goswannies]

Another thing about the Wiz was that, despite appearances, he was actually very tough. He played back in the days when virtually anything went, and he week in week out copped all sorts of ridiculous thuggery that simply would not be tolerated today. He'd get 17 frees a week now. Anyway, it didn't put him off - he just used his opponent as a step-ladder and went straight over the top of them. It seemed situation normal that he'd take a couple of screamers every week. He was a joy to watch.

Bruce Doull & Chris Langford always seemed quite fair and respectful. Mick Martin was dirty on him every time he was used as a mark of the year contender prop - which was often! Ave a look at Waz’s highlight reel Mick would alway get up and give Waz a shove (or even a kick). Must have been hard for Mick to be a human stepladder for the Wiz time and time again.

On that highlight reel it’s criminal to see the treatment Warwick often got after taking a hanger. Today his conversion rate would be even better with all the 15m penalties he would have received putting him closer to goal. Given how close he played to goal, a 15m penalty would have given him a set shot from the goal square every time!

Also great to see how his teammates usually stuck up for him. But equally admirable that he rarely retaliated. His footy spoke for him

[KTigers]

For $145, Warwick (and many celebrities) will do a personalised video message for you that you can send to someone. Waz is very enthusiastic when he does his

Phttps://v.cameo.com/bTNUvy7aUsb

Josh Kennedy is $109
Kieren Jack is $58
Callum Mills $94
Paul Roos $109
Daniel Menzel $44
Sam Naismith a bargain at $42
Sam Wicks $44
Dan Hannebery $73
Barry Hall $102
Tom Derickx $52 (I’m sure he’d do a deal of you drop Ludwig’s name)

mmm.... interesting, it cost me $102 this morning in Uber charges to take the cat to the vet and back.
I could have spent that money on getting a special message from Barry Hall instead. But I think I made
the right call.