Are the Swans headed for the spoon in 2019?

[barry]

My pre season prediction was 9th, so I've only made a slight revision downwards after this slow start.

We will cause a few upsets during the year. Buddy back, Reid catching the ball, Mensel in, we will have a pretty good forward line.

[wolftone57]

We'll win a few more and end up somewhere near the bottom and on the way get some games into the next generation of players. Hopefully Horse will show some faith and give them a good run. It is a very different team - for example Grundy, McVeigh and Smith not in defence, there's about 800 games worth of experience lost and we want Melican and Aliir to all of the sudden replace that. I think they will both be very good players but it will take time.
One of things I am very interested to see of the remainder of the season is the evolution is Longmire's coaching. He had had a fairly stable core of players who put in a consistent effort week in week out. That core has been reduced and the players replacing them have far less experience and a different skill set, so trying to play the same way is pointless. I am hopeful that he will be able to find a way to play to the team's individual and collective strengths. If he can we might be pleasantly surprised at some of the footy that gets played.

Well he will have to stop the 'Manage The Damage' tactics of throwing Reid and Dawson back. We can't score if we don't have a stable forward line and numbers at the fall of the ball. Putting two players, one fromm the mids and the other from the forward line, just makes it more difficult to win the ball on those lines.

I just wish he would put his faith in the players. We were on a roll against GWS but just after we kicked a goal Reid was sent into defence and when they kicked a goal Dawson was sent there. They ended up kicking 6 for the quarter. So that really worked.

Please Horsey trust, trust, trust. I'd rather get blown away playing a new exciting brand of footy than this negative crap. It is totally unwatchable. Ask any supporter of other clubs. Every time we come on telly they turn off.

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[Ruck'n'Roll]

If things start looking really bad (like post Edelsten bad) we could go completely retro and get a Davis out of retirement again - although Nick would be 5 years older than Craig.

[AnnieH]

When we get the wooden spoon, I hope the club come out with a commemorative one I can buy...

[jono2707]

I'd rather finish 9th or 10th or whatever by trying to win every match from here on in. Stuff tanking for the spoon or thereabouts for higher draft picks - what sort of a winning culture does that?

I expect my team - players, coaches, management - to get out there and try to win every week. No exceptions.

[Matty10]

I'd rather finish 9th or 10th or whatever by trying to win every match from here on in. Stuff tanking for the spoon or thereabouts for higher draft picks - what sort of a winning culture does that?

I expect my team - players, coaches, management - to get out there and try to win every week. No exceptions.

I'm with you.

[Markwebbos]

I'd rather finish 9th or 10th or whatever by trying to win every match from here on in. Stuff tanking for the spoon or thereabouts for higher draft picks - what sort of a winning culture does that?

I expect my team - players, coaches, management - to get out there and try to win every week. No exceptions.

How do you feel about the exception of a Ross Lyon style cue-in-the-rack. Any player that needs surgery has it done in the latter part of the H&A season so that they don't miss any preseason and are ready for 2020. You aren't tanking. Get to play more kids and therefore might win a few less games. But you have a healthier and potentially stronger list (draft wise) in 2020.

[barry]

How do you feel about the exception of a Ross Lyon style cue-in-the-rack. Any player that needs surgery has it done in the latter part of the H&A season so that they don't miss any preseason and are ready for 2020. You aren't tanking. Get to play more kids and therefore might win a few less games. But you have a healthier and potentially stronger list (draft wise) in 2020.

But what happens in the following year?

You win a heap of early games because you are the only team with a full list, and end up finishing a few higher places than you would normally have because of this slight advantage.

So whats the point ? Risking your culture and player development for a fleetingly higher draft pick which is negated by a weaker draft pick the following year.

[wolftone57]

When we get the wooden spoon, I hope the club come out with a commemorative one I can buy...

You really are a masochist haha

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[wolftone57]

But what happens in the following year?

You win a heap of early games because you are the only team with a full list, and end up finishing a few higher places than you would normally have because of this slight advantage.

So whats the point ? Risking your culture and player development for a fleetingly higher draft pick which is negated by a weaker draft pick the following year.

No. I don't thi k that is the case. In most instances you just have a full list to pick from. Your list is healthier and all things going right stay that way for the year. What's more you have put games into kids to get them ready for the big time. This is the year you want to make finals again. Look at Hawthorn, Eagles etc.

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[caj23]

But what happens in the following year?

You win a heap of early games because you are the only team with a full list, and end up finishing a few higher places than you would normally have because of this slight advantage.

So whats the point ? Risking your culture and player development for a fleetingly higher draft pick which is negated by a weaker draft pick the following year.

I really don't see us being down for the long term barry. Call me an optimist but I don't think its beyond the group to be challenging again next season.

Cats and Hawks both had one down season and bounced back to the finals, no reason why we cant do the same.

[wolftone57]

I really don't see us being down for the long term barry. Call me an optimist but I don't think its beyond the group to be challenging again next season.

Cats and Hawks both had one down season and bounced back to the finals, no reason why we cant do the same.

I agree totally. This is why I'd like to see our coaches taking risks not Managing the Damage. If we do then if it blows out, then so be it. But we might just win a few we shouldn't really win.

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[Ludwig]

When we get the wooden spoon, I hope the club come out with a commemorative one I can buy...

I've been working on it since the start of the season. Tom Harley suggested that I should engrave an image of Ludwig inside. What do ya think? He says the reason we're in such a precarious position this year is that he's been reading my comments and has taken them seriously.



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My pre season prediction was 9th, so I've only made a slight revision downwards after this slow start.

My prediction was 19th, so I think we're doing just fine.

[Nico]

My pre season prediction was 9th, so I've only made a slight revision downwards after this slow start.

We will cause a few upsets during the year. Buddy back, Reid catching the ball, Mensel in, we will have a pretty good forward line.

Except they can't kick enough goals.

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If things start looking really bad (like post Edelsten bad) we could go completely retro and get a Davis out of retirement again - although Nick would be 5 years older than Craig.

I vote we get Gary Buckerina back as coach.

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If we win the spoon they should send a CD to all members of all Johnny Longmires 2019 pressers.

[707]

.......If we win the spoon they should send a CD to all members of all Johnny Longmires 2019 pressers.

They should release all the Match Committee notes for this year, what a read they'd be!