Expectations for 2021 season

[Ruck'n'Roll]

But my greatest expectation for the Swans in 2021, is getting to see them live again! Bring it on! The waiting is tedious and drags so much.

Ditto, regarding seeing the Swans live again.
I find the off season on RWO can sometimes be more entertaining, there's time to really discuss things away form the roller coaster up and down of the season itself.

[bloodspirit]

The first six matches of the season have been fixtured so that we will play: Brisbane, Adelaide, Richmond, Essendon, GWS and Gold Coast. I think if we can split those 3-3 we'll be doing well. And if we can win 4-2, it'll be outstanding. I'm not prepared to dream of more than that.

I'm pencilling in victories against Adelaide and Essendon. I reckon we're underdogs against Brisbane and Richmond. And the games against GWS and the Suns could go either way.

What do others think? What's a pass mark?

[Auntie.Gerald]

5 wins in 2020

to go 3 and 3 in 2021 after the first 6 would be a significant effort BS

hmmmm I cant pick the trajectory just yet, because it appears we will do everything we can to continue blooding a few more 18yr olds.......which in a Geelong team the last few years didnt interfere with the ability to stay top4 or better...................but for us that is a stretch based on 2020 and the youth policy and only 5 wins and 16th on the table?

I we we come out with 8 wins and play youth youth youth in 2021 that would be a great effort me thinks

Its not my preferred strategy but it appears to be the direction.

[TheBloods]

+1 to the seeing the Swans live again. Much prefer the SCG games where you get a better feel for who is working hard , how we set up, what the match ups are etc

[mcs]

7 to 8 wins for the season is where I think we can broadly land, but hoping for a couple more wins than that. Mainly just want to see a further year of development in our younger guys, and maybe a star or two more to emerge as well!

The main thing I hope all of us that want to will get to enjoy is seeing plenty of footy live again! Can't wait for Rd 1 on that basis alone

[mcs]

7 to 8 wins for the season is where I think we can broadly land, but hoping for a couple more wins than that. Mainly just want to see a further year of development in our younger guys, and maybe a star or two more to emerge as well!

The main thing I hope all of us that want to will get to enjoy is seeing plenty of footy live again! Can't wait for Rd 1 on that basis alone

[Aaron]

Agree with 8 wins prediction but hope that we can get 10+

[aardvark]

15th - 18th is my prediction. It will take a season or two before we start to climb the ladder again.

[MattW]

The first six matches of the season have been fixtured so that we will play: Brisbane, Adelaide, Richmond, Essendon, GWS and Gold Coast. I think if we can split those 3-3 we'll be doing well. And if we can win 4-2, it'll be outstanding. I'm not prepared to dream of more than that.

I'm pencilling in victories against Adelaide and Essendon. I reckon we're underdogs against Brisbane and Richmond. And the games against GWS and the Suns could go either way.

What do others think? What's a pass mark?

Hard to see us winning 4 of those. I think we'll lose to Brisbane, Richmond and GWS. Losing to Adelaide would be embarrassing. Should beat Essendon and noting our recent form against Gold Coast, that's even money.

All up, 3-3 is a realistic, positive ambition.

[graemed]

Expectations for 2021 season

So much depends on:

1) injuries to key individuals
2) development of emerging talent
3) ability to win clearances especially at centre bounces
4) the COVID factor. Will we be able to play a full season out of Sydney?

Ignoring #4, over which we have no control.
With respect to #1; there is real depth across a lot of areas, except for the ruck, key defenders and forwards.

#2 I have faith in our coaching staff who seem to have a happy knack of blending loyalty and determination together with the wherewithal it takes to play and be competitive at this level.

#3 unless Naismith makes a full recovery and can play out an entire season, this remains our biggest stumbling block. As we saw on Saturday scoring from centre bounces under the new rules is almost impossible for defenders to control.

Based on all the above, it’s difficult to see us winning against teams with an established ruck and roving division:
Geelong, Richmond, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, West Coast, Brisbane.

Of the remaining 11 teams, Freo and St Kilda look threatening and Gold Coast have the list that seems to show the most promise.

So who does that leave Carlton, Melbourne, Adelaide, North, Western Bulldog, Hawthorn, Essendon and GWS.

Let’s say we win 3/4 of our games against these last 8, 1/3 of our games against the middle group and 2 games against the top 6.

That gives us 9 wins compared to 5 last year, based on the possibility we only get to play 17 games again. If 22 games are played we may win 2/5 of the rest, assuming those last 5 games are against teams from my last 8, which leaves us with 11 wins.

I believe that would be a more than acceptable season. Plenty of excitement, new talent to appreciate and the hope of better to come.

[barry]

All I can say is thank god for Adelaide. I think our rebound has been delayed a year or two with the departure of Allir

[Thunder Shaker]

5 wins in 2020 is not directly comparable to this season because there were only 17 games in the 2020 season. Win percentage is a better comparison. We won 29.4% of games in 2020, equivalent to 6.5 wins in a 22-round season (5 × 22/17).

[dejavoodoo44]

In the captain's survey on the AFL site, we were one of only three teams, that none of the other captains thought would make the finals. The other two were Adelaide and North. Which I suppose is a dampener on expectations. Though I remain optimistic, that if we have a good run with injuries, we can play an attractive style of footy and make the eight.

The only mark we made on the survey, was one captain thought that Papley would win the Coleman and another went for Franklin.

[longmile]

In the captain's survey on the AFL site, we were one of only three teams, that none of the other captains thought would make the finals. The other two were Adelaide and North. Which I suppose is a dampener on expectations. Though I remain optimistic, that if we have a good run with injuries, we can play an attractive style of footy and make the eight.

The only mark we made on the survey, was one captain thought that Papley would win the Coleman and another went for Franklin.

Don't forget Logan McDonald with 3 votes as the potential 2021 rising star! While way behind Rowell this took me by surprise.

Speaking of suprise, very surprised we weren't even given 1 vote to make the 8. We are miles better than adelaide and north. Personally I don't see us making the 8th but we are not bottom 4 material. Whoever said the Hawks will make the 8 needs to lay off the hard stuff

[dejavoodoo44]

Don't forget Logan McDonald with 3 votes as the potential 2021 rising star! While way behind Rowell this took me by surprise.

Speaking of suprise, very surprised we weren't even given 1 vote to make the 8. We are miles better than adelaide and north. Personally I don't see us making the 8th but we are not bottom 4 material. Whoever said the Hawks will make the 8 needs to lay off the hard stuff

Whoops, I missed the McDonald votes. I must've scanned for Campbell, Gulden and Stephens, and didn't notice the prominent McDonald in front of my eyes.

Yes, can't see the Hawks making the eight, nor Essendon, who also got a vote. Was also surprised that Collingwood got 8 votes, when I think they could easily be big sliders. Alternatively, I was a bit surprised that Carlton only got one vote, as they have plenty of young talent, who have been maturing into a strong unit. Although they do already have a long injury list. And an extended period of crappiness.