Are we now a genuine Premiership threat?

[i'm-uninformed2]

Great post and great comparison. Barry Hall was also a massive player in 2003 and dominated the comp until end of 2006.

Loved Baz. He was as good as any forward in the comp that stretch.

And speaking of 2003, everyone rightly raves about Goodes in the famous 2003 final re Port. But go and also look at what Baz did, from his general play to his marking to his goal kicking. It was genuinely brilliant.

Again, that season! And this one is matching it. Roll on and let’s stick it up them.

[gloveski]

One thing that stands out is that we still like an undersized backline


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[i'm-uninformed2]

2003 was a great season. A bit like the 2016 grand final margin, that margin in the prelim doesn't justify how hard we pushed Brisbane in that game. We were all dreaming at 3/4 time, but they showed just how good they are in that last quarter.

Why did you have to ruin this thread by bringing up 2016 ????

[i'm-uninformed2]

One thing that stands out is that we still like an undersized backline


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Yes, though I’d say two things - Craig Bolton was at least the equal of Rampe. When Nick Reiwoldt names you as his most difficult opponent, you’re seriously good. And we weren’t playing the monster forwards of today. 200cm forwards are the norm now.

My instinct is that defence was better developed as pure stoppers. Our current one has better runners. That’s also reflective of how the game needs to be played these days.

[mcs]

Yes, though I’d say two things - Craig Bolton was at least the equal of Rampe. When Nick Reiwoldt names you as his most difficult opponent, you’re seriously good. And we weren’t playing the monster forwards of today. 200cm forwards are the norm now.

My instinct is that defence was better developed as pure stoppers. Our current one has better runners. That’s also reflective of how the game needs to be played these days.

Completely agree.

I reckon Bolton was a better 1 on 1 defender than Rampe. But Rampe has a better all round game, and creativity running out of the backline as well is something Rampe adds a lot to. An ability to turn defence into attack.

The game is too different of course - but always fascinating to think how teams of different eras would 'line up' and go against each other if there was a way to equalise the differences that makes that simply too hard to do.

[dejavoodoo44]

Completely agree.

I reckon Bolton was a better 1 on 1 defender than Rampe. But Rampe has a better all round game, and creativity running out of the backline as well is something Rampe adds a lot to. An ability to turn defence into attack.

The game is too different of course - but always fascinating to think how teams of different eras would 'line up' and go against each other if there was a way to equalise the differences that makes that simply too hard to do.

I've always thought that Rampe had a lot in common with Leaping Leo. A certain amount of flair, combined with playing on and beating, much larger forwards.

And comparing those eras, I'd love it if Blakey could develop into a modern version of Tadhg. As in, someone who can launch electrifying counter attacks, while being a bit kamikaze in defence.

[Goal Sneak]

2003 was a great season. A bit like the 2016 grand final margin, that margin in the prelim doesn't justify how hard we pushed Brisbane in that game. We were all dreaming at 3/4 time, but they showed just how good they are in that last quarter.

As much as I appreciate not playing there anymore, that prelim at Olympic Stadium was one of the loudest crowds I can remember. Not even close to full capacity but much louder than any of the other games I've been to there when it was full.

I also thought we had them at 3/4 time, we seemingly had all the momentum. I can look back and appreciate it now but at the time I was gutted.

[Bangalore Swans]

So my reason for that is the rebuild analogy. It's where I personally think we're at, with some young players still building and a flag more likely from 2023 and beyond. To put 2003 in perspective, it was Goodes first year of sustained, consistent, brilliant footy. It was Schneider's first year. ROK was still becoming a player. Blokes like Jude and Fosdike were only really starting to make an imprint. Creswell and Williams were veterans. I see the dynamic as similar.

Plus, I should add, the sheer stick-ot-up-them factor. Both years, people predicted us for the wooden spoon. Screw them.

Outside the flag years, 2003 was my fave season as a Swans fan of 30 years because of the sheer optimism and joy of it, and excitement of our play (I vividly remember being at Docklands Stadium for a match in about round six or seven and watching us dash around the ground to defeat Collingwood). This one is matching it.

The 2021 team is a team of far more potential with much more explosive talent than 2003. The 2021 version is much younger with quicker and more skilful players. The 2003 team didn’t have the outside run and skills of players like Florent, Dawson, Gulden, J-Mac, Blakey, Stephens or Campbell. The 2003 starting inside midfield was not as strong as the Kennedy, Parker, Mills 2021 version.

2003 contained two amazing players (Hall and Goodes) who won the team many games. The 2021 has Buddy as the amazing player however at 34 he’s much more advanced in age as the 26 year old Hall.

Key defence was probably a little stronger in 2003 with Barry, Bolton and Schable shading Rampe, McCartin and Fox. Heeney and Haywood as medium talls are probably not performing as well as Davis and ROK.

Papley is a better player as a small forward than Schnider.

2021 has Chad as the young bull midfield linebreaker. The 2003 team had no Chad like line breakers except for Adam Goodes who amazingly was also the teams ruckman.

The 2021 team has assembled an artillery of young talent that will keep getting better and better year to year. The same talent projection was not there in 2003.

[i'm-uninformed2]

This pretty much fits my view, particularly in terms of obvious potential at the given times.

One thing I’ll give the 2003 side is how many players went onto maximise their potential.

For example, ROK was solid in 2003 but not the player he became as an elite, high, gut running, link up half forward in 2005 (let alone the midfield bull of 2012).

Fosdike and Jude Bolton really kicked on from 2003, after years of good, but not spectacular development. (A nice reminder some blokes take time). LRT was still a gangly bit player playing CHF at times, not the best player on the ground to half time in the 2005 GF.

If our current squad can replicate that, and fill a couple of positional soft spots, it’s game on.

[i'm-uninformed2]

One other reason I guess I picked 2003 is the last three weeks reminds me of rounds 5-7 in 2003.

After starting the season slowly (unlike this year), we had a 10-goal final quarter to run over Melbourne, we went down to Docklands for the game I mentioned earlier to run Collingwood (runners up the year before) off their feet, the returned home for the big one, beating then two-time champs Brisbane. It was a run that was fun to watch and said we’d arrived.

Throw in the later final against Port when we won against adversity, and it reminds me of what’s happening now.

I know some of our big wins early in this season suggested that. But post-bye we could have gone one of two ways and against the odds, we’ve gone bang.

Loved 2003. Loving 2021. Bring it on.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I've always thought that Rampe had a lot in common with Leaping Leo. A certain amount of flair, combined with playing on and beating, much larger forwards.

And comparing those eras, I'd love it if Blakey could develop into a modern version of Tadhg. As in, someone who can launch electrifying counter attacks, while being a bit kamikaze in defence.

Loved Leo. The best bit about Leo taking off on one of those kamikaze runs is you had no idea how it was going to end, the opposition had no idea where he was going, because above all - Leo had no idea what the end game was either!

[mcs]

Loved Leo. The best bit about Leo taking off on one of those kamikaze runs is you had no idea how it was going to end, the opposition had no idea where he was going, because above all - Leo had no idea what the end game was either!

That's my take a bit on Blakey at times off the back line - all a bit of 'what's happening next no one quite knows'.....

[Markwebbos]

That's my take a bit on Blakey at times off the back line - all a bit of 'what's happening next no one quite knows'.....

He reminds me a bit of Tadhg a bit with his kamikaze running. It's a good thing he's so fast.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Its a fascinating area to ponder - are we a GF chance ?

I never in my wildest dreams would have thought we would have been 11 from 17 wins with 5 to go and a genuine chance of winning 3 from 5 and maybe all 5 !!!!

amazing acceleration in development of a few young guys and relentless passion and consistency by our snr folk

My worry is if we can not get the game on our term our backline in a finals type game maybe under serious match up pressure

but our mids and forwards without significant injury can match most teams

[707]

So many players have risen to a new level this season plus we have Buddy on the park.

The wild ride started three weeks ago, hang on to see where it goes!