General off-season footy chat

[Meg]

This cross-fertilisation of ideas and tactics across Codes will continue as things become more professional.

I reckon professional field hockey has taken some tactics from AFL.

[mcs]

I reckon professional field hockey has taken some tactics from AFL.

Seeing we are completely off on a tangent - I never watch much field hockey, but always enjoy it when I do. Find it a good game in general to watch - very tactical, but with great moments of skilled mixed in. Definitely the most watched of the olympic sports in my household.

[RogueSwan]

Kinda Swans (Swansea Swans) related ... with crowds back next year anyone need a new t-shirt?

https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/DOLLOP-Cyril-by-MrFoz/42206954.22W0K

Might be fun to wear against Brisbane?

[neilfws]

I enjoyed this review of 2021 from, as it says, "an unashamedly NSW-centric perspective."

AFL year in review: Buddy’s comeback helps young Swans take flight alongside rising Giants

No earth-shattering insights, but a good reminder of the things that went well this year.

[Aprilbr]

I am extremely impressed with how the Club turned around its finances in the course of just one year. $6 million loss in 2020 and small profit in 2021. The 2021 figure also includes $2 million of spending on developing the new training facility which is a great investment in our future. We also retired all of our debt! This is probably as impressive a performance as our onfield improvement in 2021. We are well set up for the future, both on and off field.

[707]

I enjoyed this review of 2021 from, as it says, "an unashamedly NSW-centric perspective."

AFL year in review: Buddy’s comeback helps young Swans take flight alongside rising Giants

No earth-shattering insights, but a good reminder of the things that went well this year.

Loved this passage "Eddie McGuire’s resignation as Collingwood president. As soon as he tried to introduce the club’s “Do Better” report on systemic racism by saying it was “a historic and proud day for the Collingwood Football Club”, his goose was cooked. The schadenfreude was strong in Sydney, where McGuire has few friends."

[KSAS]

Since 1996 we've only had 3 senior coaches (Eade, Roos & Longmire). Each breaking club coaching record at the time. I think Geelong is the only other club who rival us in this regard (Ayres, Thompson & Scott)?

[dejavoodoo44]

Since 1996 we've only had 3 senior coaches (Eade, Roos & Longmire). Each breaking club coaching record at the time. I think Geelong is the only other club who rival us in this regard (Ayres, Thompson & Scott)?

You'd have to say that the Roos to Longmire succession plan worked.

[bloodspirit]

I enjoyed this review of 2021 from, as it says, "an unashamedly NSW-centric perspective."

AFL year in review: Buddy’s comeback helps young Swans take flight alongside rising Giants

No earth-shattering insights, but a good reminder of the things that went well this year.

The part I thought most interesting was where it was confidently asserted that Dawson left for money moreso than family reasons. First time I've heard that said so confidently. Obviously it wasn't the reason he gave and nobody from his management, the Swans or the Crows ever contradicted that. I thought the pay difference offered was modest (albeit that maybe we upped our offer to still less than the Crows AFTER they had made their offer). If this is true then it is unfortunate we didn't make him our best offer sooner - but of course he had his best ever year and we are trying to manage a cap. Might also explain why he didn't try harder to get us a better deal at the trade table.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

The part I thought most interesting was where it was confidently asserted that Dawson left for money moreso than family reasons. First time I've heard that said so confidently. Obviously it wasn't the reason he gave and nobody from his management, the Swans or the Crows ever contradicted that. I thought the pay difference offered was modest (albeit that maybe we upped our offer to still less than the Crows AFTER they had made their offer). If this is true then it is unfortunate we didn't make him our best offer sooner - but of course he had his best ever year and we are trying to manage a cap. Might also explain why he didn't try harder to get us a better deal at the trade table.

Perhaps those RWOers that were less than 100% convinced by the "family reasons" may have been right.

[Bloods05]

Perhaps those RWOers that were less than 100% convinced by the "family reasons" may have been right.

Or perhaps this journalist is just speculating.

[wolftone57]

Or perhaps this journalist is just speculating.

I think it was 6 of one and half dozen of the other. Sure he wanted more money. But he also wanted to play for the Crows, who he has supported all his life. He refused to even entertain Port offers. That tells me it was a bit of both because they might just have just offered a bit more.

In South Australia if a lad has supported Crows over Port it is, hard to change allegiances. That is because if you follow, Crows you hate Port and vica versa. Ask the Cornes bros. They both avidly supported the Crows, their father was it's first coach. But they were drafted by Port and ended up, after much emotional term oil, following and loving Port.

But Dawson was brought up in the Sturt zone. This and Glenelg zone kids would be the two zones that hate Port most. Sturt played many GFs against Port and so dud Glenelg, the former winning and the latter losing until 2019. So therefore Dawson, azan ex Sturt player, would not have ev3n entertained a move to Port

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[stevoswan]

The part I thought most interesting was where it was confidently asserted that Dawson left for money moreso than family reasons. First time I've heard that said so confidently. Obviously it wasn't the reason he gave and nobody from his management, the Swans or the Crows ever contradicted that. I thought the pay difference offered was modest (albeit that maybe we upped our offer to still less than the Crows AFTER they had made their offer). If this is true then it is unfortunate we didn't make him our best offer sooner - but of course he had his best ever year and we are trying to manage a cap. Might also explain why he didn't try harder to get us a better deal at the trade table.

Frankly, if this is true.....I'm glad he left.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I think it was 6 of one and half dozen of the other. Sure he wanted more money. But he also wanted to play for the Crows, who he has supported all his life. He refused to even entertain Port offers. That tells me it was a bit of both because they might just have just offered a bit more.

And as for the everyone hates Port thing, it might not be what it was - Graham Cornes' kids both managed to play for Port.

As you say it's speculation woltone, but just based on their ladder position, surely you'd acknowledge that the Crows would have the greater capacity to make the better bid. Not the other way around.

Looks to me as if he ended up at the team with the greater capacity to pay more.

More importantly it makes the assurances that the Swans don't have any player retention or Buddy related salary cap issues look even sillier. Not quite up with the "Neville Fields for Daniher was a good trade" silliness, but getting close.

[NeonBible]

A few more off season sightings:

- Saw Juzzy and Zac Foot waiting for a coffee and cinnamon scroll this morning! Justin had strapping on his ankle so I couldn't resist going up and asking - he said it's totally fine, just for compression and has been doing a gym program over his break. Made specific note of trying to build his "pipes" LOL!! Wonderful to see the Swans boys keeping in touch with Foot too, who seems a great kid. He's signed with the Southport Sharks for next year, so good luck to him with his future!

- Young Dylan Stephens seems to be a regular at a gym called 42north in Adelaide.. posted a story on IG doing a pretty intensive work out under the guise of a trainer!

- And we have heard about The Chad's effort with the bat over the weekend, but his brother Corey has also posted some updates on IG of the two at the gym together. Great to see them sharing that experience and no doubt Chad is giving the lil bro a few tips!!

One more to add to this little mini thread, I hear young Lachlan Rankin is doing a specialised weights program in Glen Waverley. Not that surprising when you consider he is only 73kg!! I assume all draftees would make bulking up (or slimming down in the case of some like Gus Sheldrick!) a priority in their first off-seasons, so this isn't an illuminating contribution, but still - it is nice to get more clarity about what our players are getting up to!!