SWANSBEST
24th March 2003, 09:15 PM
Clubs to watch
9:24:09 AM Mon 24 March, 2003
Patrick Smith
afl.com.au
One week to go. The image of Michael Malthouse weeping with his players remains so vivid that it seems last season?s grand final remains in touching distance. But it has gone. Well and truly gone.
Brisbane has reset its goals for a treble of premierships. There has been nothing in Leigh Matthews manner this summer that suggests he doesn?t see this as anything but the opportunity to cement Brisbane?s place as football?s greatest ever team.
Malthouse?s tears have turned to stone. He took his men to within two kicks of football?s absolute glory. He must make them better, stronger and more efficient. It is a meticulous, relentless task. The only tissues Malthouse is concerned with now are those that hold together the hamstrings of his players.
The Grand Finalists were always going to be everybody?s immediate centre of attention. In the pre-season competition, Matthews worked his men as hard as he could until the risk of winning the minor premiership may have compromised his ambition to win the major one. The Lions lost to Geelong in round two.
Collingwood did not chase the Wizard Cup but the team found themselves in such fine form that they reached the final anyway. Adelaide, who had penciled in the ugliest trophy in football, were more prepared and more committed. To such an extent that the Magpies looked hesitant and soft. We know that?s not true but it remains proof that significant games cannot be won by teams who are on the bubble and not the boil.
There will be others facing the toughest examination this year.
Sydney flew home last year winning five of its last six games under temporary coach Paul Roos. So impressive was the performance that temporary became permanent, but not before some embarrassing and public fumbling by the Sydney board. It was clear that Terry Wallace had been in the wings for the job. In the end Wallace?s wings were clipped after fans and players alike rallied to Roos.
There is a more significant reason to watch Sydney now. The Swans lost more than $1 million last year and are tracking for another substantial loss this year. The rugby World Cup has sucked its corporate support dry. They will seek assistance from the AFL Commission within weeks.
The club, so important to the future of the national league, constantly appear to kick the ball forward only to have it booted back over their head again. Finalists in the middle 80s to easy-beats a few years later. Grand finalists in 1996, seventh a year later and 11th last season.
Since 1982, the year they relocated to Sydney, the Swans have been unable to secure a substantial and secure presence. From private ownership, to AFL intervention, to a form of private ownership again. Then came the Richard Colless administration and finally stability. So much so that the AFL stopped financial assistance to the Swans in 1998. Now they are back begging again.
No doubt management could have been better in the past but the Swans face a fight unique in Australian football. The Sydney market is always cynical and mostly fickle.
The Swans must compete against the heart of rugby union and rugby league. Yet it is the club with the most potential for growth. The Greater West of Sydney is about the size of Brisbane and Adelaide combined. It is a goal field that must be mined.
When the AFL broadcast agreement is set to be renegotiated in two years, the amount of money available will be intrinsically linked to Sydney?s ability to draw crowds and rating points. Roos and Colless have a fierce responsibility.
The other club we will have our eye on is St Kilda. Since the Rod Butterss administration took over the club in 2000, the Saints financial position has soured and they have won nine out of a possible 44 games.
Grant Thomas is the coach who dares to be different but he must also be good as well. He has won six games in 29. He has said publicly if there was a better coach available for St Kilda then he would step aside. He now has a young list of the best young players available. He has recruited Luke Penny and Stephen Powell for experience. And, of course, he has Robert Harvey. The one thing Thomas doesn?t have any more is time.
So, they are the teams we will be watching most closely this year. Brisbane, Collingwood, St Kilda and Sydney. Some to see how well they can play, some to see if they can just survive.
Patrick Smith writes daily in The Australian. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=opinion&spg=display&articleid=80293
9:24:09 AM Mon 24 March, 2003
Patrick Smith
afl.com.au
One week to go. The image of Michael Malthouse weeping with his players remains so vivid that it seems last season?s grand final remains in touching distance. But it has gone. Well and truly gone.
Brisbane has reset its goals for a treble of premierships. There has been nothing in Leigh Matthews manner this summer that suggests he doesn?t see this as anything but the opportunity to cement Brisbane?s place as football?s greatest ever team.
Malthouse?s tears have turned to stone. He took his men to within two kicks of football?s absolute glory. He must make them better, stronger and more efficient. It is a meticulous, relentless task. The only tissues Malthouse is concerned with now are those that hold together the hamstrings of his players.
The Grand Finalists were always going to be everybody?s immediate centre of attention. In the pre-season competition, Matthews worked his men as hard as he could until the risk of winning the minor premiership may have compromised his ambition to win the major one. The Lions lost to Geelong in round two.
Collingwood did not chase the Wizard Cup but the team found themselves in such fine form that they reached the final anyway. Adelaide, who had penciled in the ugliest trophy in football, were more prepared and more committed. To such an extent that the Magpies looked hesitant and soft. We know that?s not true but it remains proof that significant games cannot be won by teams who are on the bubble and not the boil.
There will be others facing the toughest examination this year.
Sydney flew home last year winning five of its last six games under temporary coach Paul Roos. So impressive was the performance that temporary became permanent, but not before some embarrassing and public fumbling by the Sydney board. It was clear that Terry Wallace had been in the wings for the job. In the end Wallace?s wings were clipped after fans and players alike rallied to Roos.
There is a more significant reason to watch Sydney now. The Swans lost more than $1 million last year and are tracking for another substantial loss this year. The rugby World Cup has sucked its corporate support dry. They will seek assistance from the AFL Commission within weeks.
The club, so important to the future of the national league, constantly appear to kick the ball forward only to have it booted back over their head again. Finalists in the middle 80s to easy-beats a few years later. Grand finalists in 1996, seventh a year later and 11th last season.
Since 1982, the year they relocated to Sydney, the Swans have been unable to secure a substantial and secure presence. From private ownership, to AFL intervention, to a form of private ownership again. Then came the Richard Colless administration and finally stability. So much so that the AFL stopped financial assistance to the Swans in 1998. Now they are back begging again.
No doubt management could have been better in the past but the Swans face a fight unique in Australian football. The Sydney market is always cynical and mostly fickle.
The Swans must compete against the heart of rugby union and rugby league. Yet it is the club with the most potential for growth. The Greater West of Sydney is about the size of Brisbane and Adelaide combined. It is a goal field that must be mined.
When the AFL broadcast agreement is set to be renegotiated in two years, the amount of money available will be intrinsically linked to Sydney?s ability to draw crowds and rating points. Roos and Colless have a fierce responsibility.
The other club we will have our eye on is St Kilda. Since the Rod Butterss administration took over the club in 2000, the Saints financial position has soured and they have won nine out of a possible 44 games.
Grant Thomas is the coach who dares to be different but he must also be good as well. He has won six games in 29. He has said publicly if there was a better coach available for St Kilda then he would step aside. He now has a young list of the best young players available. He has recruited Luke Penny and Stephen Powell for experience. And, of course, he has Robert Harvey. The one thing Thomas doesn?t have any more is time.
So, they are the teams we will be watching most closely this year. Brisbane, Collingwood, St Kilda and Sydney. Some to see how well they can play, some to see if they can just survive.
Patrick Smith writes daily in The Australian. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=opinion&spg=display&articleid=80293