AFL website 2007 Swans Preview

**Matt79** · 13th March 2007, 09:18 AM

Here it is...

http://www.afl.com.au/Default.aspx?t...8&newsId=39047

Hard to find fault with any aspect of the article.

Bring on round 1!

**Claret** · 13th March 2007, 10:22 AM

I have to agree with the 'Best 22' they've suggested.

Pretty decent side.

***SimonH*** · 13th March 2007, 11:47 AM

Very funny to see a 25-year-old who debuted in the year 2000 described as 'continuing to learn the craft'.

Not bad, barring the trotting out of the "they still lack credible depth" cliche. The 'best 22' (or any best 22 you care to put together) really shows what a load of hogwash the 'Sydney have no depth, take away an amazing run with injuries and they'd be hopeless' accepted wisdom is.

No spot even in the 3 emergencies for Phillips, Moore, Schmidt, Doyle, or Grundy, all of whom we'd be looking to put solid gametime into this year; let alone Simpkin, Laidlaw, Jack, White and Luke Brennan, all of whom are (or should be) capable of playing in 2007. If what she means is, 'Sydney don't have a brace of guys in their mid-20s, with 50-100 games under their belt, who aren't in their best 25', then this is a strength, not a weakness, of the Sydney list.

That's not trying to put the moccas on the team-- 2007 could be another 2002, when we had pretty much the whole of the Swans team of the decade 1996-2005 on the list, and somehow managed to be hopeless. There are no shortage of teams who look great on paper and don't put it together on the park (Brisbane 1998, St Kilda whenever it counted 2004-6). But the cattle are there.

**liz** · 13th March 2007, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by SimonH

If what she means is, 'Sydney don't have a brace of guys in their mid-20s, with 50-100 games under their belt, who aren't in their best 25', then this is a strength, not a weakness, of the Sydney list.

I think what it means is 'Sydney don't have a whole heap of players taken with high draft picks who have all been widely hyped and whom are therefore superstars in the making. In fact, we've hardly heard of any of the Swans younger players, let alone seen them play reserve grade footy, so none of them can actually be any good.'

**Sanecow** · 13th March 2007, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by SimonH

Very funny to see a 25-year-old who debuted in the year 2000 described as 'continuing to learn the craft'.

"Big men develop later."

**DeadlyAkkuret** · 13th March 2007, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by liz

I think what it means is 'Sydney don't have a whole heap of players taken with high draft picks who have all been widely hyped and whom are therefore superstars in the making. In fact, we've hardly heard of any of the Swans younger players, let alone seen them play reserve grade footy, so none of them can actually be any good.'

Lol, that's probably the sad, ignorant truth.