Sydney Swans - The big picture

[bloods2005]

Ok, so we''ve been pretty competitive in the last 4 or 5 years after our premiership. We have only missed the top 8 once since then.

My concern is, What are we building towards?? I cannot see a premiership in the next 5-6 years for the swans. We have continued to use recycled players (who have played well for the club) but we do not seem to have a team of champions in the making.

Look at west coast for example. They bottomed right out, but they got all the high draft picks, and now they are on the rise, just like fremantle, carlton and essendon.

To me, at the moment its just the 'same old swans' that im seeing week in, week out.

I really think we needed to bottom right out, get rid of all the older players, and do a complete rebuild.
Hannebury, Jack, Goodes are gun players, but what about the rest of the team.

So, what are we building towards, a premiership, or just being competitive?
I think the head honchos at Sydney are just planning to be competitive, from what Ive seen anyway.

[longmile]

I disagree,
We have been very wise with our draft picks and we have tonnes of good young players like Hannebury, Jack, Kennedy, TDL, Johnson, Johnston, Reid, Rohan and hopefully Jetta if he gets his act together.
I can see where you're coming from; but I think we could have a premiership in sight in 2-3 yrs when Geelong and Collingwood fall off the top.

[bloods2005]

in 2-3 years, we will be up against a prime west coast/carlton/essendon who are showing alot more than sydney at the moment.
Speed, skill, poise - something which we lack i reckon.
lets face it, Were gonna be @@@@@@@@ when Goodes and Jude bolton are finished. Especially Goodes, he is such a focal point.

Ahh, I dunno, I just cant see a bright future compared to some of the other teams.

[Cpt. Kirk]

I think roos has put his point to horse that sydney need to remain competitive to keep the fans coming to the game and if we dont we lose crowd sizes and therefore money.
I think were Sydney is based plays in a large role on why we remain competitive but unlike melbourne and collingwood we can't tank due to Sydney needing the NSW public and not the fully fledged fans to continue going to the games.

[longmile]

I think roos has put his point to horse that sydney need to remain competitive to keep the fans coming to the game and if you we dont we lose crowd sizes and therefore money.
I think were Sydney is based plays in a large role on why we remain competitive but unlike melbourne and collingwood we can't tank due to Sydney needing the NSW public and not the fully fledged fans to continue going to the games.

THIS.
The sad sad truth

[Cpt. Kirk]

THIS.
The sad sad truth

Also tanking atm is pointless with GWS getting a majority of the good picks.

[Frog]

...snip...
To me, at the moment its just the 'same old swans' that im seeing week in, week out.

I really think we needed to bottom right out, get rid of all the older players, and do a complete rebuild.
...snip...

I disagree ... We have been a consistent finals contender for a number of years. And in that time we have won a Grand Final. Whilst we won that Grand Final without Kelly, without Dunkley, without Maxfield and without Lockett, really, we couldn't have won it without them at the same time (you know that makes sense). I am sure their experience and what they passed onto the kids whilst they were growing into Swans footballers has been invaluable. Schneider, LRT, Buchanan, Bevan, we all know who the kids were. At the same time, there were the recycled players - Hall, B2, Ball, Richards ... And did we have a team of champions in the making then? Remember how many commentators should have said sorry because they picked us for the wooden spoon the year before?

I trust the powers that be at the Swans are doing what they can to get the ultimate prize ... it's what they are in business for. I believe they are on the right track. Why bottom out when we don't have to? We proved that in 2005.

This team still excites me. They will get there. I hold the faith.

[Bloody Hell]

Ok, so we''ve been pretty competitive in the last 4 or 5 years after our premiership. We have only missed the top 8 once since then.

My concern is, What are we building towards?? I cannot see a premiership in the next 5-6 years for the swans. We have continued to use recycled players (who have played well for the club) but we do not seem to have a team of champions in the making.

Disagree.

We have a young team with alot of talent....evidenced by our ladder position. Give them a few years.

I made a thread a while ago about the 9 year cycle... 2014 - we'll be there or there abouts.

[cowcar]

In 4-5 years this group will be hitting thier prime (all will be in the 25-28 age group)...
Ried, McGlyn, Hannebury, Jack, Kennedy, TDL, Johnson, Johnston, Reid, Rohan , Smith,Moore, Bird, Mumford
These will be in the veteran stage of their career to provide leadershipa and structure: LRT, Malceski, Grundy
so in 4-5 years, we will have a gun team... but in the mean time, they are getting better with each game...

[msb]

I think roos has put his point to horse that sydney need to remain competitive to keep the fans coming to the game and if we dont we lose crowd sizes and therefore money.
I think were Sydney is based plays in a large role on why we remain competitive but unlike melbourne and collingwood we can't tank due to Sydney needing the NSW public and not the fully fledged fans to continue going to the games.

Yep this is exactly the reason why we dont bottom out and never can, roosy often used to say this. I dont buy this need to bottom out anyway, there is precedent where premierships have been won without doing so. We never bottomed out and very nearly one back to back flags, geelong has never bottomed out and I dont even need to mention their achievements. Also just because you are prepared to bottom out, are you guaranteed to win a premiership? No, so why bother? A team should give themselves every chance to win a flag every year and recruit the players that can help them do this, which the swans have done.

[msb]

in 2-3 years, we will be up against a prime west coast/carlton/essendon who are showing alot more than sydney at the moment.
Speed, skill, poise - something which we lack i reckon.
lets face it, Were gonna be @@@@@@@@ when Goodes and Jude bolton are finished. Especially Goodes, he is such a focal point.

Ahh, I dunno, I just cant see a bright future compared to some of the other teams.

Yeah and I also heard this when kelly, dunkley, micky o, hall, leo barry and kirky etc etc etc retired and were we @@@@@@???

[bandwagon]

I disagree as well. The idea that high draft picks are required to achieve a premiership is flawed. Look at Collingwood - Fraser was a #1 pick but played no part in their success. And when did Geelong bottom out?
In fact you could almost say more recycled players is the way to go.... How would we have gone in 2005 without Williams, Ball, Jolly, Davis, Bolton?
I'm happy our club remains competitive rather than tanks.