2019 season review

**bloodspirit** · 29th August 2019, 01:56 PM

Afl.com.au have posted their season review for the Swans: Sydney season review: MVP, surprise packet, low point, final grade - AFL.com.au.

Seems like an opportunity to the reflect on the season that's been and worthy of its own thread.

While at the start of the year I hoped and expected to make finals again, in the wash-up, and despite finishing 15th, I am not in the doldrums at all and I'm feeling positive about the future. Not sure I would go as far as the afl.com.au crew have and declare us a "lock" for finals next year (I'm certainly hopeful). We have a young team and this year we maximised the opportunity to get experience into our youth, including outstanding first years Blakey and Rowbottom and even giving a taste to McInerney, Stoddart (not for the first time I realise), Bell and McLean. We also took the chance to give James Rose one final run of games in the seniors to see what he can offer, most likely prior to delisting him with a clear conscience.

Apart from the retirements of the big four veterans, JPK also appears to be on the decline so we will need to trade and rely on our youth to step up in order to compete for the premiership again in future. Can't see a flag next year but feeling very bullish about the seasons after that. Getting back to finals in 2020 would be an excellent, and achievable start. Will help enormously if we have a really fit Franklin to lead our attack.

**AnnieH** · 29th August 2019, 03:17 PM

Oh. My. Goodness.
I miss the finals threads.

**Faunac8** · 29th August 2019, 04:07 PM

A fair assessment although I suggest Daniel Menzel has been marked a tad harshly and I feel we should find a place for him for next season he is only 27
It’s a strange feeling to be much more positive at the end of this season where we missed the finals than I was at the start of the season when I hoped for us to be in the finals.
Getting games into the future keystones of our team this year will pay dividends . I was extremely surprised that AA Will and Ollie have only just hit 50 games Jordan Dawson has only played 25 . Isaac and George both 23 and around 100 games each , Tom McCartin 19 years old still and 34 games under his belt already ! I could go on and mention Calum Harry and Tom etc who are all in the sweet spot age range for success as I have previously said
Timbuk 3 - The Future's So Bright - YouTube

**Thunder Shaker** · 30th August 2019, 01:27 AM

Naming the St Kilda game as the best win doesn't do justice to demolishing the reigning premiers by 46 points in round 12.

Some positives for the season:
* We get pick 4 (or 5 if Gold Coast get a priority pick). It's the highest draft pick we've had since 2002 when we drafted Jarrad McVeigh with pick #5. (Note: Callum Mills, #3, 2015 was an Academy pick)
* A bottom 6 finish means we get a bottom 6 fixture next year. That means our fixture will be weighted towards the bottom 6 sides by playing more of them twice.

**RogueSwan** · 30th August 2019, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Thunder Shaker

... * A bottom 6 finish means we get a bottom 6 fixture next year. That means our fixture will be weighted towards the bottom 6 sides by playing more of them twice.

Nah, the AFL commission will review this policy and change it for next year, especially after Brisbane used it to their "advantage" to finish 2nd and it "punished" the Dees for being successful

**longmile** · 30th August 2019, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by RogueSwan

Nah, the AFL commission will review this policy and change it for next year, especially after Brisbane used it to their "advantage" to finish 2nd and it "punished" the Dees for being successful

Jesus! Do you have a source for this?

**Thunder Shaker** · 30th August 2019, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by RogueSwan

Nah, the AFL commission will review this policy and change it for next year, especially after Brisbane used it to their "advantage" to finish 2nd and it "punished" the Dees for being successful

We'll probably get a 1-2-2 fixture: 1 top 6, 2 7th to 12th, 2 13th to 18th. The haters won't let the AFL give us the 1-1-3 fixture that is more usual for a low finish.

We'll probably end up playing 2 of this year's bottom-6 sides twice next year - and the AFL will probably make sure it's Melbourne and Carlton (two sides that beat us this year).
If the Giants finish 7th (losing to Dogs week 1 is likely), that's one of our 7-12 sides. They'll probably make the other one Port just out of spite.
And the one top-6 side we play will probably be Geelong. So we would end up with a tough fixture despite finishing 15th (playing Geelong, Giants, Port, Melbourne and Carlton twice).

Yeah, I'm not optimistic about the AFL. They do everything the haters tell them to do. Just look how much spittle the haters were spraying when we were sitting on the bottom and looking like having the first pick. Apoplectic.

**barry** · 30th August 2019, 11:03 AM

Overall, 2019 was a poor season. A few injuries exposed some very large holes in our list which should have been anticipated. We essentially wasted the mid season draft on a player we didnt play, while a number of other teams got ready made players.
Coach speculation didnt help. The playing surface of the SCG was a mess, and our home record really needs addressing. Now at season end, persistent rumours of player departures is not good.
We not only missed the finals, but never looked likely. We currently have a lot of players who 'could be great' but as yet aren't. Turning those into great is the next major challenge and by no means certain.

Hopes for 2020:
Plug list holes, and improvement in players. Might sneak into 8 if lucky.

Long term:. Need to find the trade and draft bargains that have made us famous, as the list needs a bit of work.

**Blood Fever** · 30th August 2019, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by barry

Overall, 2019 was a poor season. A few injuries exposed some very large holes in our list which should have been anticipated. We essentially wasted the mid season draft on a player we didnt play, while a number of other teams got ready made players.
Coach speculation didnt help. The playing surface of the SCG was a mess, and our home record really needs addressing. Now at season end, persistent rumours of player departures is not good.
We not only missed the finals, but never looked likely. We currently have a lot of players who 'could be great' but as yet aren't. Turning those into great is the next major challenge and by no means certain.

Hopes for 2020:
Plug list holes, and improvement in players. Might sneak into 8 if lucky.

Long term:. Need to find the trade and draft bargains that have made us famous, as the list needs a bit of work.

Well that cheered me up

**Bloods05** · 30th August 2019, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Blood Fever

Well that cheered me up

The Eeyore of RWO.

**stevoswan** · 30th August 2019, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by barry

Overall, 2019 was a poor season. A few injuries exposed some very large holes in our list which should have been anticipated. We essentially wasted the mid season draft on a player we didnt play, while a number of other teams got ready made players.
Coach speculation didnt help. The playing surface of the SCG was a mess, and our home record really needs addressing. Now at season end, persistent rumours of player departures is not good.
We not only missed the finals, but never looked likely. We currently have a lot of players who 'could be great' but as yet aren't. Turning those into great is the next major challenge and by no means certain.

Hopes for 2020:
Plug list holes, and improvement in players. Might sneak into 8 if lucky.

Long term:. Need to find the trade and draft bargains that have made us famous, as the list needs a bit of work.

Do you simply wake up everyday feeling pessimistic Barry?