Blast from the past

[ugg]

During a google search, I stumbled on the link to the old RWO when it was hosted on rivals.net and I'm surprised its still on there! The messageboard seems to have lost all its posts but all the feature articles are still there and it contains some very interesting reading material.

It seems the move occurred sometime after the 2001 finals and so there's a few articles on Stafford's poor form (http://sydneyswans.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1504&p=2&stid=8139951) , our hunt for a key hunt for a key forward (http://sydneyswans.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1504&p=2&stid=8178028) (which seems to be pretty spot on) and our future stars (http://sydneyswans.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1504&p=2&stid=8214968)

[Benevolent Ert]

Every club had a rivals.net site back in the days (maybe except the Crows?)

Rivals gave all AFL sites the boot at the end of 2001, and it was up to the redandwhiteonline team to decide whether to chuck the site in, or dig into their own pockets to keep it up and running

Thankfully Des and the crew chose the latter, and produced the site you see before you today

We ran a Snitz powered forum in 2002 before upgrading to vBulletin at the start of 2003

[Go Swannies]

Interesting to see how largely accurate the opinion pieces were.

[j s]

Whatever happened to Steve? Last I heard he was about to marry a Hawk.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Interesting to see how largely accurate the opinion pieces were.

Yep, "Jason has the potential to be one of the premier key defenders of the next decade" and "There just aren't many weaknesses to Bolton's game" and "Nic is a player who could really explode onto the scene in the next year or two as he is given more responsibility. Those in the know at the Swans wouldn't be surprised to see Fosdike develop into a player of the class of a Scott Camporeale - if he can continue to work hard, he has the potential to be a star"...

;)

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Yep, "Jason has the potential to be one of the premier key defenders of the next decade" and "There just aren't many weaknesses to Bolton's game" and "Nic is a player who could really explode onto the scene in the next year or two as he is given more responsibility. Those in the know at the Swans wouldn't be surprised to see Fosdike develop into a player of the class of a Scott Camporeale - if he can continue to work hard, he has the potential to be a star"...

;)
Change Jason to Dempster or LRT, Bolton to Schmidt and Fosdike to Moore and it all seems so contemporary. Golly we had some depth 4 years ago...

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Yep, "Jason has the potential to be one of the premier key defenders of the next decade" and "There just aren't many weaknesses to Bolton's game" and "Nic is a player who could really explode onto the scene in the next year or two as he is given more responsibility. Those in the know at the Swans wouldn't be surprised to see Fosdike develop into a player of the class of a Scott Camporeale - if he can continue to work hard, he has the potential to be a star"...

;)

How about:

2002 Shopping List - Key Forward

At the top of Rodney Eade's 2002 wish list is a reliable key forward. It was hoped that Jason Ball and Ryan Fitzgerald could provide a target up forward this year, along with help from Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin.

RedAndWhiteOnline has prepared a short-list of candidates that the Swans should be looking at as realistic options.

The A-List

Barry Hall

Hall has been often linked to Sydney, stretching back as early as the middle of this season. With the recent problems at St Kilda, and his surprisingly reserved off-field nature, many experts have suggested that Hall could benefit from a move from Melbourne.

The fact that Hall isn't currently regarded as a star will also work in Sydney's favour, as it is highly possible that a reasonable trade can be negotiated, without the Swans having to give up quality young players.


and
Young Swans to Watch - Future Stars

ADAM GOODES (North Ballarat U/18)
Age: 21

At 191cm with a good leap, yet possessing great agility, Goodes could really be played in any position on the ground, and do a good job. Although he still has some work to do on his marking and kicking, his development has been extremely pleasing to the Swans, and he has the potential to improve even further, especially if given the opportunity to follow the ball in the midfield. He offers so many options to Sydney that Adam shapes as a star utility of the future, capable of playing 200 games.


TADHG KENNELLY (Ireland)
Age: 20
Tadhg's development in his short time at the Swans has been phenomenal, having only converted from the round ball Gaelic code 24 months ago. His skills are very good - even compared to the average AFL player - but amazing considering the short time he has been in the game. Even the finer (and more difficult to learn) points of the game haven't been a problem for Kennelly, who can already read the play better than many opponents.

Young Swans to Watch in 2002 - Under 20's
[or therabouts . . ]


LUKE ABLETT (Gippsland U/18)
Age: 19
Ablett is highly-rated by the Swans, and was earmarked for senior selection at the beginning of 2001. Unfortunately a string of frustrating minor injuries prevented a senior debut, but some solid performances in the VFL certainly provided plenty of hope for the future.


ADAM SCHNEIDER (NSW/ACT U/18)
Age: 17

Schneider has been a prolific possession-winning centreman with the Rams in the TAC Cup in 2001, impressing with his excellent disposal skills. Whilst still young, Adam has the ability to make an impression early in his career as a dangerous small forward.

A perceived lack of endurance fitness will keep Schneider out of the midfield in the short-term, although he should spend plenty of his career in the thick of the action. . . Being the youngest player on Sydney's 2002 list, there will be no rushing Schneider, but should be not debut earlier, he will be under strong consideration for promotion early in 2003.