AFL 360 Kiss of Death?

[ShockOfHair]

Plus he said we're cheating but we're really good at it.

But as someone who clearly missed his calling when not cast for Grumpy Old Men, any praise from Mick is praise indeed. Even if just deflecting from his team's own mediocre prospects.

[Conor_Dillon]

The main difference between us and the '08 Cats or '12 Hawks is that we started really slowly...without actually doing the research I'd be confident in saying neither of those teams were anything like 1 and 3. Our wake-up call came nice and early, it was the so called 'loss that we needed to have' x 3. Whenever anything resembling a sense of complacency creeps in there's no doubt Horse would bring up those 3 results. And contrary to what people have reported, we haven't had a dream run with injury at all, our entire forward line has missed games and barely played together and we'll have an all-aus mid missing approx 6 weeks. With a slice of luck we will have close to a full squad to pick from come Sept and also the opportunities to rest key players in the last few games.

We're not a powerhouse that is dominating throughout the middle part of the season (Geelong game aside) we're a solid top 4 team that is building towards the finals. I think Horse and his right hand men are timing things to perfection.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Swans' list best in his time, says Malthouse - AFL.com.au

Malthouse said astute recruiting and patience rather than use of the contentious cost of living allowance had put the Swans in such a strong position.

Plus he said we're cheating but we're really good at it.

[Swansongster]

At least he didn't call it Over-the-Moneyball.

I do hate being frontrunners, thinking of what Hawks did to Geelong in 08 and what we did to Hawks in '12. But usually the premier is the team that is best in the comp in the second half of the year, which puts a question mark over Port who got out of the boxes early, and has a good run with injuries, which probably rules out Hawks. Leaving us and Freo.

Agreed. It is Freo that we have to most watch out for IMHO. They are playing very well and have a tough run in the last four weeks to sharpen them up for September - much like our finish to 2012. Then of course they have the burning desire after going so close last year plus the cagey Rossy as coach

[aardvark]

Swans' list best in his time, says Malthouse - AFL.com.au

Malthouse said astute recruiting and patience rather than use of the contentious cost of living allowance had put the Swans in such a strong position.

[MightyBloods]

At least he didn't call it Over-the-Moneyball.

I do hate being frontrunners, thinking of what Hawks did to Geelong in 08 and what we did to Hawks in '12. But usually the premier is the team that is best in the comp in the second half of the year, which puts a question mark over Port who got out of the boxes early, and has a good run with injuries, which probably rules out Hawks. Leaving us and Freo.

History tells you that any team on a winning run like us gets to at least a grand final. Just look at the last years we had a run like this. Also, without being cocky, teams around us don't have the same depth and injuries now starting to stretch their list and fitness. Fingers crossed ..we can stay reasonably healthy.

[MightyBloods]

I don't think we've abandoned the 'Moneyball' approach either, but our 2 big signings of the last 2 years are perhaps what you could call a temporary departure from this, notwithstanding the addition of Laidler and Derickx this year. I think our 2 blockbuster signings are more a response to the AFL's decision to add another team to the difficult Sydney market - the Swans have been proactive, aggressive and clever in adding a key player in Tippett and a bona fide star in Buddy in response to the GWS threat. I'm sure the powers that be at AFL house were neither expecting nor are particularly happy about our responses during this time but it's certainly shown how ahead of the curve the Swans' management really is.

Agree totally.

[ShockOfHair]

Kingy didn't say we abandoned 'money-ball' he said we used it successfully to a point and then we added the cream on top in Tip and Bud...was a pretty good summation actually!

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At least he didn't call it Over-the-Moneyball.

I do hate being frontrunners, thinking of what Hawks did to Geelong in 08 and what we did to Hawks in '12. But usually the premier is the team that is best in the comp in the second half of the year, which puts a question mark over Port who got out of the boxes early, and has a good run with injuries, which probably rules out Hawks. Leaving us and Freo.

[wolftone57]

Goodes, ROK and LRT retiring at the end of the year should free up a bit in the cap, even allowing for Buddy's billion $ deal.

Yes you are right Nico I too believe these players will all retire at the end of the year. Shaw might as well, we'll see soon enough. with Shawie it is not a matter of him losing it, he was actually playing very well, but injury. If he gets any more soft tissue injuries I think he will pull the plug. I don't give a stuff what these guys think quite frankly. We always do the things that matter for the club. Our blokes will not be looking at premierships this week, they will be looking at Carlton.

[jono2707]

I don't think we've abandoned the 'Moneyball' approach either, but our 2 big signings of the last 2 years are perhaps what you could call a temporary departure from this, notwithstanding the addition of Laidler and Derickx this year. I think our 2 blockbuster signings are more a response to the AFL's decision to add another team to the difficult Sydney market - the Swans have been proactive, aggressive and clever in adding a key player in Tippett and a bona fide star in Buddy in response to the GWS threat. I'm sure the powers that be at AFL house were neither expecting nor are particularly happy about our responses during this time but it's certainly shown how ahead of the curve the Swans' management really is.

[Mel_C]

You can never say that a team is a lock in for the premiership. Look at the hawks in 2012 or the cats in 2008.

But I certainly hope they are right ????.

[Nico]

I very much doubt we've abandoned moneyball. I expect it will be our dominant recruitment strategy over the next several years - just plugging the holes where we need to, topping up the list, as we aren't going to have big $$$$ to chase after free agency superstars.

Goodes, ROK and LRT retiring at the end of the year should free up a bit in the cap, even allowing for Buddy's billion $ deal.

[aardvark]

On The Couch Round 16 2014 - Swans love-in! - YouTube

[mcs]

I very much doubt we've abandoned moneyball. I expect it will be our dominant recruitment strategy over the next several years - just plugging the holes where we need to, topping up the list, as we aren't going to have big $$$$ to chase after free agency superstars.

[Conor_Dillon]

Kingy didn't say we abandoned 'money-ball' he said we used it successfully to a point and then we added the cream on top in Tip and Bud...was a pretty good summation actually!

I think it is also fair to say that part of the Swans taking the risk with Buddy and the associated $$ was to do with Heeney and Mills, the hierarchy knew that if a midfielder was squeezed out due to cap room that we had a couple of guns coming through anyway