2021 Season Review

[KTigers]

Having no or very few injuries helps the most I think. There is continuity, the best players are out there and players 16-22 think they
are a chance to get dropped every week, and that keeps them on their toes (mostly). Doing well while we were on the road for two
months this year was a significant achievement. That experience could have gone badly. The single most important player for me this
year was Hickey. Having a mobile ruckman who can rack up possessions is like having an extra player. Hopefully he can stay healthy.
It would be good next year if we can get back to winning almost every game at the SCG. It was such a bonus for us back in the day.
Plus it makes the walk back to the car after the game more enjoyable.

[stevoswan]

Bangalore did predict that we could win the premiership and was probably the most optimistic of all of us. He was also very close on his player predictions. Laughed at or not, he probably came closer than anyone else about how our season would pan out.

I think a lot of us thought we could make finals if things went well, and a lot of things did go well.

True but that is basically optimism over reality....most of us ardent fans have that quality in the pre season. It's just a bonus when that optimism actually delivers. It often doesn't....so I would say this season went better than 'most' of us expected. I believe that is an accurate assessment.

[stevoswan]

Stop facing north, and talking out of your south facing orifice.
Seriously, go check the 2021 pre season expectations thread - there were actually quite a few RWOers predicting finals.
And yes, there was a small amount of amuseemnt - but not from anyone worth listening to.

So I'm talking out of my arse am I? Maybe I should have said 'some' rather than 'no one'. Would you rather I said we had a crap season that didn't meet 'expectations' and I rate it a C-?

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah but they were laughed at.

Thank you.

[Roadrunner]

Stop facing north, and talking out of your south facing orifice.
Seriously, go check the 2021 pre season expectations thread - there were actually quite a few RWOers predicting finals.
And yes, there was a small amount of amuseemnt - but not from anyone worth listening to.

We were coming off 5 wins Rucky, and playing pretty awful football. Sure, we had Buddy out for the year but there were no guarantees he would get through most of 2021.

We may have been hoping for finals, but the reality is that our game plan was flawed last year and without a plan B, if you recall. We stayed relatively injury free this year, our game plan changed, our youngsters all improved and confidence returned. And re: big Tom, most were sceptical about his value and who could have predicted the influence he was able to exert from the ruck?

Well done to those who predicted finals and 6th place or better. It would have been more on a hope and a prayer rather than careful analysis, I submit.

I’m giving this year an A.

[Ludwig]

Way above par IMO. No one predicted we would make finals and if someone had said we'll win 15 matches and be a chance for top 4 they would have been laughed at (ie: I don't for one minute believe Bangalore's conveniently 'hindsight' claims).

Bangalore did predict that we could win the premiership and was probably the most optimistic of all of us. He was also very close on his player predictions. Laughed at or not, he probably came closer than anyone else about how our season would pan out.

I think a lot of us thought we could make finals if things went well, and a lot of things did go well.

[Bloods05]

Stop facing north, and talking out of your south facing orifice.
Seriously, go check the 2021 pre season expectations thread - there were actually quite a few RWOers predicting finals.

Yeah but they were laughed at.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

No one predicted we would make finals and if someone had said we'll win 15 matches and be a chance for top 4 they would have been laughed at

Stop facing north, and talking out of your south facing orifice.
Seriously, go check the 2021 pre season expectations thread - there were actually quite a few RWOers predicting finals.
And yes, there was a small amount of amuseemnt - but not from anyone worth listening to.

[stevoswan]

Way above par IMO. No one predicted we would make finals and if someone had said we'll win 15 matches and be a chance for top 4 they would have been laughed at (ie: I don't for one minute believe Bangalore's conveniently 'hindsight' claims).

Game plan was great....no complaints there, list is relatively healthy and the future indeed looks bright. I would give the season a B+......if we'd beaten GWS in the first final, it would have been an A.

[barry]

Great season. Hickey showed that it only takes 1 or 2 list holes to be filled and you can quickly climb the ladder.

Coaching setup looks optimal.

[707]

Are you home alone and bored, watch the replay of our thumping wins against all predictions, the young talent on show, Horse with damp eyes after a win, that's the way to brighten a dull evening and to feel good about the 2021 season.

We were shyzenhouzen against Hawks and Gold Coast and for a period against Freo which burns and eventually cost us a top two spot. That's what makes 2021 a hard to evaluate season.

[sprite]

For me we exceeded expectations.

I guessed preseason that 9th to 12th would be where we would finish, any higher would be a bonus any lower a failure to utilise the talent we had.

I was basing my prediction on having similar run with injuries as previous years, Buddy being managed and playing about 2/3 of the season.

What I didn't expect was how much the recruits would step up, Buddy getting through most of the year, how well we adapted to the covid interruptions and the changed game plan.

Losing those winnable games, hurt us.

So for me the year was a B, a B+ would have been making the top 4 and to get an A we needed to make the GF and winning would be A++.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

An exciting brand of footy to watch and exceeded expectations.

Not everyones expectations.

[Roadrunner]

What a difference having a single competative ruckman can make.

That, and our young guys improving. An exciting brand of footy to watch and exceeded expectations.

Of course we still have a few gaps to fill but very satisfied with our progress. Applying pressure for 4 quarters is difficult for a young team but if we can improve on this then we should finish top 4 next year!

Go Swannies!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

What a difference having a single competative ruckman can make.

[Bangalore Swans]

I think the season was par. We were bottom four in 2019/2020, however these teams were the best bottom 4 teams in living memory. The injury list was horrendous in 2019/2020 and many of the losses were narrow.

I full bounce back was expected with a healthy list and some young guys maturing.

The season was par with a 2 foot tap in.