Past #9: Andrew Swallow - 224 NM games - 3x Syds - captain '12-'16 - #43 '05 ND - thanks Spitta

[tazaa]

Notice the non use of the word hope.
The skipper believes. His teammates do aswell. So do I.

 

[Kimbo]

Has really begun to grow into the leader of the footy club.

In a matter of weeks (or, barely, months) it seems to me. While development is a long journey, sometimes key transformative steps happen "like that". It seems to have occurred with Swallow, Scott and the senior leaders within a short period of time but, of course, is the result of years of learning.

 

[Chadwiko]

Has really begun to grow into the leader of the footy club.

Has been that way for 8 years, people just haven't been paying attention.

 

[justroyal]

would have lovded it if he said we are confident we have the defenders to match it..

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Cotroversial opinion alert!!!

Swallow has the captaincy but Jack does more to lift the team.

 

[Only Forwards]

Has been that way for 8 years, people just haven't been paying attention.

Nah he's really started to own the role.

He's grown into it and with it.

He's gotten better with it and he was already starting from a considerably high base to begin with.

 

[LB2Snake]

Has been that way for 8 years, people just haven't been paying attention.

Have to completely disagree with ya Chadwiko, his last 4-6 weeks have been a different bloke IMO.

 

[Kimbo]

Has been that way for 8 years, people just haven't been paying attention.

I too disagree. His football has spoken for itself for a while, though arguably he's at the top of his game right now and his form, like others, has been more consistent, which is saying something because he's been just about our most consistent performer.

It's how he's carrying himself, how he's speaking. He's showing a more ruthless, determined edge which I'm sure isn't going unnoticed by 'the troops'.

 

[Only Forwards]

Cotroversial opinion alert!!!

Swallow has the captaincy but Jack does more to lift the team.

Jack is the bloke who will smash the pack to mark the ball and kicked from 50.

Spitta is the one that wins it out 4 times on the wing to get the ball in a position for Jack to take that mark.

 

[Chadwiko]

People have short memories and a lack of understanding about how long it takes to recover from a non-contact achilles injury.

Half the battle in terms of recovery is learning to trust your own body again.

It's been obvious all year that Swallow has been increasing that confidence week by week, and yeah, i'd say it's in the last 6~ weeks that he's back to his old self.

But that's the key part; back to his old self.

Before the injury he was a monster and anyone who questioned his leadership position as the captain of our club was a moron; he was a three time winner of the club best and fairest and the undisputed captain of the club.

 

[Only Forwards]

Chadwiko
I think that he has become more vocal of a leader.

I am not saying that he wasn't all the things that you have said before the injury and that his form right now is back where it was pre achillies.

Perhaps it is that the midfield that he is leading is more mature now but I really feel that in this back half of the year his leadership has really shone through more than before.

 

[archereleven]

View attachment 80139

Just chuck the premiership cup between his hands to complete the picture

 

[Winter]

Cotroversial opinion alert!!!

Swallow has the captaincy but Jack does more to lift the team.

You could certainly argue that as Ziebell is a finisher, they often have the on-field lifting moments.

I still think Swallow is the best man for the job and has never looked as good as the past six weeks.

 

[Spitter9]

why does this thread still exist? it was a disgrace to question his captaincy in the first place and its still a disgrace

 

[Kimbo]

Actually, this is one of our more influential threads. Thread questions Spitta's leadership (not "sack Swallows"). Then, Spitta shows steely resolve to improve leadership. Well done BF, take a bow!

 

[TwentyNine]

Just chuck the premiership cup between his hands to complete the picture

Also regular guernsey.

 

[Ahern2Boof]

#9 Andrew Swallow

Games: 18
Goals: 5

Summary:
It was a delayed start to season 2014 for Swallow, after the captain ruptured his Achilles tendon late last season against Melbourne. With the team struggling following a heavy loss to the Gold Coast Suns, Swallow, who was coming off an appearance in the VFL to get his fitness up to an acceptable standard, was injected into the Round 9 team to play the Brisbane Lions. He performed modestly in a walkover win, collecting 18 disposals. A week later against Geelong, Swallow noticeably struggled with the intensity of the contest, and there were calls to give him more time in the VFL.

However, Brad Scott and the coaching staff persisted with the captain, and it paid off. He returned to form somewhat resembling his best, and he got better as the season went on and his fitness improved. In Round 21 against the Western Bulldogs, Swallow collected 29 possessions and laid 11 tackles, before a week later he starred in Hobart against Adelaide. With the game on the line, Swallow was massive in the final few minutes, winning clearance after clearance as the Crows tried desperately to will the ball their way.

Swallow was an honest performer in the finals as other names such as Wells, Greenwood and Gibson led the way. With a pre-season under his belt, the captain will be looking to start 2015 at the standard that saw him win every Syd Barker Medal between 2009 and 2012, excluding 2011, which he lost by one vote.

North Melbourne will head into this Friday night's preliminary final against the Sydney Swans as rank outsiders, but skipper Andrew Swallow says the Roos can upset the Swans and go on to win the premiership.

http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2014-09-15/north-set-on-upset

 

[Bigeasy]

I'd turn.


[emoji15]

 

[Ahern2Boof]

He's gonna be like a new recruit next year. Take the Swallow that played against Adelaide and the Bulldogs, and put that into majority of the season next year.

 

[Spitter9]

Full pre season - best and fairest and top 10 brownlow finish

 

[The Nostradamus]

 

[marklovesbeer]

Get on each way for the Brownlow.

Paying $101 is ridiculous. The umpires love him & he gets votes even when we lose. We will be winning more than losing & he will be a lot better again this year with the Achilles hopefully nearly back to normal.

Will be huge.

 

[the big lebowski]

The word from Btron about Swallow's training form got me thinking about those saying Cunnington is now better than Swallow. Whilst stats don't tell the full story i compared Swallow's 2013 averages to Cunnington's 2014 averages.

Spitta averaged more possessions, effective possessions, tackles, and Clearances than Cunners.

Cunnington is obviously more dangerous around goals, can take a mean contested mark, and is sex with his handballs, and often under rated field kicking.

One other thing that stood out to me, and re-enforced my thoughts were bounces per game 0.5 for spitta, 0.1 for cunners.

This made me think of the dynamic way Swallow can clear the ball, running and breaking away from a pack at speed. Something Ben can't do.

All in all, i think Cunnington has a bit of a way to go before claims he is better than Spitta are founded.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Certainly different type of inside players biggie.

I think Cunners is certainly more old school classy inside, as well as a powerful unit, whereas Spitz is more hustle and bustle with the capability to get on the spread. I reckon Spitz will always get more of the pill, but Cunners will generate cleaner clearances on average.

 

[the big lebowski]

Certainly different type of inside players biggie.

I think Cunners is certainly more old school classy inside, as well as a powerful unit, whereas Spitz is more hustle and bustle with the capability to get on the spread. I reckon Spitz will always get more of the pill, but Cunners will generate cleaner clearances on average.

Next year, you can only have one, gun to head, who is it?

For me its Swallow.