Media Swans Talk in the Media 2025

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[Adnico26Parker]

I found it interesting that all 4 were doing the same exercises. 2 ankles, a hamstring and I don't know what Edwards' injury was. Not knocking it, just interesting.

Leg fracture from the last VFL game in 2024, then he had stress fracture in his tibia

 

[Kiama Chris]

Leg fracture from the last VFL game in 2024, then he had stress fracture in his tibia

Thanks. That makes the connection then between them.
Looks like it should help them a lot working into preseason. Good initiative.

 

[RubbaDuck]

Are you seriously suggesting they shouldn’t try to better the club by bringing top class players into the fold?

If you’re upset by the ‘tone’ of the message delivered to both, then perhaps you, like them, need to harden up a bit.

It’s a billion dollar business - and hard decisions have to be made - over short time spans.

And no, I don’t want Cox or Cameron to put a sook and a flakey half forward before the success of the club.

I'm not sure where you gained experience in managing a billion dollar business but "Take a teaspoon of cement and toughen the F-up" is hardly the approach of a successful business.

Good businesses are founded on good people. Staff are the business. Good managers build their trust and respect. The culture within an organisation is paramount to team success.

Cox & Cameron have demonstrated poor management. By being disrespectful and damaging trust, they've also damaged the culture.

You might not care to see "a sook and a flakey half forward" treated that way by the club but their Swans teammates, as long-time friends and colleagues, would be horrified by such treatment.

Yes, turnover of staff is inevitable, but the best organisations do it respectfully.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I'm not sure where you gained experience in managing a billion dollar business but "Take a teaspoon of cement and toughen the F-up" is hardly the approach of a successful business.

Good businesses are founded on good people. Staff are the business. Good managers build their trust and respect. The culture within an organisation is paramount to team success.

Cox & Cameron have demonstrated poor management. By being disrespectful and damaging trust, they've also damaged the culture.

You might not care to see "a sook and a flakey half forward" treated that way by the club but their Swans teammates, as long-time friends and colleagues, would be horrified by such treatment.

Yes, turnover of staff is inevitable, but the best organisations do it respectfully.

We only have Ollie and Will's version out in public, and it was expressed as "we felt like". Fair enough but it doesn't mean with any certainty that Cameron and/or Cox managed it poorly. They may have, or not. Let's see how the players interact with them.
My view is that you don't trade players who have a contract who don't want to go. That's a whole nuther can of worms.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Regardless of what specific words were used with Florent, I have little doubt the implied meaning was that the coaches didn’t want him playing next year. Otherwise I am not sure how else you convince a contracted player to leave for a third round pick. It was also quite obvious that Cox saw Florent as surplus to requirements.

The Hayward situation I find a little more curious. I didn’t get the impression the coaches wanted him gone during the season, and also Hayward didn’t say this is what he heard - he said that the swans made it easy for him to choose Carlton. I’m sure they made it clear that they wanted Curnow and they wanted to trade Hayward to make it happen, but to what extent did they go further than this, and what could they have said?

 

[The Blue Max]

I'm not sure where you gained experience in managing a billion dollar business but "Take a teaspoon of cement and toughen the F-up" is hardly the approach of a successful business.

Good businesses are founded on good people. Staff are the business. Good managers build their trust and respect. The culture within an organisation is paramount to team success.

Cox & Cameron have demonstrated poor management. By being disrespectful and damaging trust, they've also damaged the culture.

You might not care to see "a sook and a flakey half forward" treated that way by the club but their Swans teammates, as long-time friends and colleagues, would be horrified by such treatment.

Yes, turnover of staff is inevitable, but the best organisations do it

I’m really not interested in your cliched remarks - but for clarification to the group as a whole :

- I doubt either were quoted verbatum

- My reference to hardening up was made with making press statements in mind - not how people should expect to be spoken to. So you’ve misjudged me and my meaning.

As for the lecture on how a billion dollar business is run - what I DO know is in the billion dollar defence force/ organisation you never bag out your previous or current Command in public.

- The professional response would have been to not start squealing to the press.

The rest of your post is premised on an assumption - so it’s a just a worthless attempt to make yourself look clever at my expense. It hasn’t.

 

[Swans007]

Sounds like they are on notice from You.

Which counts for very little.

Cannot just go on accepting mediocrity. Something had to be done. Cox has done it. All aboard!

 

[dosser]

Regardless of what specific words were used with Florent, I have little doubt the implied meaning was that the coaches didn’t want him playing next year. Otherwise I am not sure how else you convince a contracted player to leave for a third round pick. It was also quite obvious that Cox saw Florent as surplus to requirements.

The Hayward situation I find a little more curious. I didn’t get the impression the coaches wanted him gone during the season, and also Hayward didn’t say this is what he heard - he said that the swans made it easy for him to choose Carlton. I’m sure they made it clear that they wanted Curnow and they wanted to trade Hayward to make it happen, but to what extent did they go further than this, and what could they have said?

It would have been helped by the fact that they knew Carlton wanted Hayward last year and that he was prepared to go then.

 

[Bandicoot]

Wow. Poor Richmond. What will they do now?

Richmond and Carlton will still be the first game in round 1.
This opening round has now lost all the purpose it was brought in for and needs to be totally scrapped.

 

[Wolfgang West]

Cannot just go on accepting mediocrity. Something had to be done. Cox has done it. All aboard!

You get no argument from me.

 

[Bandicoot]

'We want you gone': Ex-Swans hurt by brutal talks before Blues move

Will Hayward and Ollie Florent were both locked into long-term deals with Sydney before being told they needed to leave while holidaying in South America.

www.abc.net.au

Ollie got the call from Leon Cameron & this is what was said to him according to Ollie. This was from the ABC site, an AAP article. They would have asked comments from the club.

"It was definitely tough," Florent told afl.com.au.

"They [Sydney] pretty much just said, 'We want you out. We want you gone.'"

That the club has made no denial is quite telling.

You continue to post this and it is misleading.
Florent is said to have said "they pretty much said ............." I doubt the club actually said those words but they simply made it clear to Ollie that we would like to trade you.
How is that different to a player saying to a club he wants to be traded elsewhere? Is that player then deemed to be of low character and a disgrace? Of course not.
If you are so pissed off with the club in trying to improve the playing list and in doing so had to jettison a couple of players, feel free to barrack for someone else.
It's no different than when we brought /buddy into the side in 2014. As a result we had to say goodbye to Mumford and 3 other fringe players but it was the price that had to be paid.
Unfortunately, we are not Geelong who seem to be able to bring in whoever they like, year after year without having to worry about the salary cap.

 

[Callipygian]

I’m really not interested in your cliched remarks - but for clarification to the group as a whole :

- I doubt either were quoted verbatum

- My reference to hardening up was made with making press statements in mind - not how people should expect to be spoken to. So you’ve misjudged me and my meaning.

As for the lecture on how a billion dollar business is run - what I DO know is in the billion dollar defence force you never bag out your previous or current Command in public.

- The professional response would have been to not start squealing to the press.

The rest of your post is premised on an assumption - so it’s a just a worthless attempt to make yourself look clever at my expense. It hasn’t.

A few interesting things here:

1. The reference to the ADF. The ADF is not IMO a comparable organisation to a footy club (nor the AFL). However, let that pass, and it's really interesting just the same. ADF culture is a very mixed bag. It has a lot that is great about it (the mateship, the ethos of service and sacrifice) and equally a lot that is toxic [see for instance the findings of the recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide among many, many other reviews that have exposed all kinds of issues]. So, not sure where that leaves me except thought-provoked, which is a good thing.

2. It's debateable whether Will and Ollie have "bagged out" the club. In my view they didn't offer harsh opinions, they offered facts and emotions i.e. "this is pretty much what happened" (and I totally get your point that they weren't suggesting that they were quoting the club verbatim) and (b) how it landed with them (a very tough pill to swallow). It seems uncontroversial that the club pretty much did tell them "we want you out" and I don't think much turns on the bluntness/delicacy of the wording (provided there was nothing nasty and there is nothing to suggest there was).

3. These days engaging with media is a big part of being an AFL player and it's apparently in everyone's interests (the AFL's, the clubs', the players', the fans etc) that players do because it generates interest in the industry and, by extension, dollars. So overall talking ("squealing") to the media is encouraged and helps grow the worth of the industry. [Just one of the reasons that the comparison to the ADF is not apt, IMO.]

Whether the club has actually done anything wrong or handled the situation badly depends a lot on one's values and point of view. Some would say that driving a contracted player out of a club after years of loyalty albeit in service to the club's greater needs is act of bastardry and destructive to the fabric of the club and others would say it's the way the world turns and it's a business and a high performance business at that and we needed to get better and Will & Ollie weren't the answer. [For me personally, it's part of a (game and society-wide) trend that I don't embrace.]

In any event, while both club and players may have some disappointments/dissatisfactions, I suspect that both respect where the other is coming from, at least to a degree. Quite possibly the relationships between Will & Ollie and Cox & Cameron may not endure but hopefully all of their connections to the club will endure long after this chapter has passed into history.

 

[Kiama Chris]

There's a lovely photo from Tom Papley

11

Tom Papley

Age

29

Ht

177cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

12.3

3star

K

8.9

4star

HB

3.4

2star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.5

2star

G

2.4

5star

D

13.4

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.6

5star

's wedding that I can't find again of the footy heads who were there including Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery, Darcy Cameron

14

Darcy Cameron

Age

30

Ht

204cm

Wt

103kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.0

1star

K

3.3

1star

HB

2.7

2star

CL

0.3

2star

HO

5.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

CL

0.5

3star

HO

3.5

5star

D

6.0

2star

K

3.3

2star

HB

2.7

3star

CL

0.3

2star

HO

5.3

5star

, Aliir Aliir

21

Aliir Aliir

Age

31

Ht

194cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.2

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

5.9

4star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.9

4star

MG

240.9

4star

D

11.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

3star

D

13.0

4star

K

6.4

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

158.4

3star

, Dylan Stephens

15

Dylan Stephens

Age

24

Ht

184cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

4star

CL

0.0

1star

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

4star

CL

0.0

1star

and a few I didn't recognise. Current and past Swans. Life moves on but friendship remains.

 

[SwansLifer]

There's a lovely photo from Tom Papley's wedding that I can't find again of the footy heads who were there including Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery, Darcy Cameron, Aliir Aliir, Dylan Stephens and a few I didn't recognise. Current and past Swans. Life moves on but friendship remains.

Obviously Mills was banned from going, otherwise we would have heard something by now.

 

[The Blue Max]

A few interesting things here:

1. The reference to the ADF. The ADF is not IMO a comparable organisation to a footy club (nor the AFL). However, let that pass, and it's really interesting just the same. ADF culture is a very mixed bag. It has a lot that is great about it (the mateship, the ethos of service and sacrifice) and equally a lot that is toxic [see for instance the findings of the recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide among many, many other reviews that have exposed all kinds of issues]. So, not sure where that leaves me except thought-provoked, which is a good thing.

2. It's debateable whether Will and Ollie have "bagged out" the club. In my view they didn't offer harsh opinions, they offered facts and emotions i.e. "this is pretty much what happened" (and I totally get your point that they weren't suggesting that they were quoting the club verbatim) and (b) how it landed with them (a very tough pill to swallow). It seems uncontroversial that the club pretty much did tell them "we want you out" and I don't think much turns on the bluntness/delicacy of the wording (provided there was nothing nasty and there is nothing to suggest there was).

3. These days engaging with media is a big part of being an AFL player and it's apparently in everyone's interests (the AFL's, the clubs', the players', the fans etc) that players do because it generates interest in the industry and, by extension, dollars. So overall talking ("squealing") to the media is encouraged and helps grow the worth of the industry. [Just one of the reasons that the comparison to the ADF is not apt, IMO.]

Whether the club has actually done anything wrong or handled the situation badly depends a lot on one's values and point of view. Some would say that driving a contracted player out of a club after years of loyalty albeit in service to the club's greater needs is act of bastardry and destructive to the fabric of the club and others would say it's the way the world turns and it's a business and a high performance business at that and we needed to get better and Will & Ollie weren't the answer. [For me personally, it's part of a (game and society-wide) trend that I don't embrace.]

In any event, while both club and players may have some disappointments/dissatisfactions, I suspect that both respect where the other is coming from, at least to a degree. Quite possibly the relationships between Will & Ollie and Cox & Cameron may not endure but hopefully all of their connections to the club will endure long after this chapter has passed into history.

I’ve said my piece in reaction to being sniped.

I’m not interested in chewing through multiple interpretations of my comment - this is not a badly acted Police interrogation.

Point 1 - If you haven’t worked within the ADF, you won’t get the analogy. I will say this, BOTH are ‘institutions’ demand a ‘loyalty’ beyond the average job.

Yes, SERIOUS problems require an independent Arbiter - but seriously? Dissing previous Managers/Commanders? It’s seen as disrespectful and an indication of unreliability. It’s Mouseshit.

Point 2 - They did not offer ‘facts’ in my view. They offered THEIR perceptions.

THAT’S IF the quotes were verbatum.

There’s information and there’s whinging about your previous Manager

Point 3 - By all means engage with media - but don’t be a ClownAct and vomit all over the club. It shows your ‘loyalty’ is on sale.

Don’t reply - your tomes are aimed at verbally beating people into submission.

For what its worth I expected better from you - your points are seriously obtuse. I’m shaking my head.

 

[caesar88]

There's not much use defending Cox or Florent/Hayward at this point when none of us know exactly what happened or what was said, and probably never will.

 

[The Blue Max]

There's not much use defending Cox or Florent/Hayward at this point when none of us know exactly what happened or what was said, and probably never will.

You’re absolutely correct.

I don’t believe either party said what is claimed - but I do think those guys ratted out Cox and Cameron by answering the question.

 

[caesar88]

You’re absolutely correct.

I don’t believe either party said what is claimed - but I do think those guys ratted out Cox and Cameron by answering the question.

I don't think they owe Cox and Cameron anything.

 

[liz]

There's not much use defending Cox or Florent/Hayward at this point when none of us know exactly what happened or what was said, and probably never will.

Agree with this, but I don’t have much of an issue with what Florent or Hayward said. The reality is that they were deemed expendable in pursuit of someone else. Maybe they could have phrased their perceptions differently but they’re entitled to feel a little bruised. They both spoke well of the club. They emphasised how much they’d enjoyed their time at the club. Stuff happens.

 

[caesar88]

Agree with this, but I don’t have much of an issue with what Florent or Hayward said. The reality is that they were deemed expendable in pursuit of someone else. Maybe they could have phrased their perceptions differently but they’re entitled to feel a little bruised. They both spoke well of the club. They emphasised how much they’d enjoyed their time at the club. Stuff happens.

Maybe their perceptions were completely accurate and that's exactly how it played out though. I wouldn't put it past a young player to be hyper-emotional and disgruntled about a subject that's still quite raw and sensitive. I also wouldn't put it past a coach and head of footy boss to be a pair of Wayne Kerrs in the midst of a busy and high-pressure business negotiation.

We just don't know. It's all fan fiction unless the phone calls were tapped and the conversations are published.

 

[The Blue Max]

I don't think they owe Cox and Cameron anything.

I guess it depends on what values people have been raised with. Young people these days seem to hold their integrity pretty cheap. The whole ‘get a life’ ethos is just an excuse for shit behaviour.

 

[dosser]

I'm all for players negotiating the most lucrative deal that they can get. However, if their performance then slips and no longer justifies their deal, then the club has every right to try to move the player on. Hypothetically, if Ollie's performance in 2025 was at the level expected of the deal he was on, would the Swans have even considered moving him on? I doubt it, even though room had to be made for CC.

 

[caesar88]

I guess it depends on what values people have been raised with. Young people these days seem to hold their integrity pretty cheap. The whole ‘get a life’ ethos is just an excuse for shit behaviour.

We don't know it's shit behaviour. For all we know Florent and Hayward were asked a question and answered it 100% honestly.

 

[Bloods86]

I guess it depends on what values people have been raised with. Young people these days seem to hold their integrity pretty cheap. The whole ‘get a life’ ethos is just an excuse for shit behaviour.

While I'm not exactly young anymore, there's plenty of examples about lack of integrity/decency from older generations.

Lots of groups were mistreated (more than now). I've heard "hilarious" anecdotes about drink driving or trespassing for duck hunting from my parents generation etc.

 

[The Blue Max]

We don't know it's shit behaviour. For all we know Florent and Hayward were asked a question and answered it 100% honestly.

Lets get this straight -

I have said all along that I don’t think they did - but if they did, I don’t think it shows much integrity.

You made the comment about ‘not owing’….why would you say that if you thought they didn’t make those statements?

Can’t have it both ways.