Prediction Flag Chances 2017

[cinderella man]

Thank F that JPK doesn't go missing too often.

Compared to the standards of others Kennedy has not played a bad game from the day he walked through the doors of the football club.

 

[TripleB]

Compared to the standards of others Kennedy has not played a bad game from the day he walked through the doors of the football club.

Yeah, he has great games, good games and the rare quieter than normal games, but he never has outright bad games...

 

[msb77]

To Be Honest I have been in the same boat because we may have been to the well once to often in recent times. Surely Law Of Averages say it is somebody else turn and we can't make another GF ? Then again nobody would have picked Hawthorn to 3 peat after the first of the 3 and there previous success over the last 10 years. So on that basis we could make another GF I suppose but losing is just not an option !

Don't like stories and the like about revenge and retribution because since the debacle of 2014 we have not made amends And tbh regular season is just that regular. Meaningless and no matter how you perform in that regular season or how much upside you have going forward there is only one game that matters and that is the here and now of GF Day no matter what any of us think just ask any losing player in any GF Side. They could not give a flying **** about the next year and potential and exceeding expectations in that particular year. All they care about is what was lost on that day after the toil to get the opportunity and that is how it should be for any professional sportsman in fact any sportsman on any team in any sport. Sure be a good sport and lose graciously when you do but ply your trade by the old motto of winning is not everything it is the only thing.

Having said all that and keeping retribution & revenge at the forefront, a mate of mine was speaking to a Swans player this week in a Melbourne establishment and according to this bloke the club, the players and everyone involved at the Club on GF Day honestly believe they were not on a level playing field not just that day but the but the whole week. Unlike most professionals these days you lick your wounds and move on but according to this player they are angry, bitter and very very determined to inflict serious retribution on all those responsible for what occurred.Themselves included and that comes to fruition int he preseason I suppose with their effort I suppose. Heard it all before ? When you actually hear it directly from a player instead of reading as quote from a newspaper you tend to take notice. If that is the case then I am back on Board for 2017 & preaching to the converted with my campaign slogan of **** The Bulldogs & **** Bob Murphy and Onwards & Upwards to a Flag in 2017.

I sure hope you are right mate. IMO I just look back to 2014 and the above statement should of referred to that prior to last years grand final, not in 2017. 2015 was a write off due to injuries, buddy health etc but in 2016, even though it wasnt against Hawthorn, we had the chance to make some sort of amends for the debacle of 2014 but again failed, although not as badly obviously, through too many passengers on the day. I know the umpiring was nothing short of disgraceful and it really was an us against them (even the AFL!) thing going on all week, but I cant use that as the reason we lost though.

Time will tell, but like you said if we were to make it again, losing it would not be an option.

 

[cinderella man]

I sure hope you are right mate. IMO I just look back to 2014 and the above statement should of referred to that prior to last years grand final, not in 2017. 2015 was a write off due to injuries, buddy health etc but in 2016, even though it wasnt against Hawthorn, we had the chance to make some sort of amends for the debacle of 2014 but again failed, although not as badly obviously, through too many passengers on the day. I know the umpiring was nothing short of disgraceful and it really was an us against them (even the AFL!) thing going on all week, but I cant use that as the reason we lost though.

Time will tell, but like you said if we were to make it again, losing it would not be an option.

Yeah that is why I used that old saying of Going back to well once to often. When you consider it we made the GF and won in 2012, 2013 no doubt another GF appearance beckoned because we were seriously depleted and still played 2 finals,2014 we won, 2015, we all know what cost us and 2016 although minor premiers with a side stacked with blokes still doing an apprenticeship so to speak we made the GF and were like 2014 the beaten favourite where imo along with being shafted we shit the bed. All that said I know its a slight stretch but we quite possibly could have played
in 5 GF's in a row. You win three and all of a sudden your one of the greatest teams of all time. We have certainly had and deserved i might say our opportunities that is for sure. Call me negative or pessimistic or whatever but surely law of averages says we can't keep getting the opportunity ? Or is the Club so well run from a coaching, list management and development perspective that we can and our sustained Finals appearances continue ? Win it this year and I could not give a **** if we never play finals again ! Appreciative of the fact I have seen the Mighty Swans win flags unlike some others but Gee I want another one and it is 2014 that like so many Swans fans has stuffed my head !

 

[bungee]

They wouldn't all be in the middle at once. It would just mean that on any given day if Parker or Hanners or JPK go missing, there are still mids for us capable of getting 25 to 30 possessions and doing the job. That was the advantage GWS and Bulldogs had over us last year, not their speed.

I don't know about that many getting midfield time but it would be handy to have enough midfield talent to rest up a few or cover during the year, if need be. That's a couple of years running now where our midfield were running close to empty at year's end. it's a delicate balance between keeping the players hot without wearing them out. We are somewhat reliant on JPK but I'm hoping that changes. At the same time we have to make sure other positions have adequate coverage as we need to have solid depth across the board. The midfield is pretty intense and some players are more suited, at this stage, to rotation through, say, the forward 50. Flexibility, depth and ability/experience are just as important elsewhere. We would struggle to cover our backline if say Smith, Rampe, Aliir and Grundy were all injured or needing a rest. We had three defenders down or underdone in the GF (Mills, Aliir and McVeigh) and, though the defence did OK, they were sorely tested. Marsh needs to step up, we need to find someone with McVeigh's leadership and disposal accuracy and Grundy won't last forever. If Mills, Rampe and Jones are all looking for midfield time it's less experience down back where we rely heavily on deep defence and rebound. Hanners plays a critical role as a hard running midfielder. His loss would seriously hurt us yet we probably don't have a natural cover for him. His ability to run hard all game and maintain his high standard long after others have drained their tanks is critical and hurt us badly when he was injured (bludgeoned by cheats) in the GF. By the 4th quarter Hanners has usually killed off any tag and is running unfettered.

 

[The King!]

I think we need to manage our stars better

Buddy should be rested more, ditto jpk. Stop playing unfit guys during the year

 

[Wolftone]

That's the problem with relying on a $million forward. We need a $million spare.

Seriously, there were patches early last season when Tippet and Franklin worked nicely together. I expect Tippet and Naismith can work together but Tippet will probably spend more time forward of the two. There doesn't have to be an anointed No 1 ruckman. Whoever fits the bill best on the day. With Sinclair and Reid also contributing in the ruck we have a number of tall options and Horse has a bit of talent to work with. It all adds up to more flexibility depending on i) which team we play, and ii) whether we have to change up our structure mid-game (the elusive Plan B). A lot of 'ifs'...If Tippet and Sinclair can find the form they had early last year, if Reid can get back into his late '15 form and if Naismith can continue to build on last season.

Read my lips Bungee Reid will not plat ruck. That is why we have Cameron & Sinclair and AA can play ruck at a pinch and far better than Reid. Reid is about the worst ruck man ever. But I'd we leave him at CHF for a whole season he might just turn out OK.

Buddy prefers the wandering role to the key position anyway. This gives him a chance to run with the play and he is incredibly dangerous when he does that. Just ask Cale Hooker. This stretches a defence too. What's more I don't give a shit how fast they are not too many get past Buddy.



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[Wolftone]

I think it still comes down to getting a greater spread of goals apart from Franklin when you come up against top 4 teams that can match your
elite onballers.
Dogs , GWS have it.
Your game style rarely lets your backline get exposed.

I'd be tempted to do what Clarko did with Buddy in his last year at Hawthorn and send him further up the ground. At least with you guys he cannot run off to another team ; )
Give him small cameos deep sending Reid ( if fit ) and a resting Tippet through there also ( think Hawks doing the same with Hale, Roughhead and Gunston )

Papley is the one for me... showed some really good signs..... if he kicks on that gives your forward line such a better look. Heeney with those hands still has to be 80/20 Forward onballer in my mind. Now If you could just find a mercurial Micky O/ Rioli type you should be set.

He's on the way but we might have to wait one more season. But we have Tony Modra's clone waiting in the wings. His name is Hayward. Remember it because in two seasons he'll be a household name

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[Wolftone]

All the coaches need to tell Aliir is to just keep backing himself and playing footy his way. The confidence he showed late on in the season when he had clearly realised he was good enough for AFL footy was reflected in some really good football from him. The last thing we need him to do is to go into his shell, even if things aren't going well.

Can't wait to see what AA can do this year - a great story to see him finally break through last season, and I think its only onwards and upwards from here. He has the ability to provide a potency in being able to turn defence into attack that few teams have, and could prove to be a huge asset for us going forward.

Even in the reserves he was a bit timid at times but Shawy gave him the licence to run and the confidence to do it and he did. Then the big time and every week he just got better. The kid is incredibly clever. He sums up the situation do well.

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[Ray Donovan]

Swans Heeney more midfield minutes to cover mitchell absense. Allir Allir to get another 20 games Callum mills to escape the 2nd year blues. Zac jones lock down a position at half back wing more game time. Sam reid attempts to find a position in the lineup i suspect M Talia who has a lot of potential will find a role somewhere either as a mobile 3rd tall or KPD. This group of Jake Lloyd, Lewis Jetta, Callum sinclair, hewett can elevate themselves become more consistent.


This group shows great depth potential one or two of these guys will hopefully break best 22.
H.Cunningham, Foote (looked lively ), B.Jack (always showed potential) J.Rose, Oliver Florent ( very smooth mover early games in papley position)
Darcy Cameron ( Nab form looked like he adds something looks like a sinclair upgrade in future) Newman, Towers

Probably on form lines swans sit on the 3rd line just under GWS and WB but with a clean run and a good early season platform and development from a younger than usual grandfinal group from last season another grand final berth house to be in reach this season again. Perfect run at the business end and anything is possible for this group.

 

[bungee]

Read my lips Bungee Reid will not plat ruck. That is why we have Cameron & Sinclair and AA can play ruck at a pinch and far better than Reid. Reid is about the worst ruck man ever. But I'd we leave him at CHF for a whole season he might just turn out OK.

Buddy prefers the wandering role to the key position anyway. This gives him a chance to run with the play and he is incredibly dangerous when he does that. Just ask Cale Hooker. This stretches a defence too. What's more I don't give a shit how fast they are not too many get past Buddy.



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Hi Wolfie, I wasn't suggesting Reid play as a ruck BUT it's not inconceivable that he might take the odd hit out. The essential point was we could have a wealth of big men causing problems for some opposition, particularly as all are fairly handy around the ground and especially forward (even Sinclair if he can capture some early 2016 form).

ps. I won't ask you to read my lips as I could be talking out of my arse. It's not a nice thought (insert appropriate emoticon)

 

[bungee]

Swans Heeney more midfield minutes to cover mitchell absense. Allir Allir to get another 20 games Callum mills to escape the 2nd year blues. Zac jones lock down a position at half back wing more game time. Sam reid attempts to find a position in the lineup i suspect M Talia who has a lot of potential will find a role somewhere either as a mobile 3rd tall or KPD. This group of Jake Lloyd, Lewis Jetta, Callum sinclair, hewett can elevate themselves become more consistent.


This group shows great depth potential one or two of these guys will hopefully break best 22.
H.Cunningham, Foote (looked lively ), B.Jack (always showed potential) J.Rose, Oliver Florent ( very smooth mover early games in papley position)
Darcy Cameron ( Nab form looked like he adds something looks like a sinclair upgrade in future) Newman, Towers

Probably on form lines swans sit on the 3rd line just under GWS and WB but with a clean run and a good early season platform and development from a younger than usual grandfinal group from last season another grand final berth house to be in reach this season again. Perfect run at the business end and anything is possible for this group.

Jetta still struggling for consistency, just not with us.

 

[bungee]

Swans Heeney more midfield minutes to cover mitchell absense. Allir Allir to get another 20 games Callum mills to escape the 2nd year blues. Zac jones lock down a position at half back wing more game time. Sam reid attempts to find a position in the lineup i suspect M Talia who has a lot of potential will find a role somewhere either as a mobile 3rd tall or KPD. This group of Jake Lloyd, Lewis Jetta, Callum sinclair, hewett can elevate themselves become more consistent.


This group shows great depth potential one or two of these guys will hopefully break best 22.
H.Cunningham, Foote (looked lively ), B.Jack (always showed potential) J.Rose, Oliver Florent ( very smooth mover early games in papley position)
Darcy Cameron ( Nab form looked like he adds something looks like a sinclair upgrade in future) Newman, Towers

Probably on form lines swans sit on the 3rd line just under GWS and WB but with a clean run and a good early season platform and development from a younger than usual grandfinal group from last season another grand final berth house to be in reach this season again. Perfect run at the business end and anything is possible for this group.

Jetta still struggling for consistency, just not with us.

 

[bungee]

Even in the reserves he was a bit timid at times but Shawy gave him the licence to run and the confidence to do it and he did. Then the big time and every week he just got better. The kid is incredibly clever. He sums up the situation do well.

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Shaw just keeps giving to us. I think he's been a big influence on Jones too. I see so much of Shaw in him

 

[Wolftone]

I think Jetts left us for Eagles last season mate.

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[Ray Donovan]

Jetta still struggling for consistency, just not with us.

lol i threw him in by accident obviously with the coast now sinclair trade