Toast Swans to lose 4 premiership heroes and 1000+ games to retirement

[ashep]

Now Kizza's officially called it quits, thought that the following deserved a thread:

Jarrad McVeigh - 324 games, 2012 premiership captain, 2013 AA, 2 x Bob Skilton medallist
Kieren Jack - 253 games, 2012 premiership player, 2013 AA, Bob Skilton medallist
Heath Grundy - 254 games, 2012 premiership player
Nick Smith - 211 games, 2012 premiership player, 2014 AA

End of an era.

4 harder nuts or better club men you would not find and absolutely criminal that Reg was never rewarded with an AA selection.

As others have pointed out, only McVeigh would have been best 22 next year so won't be a huge impact on the field, but nonetheless is still a huge loss for the club.

 

[Marc_Remillard]

Nick Smith - 2011 games, 2012 premiership player, 2014 AA

Nick Smith, highest games tally by a country mile

 

[ashep]

Nick Smith, highest games tally by a country mile

Hahah damn.

 

[kranky al]

Those three names have caused west coast much misery over the 2007-2018 period.

 

[the harry]

Those three names have caused west coast much misery over the 2007-2018 period.

Yes & I think that's the nicest I can bring myself to be about them; my team will be better off without them on the competing side.

 

[Roobs321]

Sad, end of an era. I recall all their debut games. McVeigh was my father's whipping boy in the mid 00s before becoming a star all around the ground (and leader at that). Jack's electrifying form in 2010 was something to behold at the time. Grundy's early days as a key forward. Nick Smith quietly working his way into best-22. All great memories.

 

[RUNVS]

Sad, end of an era. I recall all their debut games. McVeigh was my father's whipping boy in the mid 00s before becoming a star all around the ground (and leader at that). Jack's electrifying form in 2010 was something to behold at the time. Grundy's early days as a key forward. Nick Smith quietly working his way into best-22. All great memories.

Are you bedford son?

 

[Roobs321]

My father's 1st favourite player was Bedford (liked his AFL/Cricket double threat as a kid). So you could be on to something there lol.

 

[HTPunter]

Which year did Grundy really get hard done by in missing out on AA?

He had multiple great years but I don't know of a year where he was such A standout that it was "criminal" he wasn't selected. He had multiple years as a top 4 or 5 defender I'd agree but top 2? None spring to mind.

 

[Goomba1973]

Those three names have caused west coast much misery over the 2007-2018 period.

Buddy is still there and he has a habit of handing us our backsides as well.

 

[Big Blood]

Fair dinkum champions and ornaments to the game .

 

[The Swert]

Kieren Jack was often overshadowed by JP Kennedy , R O'Keefe, J Bolton and L Parker but in 2012/13 when they were on top he was just as good as any of them.

Certainly was a good Supercoach pick in those years.

 

[MF]

Which year did Grundy really get hard done by in missing out on AA?

He had multiple great years but I don't know of a year where he was such A standout that it was "criminal" he wasn't selected. He had multiple years as a top 4 or 5 defender I'd agree but top 2? None spring to mind.

Wouldnt say it was criminal but 2016 many people had him pegged for a spot.

 

[mattwa]

Grundy was severely underrated he turned himself into a very good footballer

 

[Lord Rod]

End of an era, all had very good careers..

 

[Tap Tap Tapperoo]

May have just been the few Swans fans I know, but my memory is Grundy wasn’t really rated during the first half of his career before becoming a supremely reliable defender after that.

 

[who_let_the_dogs_out]

Always liked the way Grundy went about it. Very underrated, to the end.

 

[Ticky009]

May have just been the few Swans fans I know, but my memory is Grundy wasn’t really rated during the first half of his career before becoming a supremely reliable defender after that.

He wasn’t. And when he first moved down back his fumbles in front of goal were heart in mouth territory terrifying.

 

[The King!]

legends

 

[Pie eyed]

Now Kizza's officially called it quits, thought that the following deserved a thread:

Jarrad McVeigh - 324 games, 2012 premiership captain, 2013 AA, 2 x Bob Skilton medallist
Kieren Jack - 253 games, 2012 premiership player, 2013 AA, Bob Skilton medallist
Heath Grundy - 254 games, 2012 premiership player
Nick Smith - 211 games, 2012 premiership player, 2014 AA

End of an era.

4 harder nuts or better club men you would not find and absolutely criminal that Reg was never rewarded with an AA selection.

As others have pointed out, only McVeigh would have been best 22 next year so won't be a huge impact on the field, but nonetheless is still a huge loss for the club.

Apparently this has never happened before?
Of that list McVeigh was the best.
Jack? I am surprised he actually lasted this long.
Solid player at best, but hey...Sydney....
Wide eyed media spotlight....y'all.

 

[MF]

Jack? I am surprised he actually lasted this long.
Solid player at best, but hey...Sydney.....

His peak didn't last long (similar to Ryan Griffen) but at his best he was one of the best mids in the game as his 2013 All Australian selection attests to.

 

[Sirlemsip]

Respect to all of these guys.
All of them were class acts throughout their career, particularly McVeigh.
Probably deserved multiple premierships, but I think when they look back the joy of 2012 will outweigh 2014+2016

 

[DaveEgoat]

Round it off with an apology to the football public from Adam Goodes and it is a genuine end of an era

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Now Kizza's officially called it quits, thought that the following deserved a thread:

Jarrad McVeigh - 324 games, 2012 premiership captain, 2013 AA, 2 x Bob Skilton medallist
Kieren Jack - 253 games, 2012 premiership player, 2013 AA, Bob Skilton medallist
Heath Grundy - 254 games, 2012 premiership player
Nick Smith - 211 games, 2012 premiership player, 2014 AA

End of an era.

4 harder nuts or better club men you would not find and absolutely criminal that Reg was never rewarded with an AA selection.

As others have pointed out, only McVeigh would have been best 22 next year so won't be a huge impact on the field, but nonetheless is still a huge loss for the club.

Great list of heart and soul players right there

Any club would be proud to have them

 

[Bollox]

Dont be surprised if you see Macca as head coach of an AFL club soon enough. One of the best footy brains of recent times.

When you feel like you need some backbone, think of him. Losing his daughter at 1 month old, then playing again a week later and 2 finals after that. That is real strength
That game when Syd beat Geel after they had 29 straight wins at the cattery will remain a historical game at our club forever. Noone will forget.

Along with Rampe more recently, Grundy and Smith formed an enviable back 3. One of the strongest last lines so far this century.

Yeah it really is the end of an era for us. Great memories.