It's about the competition being equal mate.
They are on track for 15 odd years of finals.
Sorry mate, that is a load of Bull*** Victorian bias. You have been complaining the last couple of pages about the leg up they are getting, that is just a load of rubbish. I dont have any real feeling for or against Sydney, but this "The AFL loves them" trash comes straight from the Eddie Maguire School of VFL Traditionalists.
They have a good looking future because they are one of the best drafters in the league.
They had 8 (EIGHT!!!) Rookie selections playing in their grand Final side last year, with another couple playing in their side at the moment. In comparison they had only 6 First round picks (including Franklin and the Academy players). That isnt a leg up, that is quality list management.
They had COLA stripped, so thats no longer an advantage, and they were even arbitrarily banned from trading because they used it, even though the AFL gave it to them. That's like giving a toddler a toy then punishing him for playing with it.
You think the AFL wanted them to get Buddy? well the abusive phone call from Fitzpatrick to Richard Colless says the opposite, so does the trading ban.
And the academy crap? they have had 2 - TWO! first round picks that have come from the academy in 7 years (at over $8 million pumped into it) and dont look like having another one for a while. Would you says $4 million a draft pick is money well spent or a leg up?. Northenr states struggle with player retention way more than Victorian states, so what if they get first dibs on two guys who are good players yes, but unlikely to leave them for Victorian clubs (like ours). No one cares about the academies when the swans are spending money and getting little results, but when it works? HOW DARE THOSE NSW SCUM GET FIRST DIBS!?!?!?!
This isnt just you, Victorian club fans sprout this crap regularly. Sydney is not the AFL's golden child at all. They made Sydney fulfil the ANZ stadium quota despite the SWans desperately wanting to play at the SCG (and not making GWS play there - talk about AFL darlings).
The Swans are a good team because they draft well and have a great culture that players buy into, not because the AFL give them a leg up, its actually, at least in the last 10 years, the opposite.