A quality article from Luke Ablett - How Sydney Swans built The Bloods culture

At an unsuccessful club, a highly-prized draftee might spend four years in the system and play 80 games because the side is winning only three to five games a year. I feel that what clubs like that need is players from outside who've played at a club with really high standards and who are willing to sit there and say, You know what? This isnt good enough. If you think this is going to win you games of AFL footy youre kidding yourself. Its a really hard game. That was what Stuart Maxfield did at Sydney.

What a genius.

excellent article

excellent article

good hard working ethic and an extra $800K COLA - a good recipe.

I've felt for some time that the way we and Saints have gone about it is too far the other way. Chopping senior players just to get games into kids (drafting those kids aside) doesn't seem to have worked. You still have to be the best player for the position/role each week not potentially in 5 years the best for that position/role once you get 100 games under the belt.

good hard working ethic and an extra $800K COLA - a good recipe.

That helps haha.

$800,000 extra equates to a new free agent every year.

It is so obvious that Gill and his off siders want the Swans deep in September each year with this broadcasting deal

Great article.

The point of the article is valid with or without the COLA.

You need to start that culture with the right individuals and the likes of Maxfield and Paul Kelly were there when they were staring down the barrel in much the same way we are now.

Maxfield played in the same junior competition that my oldest son played in at one stage in the 80s. I remember seeing him up on the dais at one of the presentation nights and one of the coaches pointed out that he was a determined young bloke who was "going to make it". He went to Richmond where he was always on the cusp but not quite there, was dropped off their list and found himself at Sydney where he worked hard and became an inspirational captain, played in a premiership and 200 games with the Swans to finish on close to 300 games all up. In short, he got the most of himself and was part of the inspiration for what that club is today.

That's quite the opposite of what we see from many of Melbourne's current and recent players but we know that there's a link between Maxfield and Melbourne - Paul Roos who will, I believe weed out those who can't play a role in our new culture and bring in a new breed. I can sense it coming.

I've felt for some time that the way we and Saints have gone about it is too far the other way. Chopping senior players just to get games into kids (drafting those kids aside) doesn't seem to have worked. You still have to be the best player for the position/role each week not potentially in 5 years the best for that position/role once you get 100 games under the belt.

our culture hasn't been right for at least 15 years, & it was worse over the 2009 - 2012 period. our best c years in 40Yrs IMO, were 1984 - 1995

The point of the article is valid with or without the COLA.

You need to start that culture with the right individuals and the likes of Maxfield and Paul Kelly were there when they were staring down the barrel in much the same way we are now.

Maxfield played in the same junior competition that my oldest son played in at one stage in the 80s. I remember seeing him up on the dais at one of the presentation nights and one of the coaches pointed out that he was a determined young bloke who was "going to make it". He went to Richmond where he was always on the cusp but not quite there, was dropped off their list and found himself at Sydney where he worked hard and became an inspirational captain, played in a premiership and 200 games with the Swans to finish on close to 300 games all up. In short, he got the most of himself and was part of the inspiration for what that club is today.

That's quite the opposite of what we see from many of Melbourne's current and recent players but we know that there's a link between Maxfield and Melbourne - Paul Roos who will, I believe weed out those who can't play a role in our new culture and bring in a new breed. I can sense it coming.

It starts with respected players prepared to be honest & open, to the bone, about themselves, all players, & about all in the club.

Neeld started the trimming, like him or not, & Roosy will polish it right off. all who can't give all, can go.

Maxfield never played in a premiership.

Jack Viney may be a work in progress but when he crosses that white line , I don't think club "culture" is foremost on his mind . Sellwood , Hodge and even lesser lights like Rance and the promising Wines also come to mind as instinctively courageous . Self respect should be motivation enough as it was for Carlton players in 1979/80 when they had "coaches" such as Jesaulenko and Percy Jones .

Maxfield never played in a premiership.

I stand corrected. He was captain at the beginning of the season but had to relinquish the captaincy early in the season and finished up after six games. Nevertheless, it was his inspiration that led to the substantial cultural change that lifted the Swans from a basket case to premiers under Roos.

I stand corrected. He was captain at the beginning of the season but had to relinquish the captaincy early in the season and finished up after six games. Nevertheless, it was his inspiration that led to the substantial cultural change that lifted the Swans from a basket case to premiers under Roos.

I still maintain that having good players won them a premiership more than anything else.

Culture begins from the top...From president to CEO & throughout the whole club... They all need to be on the same page!

This I dare say is occurring with PJ & Roos & the appointment of a Goodwin will see the right culture & same message continue after Roos....

Don't forget too that Sydney picked up Kieren Jack after he bypassed the National Draft and went straight to the Rookie Draft.

I think the point is that a good culture brings out the best in players. Kieran Jack wasn't a great player when he was drafted.

I think the point is that a good culture brings out the best in players. Kieran Jack wasn't a great player when he was drafted.

Culture is the icing, having talent first place is the cake. We don't have the cake and a player like Jack had talent in the first place.

That analogy makes no sense at all.

Culture begins from the top...From president to CEO & throughout the whole club... They all need to be on the same page!

This I dare say is occurring with PJ & Roos & the appointment of a Goodwin will see the right culture & same message continue after Roos....

thats right & that culture grows into the threads of the supporter base,,, & Vica Versa. our reason-abilities as a supporter base rubs off into the players as well & mellows the fierce attack.

also we are a cosy club, with the supporters in contact with players mostly have enough wins in their lives, & I think this effects our hunger & focus... these influences are what help to keep us a mild club, & we seek to choose people who won't rock the boat. We would rather not lose anything, than go all out to WIN everything, to take the risks.

the air around the club is always mild warm & cosy, the culture grows from this, Here. It effects everything from the directors elected, to the admins chosen & hired, to the footy dept, then onto the players.

......... to me this is all grown from the fact we have never had a suburban base & social club, where we could grow a wider demography in our support base, & alter the influences that the players hear & feel.

.

Aah i knew the suburban Social Club would pop up in here at some stage.

You going to run it in summer and pick up the tab when 3 people and a dog drop in DL?

Our culture was to lose and get draft pick until Neeld came along.

Unfortunately he went a bit to hard at the beginning instead of gaining the respect from his players first, that's what his down fall was.

Our culture was that bad that only a well respected experienced coach like Roos could save it.

Aah i knew the suburban Social Club would pop up in here at some stage.

You going to run it in summer and pick up the tab when 3 people and a dog drop in DL?

its all linked WYL. & it is a big part of why we continue to struggle. when we repair the culture (as did percy page & checker hughes) it eventually drifts back to a holywood boulevard again.

Culture is the icing, having talent first place is the cake. We don't have the cake and a player like Jack had talent in the first place.

That's where we got it wrong, every kid in the draft has talent I shouldn't matter what number the are picked at. If you don't have the right training culture set in place they will just end a dud recruit because you need more then just talent to make it in the afl