Dees2014

I agree. Lennon is exactly what we need

This is from March 2013. This does not exclude a trade at all, times have changed at the Swans, particularly if Kennedy is as [censored] off with the Buddy deal as has been reported

Well at least i'm consistent. The reaction makes my laugh. Predictability is one of this sites great characteristics.

A couple of left field suggestions (which those of you who don't like looking outside the box will think outrageous - if i didn't get scorn from these suggestions i'd think our supporter base might have - heaven forbid - become creative). Fitzy is a very unusual player. He was an elite junior, where he absolutely dominated, but his well publicised health issues have held him back since then. We drafted him at 54, and he showed little for the first two years. This year, as he explained in the interview, he thought he was going to not get another contract so relaxed and enjoyed what he liked most ie play footy. And in the last 10 games he was usually in our four or five best. Fitzy is 200cm (6'7"), but he is one of our best kicks for goal, he is a good overhead mark, he is also an elite runner, both over 50m and endurance, and if you haven't seen him train you should - he is something to behold. In fact his running both in the short form and long term, and his endurance, beats most of our mid fielders. Why would we not: play him in the mid field either on the wing or centre; or in the backline, as the second tall back, preferably at CHB where he can use his pace to break the lines, and use his kicking skills to advantage. Personally, i think he would be very suited to the Centre, but im sure most Demon fans on here will think i'm just an ignoramous, or delusional. He would be a very significant addition to our midfield, which means he would add to our midfield deficiencies rather than subtract to them.

I'm not sure this is Longmire's doing. I see the dead hands of Colless and Andrew Ireland in this. I suspect there is a huge dose of hubris going on at the Swans at both Board and Executive level. They are beginning to become arrogant - you could see it in Roos response a couple of months ago to Colless's diatribe. I would bet that PR sees them as throwing away the culture he so carefully built up at the Swans and he is not at all happy about it. He is just the sort of character who would say "stuff the lot of you, I will repeat the success at the Demons, to show you how important it all is...." Let's hope so. Not good sign though at all for the Swans I find it very interesting this year, the Swans with Tippett had a substantially worse win/loss record than without him, even though he kicked a lot of goals. I think that says a lot about the Buddy\Tippett Swans side where 25% of the salary caps goes to those two. I think they might be in trouble.

Pick 9 and Jamar.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Gawn has NEVER had a preseason with us. When he does this year he will be a power. It is amazing he was as good as he was at time last year.

You describe Lennon perfectly. I agree with you choice.

1. Hawthorn 2. Sydney 3. Fremantle 4. Geelong 5. Melbourne 6. Port Adelaide 7. Collingwood 8. Gold Coast 9. North Melbourne 10. Richmond 11. Bulldogs 12. Carlton 13. Adelaide 14. GWS 15. West Coast 16. Brisbane 17. St. Kilda 18. Essendon The Dons will have lost up to a dozen of their best players by the start of next year and will be caught in the misery of expensive court cases when these players sue them which will last most of next year. Demons to "do a Port Adelaide" with a favorable draw, a much better list, and a great coach.

Go Lennon - to the Dees! What a great get!

So does Stephen Danks - he is about to complete his PHd. Doesn't make him more effective. I am a huge supporter of very high level education qualifications ( I could hardly be anything else), but the knowledge has to be applied with common sense. Danks is a great example of not doing that. Cross on the other hand is someone who has a natural sense of what works and incredible discipline to be successful - a great role model for our young team. He also is smart enough to have worked out that theoretical knowledge adds considerably to your practical experience. Dave Misson? - not sure what letters he has after his name, but he has rolled-gold successful experience, and in this game that is about as good as it gets.

Really? I look forward to further discussions at season's end. "the proof of the pudding etc etc etc" Hope you have a long and happy season in you projected misery...

I would nominate Vince (a terrific kick, both feet), Viney (raking left footer), N. Jones, Watts, Grimes, Hogan, Howe, Lennon (when we draft him at 9, which we will - what a gun!)

Do I? (need to take the rose colored glasses off). We will see who is right and I promise to remind you at season's end. Deal?

Well if they said that it just reveals the source doesn't know what he is talking about. Cross is an unrestricted free agent. He doesnt have to go through any draft, it is matter of negotiating a deal direct between the player and club. I suspect this "deal done" talk is nonsense if they are also talking about PSD. Just further proof that channel 10 doesn't understand AFL.

I think you need to look at the overall picture. Our forward and back halfs are significantly better than the Dogs and I believe we have a significantly better coach. Our midfield in a year's time will also be better, and Gawn is bigger and more mobile than Minson, at least he will be in a year's time. The dogs have a very significant problem in attack - the opposite of us.We will be well ahead of them this year.

Michie Vince Howe Viney Trengove Watts Cross Tyson Cain Toumpas Lennon Kent I would also add Hogan as a long leading into the mid field CHF as an added bonus. Wow. Even nicer. Either way, it is a huge advance.

Lennon more suited to our needs in my opinion, and i think he will be there at 9

Technically this is right, but my Crows mates say Vince is equally good either foot. There is a great clip of him moving through traffic on the 50 meter line, dodges onto his right foot then baulks, then slots a 50m goal through using his loeft boot on a 45 degree angle. Will be great to see Vince, Viney, Michie, and Tyson feeding our forwards on those lovely low long accurate passes lefties seem so expert at (a la Hawks)

Thanks for the feedback. I'll try again Just as a matter of interest see how many brothers we can name who have played for the Dees. I'll start off: Flowers: Robbie and Tom Johnstons: Terry, Tassie and Bob (although I rather suspect they were cousins) Cordners: Dennis, Don and Ted Macdonalds: James and Anthony Stynes: Jim and David Healey: Gerard and Greg Mann: Hassa and Len Cockatoo Collins: ? and ? Febey: Stephen and ?

I agree they should always be picked on merit AND to fit into the needs of the club list and its gameplan. This is something I think Roos does brilliantly. Just as a matter of interest see how many brothers we can name who have played for the Dees. I'll start off: Flowers: Robbie and Tom Johnstons: Terry, Tassie and Bob (although I rather suspect they were cousins) Cordners: Dennis, Don and Ted Macdonalds: James and Anthony Stynes: Jim and David Can anyone name any others?

Carlton - will slide big time. Have recruited very poorly, and have some real weaknesses, and Judd is past his best. I see them mid the second tier, and certainly below us.

I like the idea of playing Hogan at CHF. Apparantly he has an outstanding engine and of course is a brilliant mark and kick. Also a good runner. Seems like perfect CHF, and as such complements our emerging mid field. I'd play Clark at FF, and Dawes in the pocket, with Howe in the other pocket, with Bleese and Trengove on the flanks. Impressive forward line which will very difficult to match up on. I look forward to this year seeing our oppositions' discomfort.

Swans get 44 for White Woods get White and pick 6, and lose picks 11 and 31 which go to the Eagles for 6........I think! Seems unnecessarily complex to me, but who am I to judge.

The major part of our improvement was always going to come from having a coach (s) who knows what he is doing, and getting our current playing group to play up to their potential . Some such as Caroline Wilson see an immediate 30-40% improvement just from this. Add the return from from long term injury and full preseasons of key players such as Clark. Dawes, Gawn, Grimes, and Trengove, the arrival of Jesse Hogan, and you've got probably another 25% improvement. It is only after that you address our major onfield weakness, our mid field, via clever recruiting which we saw last week and will see more of through the drafts. The recruits, dare I say it after the previous post, are "icing on the cake", but do allow us to have a more complete team building on our strengths in defence and attack. It is a classic case of " the whole is greater than the sum of the parts". To say, as some posts have done on here, that we were the worst team in history last year, and we are not going to fix it immediately by bringing in inexperienced, but skilled players (Tyler, Michie) or has-beens (Vince), or picking kids out of the draft. It fails to take into account the dimensions discussed in the first para, and particularly the ongoing benefits of Roos leadership which is the glue which will make the whole thing work together.