How will SYDNEY fare in 2006?

[CyberKev]

STRENGTHS: The Swans are a tight, bonded unit that play in a manner that is decidedly stronger than the sum of its parts. They have an attack that is among the better ones on offer, with Hall, O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, Schneider & Goodes providing ample scoring power. While it doesn't look flash on paper, the Swans defense also wins out more often than it loses, and the same can be said for the side's midfield. While they come in for a lot of criticism, the Swans possess an adaptable gameplan that switches neatly between free-flowing attack and dogged defence in accordance with the state of the game (and the nature of the opponent) at any given time. On paper, the Swans also appear to have been given the softest draw on offer.

WEAKNESSES: The loss of Ball should be felt, given that Chambers is well short of Ball's level in the ruck, and the side has more of an overt dependence on ruck contests than any other club. The defence coped well late last year, but lacks height and talent and will struggle against sides with multiple attacking options. The midfield is fine, although it doesn't run deep beyond the first choice rotation and injuries to the likes of Williams & Kirk will have major repurcussions.

PREDICTION: You need to find improvement to go back-to-back, but - if anything - the Swans have dropped back slightly. Its true that their key opponents don't seem to have a lot of outright improvement in them either, although several could boast defacto improvement through an improved injury run. The Swans needed more good fortune than any other premier in VFL/AFL history in order to salute last year, but I wouldn't count on a repeat.

Sydney - 6th

 

[Glenn]

Good fortune in what way?? I assume you mean in terms of injuries..good fortune in some part yes, but alot of credit has to go to Dr Nathan Gibbs and the medical staff.
As much as I would love to see them go back to back, just to stick it up a few especially in Melbourne, top 4 shouldn't be beyond there reach with there playing staff.Especially if the back up ruckman can develop like Jolly last season.
All in all a good wrapup there, despite my feeling you are under estimating them a touch

 

[CyberKev]

Good fortune in what way?? I assume you mean in terms of injuries..good fortune in some part yes, but alot of credit has to go to Dr Nathan Gibbs and the medical staff.

Good fortune in several ways:

1) a fab injury run across the season as a whole, and culminating in only a solitary change to the squad over the final 9 games of the year. A side certainly shouldn't feel guilty about having a good run in this regard, but its easy to trivialise the part that luck plays in deciding a premier. the mdical staff can only do so much, and the rest comes down to fate, especially where collision injuries are concerned.

2) The bad injury runs suffered by key opponents (especially St Kilda and Geelong) across the season and into the finals.

3) The decision by the umpires to throw away the whistle for much of the GF, which was rightly welcomed in some areas, but nevertheless strongly advantaged the Swans style of game.

That being said, they deserved to win it as much as anybody, and 15 other clubs would have taken it, luck or otherwise.

I hope you'll be joining us for LU tipping this season also...

 

[chileman]

I'm predicting we'll finish 4th.....I don't think we can have a Brisbane Lions run of premierships but we'll give it a hell of a shake!

 

[Glenn]

Well Sydney did have there share of good fortune, but also almost missed on even reaching the grand final thanks to a umpire decision in the Final vs Weagles @ Subi that was shown to be wrong and hence having to go to sudden death vs St Kilda.
As in the past come Grand Finals umps tend to let them play more, than a H&A game or final series.

Will be joining the tipping comp, someone has to come last

 

[CyberKev]

Will be joining the tipping comp, someone has to come last

Yeah,

and that someone will most likely be named - Craig

 

[Glenn]

Yeah,

and that someone will most likely be named - Craig

Hey at least i get some competition for last :lol:

 

[chileman]

Yeah,

and that someone will most likely be named - Craig

Especially tipping the Tiges each week :lol:

 

[meltiger]

Especially tipping the Tiges each week :lol:

LOL

Richmond have something called the Rookie Club (An initiative of the Punt Road End Website) where many people have chipped in to help Richmond get another Rookie list player.

Got an email from Greg Miller this week and they are going to run a tipping comp for all the members of the club and the comp will also include some players, Terry Wallace & GM himself. GM stated that because we're all (Mostly) Richmond supporters, the tipping comp is only going to be on the 7 games Richmond don't play in ...


All I thought when I read that was ... Woohoo, I may have a chance if everyone else is forced to tip Richmond ;-) LOL


If Cyberkev was a member he would come last.