Loss of Kennelly end of an era for Swans
Roar Pro
By jimbo, 31 Jan 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, grand final, Ireland, Melbourne, Michael Voss, Nick Davis, Paul Roos, Swans, Sydney Swans, Tadhg Kennelly
The news that Sydney Swans’ player Tadhg Kennelly has made the decision to bring down the curtain on his AFL career and return to Ireland is going to be a big loss for the team.
Not being a true AFL fan, the Swans AFL flag win in 2005 brought with it some interest in “our very own Sydney AFL team.”
It was pleasing to see the Sydney side get up against a very talented Perth side and the player that has always impressed me the most was Tadhg Kennelly.
The 27 year old Irishman returns home for family reasons, to fulfil a dream to play in an All-Ireland final, and emulate a feat that was achieved by his late father.
As usual, Paul Roos was philosophical and full of praise for Kennelly.
“As a Club we knew Tadhg was going to go at the end of this season and we accepted that and were respectful of Tadhg’s decision. Based on the last two years and Tadhg’s genuine concern for his body, the injury problems he has had with his groin, shoulders and knees, it has fast-tracked that decision by six months.
“We have always known that family commitments back home and also a burning desire to play for his county Kerry and follow in the footsteps of his late father Tim Kennelly, would one day take him back.
“Tadhg’s contribution to the Swans has been sensational and led to our Premiership win in 2005,” Roos added.
“The sacrifices he has made to play with us, leaving his family and friends, have been extraordinary.
“His competitive drive has allowed him to become a star player of the AFL and will miss him but obviously respect his decision, will continue to support him and he will always be welcome back at the Football Club.”
Roos has had some other concerns with player movements in the off season.
The commitment of Hall and O’Keefe to the Swans came into question after the star forwards expressed a desire to leave the club.
At the same time, Nick Davis was training in Brisbane hoping to impress new Lions coach Michael Voss and resurrect his AFL career in the Sunshine State.
Swans coach Paul Roos was non-plussed about the player movements, saying: “That’s just the way footy is now, and the players understand that’s the way sometimes things work.”
With Kennelly and Davis leaving and Hall and O’Keefe both linked to Melbourne clubs during a stormy off-season, there was speculation that cracks are appearing in the Swans’ much-heralded squad that took out the 2005 premiership and 2006 Grand Final campaigns.
After more than 25 years in Sydney and only one premiership victory, the Swans have also been a financial burden on themselves and the AFL and are unable to make a profit in the very large, but difficult to crack Sydney sporting market.
Sydney’s woes are about to get even worse according to Swan’s chairman Richard Colless who believes that the AFL is still “a long way from being in a position to have a second team in Sydney.”
Colless was responding to comments by AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, who vowed to establish an eighteenth licence for a second Sydney club by 2010.
“In fairness to Andrew, I didn’t hear what he had to say, but I’d be absolutely staggered if he was talking about a second team in Sydney by 2010,” Colless said.
“What we are very concerned about — and I think any thinking person would be, and I put the AFL in this category — is relocating a team or starting a team would require massive capital injection, then competing with the Swans in what is still a pretty modest market, and ending up with two financially challenged clubs. That’s the essence of the issue.
One way or the other, it’s going to be a new era for the AFL and the Swans in Sydney.
Is it the start of a downward correction in the Sydney AFL futures market or does a renovated and refurbished SCG, the spiritual home of the Swans, signify the start of a rejuvenated Swan’s squad who are hoping to put all the bad news behind them, get on with playing the game and making another serious attempt at winning the AFL Premiership in 2009?
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Norm said | January 31st 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
but hasn’t Michael C been telling us that there’s a truckload of international recuits reasy to take Kennelly’s place?
Forgetmenot said | January 31st 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Very broad article.
TBH if i had been in Kennelly shoes i probably would have done the same thing. He has acheived a fair bit in football, and now he wants to acheive in gaelic. He is not worried about money, and that is the way sport should be played.
The Swans have a made a huge impact in Sydney during the time they have been there, but you must remember that they have far higher costs than other sports. They are raking in the money, and as they spread their roots further into the community they will be able to extract more money.
A new Western Sydney team will be a struggle. No one is denying that. But it is a struggle that if won will reap HUGE rewards for football around Australia and the world.
A new team means a cross town rivalry, and it means that Sydney siders finally get to know what a derby feels like, and they finally get some competition.
I believe that it is this competition that will force both clubs to distinguish themselves, and at the same time create a club worth following.
Michael C said | January 31st 2009 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
the 2nd team issue is one that is often a case of ‘can’t afford to’ vs ‘can’t afford not to’.
It usually depends on the time frames involved. The AFL has spoken of 25-50 years time frames.
Norm -
do you know how many other Irish lads are presently on AFL senior lists and or rookie lists?
btw – the Swans also have Canadian Mike Pyke,
and the Gold Coast team has just signed a 17 year old member of the successful PNG international cup winning team to their TAC Cup under 18 squad. This is actually a very significant move – - that will barely raise an eyebrow in Australia, but – for the 16 teams that represented up to 19 nations at the IC cup, this is a recognition beyond mere words, and offers real hope to both current and future participants……….okay……..it probably helps being from PNG that is just off the coast and already engaged in the AFLQ talent pathways……..but, this may be just the start. (although, let’s not put too much pressure on the kid – - there’s still a fair way from the TAC cup to a senior list, but, for the GC17 side that will need an entire senior squad, and perhaps a marketing tool or two – - he’s in the best possible place to develop his raw talents in the next 2 years or so without the pressure of needing to be a ready made AFL player).
jimbo said | January 31st 2009 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Forgetmenot,
not the original title I chose, handwork of the moderator there.
Even though I’m a Kennelly admirer, the article isnt just about Tadhg, but about the changing times for Sydney AFL and the Swans and it will be a year to watch with interest, both on and off the field.
I think a second Sydney AFL team will do ok and there are no shortage of AFL players local or interstate to make up any number of teams. Its a question of being competitive and making a profit in the longer term. Although, the AFL has a large cash flow and reserves and could afford to continue to run a number of un-profitable teams if it wanted to.
There are also similar concerns for a second Sydney, second Melb, Nth Qld or Gold Coast A-League team, as well.
The other thing is that the Swans players themselves seem to have lost some of the desire to be a Swan and maybe think that the best years for Sydney have passed and they’d like to move on.
Michael C said | January 31st 2009 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
jimbo -
era’s always end – - and the critical aspect is for the club to handle the transition.
How do you manage the deconstruction of a once great team? Some players retire gracefully. Some players get moved on. Some succomb early(ish) to injuries.
Others seek to move on for personal reasons……..returning ‘home’ is a pull to some and less to others. The thing the Swans need to do, is to really work at developing locals (Collingwood has perhaps leap frogged them on the Sydney juniors perspective).
And, IF the WS18 side comes to fruition, they may also leap frog the Swans in that respect.
btw -
http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-4729-0-0-0&sID=89947&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=7594025§ionID=89947
a story about the Bondi Shamrocks womens footy team forming. Womens footy is growing nicely presently – - an area severely UNDER investigated by the AFL over the years. But, with the numbers of girls doing auskick, something had to happen at the post under 14s levels.
Dave said | January 31st 2009 @ 5:49pm | Report comment
FMN
“They are raking in the money, and as they spread their roots further into the community they will be able to extract more money. ” They lost a significant amount in 2008, lost members by the thousands (dont forget they have been very successful on the field) and crowds were down. They have been there for 27 years, how much longer do they need to spread their roots?
“A new Western Sydney team will be a struggle. No one is denying that. But it is a struggle that if won will reap HUGE rewards for football around Australia and the world. ” Around the WORLD???????? Want to explain that.
Norm said | January 31st 2009 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
exactly Dave.
Michael C said | January 31st 2009 @ 8:26pm | Report comment
and Dave -
it’s all relative = i.e. that the crowds and even the Sydney based membership for the Swans are such that every single NSW based NRL team would be envious, let alone SFC and probably the ‘Tahs too.
btw – you don’t seem to have taken much notice of the fact that SCG crowds were NOT down, and the Homebush crowds were their 3rd best since they’ve been playing 3 games a year there – - however, this year – - they played one extra game – - – - one might suggest that on that basis – - they’d be ecstatic with the crowd results for the year.
Forgetmenot said | February 1st 2009 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Dave,
It is well known that Western Sydney is a very diverse area, with people from all over the world living their in large numbers.
It is also known that Sydney is often seen as the capital of Australia by many people.
These two together, mean that football would experience significant comparative growth if a new Western Sydney team became successful on and off the field.
Norm said | February 1st 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Foregetmenot hahahahahahaha