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While the calls to end the COLA have been coming loud and clear from south of the border, does it actually provide an advantage for the Sydney sides?
The stats tell the story. The Swans have had 32 years in Sydney and have won two premierships.
If success is judged on premierships, then the AFL is failing miserably at helping their so called love child.
In the same period, only five teams, not including GWS and GC, have missed out on holding the cup aloft. The Dees failed twice in 88 and 00. The Saints failed three times in 09 and 10 (counting the draw).
Freo have failed once. The Bulldogs have reached the finals on nine occasions. The Tigers just three times.
You can hardly say that the Swans are receiving an unfair advantage based on these stats alone.
Also, in the same period, the Hawks have won 7 flags. The rest?
Essendon 4
Geelong 3
West Coast 3
Brisbane 3
Carlton 3
Collingwood 2
Adelaide 2
North Melbourne 2
I repeat, whatever the AFL is doing to help out the Sydney Swans, it just isn’t working.
It amazes me that Eddie is leading the charge. They have had the wood over Sydney over the past 10 years. I think the Swans have beaten them once in the 2012 Prelim. It’s not like his side is suffering because of Sydney.
They have had their share of opportunities in the past 24 years. They won in ’90, were defeated twice by the Lions in ’02 and ’03, had a draw before winning in ’10 and then lost in ’11. I would hardly say they haven’t had their share of it. Not too mention they are still the richest club in the league.
Peter Gordon of the Bulldogs has made some noise and, I suppose if you look at the above stats, he has some reason to be annoyed. They have, after all, not won a flag since 1954. The nice thing about Peter Gordon, is we we are not subjected to him every day in the media.
You would think Richmond and Melbourne would be making some noise. Perhaps Eddie should be asking himself why it is that two clubs that have consistently struggled since 2001 are not joining him in his attack on the Swans?
Maybe Paul Roos is one reason. He would know the ins and outs of the Swans administration better than anyone.
The key to the argument is should a side have an unfair advantage? The answer is no.
What is debatable is whether or not the COLA is an unfair advantage. In my opinion it isn’t. Apart from Tony Lockett, Barry Hall, Shane Mumford, Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin, there has not been another big scalp for the Swans in their 32-year history.
Most people will say that the 9.8 per cent has also helped them to build their list. That is not true.
Let’s say a draftee is on around $45k, then we are talking less than $4500.
Let’s say we are talking about a player on last year’s average salary which was around $265k, then we are talking less than $25,000.
If these numbers are what non Swans supporters believe to be building a strong team, then cut off my legs and call me shorty.
What is quite remarkable, as one reader commented on above, is the amount of rookies they have turned into champions. Most of these rookies would still be paid far less than the average AFL salary.
This recruiting brilliance and the Swans ability to develop rookies into champions is why no can ever fully understand how much room the Swans have their salary cap. There will be doubters, but they have nothing to go on.
The scary thing for the rest of the competition is that even when COLA is removed, the Swans are in a good space. In the next two seasons, possibly even this year, this may happen.
Ryan O’Keefe can’t break into first grade. He may very well retire or look for another club. Lewis Roberts-Thomson’s injury concerns could lead him to call an end to his career. There isn’t really room for him in the best 22.
Adam Goodes will surely call it curtains by the end of 2015. Nick Malceski is a free agent who, although I love the bloke, could very well move on.
Tom Mitchell, although injury ridden, is struggling to get his spot back. He has enormous trade potential.
The Swans are in a brilliant position, without COLA. Maybe I am overestimating some salaries, but there is surely close to $2m tied up in these guys alone.
There might not be much activity this year during the trade period, but if there is a big free agent floating around next year, the Swans will be ruffling a few feathers – mainly black and white ones.
We are in for some exciting times ahead.
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