Rhyce Shaw from Sydney and Leigh Montagna from St Kilda in action during the AFL Round 01 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Sydney Swans at the Docklands Stadium. Slattery Images
The Swans have made six straight finals series under Paul Roos and in that time have won an historic premiership and a runners up medal, while building a reputation as the most disciplined team since the Kangaroos in the 90s.
The last two years have been promising, with the blooding of several youngsters and the unearthing of talents such as Moore, Meredith, White, Bird and Jack, along with the exciting recruitment of Mattner and Shaw to compensate for the loss of Tadhg Kenelly and the wounded Leo Barry.
Local products, Paul Bevan and Jarad McVeigh, have taken their games to a new level.
But with an aging core group of premiership heroes in their 30s, and with a unpredictable future looming over their heads, surely the Swans need to play all their kids and trade off or give a tap on the shoulder to some of their champions to boost their draft stocks with the Gold Coast coming in.
It’s early days in the season, but from what I’ve seen, the Swans have been very inconsistent and lost games they should have won.
There’s a sense that there is a changing of the guard in terms of September regulars. The Swans haven’t played badly this season, but I believe that they will ultimately underperform.
It makes sense to bottom out for a couple years just to rise in three or four years time again and become a genuine contender instead of wasting everyone’s time.
Noone can question the Swans’ success. It has proved that they have been one of the great teams of this decade. But everyone has their time, and Sydney’s is here.
OldManEmu
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Michael C
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Rebd - Fiji is still the odd one, as, they haven't got organised footy there presently. That was arranged via a Bulldogs 'supporter' over there. Be nice at least to get a FijiAFL happening. I want to see the next Aaron Edwards coming out of Samoa directly or Nauru.
Redb
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MC, There is an opportunity via the international rookie concessions to go around the draft and develop overseas talent, the AFL have set the mechanism for this to work. I read the Bullies were in Fiji again assessing talent and running camps. Redb
Michael C
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Ah just great to see the Swannees playing Mike Pyke, a bit of a wild card, and, over the next few years, let's see the Swans bring a few of the PNG and Sth African talent through the draft back door!!
Redb
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matta, That's similiar to me as far as watching St Kilda goes until this week. They may actually worry the Cats forward line their only achilles heel. Although Geelong's midfield will cut them up. Redb
LK
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With a compromised draft in place, "bottoming out" for draft picks is going to be risky business. The Swans have "tapped" Spida Everitt, Ben Matthews, and Nick Fosdike from last year and Tadgh this year. You would expect one or two of the following to go this year: Leaping Leo, Micky O or Barry Hall. Overall, I think the pace of renewal is about right in the circumstances.
matta
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round 6 ... braver man than me. Mind you I live OS and rarely get to see the games so dont get the full picture.
Redb
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matta, I was of the same opinion until Sunday night after I watched the Saints ruthlessly assassinate the Bullies. Their defensive pressure, running and tackling was fierce. They're the real deal alright. Redb
matta
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Redb. I'll put St Kilda in the top tier at the end of the season - if they dont go missing.
Redb
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Gruff, After Round 6 I think you need to put St Kilda in the Top Tier list with Geelong. They certainly deserve to be elevated above other teams. It is not until after midway thru the season before they meet on what surely will be one helluva clash. Swannies seem OK at home but on the road they can't win, not yet anyway and certainly not this week. Redb
Gruffalo
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With the exception of Geelong - there is not much amongst the next 12 teams. Some have predominantly youth over experience e..g. Carlton, Richmond. Others are former powers rebuilding such as Brisbane. For the Swans, again, they run the gauntlet of atrocious umpires every week - even on Sunday, they were penalised 25-15 on their homeground - and again many of the decisions were technical in the extreme, but Richmond seemed to escape similar scrutiny. Aside from umpire interference, the Swans are developing a nice young/old balance and are still a top 4 chance in 2009. It's all academic, however. I think Geelong are home already.