If you’re like me, when Carlton coach Mick Malthouse oozed praise about the Swans last week, you simply put it down to an opposing coach making his rivals feel good, and giving them absolutely no ammunition for the upcoming clash.
Malthouse, whose involvement in footy at the highest level dates back more than four decades, declared that, “without a doubt, they [the Swans] have the strongest and the deepest list that I’ve seen in football”.
I thought, are you serious Mick?
Sure they are a good team, and have been winning a lot of games, but (with the exception of that amazing game against Geelong) it’s not like they have dominated each of their opponents.
A big call I thought when you consider his time in the game and which teams he has not only seen, but been involved with. His own 1992 and 1994 West Coast Eagles were a team bulging with class – John Worsfold, Peter Sumich, Chris Mainwaring, Glen Jakovich, Chris Lewis, Guy McKenna, Dean Kemp and Phillip Matera – and some of his Collingwood teams were well stocked as well.
And then there’s the teams he’s coached against. What about the Hawks of the 1980s, teams bulging with superstars like Leigh Matthews, Peter Knights, Jason Dunstall, Gary Ayres, Dermot Brereton, Robert DiPierdomenico, Gary Buckenara, John Platten and their captain Michael Tuck?
Even the more recent premiership winning teams – the Cats, Hawks, and the turn-of-the-century Lions and their roster of Michael Voss, Jason Akermanis, Nigel Lappin, Johnathan Brown, Daniel Bradshaw, Shaun Hart, Simon Black, Alastair Lynch and Martin Pike.
With Mick’s words ringing in my ears, I sat and watched the Swans against Carlton, and during those first two quarters, I couldn’t see it. Then, that stunning 10-goal third term started me thinking.
Maybe there is some merit in his comments. This side has after all won 12 in a row, the equal best in the club’s long history, records set in a time before salary caps and drafts, when a club could be a dominant force.
It’s true the club has depth at present, with the likes of Tom Mitchell and Ryan O’Keefe running around in the twos, but is their best at the moment, even the best there has been at the Swans?
I think the obstacle is the 2005 team. Not too many superstars, but an abundance of quality.
A defence of Leo Barry, Craig Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Tadhg Kennelly, Jared Crouch, Paul Bevan and Sean Dempster.
Just like today’s crop of defenders, real blue collar workers who got the job done.
While the current midfield is all class, with the likes of Dan Hannebery, Jarrad McVeigh (who literally plays everywhere), Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Kieren Jack and Craig Bird, the 2005 version wasn’t too bad, with Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton, Paul Williams, Ben Mathews, Nic Fosdike, Amon Buchanan, Luke Ablett and a guy call Adam Goodes.
And up forward – while Buddy Franklin will eventually be known as one of the game’s greats, and he leads an attack which also boasts Kurt Tippett, Sam Reid, and Goodes, the 2005 edition wasn’t too shabby with Barry Hall, Mick O’Loughlin, Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Schneider and Nick Davis, plus that side also was home to two very good ruckmen, Jason Ball and Darren Jolly.
It’s all subjective, and unless you can somehow get a computer generated game played between the 2014 Swans and the 2005 Swans, nobody will ever be able to say categorically which was better.
But back to Mick’s statement – yes they are deep, no question. And it’s a strong list. But the strongest list ever?
It’s good, no doubt, and all you can do is win, which is what they keep doing, but I don’t even know if they are the strongest Swans outfit Mick has seen let alone the best in football.
Maybe come the last Saturday in September you can ask me again, and Mick and I may be totally in agreement.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Me too, I wouldn't expect you to agree, but maybe try and understand: Hannebery is out injured. Shaw is out injured. Tippett is out injured. Alex Johnson of 2012 grand final fame is also. O'Keefe, although maybe a has been in your eyes, would still start in any Grand Final with his presence and experience. LRT is in the same boat as O'Keefe but maybe not quite in the same class. Tom Mitchell is struggling with injury and when fit, still can't break into the main side. Tom Derickx was a regular no.1 ruckmen until Pyke returned. If you took the likes of Shaw, Hannebery, Tippett and O'Keefe out of the majority of teams in the competition, that would pretty much tear them apart. But the Swans have kept winning. 12 on the trot. In their place are the likes of: Jake Llyod - no. 16 rookie from 2012 Dane Rampe - no. 37 rookie from 2012 Brandon Jack - no.57 rookie from 2012 Harry Cunningham - no.93 national draft 2011 Dean Towers - just debuted, 22. national draft 2012 Zak Jones - no.15 national draft 2013 With the likes of Toby Nankervis, Tim Membrey, and Derickx, and rookies Sam Naismith, Shane Biggs and Xavier Richards, all waiting in the wings. Rampe and Cunningham are now dead set certainties every week and Jake Llyod is shaping up the same. It may be very difficult for Mitchell, O'Keefe and LRT to come back and this is what having great depth is all about. Mick is probably a bit old and grey and says things without thinking. No one in their right mind would/should ever try and single a team out as the best team ever. I don't think he is too far wrong in suggesting the depth is the best. Not ever, but definitely in recent times. I don't blame you for not knowing, most non-Swans fans are uneducated about our great club.
JB
Guest
Fair call Lroy, to think if they had a fit squad in the finals last year they may have won and would be going for a threepeat now. Goes to show having players on the roster at the start of the season is only one element you need to get right.
JB
Guest
They're pretty handy, time will tell
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Thanks for the feedback - I'm glad you enjoyed it.
MomentbyMoment
Guest
The Hawks have 3 guys competing for the Coleman - I would say they definitely have the most dangerous forward line. With Reid finding his range and Tippett getting on the field things may change. But right now - the Hawks have it.
MomentbyMoment
Guest
Lol
Thomas
Guest
16 games in a row to end 2001, hard to argue they weren't dominant when it mattered.
Darren
Guest
One pt to factor in is that he said it is the best list. I think that is more about depth than the first 22.
EddyJ
Guest
Actually, Brisbane weren't 30 points down during the match (I was there!). It was roughly the other way around - I don't think the Swans were ever in the lead at all. Brisbane controlled the match for most of the night - the Swans were about four goals down in the third quarter, and managed to get a few goals in a hurry, only to be 3 points behind at three-quarter time. They scored the first point of the final quarter, and that was it. Brisbane then piled it on and won by 44 points.
alicesprings
Guest
cunningham
WoobliesFan
Guest
And how many premierships in a row have the Swanns won? lol Mick the ##@$ not worthy of an article btw
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Rick I read your article the other day but didn't comment. I loved it and continue to do so. I agree with your article in its entirety. Once more Mick said depth...listen people. “Without a doubt, they have the strongest and the deepest list that I’ve seen in football,” said Malthouse. Best list - a list is all players a club has recruited that COULD play in its Senior team. I can't comment on lists of past sides, but ours is pretty deep. Our weakness was in our rucks until Derickx stood up and now Pyke is back to form. We have scores of rucking potential in Sam Reid and juniors like Naismith. Midfield one of the best while missing 2-3 players...forward line - great potential. Defence - probably our weaker part in terms of depth we have great swingmen (McVeigh, LRT and so on) but not pure defenders ready and roaring to go. Not 4+ but about 3 - still good. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/sydney-swans-could-be-best-team-ever-mick-malthouse-20140710-zt2jz.html#ixzz37Qs3U900
alicesprings
Guest
Im sure I'm missing a few recycled players... Laidler Derrixcks McGlynn Kennedy Richards Pike
Penster
Guest
Let's see what the Hawks dish up this year. They're much more decimated with injuries than Swans were last year.
alicesprings
Guest
Ahhh the poor old Victorians… Ive lost track of how many 'recycled' players go on to be champs at Sydney. You don't hear much credit going Sydneys way do you? Cant wait to see the Suns and GWS win a string of premierships..they're going to go into meltdown down there. You can't have it both way people..do you want a national competition or not????
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Except maybe the Hawks... Buddy, Roughy, Gunston, Rioli Even this year you could argue that the hawks have a more patent forward line than the Swans. The ladder says the Hawks have the best attack, look at the points for, its ridiculous next to the next best by a couple of hundred!
Penster
Guest
Can't win if you don't play!
Jack
Guest
Really?
Rich_daddy
Roar Guru
As Michael said I was referring only to Mathews, Buchannen and Ablett with the B graders tag. That being said, they all had fantastic seasons in 2005 and to win a flag you need 22 players contributing not just your best 6. Didn't mean to be condescending as those blokes were crucial to Sydney winning the flag (Buchannen kicked the winner). However when you are comparing teams across years you have to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Bosk
Guest
I'm assuming Malthouse meant this is the best Swans team he's ever seen. On their current form it doesn't seem like such an outrageous comment to make, though he would've been better served waiting until later in the year to make it. If Sydney don't go on to win this year's flag -there are no certainties in football- then poor Mick will be wiping egg off his face. Let's face it though, in this modern era coaches have virtually taken on the added responsibility of becoming PR spokesmen for each upcoming game. It reminds me of those pre-bout weigh ins they have in boxing- largely theater designed to put more bums on seats. If Mick's comments encouraged a few more Sydneysiders through the turnstiles on the weekend then I reckon he got the result Carlton, Sydney and the AFL wanted.