Nankervis fron Sydney to Richmond interests me. Toby is a great kid and his days are coming but he’s not yet ready as a no. 1 ruck. Don’t believe Sydney wants to lose him, don’t feel he’s ready to carry Richmond, won’t go for peanuts as the Swans will play hardball and stands a real risk of actually sending his career development backwards by the Tigers needing too much too early. What goes through ther player manager’s minds? Other than their profit that is.

I’d prefer to stir things up, tout Tippett for trade and keep Nankervis and Mitchell. Depending on the other club, probably a win all round

My review is simple – a skilful team who tried hard were beaten by a just as skilful team who wanted it more. We had a few passengers but I don’t believe they failed to give their all; they just weren’t good enough and were found out on the biggest stage there is. Mills, Papley, Jones and Hewitt will all be better players for the experience and Heeney will continue to develop.

Franklin’s injury was unfortunate to say the least but at least he stood up and gave all he could. Naismith can stand very proudly as he showed Tippett how it should be done both in the ruck and around the ground. Grundy, Smith and Rampe could do no more than they did and Aliir’s absence really hurt us.

The midfield did its best as always but that best couldn’t carry us home, though Josh Kennedy tried darn hard to do so all by himself! Kieran Jack, Luke Parker and Jake Lloyd can hold their heads high and Dan Hannebery tried hard but just never got the bounce of the ball.

Mitchell was a father son choice and, like father before him, is ditching the Club that made him what he is and will be off lining his pockets in 2017. I hope the money brings him happiness. Perhaps we could trade him for Josh Dunkley and bring a TRUE Swan home.

It isn’t time for even minor panic but the areas we need to improve in were obvious on Saturday. We have players with currency and need to be active during the trade period. I’ve heard we are expressing interest in GWS’ George Horlin-Smith and Carlton’s Zach Tuohy. Both would be useful. I’d play hard ball with Mitchell; he gets to Hawthorn for Langford, Sicily or Breust or we shop him around. If he doesn’t like that let him go to the draft and hope he gets stuck at Brisbane. Other obvious trade bait include Rohan, Nankervis, Cunningham and Marsh, who may interest Collingwood with his brother already there.

Here’s to 2017

Dogs will win because it feels ethereal? If that’s the best they have going for them I’d suggest troubling signs in the ether are coming their way. As for their list ‘batting deeper’ how sad it is that this is a game of football, not cricket. You can get away with twelve good players on a cricket team. Football needs 22 and at a minimum their last six are not close to the caliber of their Swans opponents.

Good luck to the Dogs. They’ve gone above and beyond this season but I honestly think this is a step too far for them – this year anyway. It will be close but Swans by 10 points in a really ugly slog

Swans to win, but the chances of it happening in a canter disappeared the moment it started raining. It brings the slower Dogs midfield back in with a chance and negates much of the advantage our forwards, particularly our smaller forwards, may have had on a dry day. I hope and expect the Swans will squeak home but if there was ever going to be a Year of the Dogs, this is it.
Swans by about 10 points in an unpretty slog of never ending stoppages, Joey Kennedy for the Norm Smith and the crowd to top 100k.

Dear Giovanni

Whilst I respect the passions of a one eyed supporter, I found some of your ‘expert’ comments frankly silly.

To suggest that Sydney are flat track bullies because they jumped both Adelaide and Geelong makes little sense. Isn’t it equally possible that they jumped these teams because they were the better side? To suggest that both Adelaide and Geeling played poorly thus allowing Sydney to win is demeaning to all three Clubs concerned.

Yes, Sydney lost to GWS in week one. We played poorly indeed that night – as, sadly, is our wont following a bye – and were justly beaten by a better team on the night whom, you are correct to point out, will only improve next year.

This weekend should be a wonderful game. The Bulldogs are a very fine side, Sydney have been weakened by critical injuries and neither team will take a backward step. As a Sydney/South supporter for over 50 years I will be disappointed if we do not win but hardly devastated; the Bulldogs would be most worthy winners and will have earned their accolades. They already have my respect and that, frankly, is the point of my reply. It is expected that you would be excited and even brash about your teams chances but your comments smacked of arrogance in the way you dismissed your opponent. I can assure you that the Coaches and players in Doggie Land are not being so disdainful. You mentioned some of Sydney’s losses but neglected to mention they finished on top of the ladder with the most wins in the competition – were there that many flat tracks in season 2016?

Please, celebrate and cheer, be proud and optimistic but remember that respect for your opposition costs nothing.

Reuster and Gecko have said it all.

Geelong’s second tier is exactly that; second tier and second rate. You cast your eye over the names of adequate, diligent and committed young men such as Ruggles, Duncan, Caddy, Stanley, Smith, Kersten, Smedts et al and it is difficult to see any great improvement coming from them. They are what they are right now, you see what you are going to get from them and it frankly just isn’t good enough to put fear into the sharp end of the league the way they could a few years ago. Where is the next Harley, the next Johnson, the next Ling or Kelly? In fairness such players are rare yet other top flight teams seem able to find the raw talent and hone it to specialness. Geelong seems capable of honing only mediocrity. They have become excellent flat track bullies – though even there they stumble as shown by Carlton, St Kilda and Collingwood – but are no longer consistently able to dominate their “peers” in the upper bracket of sides.

Looking at their list critically, Kolodjasjnij, Menzel (for all his injury fragility) Blicavs despite his inconsistency, Joel Selwood, Dangerfield, Henderson when fit and perhaps Hawkins, Duncan and Caddy seem the only nucleus from which to build a team around. Motlop, Bartel, Enright, Vardy, Mackie and probably Lonergan should go now and the rest of the middle bracket should all be on the table for prospective suitors. It may seem silly to say of a preliminary finallist but Geelong has reached the major restructure and rebuild stage. Dangerfield and Selwood were mighty last night but the weaknesses of their teammates rendered their heroics ultimately ineffectual. For the good of a deservedly proud Club this cannot be allowed to continue.

As a Swans member and football lover generally, I have to say I don’t remotely hate GWS. I have objection to the sheer number of first round and priority picks they and GC received initially but GC has proven that it isn’t just picking talent, it’s picking the right talent. In any case, the draft numbers and academy zones were put in place by the AFL, so hating the Giants for what they have received is silly.

When it comes to Canberra, suggesting that GWS is somehow their team is an insult to the good folk of the ACT. GWS is attracting around 13000 to their Blacktown games I believe – and I am open to correction if this figure is wrong. A team based in Canberra would, I believe, attract double that number. Manuka would need money copiously spent on it to bring seat numbers and facilities up to AFL standard but so did (and does) Blacktown. The difference is that whereas the AFL sees western Sydney as a market to expand into for financial reasons, Canberra is a football heartland and stronghold that deserves support and a team of its own. The same comments apply to Tasmania but I accept that things are more complex there because of geography

GWS is a well coached and managed Club which has selected and traded wisely for players (Israel Folau an obvious exception, chosen purely for marketing purposes) – which is far in advance of the efforts of Gold Coast in every area right now – but the Bulldogs have shown that a well coached, administered team with a smartly compiled playing list can achieve the same results without the AFL bending over themselves with handouts and help at every turn. Like them or loathe them, they have earned the respect from all football supporters. If they are not playing against Sydney they will have my support in the big dancebut so would GWS against Geelong if only because that would mean another piece of history made.

In short, I don’t hate GWS, hope Sydney takes out the GF and believe Canberra should have a dedicated home team as early as 2018 because GWS never can and never will represent the ACT. Go the Canberra Lakers!

I can see the Swans looking to be very active this trade period, but whether they have enough bait to interest other clubs without weakening their own team structure makes active trading problematic. They have lost Mitchell but should play very hard ball with Hawthorn for his services. I’d like to see the Swans demand a ready made player in return and would have my eyes firmly on Luke Breust or James Sicily as fair compensation. Although it would obviously not be their preference, the Swans can afford to be bloody minded about this trade and threaten to let him go through to the draft if they don’t get what they want, something Mitchell certainly would not want.

One reasonable trade would involve the Eagles; Toby Nankervis, a senior experienced ruckman, for Eric MacKenzie, the type of hard nosed no frills defender who would add size and depth to the Swans defence and who appears on the outer at West Coast.

I’m told the Swans have great interest in the Giants Will Hoskin-Elliott to add some defensive outside run in the midfield. Hoskins-Elliott is apparently very happy in NSW so you would think he would be amenable, and the Giants are in the situation where they have to shed numbers from their list. Other clubs are circling though, so the Swans may be beaten in the rush. Given that GWS can’t afford too many new players on a list that must shrink I think a second round pick might see the deal done, though I have no doubt they will want a first round pick from whoever gets him.

One final possible trade is Harrison Marsh to Collingwood to reunite with his brother in return for a draft pick, probably a third round one. The only reason to trade him though would be for academy pick points and I haven’t heard any great rumours about this years’ crop.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I,ll be stunned if Mills plays again this season. Given recent calf and now hamstring problems he would have to be considered a risk, and Longmire is not known for taking risks of that type. Tippett is a different situation; with only a hairline fracture and no surgery contemplated a week’s rest may well be all he requires .

I’m very glad to see that the AFL is reviewing the ‘no concussion’ decision on Joey Kennedy. Whilst I have to accept that those concerned acted wholly professionally and in the best interests of the player, there is no doubt in my mind having seen the aftermath of the incident that Kennedy experienced a contra coup impact to his brain and his minimal influence on the game after returning to the field is highly suggestive of some degree of concussion having occurred. I’ll await the outcome of the investigation with interest.

The Swans have shown their hand by withdrawing both Nankervis and Laidler from the NEAFL Grand Final as direct replacements for Tippett and Mills. I won’t be surprised if Marsh makes way for James Rose, whose form and sheer pace in that GF were exciting, and Cunningham must be in the mix to play a run with role on Brodie Smith given his pace and athleticism, so I expect a few changes will be made. One player out of selection talk is the desperately unlucky club stalwart and favourite Ted Richards whose form on Sunday simply did not warrant senior selection. He goes out having given his all to the club and I hope there is some form of recognition given to him on Saturday so the thousands at the SCG can give him the send off he richly deserves.

Bring on the Crows!

Having watched both the Qualifying final and the NEAFL Grand Final this weekend, I’m prepared to go out on a limb with two statements.

1. Sydney can, and should, beat Adelaide on Saturday
2. GWS is by far the most talented of the two NSW teams, but has a brittleness in performing consistently at its utmost best

GWS is a brilliant side, make no bones about it, yet they have a propensity to unevenness in their output that teams like Hawthorn, Geelong and Sydney rarely display in September. Their challenge is that their game plan is well known. As Mr miyagi said in the Karate Kid, “if do right, no can defence”. The question remains, can they ‘do it right’ three weeks in a row, especially if Stevie J gets the holiday that he richly deserves from the MRP. Cameron, Greene, Smith, Tomlinson, Shiel, Mumford all had blinders and most others played their roles perfectly but their NEAFL win was the cliched “good team effort”. It would only take one or two injuries to major players to derail them. They are frighteningly good but beatable and their future this year rides between their ears as much as anywhere else.

Sydney has a history of playing well against Adelaide and the confines of the SCG will not make the Croes’ task any easier. Smith, Betts, Walker and the Crouch brothers are playing excellent football and receiving precision service from Jacobs but the Sydney midfield rarely loses the contested ball and clearance stats at the SCG. Tippet’t’s loss and the absence of Mills will hurt them but coach Longmire seems to have already made his move there, withdrawing Laidler and Nankervis from the NEAFL Grand Final team. Don’t be surprised if James Rose is a selection from left field – he played a blinder on the weekend and could play important minutes in the midfield and up forward. Sydney received very little from McGlynn, Rohan and Heeney and, other than one purple patch, Rampe had a shocker. Each can count himself lucky to be selected this week. Franklin worked hard for little result and much of that comes down to the very congested midfield all day. As a side note, Kennedy was clearly concussed on Saturday yet allowed to return to the fray. He kicked a goal but was obviously affected by the blow all game; the Swans medicos are professionals and I bow to their judgement but I believe the AFL will be deservedly asking questions of them.

To close, GWS is the real deal yet still had some proving of themselves to do, and write off the Swans at your peril.

What a finals series so far!

It’s been an amazing Finals series so far, so who really knows what today will throw our way.

In the first game I think the winner will be the team which lets the pressure get to them the least. The Swans are saddled with expectations whilst the Giants have a huge number of players for whom September pressure is brand new. I doubt we’ll see a physical head to head clash like last night so this game may come down to an ugly back and forth decided in the end by coolest heads and moments of individual brilliance. Swans in a tight one but, if it goes the other way, I won’t be shocked. If there is a blowout score the Swans will kick it. Whichever team loses, I’d hate to play them next week though.

The Second game is Crows by how much. Sorry North, but you could be forgiven for staying home and saving airfare. The Doggies proved surprises can happen but, sadly, you lack both their hunger and their talent. Eddie Betts might out score your entire team the way you have been playing. Crows by as much as they want to win by , depending in which quarter they put the cue in the rack and go into energy saving mode.

The Swans can have Hall of Fame I suppose, but I’d prefer the chorus of Neil Diamond’s “Soolaimon” ………. “God of my Days, Lord of my Nights, Seek for the Way, Taking me home” with lots of tribal drumming in the background. Has nothing to do with football but would really get the crowd going. Instead of “Soooo, Soo Lai Mon” we can have “Sydney, Sydney Swans” and really get the crowd rocking

Winston, are you sure that you were watching the same Callum Mills as the rest of us? Yes, the kid made some errors, just like every player nominated this year and, for that matter, every player that played for any AFL team this year. He dropped some marks but also backed and ran back into crunching packs without flinching and nary a short step to be seen. He missed some targets but not because of indecision or being flustered; they were simple skill errors of the same type committed by Daniel, Weitering, Oliver, Petracca, Parish, Selwood, Hannebery, Mitchell, Dangerfield and every other player.

I’m a madly one eyed Swans supporter yet I DONT think Mills will win the award – I believe it is neck and neck between Weitering and Parish – but to sleight Mills as you have is just silly. He is a teenager who played 20 games in his debut season for the eventual minor Premier and held down one of the hardest positions on the ground with poise, determination, courage and skill. Barring injury he is a 300 game player. He could not have done more to impress and has earned selection in the side through talent, not hype. I’m not sure what more he needed to do to impress you – if you were seeking perfection I’d ask you to name any player in the history of the game who was perfect; I don’t know of one myself. You are entitled to your opinion of course but I feel you were far too harsh in your assessment of a player who is a rising star whether or not he wins the award.

Ryan, as always, a wonderful article. That 1993 squad would have made quite an All Australian team!

We learned from the very painful early decades up there Reservoir. Yes, we now have excellent coaches and club staff but we earned what success we now have in the hardest manner possible. We learned, planned, grew, admittedly had help and finally found success. Change you can direct is never as painful as change forced on you and that is how teams like Hawthorn and Sydney have stayed at the pointy end. We evolve and embrace the process of evolution.

Hi Reservoir.
You make an excellent point. Forced amalgamations don’t work, a mutual amalgamation in Victoria would never succeed given the tribal enmity between teams even if anyone was silly enough to suggest one and the AFL will never simply de license a club.

The one possibility I do see is what the then VFL did with my beloved South Melbourne; a forced (and this time League funded) relocation. One team to Tasmania or Canberra, we guarantee you through the twenty years of hard slog that will follow and by then you either sink or swim. I hate it as an idea and know first hand the pain and feeling of betrayal which follows but I guarantee the back room AFL folk have studied the concept and could quickly produce a working plan for such a move. Supporters need to be very careful and vote with their membership numbers.

It’s an old, familiar story sadly Cameron. Boards are desperate to go anywhere except down even when short term pain might lead all the way up. Two Prelims and three other finals series may not have achieved any success but it allows for cracks to be papered over for just long enough that they become someone else’s problem to fix. I don’t consider Scott a good coach and certainly not an inspiring or inventive one except when it comes to finding new excuses, but he hasn’t committed the ‘evil’ of going sharply backwards. As much as I agree with you, making September will probably save him yet again

I’ll have my say in return, short and sweet. The author claims the winner of Cats v Hawks will win the flag. In my view neither one will even make the big game and the final two will come from the Giants, Swans and Crows. I think it is a year too early for the Giants, so Crows v Swans with a Swans win the likely outcome. I’m biased and hoping for a Swans win of course, but I truly believe that, barring a spate of injuries, this is their year.

Glenn, given the way things have panned out at Sydney, with three ruck/forwards (Tippett, Naismith and Sinclair) trying to fill two spots and even Sam Reid a chance to play again sometime this decade, how much currency do you feel a raw but undoubtedly talented big like Toby Nankervis might attract from West Coast, or even Hawthorn for that matter?

I’m not a North supporter so this decision doesn’t affect me emotionally or personally, but I am a dedicated football watcher and like to think I can objectively consider the talent and worth of players from other clubs. When it comes to Brent Harvey I have to admit he’s never been a favourite with me in the personality stakes but, when discussing his value to his team I would easily consider him one of the three most talented players on the Kangaroo’s list. Unless there is something happening behind the scenes which none of us are privy too, I would have signed him for 2017 with an option by mutual agreement for 2018. North does not have one player on its list capable of filling the Harvey role each week to the levels of consistency and skill he brings to it; I would have thought that was ample reason for resigning him. As things now stand the Roos have diminished their playing lists class and adaptability and completely alienated the club supporters who hold him dear. I expect to see North plummet down the ladder next year if this is their idea of “list management “

Not Cam…….. Sorry Ryan! Showing my slipping memory there

And Sydney to win but (a) not by much and (b) only if they kick straight. Both teams at 100% efficiency would see a Sydney win but, given that is an unattainable standard, the team which makes the fewer mistakes will prevail.

Cam, a completely off topic, left field question. Tom Mitchell allegedly wishes to leave Sydney and his chosen destination is said to be Hawthorn, where he would be excellent alongside the ageing Sam Mitchell and Cyril Rioli.. Sydney has expressed strong interest in young North forward Mason Wood and he would be an excellent fit as a Jeremy Cameron/Jack Gunston mid size forward, freeing Heeney to become a powerful two way mid.

Imagining a three way deal, whom do you think Hawthorn might be willing to offer as trade that North might find interest in? This triangle trade could, if done right, substantially benefit all three Clubs for 2017. It would need to be an impressive player or players for North to have interest – would they part with an Isaac Smith or Luke Breust?

Bit harsh on Sydney I would have thought; I always thought the Crows at Adelaide Oval was 50/50 at best and, though a win would have been preferable of course, a narrow away loss to a quality side in what was a fantastic effort by both sides was hardly the end of the world. I’d love to see stats on how many pundits had the Swans finishing above the Crows this year even given the loss of Dangerfield – I predict most would have had the Swans lucky to even make the Eight.

I’m sure you’re right Wilson. One day, if we live so long, TV editors might actually report on the whole competition wherever we live and not just the local teams. It isn’t so much to ask

For what it’s worth, Sinclair and Hewitt are in with Nankervis and Towers omitted. The Eagles get Priddis back but lose Lycett. I think we will start as warm favourites but it will be a tough game