What they did in 2009 was a masterstroke, but what we look to do is selfishly guard what we have and leave the rest up to some 'White Knight' of the year. Our players are all 'protected' until we lose patience and then we toss them out unceremoniously.

If the early mail is correct, that's exactly what we are going to be doing again.

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Hawthorn played better footy last night. Swans were more desperate across 4 quarters but they were outplayed in all facets of the game except straight kicking and tackles. Sydney stole that game and no amount of pretending they were the better team on the night can hide the fact. They just kicked straight. Just like Hawthorn did when they beat Geelong.

Sometimes that's all it takes. Take your opportunities when they arrive.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Swans pressure meant a 10% diff in kicking efficiency. Kicking efficiency is the Hawks strong point and the Swans attacked it whilst maintaining their own discipline.

I predict that the Hawks will be heavily targeted next year by all top 4 aspirants and it will be interesting to see how they hold up.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Don't kid yourself that Hawthorn played a better game.
They played the best footy, but only for small patches, meanwhile Sydney played for 4 quarters.

Didak, Shaw, Swan .... the list goes on and on of Pies players doing whatever they wanted and getting away with it because they were star players. Mick has always said there are different rules for different players. His philosophy couldn't be further from the Sydney one.

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when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth

Feelgood Hit of the Winter - GHRP-2, GHRP-6, CJC-1295, AOD-9604, Humanofort and Hexarelin

Swans played the best football. 109 tackles is outstanding, causing all sorts of pressure and just causing the Hawks to lose a bit of composure when they had the ball. Sure they had some passages of classy stuff, but that's not the same as playing the best footy all day. If the pressure creates an environment where you kick poorly at goal then the other team has played better footy.

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also on twitter @m_j_short

IIRC from comments on the box earlier today, Swannies have played in finals in 14 of the last 17 seasons. Not sure how that sits with other clubs, but its impressive

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also on twitter @m_j_short

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BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

The lesson from today is that unless a club takes a medium to long term view to develop a premiership culture and fill its organisation with tough hard nosed, team oriented personnel, it will not triumph on grand final day. Some of the clubs decisions in relation to recruiting eg clloke and McLean are short term. I would argue swans 2 premierships are 4 football generations in the making
Barrassi lifted the club off the bottom
Eade brought modern football smarts
Roos developed the culture that delivered a premiership
Longmire aided by high grade lateral recruiting delivered sustained success and another premiership

Pratt and judd were our barrassi
Malt house hopefully will be our eade and hopefully roos we need to give him 3 to 4 years to build the platform absent during the ratten years.

Year 1 change game plan and culture. Finish 8 to 10
Year 2 second draft to remodel list. Finish 6 to 8
Year 3 game plan and culture cemented. This is when you target a big name. Finish 4 to 6
Year 4 challenging top 4 or better.

(note I don't rate the list as highly as some)

The lesson is we should have waited for Roos, but I hope I'm wrong.

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Green Shooter

this is what paul roos stated in one of he's footy articles.
go through every teams list and pick the best fringe player.
keep our first and second draft picks.
this is how the swans ended up with,
jk and mummy.
pretty simple.
draft hard mids who can kick

What can we learn?
That people see what they want to see.
Hawthorn worked extremely hard, they just didnt capitalise on their opportunities. Sydney were very very good but they were also very lucky.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

The only similarity between Sydney and Geelong is a strong leadership and culture. Geelong have traded less than anyone yet they are the most successful team of the past half a dozen years.
So if you're looking for a pattern of success, its about drafting quality and developing your own. Not rummaging through everyone elses rubbish as you seem hell bent on.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Wells is one hell of a recruiter.. he gets some wrong.. but less than most.....

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Any news on Lynch? Richo adamant he's going to Collingwood.

I dunno.... talk is Judd wants him... Pratts Matheson and Judd run this club... i doubt he will go to Collingwood...

but who knows????...

Anyway....i hope he doesnt come to us... abit of Cain Ackland about that...

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Culture and system is what the swans have - every person in that club knows their role and the expectation - high performance. It's not difficult to build - you need to define it and live and breath it in everything you do, no matter what pick you were drafted, or what status you have in the game, this is the system and you conform, or you don't last.

Don't underrate the fact that being in NRL heart land helps keep the pressure from the media away, thus allowing no disturbances mentally.

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

.. So Sticks & Ratts weren't running the club after all ...

Ratts is gone... never to be given a coaching gig by anyone ever again.
Sticks is a stuffed shirt....


he is president in name only thesedays.

i think Sayer is guy puling the strings now.....or will be.....
But he is too smart to get involved in player list management Surrey.

And whats your point???

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The lessons we need to learn is that the club is run by more than 2 individuals.
I found the "Longmire to Dew" comment interesting, don't you Synbad. He expected Dew (midfield coach) to fix/address the issue at hand in the 1st quarter and not him as the head coach. Coaching panel working as one, just like the players on-field are expected to as well.