Wow, have we slid that badly in just twelve months?

There's almost universal acknowledgement that we had an ordinary coach, which was compounded by several key injuries, not just at the AFL level, but also VFL.

Before we start writing off our current players, can I suggest we wait twelve months and see if the same performance(s) result.

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

We flogged the Filth twice, and they will most likely slide this year.

Top 4? with no back up except developing players?
I love most of our players. I do have faith in them. I just don't see how we can expect to go all the way, unless we have a freakish injury free year.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Jacobs was uncontracted, Wellingham was still under contract.
Obviously Collingwood had a huge advantage in bargaining power. We're comparing apples with bananas.
It's disappointing to lose Jacobs but getting draft picks is better than letting him walk for nothing. Compare it to Laidler who was also uncontracted and we received ballpark compensation IMO.

As for our finishing position in 2013, we won a final by 100+ points and missed a preliminary final by less than a goal 12 months ago.
What makes everyone think we've fallen so badly since then?
2012 we had enormous injury problems.
Collingwood were similarly decimated in 2005 and finished 15th at the end of the H&A. They bounced back to 5th in 2006 with a healthy list.

IMO, our youngsters will be better. Players like Murphy have stepped up to the elite category and we have more key position depth than we had when we lost the final in Perth.
As far as I'm concerned, anything less than a top 4 finish will be a disappointment.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Like Sydney, Hawthorn and Adelaide had this year?
Teams with bad injury lists don't win flags.

I suppose there is a feeling that if we are not doing anything we are not improving.

In the modern world of AFL, where every time trial, small signing and hat is considered a big news story, we are not really on the screen.

I'm hopeful that MM is experienced enough to already have plans taking shape away from our gaze. I'd have been more confident if we'd signed Kilkenny, but maybe it was just a hiccup.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Well, to be fair, Swans had the least injured out of the three. Plus, we had injuries to our back up list as well. I just think the back up list won't be ready to take us up to Top 4. I'm sure we will get player improvement, but it would be a big ask.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Collingwood and West Coast were decimated at least as much as we were, and both went beyond week 1 of finals.

I'm sick of the injury excuse, and I'm sure Mick isn't telling the boys "Last year wasn't so bad, you just had a bad run with injuries". If he is, he should be shown the door NOW.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

I cant see how you can justify that comment Donstuie. Yes they had injuries but they had players to come in and cover them.
We didn't. Our talls were all injured and our replacement talls were also injured. Same as our ruck men.
Add to that injuries to our key mids and 2012 was a disaster.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

West Coast weren't at all. Their injuries were overstated compared to ours.

Collingwood's were probably in a similar range as ours. No doubt they had a much better season than us, much of this due to experience and professionalism.
However they were not close to winning the flag this year. Got touched up by both Hawthorn and Sydney.

We pretty much stood still this year whilst a number of clubs raced past us. The question is, now we've dropped back in the pack can we regain our momentum? With no injuries we could possibly be top 4, but we haven't been at that level for over 10 years. To get to top 4 we have to pass St Kilda, North, Freo, Geelong and West Coast, plus usurp one of Hawthorn, Sydney, Collingwood or Adelaide, and hope that Richmond and Essendon* don't pass us. Not to mention Brisbane only finished a game behind us. The job is most certainly ahead of us now.

We need everything to go right for us to get to top 4 - limited injuries, improved onfield performance, opposition injuries

Not sure I hold with that. Just taking the average to good players (and leaving out depth players or guys I don't know), I'd say that this (partial) injury list is not insignificant:

Jude Bolton................ ACL and PCL
Trent Dennis-Lane....... Knee
Andrejs Everitt............ Achilles
Adam Goodes............. Knee
Ben McGlynn.............. Hamstring
Shane Mumford.......... various
Sam Reid................... various
Gary Rohan................ Broken leg
Mark Seaby................. Calf

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

It is remarkable that their injured GF players did so well. I say we adopt a new attitude to any injuries. It's a wonder Gary Rohan didn't get back out on the park.


I don't doubt the talent, or the improvement that MM will bring. I do doubt our ability to sustain a season, and on to finals, with the hope that we won't have to take babies in to do it. Sydney preferred their older warriors, even though they were high risk. Maybe now we're talking about culture? If so, are you thinking a coach can change that in a season?

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

On Grand Final day Swans were missing 2 of their best 22 (if you count Rohan as best 22).
McGlynn was replaced by Morton, who had quite an impact.

It's not just injuries, it's how bad they are and when they occur, and if you have sufficient back-up to cover them.

According to the club our list is fine which means we have sufficient backup....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

This year they were all injured though

Underlined for hitting the nail on the head. That's what it came down to. One team were professional and disciplined enough cover those losses and work as a team while the other put in pea-hearted performances but were able to hide behind pre-made excuses. We're not professional, we never seem to prepare for the worst (even though we get stung every year) and thus always get caught wth our pants down. Professional clubs do these things, and "adapt and overcome", whereas we fall to pieces when Plan A fails. This is just one guy's opinion, but I'm truly sick of the injury excuse. If we're a professional organisation (and one that thinks its ready to challenge for a flag) we need to learn to overcome these obstacles, rather than throw up our hands and say it's all too hard. IMO, that's what we did this year.


So did we

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

What about Bolton?

_________________
Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

Played in the Premiership