The Swans On The Slide in 2008
It has all been quite in the Harbour City with not much talk coming out of there over the pre season. With an average age of 24.7 the Swans are in the top 3 in the AFL for the oldest playing list. After five consecutive final-eight finishes I think the Swans may just miss their chance this year.
Let’s have a look who they have gained and discarded.
ADDITIONS:
Exchange period – received: Martin Mattner (Adelaide), Henry Playfair (Geelong)
Rookie elevation: Ed Barlow, Luke Brennan, Kieren Jack
Scholarship elevation: Craig Bird
NAB AFL Draft: Brett Meredith (Northern Knights), Patrick Veszpremi (Northern Knights)
NAB AFL Rookie Draft: Brendan Murphy (County Carlow, Ireland), Jake Orreal (Western Taipans)
DELETIONS:
Retired: Stephen Doyle
Exchange period – traded: Sean Dempster (St Kilda), Adam Schneider (St Kilda)
Delisted: Jonathan Simpkin, Simon Phillips, Luke Vogels, Matthew Davis (rookie), Matthew O’Dwyer (rookie), Sam Rowe (rookie), Earl Shaw (rookie)
No Depth
Well the word around the traps is that the Swans depth is no good and the youngsters they have are just not up to it. In season 2007 the Swans just didn’t seem to hit their straps like I had expected them to. They did have a few injuries but the depth at the Swans was tested and I think failed. The didn’t really pick anyone up that stands out although Mattner will slot in on a Half Back Flank probably but Henry Playfair will struggle to play senior footy and is just a player. I just reckon they looked flat for the entire year and is something that they need to snap out of in 2008. Ed Barlow looked like a player that may eject some much needed enthusiasm into the side when he debuted late in the season, he has pace something the Swans need and can also play in a number of positions. Paul Roos has stated that the Swan have 12 months to have another crack and then all may be over for a while as they may need to start a rebuilding phase.
Best Ruck Duo in the Competition
The Swans have two outstanding Ruckmen in the big Spider Everitt and Darren Jolly. Between them they were ranked the best Ruck division in the
AFL (40.6 per game) and is an area they need to capitalize on more. With Kirk and Bolton leading the charge again in the middle they have the ability to be a dominant midfield again. Kirk’s ability to lift his side through some tough times during a game is just amazing and is a great leader. Nathan Buckley noted in an article in one of the papers here in Melbourne that he thought Kirk was the best captain in the AFL. Now that is a wrap if ever I have heard one.
Defensive Style of Play
The Swans play a different style of football to most in that they try to choke (some say bore) the opposition into making mistakes and then pounce and capitalize on them, and the SCG is the ideal ground to play that type of game. They love the stoppages, and why wouldn’t you with 
Ruckmen like they have. They are up in the top couple of sides for the amount of tackles they put on during a game and I just reckon they should be more offensive and less worried about playing that negative type of game. Maybe that is why they all look like they are going through the motions at times, they are probably boring themselves! Don’t get me wrong I think Paul Roos is a great coach but after 3-4 years of the same type of game plan maybe it is time for a change. Get the ball in quick to guys like Big Bad Barry Hall, and Mickey O’loughlin. Hall really struggled last year and needs to change his game. The new hands in the back rule destroyed his style of play in the forward line and he needs to re evaluate how he plays that position if the Swans are going to be able to kick enough goals to win games of footy.
Sydney were dead last in the number of disposal per game last year and they just need to open the game up a bit, maybe it is a lack of pace or something but they just need to bite the bullet and do it. The likes of Matthews, Ablett, Fosdike, and Buchanan need to get more of the pill and start hurting the opposition with their disposal rather than chip the ball around sideways and backwards. There is not a back man in the league that will go with Hall one out on a lead with the ball kicked in quick.
Need More Goals From The Small Forwards
In the forward half, as I said before Hall is the key but the likes of O’Keefe who is a great player but I reckon he needs to kick more goals, Nick 
Davis the same. For a forward of Davis’s quality to average 1.8 goals a game just isn’t good enough to help the Swans stay in the race for the Holy Grail. The midfielders are important in this area as well, with a ground like the SCG center half forward is just about non existent so goals come from the middle of the ground and if Bolton Ablett and even Malceski and kick some more goals it will help the Swans out 110%.
They are a great defensive side the Swans and they just need to open the game up a bit for themselves. I reckon they will struggle to find a spot in the 8 this year and it may be a while before they are in the hunt for the Premiership Cup again.
Ladder Position: 10
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Check out how Barry Hall is preparing for the season:
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Looks like you may have been a bit off the mark with your prediction, going by the swans Position at the half way point of the season