Sydney Swans: Marketing Over Matter?
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The Swans never stop trying but list management has let the side down. Yes, injuries have cruelled their chances this season so far but a lack of big man talent is pretty bloody obvious. Lance Franklin is seriously out of form and one needs to ask whether this year is one year too long? Has it been a case of Sydney Swans: Marketing over matter? Too many ‘feel good’ stories and not enough hard-nosed substance has been exposed.
Paddy McCartin down back has been a vulnerability waiting to happen, like a boxer with a glass jaw.
Swans List Management Mistakes
Sydney has prided itself on intelligent club management over many years. Indeed, they have been a leading light in the AFL via their quality management. However, there comes a time in every club when some wrong headed decisions get revealed by trying circumstances. Where are the quality hard men in the next generation of Swans? Will Gould should have been blooded some time ago in preparation.
The Swans lack height and strength out on the field and are paying the price for it. There are too many of the same types out there every week.
Sydney Lack Quality Big Men
The Swans defence has been decimated by the loss of 3 first string big defenders. However, it has been thus for 6 weeks and where is the next level of defenders? Horrendous lightweight defence leaking goals like a sieve has been the weekly result. A good team has players capable of coming straight in to replace those out.
Why do the Swans have so many undersized players? Recruiting and development has been poor in this regard if the outcome is anything to go by. The proof is in the pudding.
Franklin: One Year Too Many?
Sydney Swans: Marketing over matter means not enough grunt across the team. Buddy Franklin has been great, a true champion that the Swans were lucky to get. However, they have paid handsomely for his services and it has come at a cost in terms of list depth. Ruck stocks at the Swans have been dire for a decade or more. Underinvestment in quality big men has not delivered a premiership in ten years. The Swans have come close on 3 occasions by making the grand final but could not get the ultimate job done. It is time to end the relationship with Franklin and move on. The thrashing by the Cats in last year’s grand final is looking more and more like a source of PTSD, especially as another serve was dished up in April this year. Put aside the over emphasis on marketing concerns and get some grunt back in the side via some quality big men.
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