MY SWANS PAGE!!
Hi and Welcome to my page on the SWANEES.
I am working on several pages at the moment and this is my fun one so it could take awhile!!
But stay tuned as it will be worth the wait!!*lol*
TONY LOCKETT
I have been watching this man play for 13 years now, and he is still the best player I have ever seen!!I watched him win the Brownlow Medal in '87 and it was a huge thrill.
I didn't like the Saints, so it was great for me when he switched to the Swans.
I already followed the Swans and I have been really lucky as they have picked up two other players that I like in Paul Roos and Wayne Schwass.
I have been fortunate enough to have met Plugga on 2 occasions, and have always found him to be a very nice man and of course extremely good looking!!
Player honours : Brownlow Medal 1987 (equal); St Kilda best and fairest 1987, 1991; St Kilda 2nd best and fairest 1992; St Kilda 3rd best and fairest 1989; Sydney best and fairest 1995; All-Australian 1991, 1992 1995 1996; EJ Whitten Medal 1995; AFLPA MVP 1987; Coleman Medal 1987, 1991, 1996,1998; St Kilda leading goalkicker 1984, 1985,1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994; Sydney leading goalkicker 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.
Previous AFL club : St Kilda (1983-94: 183 games, 898 goals).
Recruited from : NORTH BALLARAT/ST KILDA
Fortunately Plugga has been convinced to play on and try and beat the current goal-kicking record!! :)
"GOOD LUCK!" big fella'!!
AND HE DID IT!!!!!! *WOOHOO*
PAUL ROOS
Convinced to play on for one more year, Roos would love to add a premiership chapter to the book he released in 1997.The champion centre half-back was named in the All-Australian side for the seventh time and second year in succession last year.
It's an amazing effort from the 34-year-old who is now the most experienced - and oldest - player in the AFL with 335 games at the start of '98. Reads the play magnificently, has incredible poise and is a courageous, strong mark.
Player honours : 3rd Brownlow Medal 1985, 1986; Fitzroy best and fairest 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1994; Fitzroy 3rd best and fairest 1987, 1989; All-Australian 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997; All-Australian captain 1991, 1992; EJ Whitten Medal 1985, 1988; AFLPA MVP award 1986; Fitzroy leading goalkicker 1990; Fitzroy captain 1988-1990, 1992-1994.
Previous AFL club : Fitzroy (1982-94: 269 games,270(goals).
Recruited from : BEVERLEY HILLS/FITZROY
Sadly I have to say that Paul has retired from league football and will not be wearing the red and white guernsey this year!! :(
I wish him all the best and hope he knows how much he will be missed!!
WAYNE SCHWASS
A star player for North Melbourne in the 1990s, with two best and fairests and a premiership to his name, Schwass was the trade shock of the October trading period.Exchanged for the homesick Shannon Grant and a second-round draft selection, he is a real gain as the Swans were resigned to losing Grant.
Both he and former coach Denis Pagan denied there was any falling out after Schwass was reported and suspended after North Melbourne's first final.
At 29, the pacy, aggressive left-footer with brilliant evasive skills should revel in the challenge a new environment provides.
Player honours : North Melbourne best and fairest 1994, 1995; North Melbourne premiership side 1996; North
Melbourne night series premiership side 1996.
Previous AFL club : North Melbourne (1988-97: 184 games, 97 goals).
Recruited from : SOUTH WARRNAMBOOL/NORTH MELBOURNE
PAUL KELLY
A modern-day champion and as good as they get in terms of midfielders.Won the AFL Players' Association's most courageous player for the fourth year in a row last season, finished in the top four in the Brownlow, was named All-Australian captain for the second year in a row and won his fourth club best and fairest.
His great talent is his ability to grab the ball and accelerate.
Explosive over the first five metres, a good mark for a midfielder and tackles and holds opponents as tightly as a sleeping python.
Was involved in three memorable duels with Western Bulldogs tagger Tony Liberatore last year that had Sydney people irate about what they considered the use of unfair tactics.
At 27 and with 160 games under his belt, Kelly couldn't possibly get any better. Could he?
Player honours : Brownlow Medal 1995, 3rd Brownlow
Medal 1997; best and fairest 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997; 3rd best and fairest 1991, 1994; All-Australian 1995, 1996, 1997; All-Australian captain 1996, 1997; captain since 1993.
Recruited from : WAGGA TIGERS (NSW)
SOME CLUB HISTORY
SYDNEY was created from the old South Melbourne in 1982. With South Melbourne struggling under a weight of debts and the league keen to explore new territory in New South Wales, the bold move was made for South to head to Sydney.
South Melbourne was one of the original members of the league in 1897, but had limited success with premierships in 1909, 1918 and 1933.
The club will long be remembered for the 1945 Grand Final against Carlton dubbed the 'Bloodbath' in which nine players were reported on 15 charges in a game that the Swans lost.
Although legends such as goalkicking star Bob Pratt - who still holds the record along with Peter Hudson of 150 goals in one season - Laurie Nash and triple Brownlow Medallist Bob Skilton made their mark with the club, the Swans always struggled for success.
After making the move to Sydney - much to the anger and disgust of many supporters - the club had some success under Tommy Hafey making the finals in 1986 and 87. These were the days when Dr Geoffrey Edelsten waved money around and brought big-name players and when the flashy Warwick Capper, forever remembered for his tight shorts, made his name in the goal square.
But eventually the money ran out and the Swans struggled financially and on the field. But the league was determined that a team survive in the NSW market, and the Swans were given financial help and draft choices in a bid to turn things around.
After hitting rock-bottom under Colin Kinnear and Gary Buckenara, the great Ron Barassi took over the reins in 1993 with a long-term plan of rebuilding the club for a younger man to take over.
That man was Rod Eade, who took over in 1996, and guided the club into the Grand Final where it was outgunned by North Melbourne.
But the Swans are no longer a laughing-stock and have made great inroads into the Sydney market attracting a large and loyal following, to the point where there is now talk of a second club coming out of Sydney by the turn of the century.
BROWNLOW MEDALISTS
HERB MATTHEWS: 1940(tied)
RON CLEGG: 1949
FRED GOLDSMITH: 1955
BOBBY SKILTON: 1959(tied),1963,1968
PETER BEDFORD: 1970
GRAHAM TEASDALE: 1977
BARRY ROUND: 1981(tied)
GREG WILLIAMS: 1985(tied)
GERARD HEALY: 1988
PAUL KELLY: 1995
