Proven again tonight!!!!!

[stonecold]

Teams win finals, not individuals!!!!!

[Jacks Back]

We don't need any big name recruits. More of the softly, softly approach that has snagged us players like your Membreys, Hickeys, Wellers, et al.

A champion team will beat a team of champions.

[Teflon]

Yes teams with finals....
But tonight just proved the Cats had snared 1 elite player while Sydney have 3-4 that could fall into that category...
Teams win finals...... but teams choc full of A grade talent with some of that gifted through ridiculous academies win more....

[CURLY]

Yeah which team does Buddy play for?

[Scollop]

Can't deny that COLA and other gifts like the academy has helped them, but their club is superbly managed; their footy department is A grade; their recruiters have managed to turn draft picks in the 40's and even rookies ( like Rampe) into A graders; and therefore their development of their youth is A grade.

Don't forget they've tried a few rejects from other clubs but I think they use those blokes for depth rather than first choice. Sure they have brought in Buddy and Tippett but by and large they've managed to stay relevant by drafting well and giving their youth games along side champions and strong leaders

[Teflon]

When have Sydney developed a forward or a ruckman in recent times?
They've just bought them with their extra "living away from home allowance"
Utter joke

[lintonstreet]

Teams win finals, not individuals!!!!!

I completely agree with the sentiments BUT Sydney are hardly a team without imported champions.

[skeptic]

I think you'll find that a champion team full of champion players beats both

[Scollop]

Mike Pike went ok in the 2012 finals series
Papley has been one of the best forwards in the 2016 finals hasn't he?

[Teflon]

Mike Pike went ok in the 2012 finals series
Papley has been one of the best forwards in the 2016 finals hasn't he?

Yeah
Buddy goes ok
Hall went ok
Lockett went ok
Tippet ok

.....trend here...

[prwilkinson]

Cats were pretty flat coming out of the blocks.

[Scollop]

Mike Pike went ok in the 2012 finals series
Papley has been one of the best forwards in the 2016 finals hasn't he?

Yeah
Buddy goes ok
Hall went ok
Lockett went ok
Tippet ok

.....trend here...

You asked in recent times if Sydney had developed their own ruck or any forwards, so I was just answering your query

Out of all those forwards you listed I'd say that Tony had the biggest impact and could turn a game with his brilliance. At his best, and back in the day when a FF played out of the goal square, he was undoubtedly a matchwinner...

So....did they win the flag with him? Did Geelong get into a GF after recruiting the best midfielder in the league?

By the way, I don't agree with the original post but I do admire the way Sydney is coached and their footy development. I mean there are clubs that get handouts and priority picks and clubs like Melbourne and Carlton and Richmond have botched their drafting for years. Gold Coast have had a fair amount of help but they're still putrid

[BigMart]

We got priority picks
2000, 2001
Number 1 in 2002

Recently have had pick 3, pick 1 and traded pick 5

[CURLY]

When you can finish top four and then buy the best player in the Comp and give away nothing what do you expect? They got that on the back of finishing top two and getting Tippet. Also handed the best kids again for basically free. Don't even try to argue it's not a joke this happens. How would we have gone after losing 2009 if we landed Buddy for free?

[Johnny Member]

Can't deny that COLA and other gifts like the academy has helped them, but their club is superbly managed; their footy department is A grade; their recruiters have managed to turn draft picks in the 40's and even rookies ( like Rampe) into A graders; and therefore their development of their youth is A grade.

Don't forget they've tried a few rejects from other clubs but I think they use those blokes for depth rather than first choice. Sure they have brought in Buddy and Tippett but by and large they've managed to stay relevant by drafting well and giving their youth games along side champions and strong leaders

That's like the billionaire who inherited $4b from her dad beating her chest and telling all the battlers to work harder and they too could be successful like her.

[CURLY]

Can't deny that COLA and other gifts like the academy has helped them, but their club is superbly managed; their footy department is A grade; their recruiters have managed to turn draft picks in the 40's and even rookies ( like Rampe) into A graders; and therefore their development of their youth is A grade.

Don't forget they've tried a few rejects from other clubs but I think they use those blokes for depth rather than first choice. Sure they have brought in Buddy and Tippett but by and large they've managed to stay relevant by drafting well and giving their youth games along side champions and strong leaders

That's like the billionaire who inherited $4b from her dad beating her chest and telling all the battlers to work harder and they too could be successful like her.

100% correct. Sydney have had so many leg ups its ridiculous. Franklin Tippet Heeney Mills all handed to them on a platter.

[Bluthy]

I think you'll find that a champion team full of champion players beats both

Spot on. The depth Sydney have managed to get through COLA and now their academy kids is insane. They have class and depth - that's what wins you flags. Cats problems was they didn't have enough midfield depth - too many bit players.

[aaron82]

I think the thing that people don't understand is due to all the academy picks, Franklin/Tippett type recruits etc they know every year they are quite likely to have struck gold with high picks. This puts them in an almost no lose situation to take lots of risk with latter picks. They can keep churning over rugby converts, overseas talent or players that clubs lower down the ladder are passing as the risk is too high.

With the dogs, they were lucky to snag Hunter, Wallis, Liberatore from the f/s before they tightened the process and allowed clubs to bid on them. It's a bit like Geelong with Ablett, Scarlett, Hawkins or Collingwood with Heath Shaw, Cloke etc. The dogs have used the draft extremely well though and deserve their success

[The Fireman]

the AFL will be very happy atm.

[BigMart]

Are the academy picks the reason Sydney and GWS got to the GF?

They are going to be great, but how significant have they been this year.

Sure Heeney played well last night, but he was dropped during the year. Mills wasn't playing last night, and has been solid across HB and great for a first year player... But not A Grade or Elite.

Not sure Hopper is the reason GWS are their either?

But with Sydney, a crack midfield, good drafting and exploiting COLA to trade

GWS is the scary one... It's the bevy of DPs and selecting of good senior players to compliment them

They have been handed a premiership team

[CURLY]

Are the academy picks the reason Sydney and GWS got to the GF?

They are going to be great, but how significant have they been this year.

Sure Heeney played well last night, but he was dropped during the year. Mills wasn't playing last night, and has been solid across HB and great for a first year player... But not A Grade or Elite.

Not sure Hopper is the reason GWS are their either?

But with Sydney, a crack midfield, good drafting and exploiting COLA to trade

GWS is the scary one... It's the bevy of DPs and selecting of good senior players to compliment them

They have been handed a premiership team

Sydney got two walk up start best 22 kids after finishing at the top end of the ladder. Yes it is a big reason they are in the GF.

[Bruce G McAbee]

Of course when you're allowed to bend the rules re the salary cap more than any other side that helps to.

[Scollop]

Their midfield is the main reason they are in a GF. Everyone knows that Parker, Hannabery, Kennedy, and Jack have consistently been the driving force of their wins. A lot of clubs passed on these blokes. They were'nt top 10 draft picks. All this other cream has helped them, but if you don't get your engine room right, you're no chance.

I get it. They can't sustain top 4 in the league without some champion players, but their seasoned midfield had been built through good drafting and good development. Guys in their backline like Grundy, Alir and Nick Smith and Rampe were 2nd or 3rd rounders or rookie picks.

[BigMart]

Do you honestly reckon Heeney, and an absent Mills got them to a grand final?

I'd say bigger factors were

Kennedy - trade
Parker - pick 40 (somehow?)
Jack - Rookie
Hannebury - at late 20s I think as a f/s
McViegh - Seasoned Vet

Grundy - Rookie
Rampe - Rookie
Nick Smith - late pick
Aliir - pick 44
Laidler - trade

Forwards
Franklin - Free Agent
Tippett - Trade
Xavier Richards - Rookie
Papley - Rookie
Heeney - Academy
McGlynn - Trade

Then there's
Naismith, Number 10?

There's a side put together well, using and abusing all avenues.

Great drafting

[desertsaint]

Yep, mainly the result of great drafting and developing. which raises the question why they need the extra support of cola and academy picks. As long as they remain a smart run club they'll always be up there. Imagine if the Hawks had the same concessions - fans would riot. Sydney has been spared the need to build an interstate market, spared the extra demand on salaries that comes with success, and now spared the need to continue to find diamonds in the rough. If they keep finding them they'll dominate, if not, they'll be in the mix anyway.