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Word on the streets is tonight we get some decisions...expect a surprise is what I've been told...assume we will have some answers before the weekend...exciting times

I'll just leave this here...no point talking shite and hyperbole from here...I'm feeling positive if what I've heard is the go...in the words of that horrendous Japanese TV game show ...place your bets now!!!

you have to wonder how Harding managed to last as long as he did, all the more so, given the comments on here. If I may ask, what was wrong with the Footscray bloke? He won more games than Todd did until 1979. I have always believed SD treatted Ed Blackaby harshly.

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Freezin wrote: I lost count after 9 BH....obviously Willo didn't...thank god he paid u guys back in spades in those years of 98 and 99....LOL.....who coached you guys in 2001/2....

That would have been 4 time SDFC Premiership winning coach John Todd Freeze...if you remember we almost went belly up in late 2000 so Toddy didnt have a lot of experience to coach but he did blood and bring through a number of young blokes during those tough years including the just recently retired Tallan Ames & 2010 Premiership Captain Josh Roberts amongst others!

I hate to bring this up but I recall yet another epic Claremont Swans encounter even from those ordinary years for both clubs, It was Toddys 500th game as a coach and our old nemesis got us once again with a slim victory at Basso, possibly Swans only win for the season?

ArkRoyal wrote: you have to wonder how Harding managed to last as long as he did, all the more so, given the comments on here. If I may ask, what was wrong with the Footscray bloke? He won more games than Todd did until 1979. I have always believed SD treatted Ed Blackaby harshly.

Good questions AR I will put my answers for each three part below with the benefit now of hindsight.

Firstly on Magee I believe he would have been bought in to take us to that next step after Jack Ensor got us to a couple of Prelims in 74 & 75 but ultimately not the big dance, but Magee was a spectacular failure and only lasted the 1 season 76. Todd then had the job of clearing the decks and bringing a fresh gaggle of Swans through including- Solin, Baker, Davidson, Fitzgerald, Holden, M & S. Richardson, Hutton, Langsford, Outridge, Skwirowski, Sartori, Rance, A.Sidebottom, Smith, Fogarty, Shine, Holmes, P.Narkle, Williams. Renfree, Caton, Hodyl etc. The only players who survived from the Walker/Ensor/Magee era were top class stalwarts such as K.Narkle, Nowotny, Boucher, G.Sidebottom plus the likes of Casey, Gillespie, McDonald who missed the eventual Premiership years.

Yes Ed was probably harshly done by after we just missed the Finals in 89 by losing in the very last round but once Toddy was unceremoniously dumped from the WCE at the end of 89 I gather the club didnt want to miss the chance of getting the great man back and a Premiership in 90 and 5 more years of Finals footy probably suggests the club got it right despite it being harsh on Blackaby who tried his darnedest.

As for the Harding era he was on a bit of a hiding to nothing after coming in after our drought breaking 2010 Premiership with a hangover in the first season then the financial crisis which meant we were in no position to recruit and he had to bring through the younger local boys in which he had some success considering the likes of Lobb, Broad, Cameron, Blakely, Coniglio, Hughes, Logue, Boekhorst, Gault, Adams, Newman, D.Garlett etc all got drafted from being blooded into League footy early...come to think of it he might have been to successful on the development front as if he had of been able to keep some of those boys a year or 3 longer we might have been able to take it up to the Subi & Alignment sides who dont have the issue of losing a plethora of draftees year after year!
All in all 7 seasons as League coach for 4 Finals series & 1 win & 5 losses probably isnt the flashest record and maybe we could have pinched at least another GF spot in either 12 or 13 but it wasnt to be unfortunately not only for us but the WAFL in general as a strong SDFC generally means a stronger WAFL!

Tiger of old wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Freezin wrote: I lost count after 9 BH....obviously Willo didn't...thank god he paid u guys back in spades in those years of 98 and 99....LOL.....who coached you guys in 2001/2....

That would have been 4 time SDFC Premiership winning coach John Todd Freeze...if you remember we almost went belly up in late 2000 so Toddy didnt have a lot of experience to coach but he did blood and bring through a number of young blokes during those tough years including the just recently retired Tallan Ames & 2010 Premiership Captain Josh Roberts amongst others!

I hate to bring this up but I recall yet another epic Claremont Swans encounter even from those ordinary years for both clubs, It was Toddys 500th game as a coach and our old nemesis got us once again with a slim victory at Basso, possibly Swans only win for the season?

Yep remember it well TOO back in 2001 was a massive upset and the lads played out of their skin that day to record a rare win. A young Chris Vlahov keeping the very dangerous Paul Medhurst quiet played a big part in that win.

Who'll be your next Colts coach??

KCEF wrote: Who'll be your next Colts coach??

Greg Harding should apply.

Why is everyone saying Pickering ? Nothing from club ...?

3 colts coaching roles were advertised in one ad by WAFC.. will they be appointing swans colts coach too??

ArkRoyal wrote: you have to wonder how Harding managed to last as long as he did, all the more so, given the comments on here. If I may ask, what was wrong with the Footscray bloke? He won more games than Todd did until 1979. I have always believed SD treatted Ed Blackaby harshly.

As BH has mentioned, Magee was a dud. His appointment came because up to that point Swans' grand final appearances were associated with captain-coaches - Bunton and Castledine - and Magee got the gig over other applicants because he was still playing but he had little coaching experience. We went from second to seventh, and much of Ensor's work between 1972 and 1975 was wasted.

Beasley Hutton wrote:

KCEF wrote: Who'll be your next Colts coach??

Greg Harding should apply.

Agree BH...GH is great with young footballers...even if not at SD hope would look at one of the colts positions if indeed he still wants to coach. Having said that would be great if he took our colts on again.