Sydney 2012 Supercoach Season Review by Sean

The Swans were at the top most of the year not because of a lopsided draw Mick Malthouse, (like Adelaide were) but because they had a team that play and continue to play for each other week in, week out. The late season slide from an injury returning Goodes, and an out of sorts Jetta has turned with the finals, and I believe those two firing will make the difference between the last time we played the Hawks and the match we play them on Saturday. Go you good things!

But it’s the team philosophy that got us there, and from a rock solid back six (by far the best in the game) an unrelenting midfield and a forward line of Reid, LRT and Morton finding their way with the help of Goodes, Mumford, McGlynn and Hannebury – amongst others.

From a Supercoach perspective it was a frustrating year with injuries to the two SC superstars – Goodes and Mumford. But the midfield trio of Jack, Kennedy and ROK repaid their investors with some massive scores.

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THE GOOD

Josh P Kennedy – MID - Av 120 - 589,700

A lot has already been said about JPK – but clearly he found another gear this year raising his average a whopping 30 points and into the game’s elite. His work in the finals to date around the stoppages has been outstanding and he will continue to gain plenty of possessions. Would have to be a lock in for next year for many.

Kieran Jack – MID -  AVE 112 – 540,200

I keep saying every year that Kizza will be the leading point scorer, and each year he doesn’t quite do it. In spite of an early trip against Freo in Round 2 he found some real consistency and value from round 8 onwards. I love this guy’s skills and attitude, and think he’s a real possibility to go up another level again next year.

Ted Richards – DEF – Ave 78 – 325,200

I mentioned Teddy here last year but thought I’d do it again to celebrate his all Australian form and selection. Best fullback in the comp. Awesome player – and an indictment on how Supercoach could be a better system if it could find a way to reward players like Ted. I don’t have an answer for that by the way. Just sniping from the sidelines.

THE BAD

Shane Mumford – RUC – Ave 91 – 483,100

Look – he’s here because I invested in him at the beginning for the year as my #1 Ruck and then he went and got injured and so the whole horrible Supercaoch season I had went downhill very quickly after that. His average dropped by 20 points. At 480 I’ll have to work out if I want him back next year, but I think whether it’s his form or returning from injury or even just in how the Swans are playing him (He often starts at full forward now and spends a fair whack of the game down there) he is probably not going to get the points other Ruck elites are getting.

Adam Goodes – FWD/MID – Ave 89 – 424600

Injury dominated his SC scoring this year – missing 7 games in total. Interestingly that was where we saw the team really lift and come together during the H+A season …  but I digress.

So I reckon there’s at least another year of great footy in Goodesy. He took a slow recovery from injury this year and to my eyes in the end of the H+A season he was running beside contests rather than throwing himself into them. Perhaps with a top 4 berth likely that was a deliberate protective choice? And if so it has paid off so far in the finals.

And thank God that it has changed for him in the finals and he has proved himself the difference in the two games of the finals series thus far. If he and Jetta fire like they have been – we will beat the Hawks.

That said for Supercoach next year, I suspect we will see Goodes play more of a forward role rather than midifelder and as such we will see his possessions effected. He may still be a gun but not at the Supercoach scoring level we have seen over the last few years.

THE UGLY

HARRY CUNNINGHAM – MID – 94,700

Oh Harry you heartbreaker. Awesome pre-season. One sub effected game for five points, and then that’s it. A casualty of a team impossible to break into. And my round one pick. DAMN YOU HARRY!!!

GARY ROHAN – FWD – 274,700

That leg break was awful. About 30 seconds after he’d just run into space in the forward line and kicked a goal. Really feel for a player who just exudes Blood spirit. The Ranga will be back next year and is going to kill it. Mark my words.