AFL 1998 – Twenty Years On: Sydney Swans (5th)
The ’98 Swans were still near the top but on a gradual slide to the middle of the table. “Big knees” to key players Kelly, O’Brien and Carey didn’t help their finals cause.
The Plugger Show still had one more record breaking season left (and one more not so in 2002). Paul Roos’ playing days were over at season’s end, but he would figure in the Sydney resurgence as coach in slightly controversial circumstances in a few years.
Future premierships stars Crouch, Barry and O’Loughlin were already fixtures, with Goodes and Mathews still to become so.
Paul Licuria came close to a couple of flags after moving to Collingwood and journeyman personified James Byrne was briefly a Crow. Troy Cook went on to a distinguished career at Fremantle and Greg Stafford was solid at Punt Road. None of this can top the four premierships won by Simon Arnott at Centrals however (did he ever run into Matthews Nicks’ dad there?).
But what else have these ex-Moore Parkers been up to in the years since then? If you know, then drop us a line.
AFL Debuts 1998: Jared Crouch, Brett O’Farrell, Jason Saddington
Kept Under Wraps 1998: Mark Brown, James Byrne, Fred Campbell, Adam Coghlan, Adam Goodes, Simon Hawking, Mark Livy, Ben Mathews, David McEwan, Brad McMahon, Jason McPherson, Brett Rose, Will Sangster, Ben Wilson
Never Heard of Him: Brett Rose
Delisted at end of 1998: Adam Coghlan, Brent Green, Simon Hawking, David McEwan, Ben Wilson, James Byrne
Traded at end of 1998: Paul Licuria (to Collingwood), Mark Orchard (to Collingwood), Jason Mooney (to Geelong), Simon Arnott (to Geelong), Brett O’Farrell (to Hawthorn)
Retirements at end of 1998: Mark Bayes, Paul Roos
Thanks to australianfootball.com , draftguru.com.au , afltables.com
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About Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt
Saw my first SANFL game in 1967 - Dogs v Peckers. Have only ever seen the Dogs win 1 final in the flesh (1972 1st Semi) Mediocre forward pocket for the AUFC Blacks (1982-89) Life member - Ormond Netball Club -That's me on the right
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Played footy against John Stevens when he was at Old Ivanhoe.
Never seen a player run from end to end like him.
Peter Filandia went on the work for AFL traineeships. Good bloke.
However, the poor fella will forevermore be known as “that guy that bit an opponents testicle” when under a pack playing for the Port Melbourne Borough at North Port Oval. One is reminded of the “just one goat” analogy. Or is the saying ” you are what you eat” more apt?!
Jared Crouch good redleg man and more importantly all the best to Ben Wilson with his battle with Huntington’s disease