# 2006 Sydney Swans season

This article covers the 2006 season of the Sydney Swans AFL team.

## News

For the full text of these news items, see SydneySwans.com Club News
* 30 September 2006: The Sydney Swans go down to the West Coast Eagles in the Grand Final by only one point.
* 25 September 2006: Adam Goodes wins his second Brownlow Medal with 26 votes, 3 votes ahead of Scott West of the Western Bulldogs.
* 22 September 2006: Sydney win the 1st Preliminary Final by beating a plucky Fremantle 19.13 (127) to 14.8 (92) at Telstra Stadium, and will now play for the 2006 AFL premiership at the MCG on 30 September, against the West Coast Eagles.
* 9 September 2006: Sydney win their qualifying final by beating West Coast at Subiaco, gaining a week off and a home preliminary final.
* 8 September 2006: Jared Crouch admits he was playing with a chronic ankle injury, a broken collarbone, and hamstring and lower back problems
* 31 August 2006: Swans defender Tadhg Kennelly will wear the red and white for a further three seasons
* 11 July 2006: Paul Williams announces he needs season ending shoulder surgery. With his previous announcement, he is now retired after 306 games and 306 goals with Collingwood and Sydney
* 1 July 2006: Jared Crouch's unbroken run of games from his debut in 1998 comes to an end due to injury (and does not play for the rest of the season)
* 21 June 2006: Paul Williams announces he will retire at the end of the season after 16 seasons playing first for Collingwood and then Sydney
* 8 March 2006: Tadhg Kennelly injures his shoulder at training and will miss the first two or three weeks of the season
* 22 February 2006: At the Australian Sport Awards for 2005, the Swans wins the National Team of the Year award while Paul Roos takes home Coach of the Year award
* 19 December 2005: Swans assign guernsey numbers
* 16 December 2005: Swans name three skippers
* 13 December 2005: Swans draft 8 rookies

## Captains

On 16 December 2005, the Sydney Swans announced they would use three captains over the season, following on from the 2005 season, where they rotated among six captains after Stuart Maxfield resigned from the captaincy. The three captains are Barry Hall, Brett Kirk and Leo Barry. The captaincy will not be rotated, but each will be captain in each game.

## Club list

The 2006 squad consisted of the following players. The list was finalised in December 2005 following a 2nd list lodgement on 18 November, the NAB AFL Draft on 26 November, NAB AFL Pre-season Draft and Rookie Draft on 14 December.

### Player list

| Name | No. | Height | Weight | Birth date | Debut | Previous clubs | 2006 games | Career games | 2006 goals | Career goals |
| Ablett, Luke | 20 | 184 | 92 | 22 November 1982 | 2002 | Drouin, Gippsland U18 | 7 | 61 | 5 | 17 |
| Barry, Leo | 21 | 184 | 91 | 19 May 1977 | 1995 | Deniliquin (NSW) | 7 | 178 | 0 | 50 |
| Bevan, Paul | 42 | 183 | 82 | 27 September 1984 | 2004 | Western Suburbs, NSW-ACT U18 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 10 |
| Bolton, Craig | 6 | 190 | 89 | 31 May 1980 | 2000 | Eastlake, NSW-ACT U18, Brisbane | 7 | 110 | 3 | 20 |
| Bolton, Jude | 24 | 182 | 85 | 15 March 1980 | 1999 | Aberfeldie, Calder U18 | 7 | 146 | 6 | 75 |
| Brabazon, Ryan | 34 | 181 | 72 | 26 December 1986 | **** | Claremont (WA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Buchanan, Amon | 32 | 179 | 84 | 10 October 1982 | 2002 | Colac, Geelong U18 | 7 | 55 | 4 | 25 |
| Chambers, Paul | 23 | 196 | 100 | 23 June 1982 | 2002 | Melton South, Western U18, Geelong | 7 | 39 | 0 | 5 |
| Crouch, Jared | 28 | 173 | 81 | 5 March 1978 | 1998 | Norwood (SA) | 7 | 189 | 3 | 45 |
| Davis, Matthew | 44 | 189 | 80 | 23 June 1986 | **** | North Adelaide (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Davis, Nick | 2 | 184 | 85 | 30 March 1980 | 1999 | St George, NSW-ACT U18, Collingwood | 5 | 135 | 6 | 182 |
| Dempster, Sean | 26 | 191 | 87 | 20 January 1984 | 2005 | Snowy Rovers, Gippsland U18 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 1 |
| Doyle, Stephen | 15 | 204 | 105 | 13 July 1981 | 2000 | South Adelaide (SA) | 1 | 40 | 1 | 18 |
| Ericksen, Andrew | 18 | 204 | 93 | 17 July 1985 | **** | Scotch College, Sandringham U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fosdike, Nic | 12 | 179 | 82 | 26 February 1980 | 1999 | Norwood (SA) | 7 | 123 | 2 | 55 |
| Goodes, Adam | 37 | 194 | 98 | 8 January 1980 | 1999 | Horsham, North Ballarat U18 | 4 | 165 | 7 | 173 |
| Grundy, Heath | 39 | 192 | 97 | 2 June 1986 | 2006 | Norwood (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hall, Barry | 1 | 194 | 102 | 8 February 1977 | 1996 | Broadford, Murray U18, St Kilda | 7 | 186 | 25 | 442 |
| Jolly, Darren | 16 | 200 | 104 | 6 November 1981 | 2001 | North Ballarat, Melbourne | 7 | 79 | 0 | 21 |
| Kennelly, Tadhg | 17 | 190 | 90 | 1 July 1981 | 2001 | Ireland | 4 | 105 | 0 | 27 |
| Kirk, Brett | 31 | 184 | 80 | 25 October 1976 | 1999 | North Albury (NSW) | 7 | 130 | 2 | 53 |
| Laidlaw, Matthew | 22 | 185 | 83 | 9 February 1987 | **** | Oakleigh Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malceski, Nick | 9 | 189 | 84 | 15 August 1984 | 2005 | North Ringwood, Eastern U18 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Mathews, Ben | 4 | 181 | 86 | 29 November 1978 | 1997 | Corowa-Rutherglan (NSW), Murray U18 | 5 | 164 | 3 | 33 |
| McVeigh, Jarrad | 3 | 184 | 81 | 7 April 1985 | 2004 | Pennant Hills, NSW-ACT U18 | 7 | 40 | 6.3 | 16.16 |
| Moore, Jarred | 33 | 178 | 84 | 6 March 1986 | 2005 | Langwarrin, Dandenong U18 | 0 | 5 | 0.0 | 1.4 |
| O'Keefe, Ryan | 5 | 188 | 90 | 24 January 1981 | 2000 | Strathmore, Calder U18 | 7 | 100 | 7.8 | 107.75 |
| O'Loughlin, Michael | 19 | 189 | 92 | 20 February 1977 | 1995 | Central District (SA) | 7 | 229 | 13.6 | 387.209 |
| Richards, Ted | 25 | 192 | 95 | 11 January 1983 | 2002 | Xavier College, Sandringham U18, Essendon | 7 | 40 | 2.2 | 21.12 |
| Roberts-Thomson, Lewis | 30 | 194 | 97 | 8 September 1983 | 2003 | North Shore (NSW), NSW-ACT U18 | 7 | 55 | 0.0 | 5.8 |
| Schmidt, Tim | 36 | 180 | 84 | 14 March 1986 | 2006 | West Adelaide (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Schneider, Adam | 13 | 177 | 78 | 12 May 1984 | 2003 | Osborne, NSW-ACT U18 | 7 | 59 | 6.2 | 56.45 |
| Shaw, Earl | 45 | 199 | 97 | 17 December 1986 | **** | Campbelltown (NSW) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spriggs, David | 8 | 175 | 76 | 25 January 1981 | 2000 | Beaumaris, Prahran U18, Geelong | 0 | 69 | 0.0 | 20.34 |
| Thornton, Kristin | 27 | 183 | 74 | 5 March 1988 | **** | Peel Thunder | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vogels, Luke | 38 | 194 | 92 | 7 June 1983 | 2005 | Terang, Geelong U18, Terang-Mortlake | 0 | 11 | 0.0 | 7.5 |
| Williams, Paul | 10 | 177 | 83 | 3 April 1973 | 1991 | North Hobart (Tas), Collingwood | 6 | 300 | 1.3 | 304.? |
| Willoughby, Josh | 7 | 176 | 78 | 11 January 1986 | **** | Glenelg (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Statistics are as of 15 May 2006, after Round 7.

### Rookie list

| Name | No. | Height | Weight | Birth date | Debut | Previous clubs | 2006 games | Career games | 2006 goals | Career goals |
| Barlow, Ed | 41 | 194 | 92 | 27 January 1987 | **** | Bega, Scotch College, Oakleigh U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Currie, Paul | 40 | 192 | 79 | 9 February 1987 | **** | Eltham, Northern U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Garrubba, Stefan | 43 | 179 | 78 | 30 August 1986 | **** | Caulfield Grammar, Dandenong U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack, Kieran | 48 | 176 | 76 | 28 June 1987 | **** | Pennant Hills, NSW-ACT U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phillips, Simon | 47 | 173 | 65 | 5 April 1987 | **** | St Pauls, Sandringham U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prior, Adam | 49 | 188 | 93 | 19 January 1987 | **** | North Albury, Murray U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rowe, Sam | 46 | 196 | 86 | 19 November 1987 | **** | North Albury, Murray U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Simpkin, Jonathan | 29 | 181 | 76 | 28 November 1987 | **** | Colac, Geelong U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wall, James | 35 | 198 | 80 | 5 January 1987 | **** | St Bernards, Calder U18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Changes from 2005 list
#### Additions

* Exchange period – received:
* Paul Chambers (Geelong)
* Ted Richards (Essendon)
* Rookie elevation:
* Heath Grundy
* Earl Shaw
* Luke Vogels
* Father/son selection:
** None
* NAB AFL Draft (26 November 2005):
* Matthew Laidlaw (Round 4; Overall pick 51; from Oakleigh Chargers)
* Kristin Thornton (Round 4; Overall pick 54; from Peel Thunder)
* Ryan Brabazon (Round 4; Overall pick 59; from Claremont (WAFL))
* NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft:
* NAB AFL Rookie Draft (13 December 2005):
* Simpkin, Jonathan (Pick 16; from Geelong Falcons)
* Wall, James (Pick 32; from Calder Cannons)
* Currie, Paul (Pick 45; from Northern Knights)
* Phillips, Simon (Pick 54; from Sandringham Dragons)
* Jack, Kieran (Pick 57; from NSW-ACT Rams)
* Barlow, Ed (Pick 58; from Oakleigh Chargers)
* Prior, Adam (Pick 59; from Murray Bushrangers)
* Rowe, Sam (Pick 60; from Murray Bushrangers)

#### Deletions

* Retired:
* Jason Ball
* Heath James
* Stuart Maxfield
* Matthew Nicks
* Andrew Schauble
* Exchange period – traded:
* Mark Powell (to Kangaroos)
* Jason Saddington (to Carlton)
* Delisted:
* Ben Fixter
* Jarrad Sundqvist
* Guy Campbell (rookie)
* Ed Clarke (rookie)
* Andrew Hayes (rookie)
* Nick Potter (rookie)
* Pre-season Draft:
* Ben Fixter (to Brisbane Lions)

## Games
### Exhibition and trial games

| Date | Local time | Opponent | Home/away | Venue | Result | Score |
| 15 January$^1$ | 1:30 p.m. | Kangaroos | Neutral | Drake Stadium, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States | Lost by 48 pts | 6.2(38) to 13.8(86) |
| 17 February | 7:00 p.m. | Essendon Bombers | Home | North Sydney Oval | Lost by 18 pts | 10.11(71) to 13.11(89) |
| 3 March$^2$ | 4:00 p.m. | Essendon Bombers | Away | Optus Oval | Lost by 32 pts | 8.5(53) to 12.13(85) |
| 11 March$^2$ | 7:10 p.m. | Richmond Tigers | Neutral | Carrara Stadium | Lost by 40 pts | 7.7(49) to 13.11(89) |
| 18 March$^2$ | 1:45 p.m. | St Kilda Saints | Neutral | No.1 Sports Ground, Newcastle | Won by 17 pts | 12.19(91) to 11.8(74) |
$^1$: Exhibition game as part of Australia week in the USA $^2$: NAB Regional Challenge game

### NAB Cup

| Match number | Date | Local time | Opponent | Home/away | Venue | Result | Score |
| 3 | 25 February | 2:10 p.m. | Kangaroos | Away | Manuka Oval | Lost by 32 pts | 0.5.7(37) to 1.8.11(69) |

### Home and away

| Round | Date | Local time | Opponent | Home or away | Venue | Result | Score | Posn. on ladder |
| 1 | 1 April | 7:10 p.m. | Essendon Bombers | Away | Telstra Dome | Lost by 27 | 12.9(81) to 17.6(108) | 12 |
| 2 | 9 April | 1:10 p.m. | Port Adelaide Power | Home | S.C.G. | Lost by 26 | 11.14(80) to 15.16(106) | 14 |
| 3 | 15 April | 7:10 p.m. | Carlton Blues | Away | Telstra Dome | Won by 7 | 12.9(81) to 11.8(74) | 12 |
| 4 | 23 April | 1:10 p.m. | Melbourne Demons | Home | S.C.G. | Lost by 5 | 13.14(92) to 15.7(97) | 12 |
| 5 | 29 April | 7:10 p.m. | Geelong Cats | Home | Telstra Stadium | Won by 22 | 15.17(107) to 13.7(85) | 9 |
| 6 | 7 May | 1:10 p.m. | Brisbane Lions | Away | Gabba | Won by 32 | 15.12(102) to 10.10(70) | 8 |
| 7 | 13 May | 2:10 p.m. | Richmond Tigers | Away | Telstra Dome | Won by 118 | 28.12(180) to 9.8(62) | 5 |
| 8 | 20 May | 7:10 p.m. | Western Bulldogs | Away | S.C.G. | Won by 26 | 17.14(116) to 14.6(90) | 4 |
| 9 | 27 May | 7:10 p.m. | Hawthorn Hawks | Away | M.C.G. | Won by 65 | 19.5(119) to 7.12(54) | 4 |
| 10 | 4 June | 1:10 p.m. | Kangaroos | Away | Manuka Oval | Won by 7 | 16.9(105) to 14.14(98) | 4 |
| 11 | 10 June | 7:10 p.m. | St Kilda Saints | Home | S.C.G. | Lost by 2 | 7.8(50) to 7.10(52) | 4 |
| 12 | 24 June | 7:10 p.m. | Collingwood Magpies | Home | Telstra Stadium | Lost by 13 | 11.16(82) to 14.11(95) | 6 |
| 13 | 1 July | 7:10 p.m. | Fremantle Dockers | Home | S.C.G. | Won by 33 | 12.19(91) to 9.4(58) | 6 |
| 14 | 9 July | 1:10 p.m. | Adelaide Crows | Home | S.C.G. | Lost by 39 | 8.14(62) to 15.11(101) | 6 |
| 15 | 15 July | 5:40 p.m. | West Coast Eagles | Away | Subiaco Oval | Lost by 2 | 9.11(65) to 9.13(67) | 7 |
| 16 | 22 July | 7:10 p.m. | Richmond Tigers | Home | S.C.G. | Won by 48 | 14.17 (101) to 7.11(53) | 7 |
| 17 | 29 July | 7:10 p.m. | Port Adelaide Power | Away | AAMI Stadium | Won by 27 | 10.17(77) to 7.8(50) | 6 |
| 18 | 5 August | 7:10 p.m. | Essendon Bombers | Home | S.C.G. | Won by 43 | 17.14(116) to 11.7(73) | 4 |
| 19 | 12 August | 2:10 p.m. | Melbourne Demons | Away | M.C.G. | Won by 32 | 14.11(95) to 10.3(63) | 3 |
| 20 | 19 August | 2:10 p.m. | Geelong Cats | Away | Skilled Stadium | Lost by 27 | 9.9(63) to 14.6(90) | 5 |
| 21 | 26 August | 7:10 p.m. | Brisbane Lions | Home | Telstra Stadium | Won by 57 | 14.13(97) to 6.4(40) | 5 |
| 22 | 3 September | 1:10 p.m. | Carlton Blues | Home | S.C.G. | Won by 92 | 21.10(136) to 6.8(44) | 4 |

### Finals

| Week | Date | Local time | Opponent | Home or away | Venue | Result | Score |
| 1 | 9 September | 5:30 p.m. | West Coast Eagles | Away | Subiaco Oval | Won by 1 | 13.7(85) to 12.12(84) |
| 3 | 22 September | 8:00 p.m. | Fremantle Dockers | Home | Telstra Stadium | Won by 35 | 19.13(127) to 14.8(92) |
| 4 | 30 September | 2:00 p.m. | West Coast Eagles | Away | MCG | Lost by 1 | 12.12(84) to 12.13(85) |