MASSIVE LOSS FOR THE SWANS

[the joker]

SYDNEY Swans defender Tadhg Kennelly is expected to announce his retirement from AFL football this afternoon.

Senior coach Paul Roos will join Kennelly, who has one year remaining on his contract, at a press conference at the club's offices at 3.30pm AEDT.

The 27-year-old has consistently said that he would see out his contract with the Swans, despite his plans to eventually return to Ireland to play for County Kerry in the Gaelic football competition.

Those plans gathered momentum following the 2005 death of Kennelly's father, Tim, a Gaelic football champion who won five All-Ireland titles with Kerry.

Battling injuries in the last two seasons, Kennelly has also expressed his struggle with living away from family and friends.

Swans general manager of football Andrew Ireland last week denied a report in an Irish newspaper that Kennelly would retire before the start of his final season.

Kennelly made his debut for the Swans in 2001 and was a key member of their 2005 premiership side. He has since played 158 games.

[wycbloods]

A big loss if he does quit the swans.

[Dutchy]

pretty selfish to do it at this time of the year

[HeartBeatsTrue]

With Nic Fosdike gone too the swans squad are now 2 short.

[Drop Bear]

What's happening with Nick Davis?

[rod_rooster]

What's happening with Nick Davis?

He was de-listed. Was overlooked in the pre-season draft. You won't be seeing him again at AFL level.

[MW]

If this is true the Swans should get to pick an unlisted player

[Dirko]

If this is true the Swans should get to pick an unlisted player

Why ?

If it's true sounds like their player management skills are shite....

[Dutchy]

If this is true the Swans should get to pick an unlisted player

that would set a great precident

[Drop Bear]

What's happening with Nick Davis?

He was de-listed. Was overlooked in the pre-season draft. You won't be seeing him again at AFL level.

He fell into obscurity after their premiership. What a waste of talent. Wasn't he 28 or thereabouts?

[Adelaide Hawk]

pretty selfish to do it at this time of the year

Exactly. Just goes to show how much some of these players think about the well being of the club doesn't it? I'd be really annoyed if a regular league player suddenly decided to pull the pin on my club at this time of year.

[rod_rooster]

If this is true the Swans should get to pick an unlisted player

Rubbish. Tough luck to the Swans but they can elevate a rookie that is all.

[Swooper16]

pretty selfish to do it at this time of the year

Exactly. Just goes to show how much some of these players think about the well being of the club doesn't it? I'd be really annoyed if a regular league player suddenly decided to pull the pin on my club at this time of year.

Works both ways - clubs have no hesitation in delisting players (many of whom have given the club great service) at the end of the season. You would rather have a player play out the year and pick up his pay cheque even tho he has no desire to be out there? If he's had enough and wants to do other things then good luck to him.

Nathan Ablett and Stewart Dew are just 2 players to do this recently.

[Hondo]

pretty selfish to do it at this time of the year

Exactly. Just goes to show how much some of these players think about the well being of the club doesn't it? I'd be really annoyed if a regular league player suddenly decided to pull the pin on my club at this time of year.

I agree with this to a point

However, I throw this hypothetical out there. TK tells Swans months ago he wants to go home. Swans ask him to reconsider and try to talk him around. He says no, they say give it 2 months and see. Brings him to now and he still says no.

If this is what happened, they would have a Plan B (rookie player ready to go) and you can't blame them for having a crack. It was the club's choice to take the risk this could happen down the track, and not let him go when he first wanted to.

Just a hypothetical, but this story has been around since before Xmas so I doubt it's as sudden as it looks. Better he go now rather than play the season without the full mental commitment to AFL footy.

[the joker]

If this is true the Swans should get to pick an unlisted player

Rubbish. Tough luck to the Swans but they can elevate a rookie that is all.

i Thaught that you can only elevate rookies when people go on the Long term Injury list. but not when people retire

[hearts on fire]

Well done to Kennelly, been a great player to watch and to Sydney. He should have done it at the end of last season though, pretty sh1t time to announce it.

[dinglinga]

correct ...sydney should have been smarter... cant replace retired but can replace long term injury

[rod_rooster]

correct ...sydney should have been smarter... cant replace retired but can replace long term injury

Danny Jacobs retired before the start of last season and Cameron Stokes was elevated to the senior list at Hawthorn. Perhaps he said he was retired but officially he was listed on the long term injury list? Nothing to stop the Swans doing the same i would think. Didn't Woenameri (sp?) at Melbourne get elevated when they put Neitz on the long term injury list? He stayed on the senior list after Neitz retired as well.

[HH3]

Im pretty sure they can keep him on the club books, put him on the long term injury list and elevate a rookie...even tho he wont be there...im pretty sure another clubs done that recently when a player retired at an inopportune time...

[Ruck Legend]

As a Swans man, I first of all want to say that watching Tadgh Kennelly over the years has been fantastic. Both he and Nic Fosdike were part of a great premiership win in 2005 and will long be remembered. Well done to both on their loyal service to the Swans.

As far as the players retiring now goes, in some ways yes I am disappointed that their decisions did not take place back before the draft last year to allow Sydney to secure two new players. However I am sure they were both desperate back then to make it back and also both still under contract. I hope both players can some how be put under the long-term injury list and therefore Sydney can promote two rookies. It is definantly a re-building time at Sydney as there will be more players to retire at the end of this year and next year. Already Leo Barry is in his last year, Micky O'Loughlin could only have a year or two left and same with Brett Kirk. Barry Hall probably 1-2 years same with Jared Crouch and possibly Goodes and Jude Bolton. If they can promoto two rookies, looks like the former rugby player from Canada maybe seen sooner than we first thought.