Opinion 2024 and Beyond

[mtooler]

Either Beatson & co aren't drafting as well as we think they are, or Horse & co aren't coaching as well as we think they are.

Both of them I think.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Both of them I think.

Over a number of years my major concern with our drafting has been that we have drafted too many lightly framed players. Ling, Stoddart, Florent, Vickery and so on. Even Warner who plays much bigger than he is. I don't believe we pay enough attention to what bodies they will grow into. Some of the guys we have passed on.
We have warped our defence by building it around two undersized players. Rampe and Lloyd. Think back to Richards and Grundy with Rampe as third tall/interceptor. I like what Lloyd does but would prefer to bring in a bigger, taller (maybe) but definitely stronger defender.
As far as our coaching goes we changed up a lot for the better over the last 4 years. 2023 we went horribly negative in the mids because we couldn't hold it in the ruck. That impacted everything. Hopefully that changes this season.

 

[mtooler]

Over a number of years my major concern with our drafting has been that we have drafted too many lightly framed players. Ling, Stoddart, Florent, Vickery and so on. Even Warner who plays much bigger than he is. I don't believe we pay enough attention to what bodies they will grow into. Some of the guys we have passed on.
We have warped our defence by building it around two undersized players. Rampe and Lloyd. Think back to Richards and Grundy with Rampe as third tall/interceptor. I like what Lloyd does but would prefer to bring in a bigger, taller (maybe) but definitely stronger defender.
As far as our coaching goes we changed up a lot for the better over the last 4 years. 2023 we went horribly negative in the mids because we couldn't hold it in the ruck. That impacted everything. Hopefully that changes this season.

Yes that's a fair take. We were lucky with Paddy, and well served by Grundy, but as you say there is a long line of key defenders who are undersized in our history.

I'm really glad there was an opportunity last year to trade in the needs fans have identified for years we needed filling.

If we are kind we can say that there has not been salary cap space to make the trades that occurred any earlier. We just don't know on that front.

What we do know is many a fan has identified the needs in our list needing filling and we have seen the trades occur which substantiates the long held view.

 

[dosser]

When McInerney and Dawson swapped mid-season both's numbers improved. He was drafted as a HBF and is certainly tall enough - 189 vs Fox 184. Same weight. If there was someone needed back there he would be my first choice with Campbell and Jordon available to play on the wing. At the moment he's a good counterbalance for Gulden playing more defensively. Not sure Campbell and Jordon are as strong in that area.

The problem is that nobody is better than McInerney at feeding our forwards on a lead. I believe he is better than Gulden and Blakey in that respect (who both have their obvious strengths) and his vision is superb. When I go back to watch replays I am amazed by how often McInerney delivers the pass that just seems to lob onto the chest of a leading forward. It is almost uncanny.

 

[Kiama Chris]

The problem is that nobody is better than McInerney at feeding our forwards on a lead. I believe he is better than Gulden and Blakey in that respect (who both have their obvious strengths) and his vision is superb. When I go back to watch replays I am amazed by how often McInerney delivers the pass that just seems to lob onto the chest of a leading forward. It is almost uncanny.

He's very good at 25-40m with flat or little lob. The other two are better at distance with full power. Been a fan since I first saw him in NEAFL. A very disciplined player.

 

[mtooler]

The problem is that nobody is better than McInerney at feeding our forwards on a lead. I believe he is better than Gulden and Blakey in that respect (who both have their obvious strengths) and his vision is superb. When I go back to watch replays I am amazed by how often McInerney delivers the pass that just seems to lob onto the chest of a leading forward. It is almost uncanny.

I'll keep an eye out for it more, Warner was handy in 2022 at it too but seemed to be less so last year, or at least not as memorable doing it.

 

[SydneyBlood]

Anyone know if the most recent version of Rusty's player/squad list is pinned in a particular thread or maybe Rusty just posts it on an ad-hoc basis in various threads when there is something that has changed?

Always such a handy resource.

 

[Bandicoot]

Anyone know if the most recent version of Rusty's player/squad list is pinned in a particular thread or maybe Rusty just posts it on an ad-hoc basis in various threads when there is something that has changed?

Always such a handy resource.

I'm sure he'll post it shortly, just for you.

 

[rustycrate]

Anyone know if the most recent version of Rusty's player/squad list is pinned in a particular thread or maybe Rusty just posts it on an ad-hoc basis in various threads when there is something that has changed?

Always such a handy resource.

I created a new thread Rusty's 2024 Player List and Stats.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Konstanty highlighted for us - Second-year studs: Young guns ready to become AFL stars


2022 Draft Hand: Jacob Konstanty, Cooper Vickery, Caleb Mitchell

Konstanty was a headline for all the wrong reasons in the off-season after a wrestling match with Callum Mills

14

Callum Mills

Age

27

Ht

188cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.6

3star

D

18.4

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

3.4

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

1.2

4star

on Mad Monday led to the Swans’ skipper going under the knife and missing half of 2024 with a busted shoulder. However, it shows the strength of Konstanty’s tackling pressure. The uncapped small forward is a chance for a round 1 debut, having been one of the club’s standouts in the pre-season.

Loading…

www.heraldsun.com.au

 

[Millky95]

Konstanty highlighted for us - Second-year studs: Young guns ready to become AFL stars


2022 Draft Hand: Jacob Konstanty, Cooper Vickery, Caleb Mitchell

Konstanty was a headline for all the wrong reasons in the off-season after winning a wrestling match with Callum Mills on Mad Monday led to the Swans’ skipper going under the knife and missing half of 2024 with a busted shoulder. However, it shows the strength of Konstanty’s tackling pressure. The uncapped small forward is a chance for a round 1 debut, having been one of the club’s standouts in the pre-season.

Loading…

www.heraldsun.com.au

FTFY

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Konstanty highlighted for us - Second-year studs: Young guns ready to become AFL stars


2022 Draft Hand: Jacob Konstanty, Cooper Vickery, Caleb Mitchell

Konstanty was a headline for all the wrong reasons in the off-season after a wrestling match with Callum Mills on Mad Monday led to the Swans’ skipper going under the knife and missing half of 2024 with a busted shoulder. However, it shows the strength of Konstanty’s tackling pressure. The uncapped small forward is a chance for a round 1 debut, having been one of the club’s standouts in the pre-season.

Loading…

www.heraldsun.com.au

Busting a bloke's shoulder in a pub wrestle "shows the strength of tackling pressure" ???

Now I've heard everything.

I assume this means he ran around the pub for a solid couple of hours, close-checking Mills' every move, before applying a tackle as soon as he had schooner in hand.

 

[caesar88]

Busting a bloke's shoulder in a pub wrestle "shows the strength of tackling pressure" ???

Now I've heard everything.

I assume this means he ran around the pub for a solid couple of hours, close-checking Mills' every move, before applying a tackle as soon as he had schooner in hand.

Yeah it's one of the most absurd sentences you'll read this year.

Akin to saying the volume of beer Mills consumed that day is a promising indication of his commitment to staying hydrated.

 

[Dan87]

It's a joke

Konstanty being barely mentioned all pre season. They're keeping him undercover

Exciting

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

It's a joke

Konstanty being barely mentioned all pre season. They're keeping him undercover

Exciting

Could say he’s Konstanty being ignored.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Could say he’s Konstanty being ignored.

It is his lack of Konstantincy that is the concern.

 

[SydneyBlood]

With Mills out to start the season, my 23 if playing against a team with three tall/key forwards:

B: Rampe - Melican - Lloyd
HB: Blakey - McCartin - Florent
C: Gulden - Parker - Campbell
HF: Heeney - McDonald - Hayward
F: Wicks - Amartey - Papley
Foll: Grundy - Warner - Adams

I/C: Cunningham (7th def) - Rowbottom (extra inside mid) - McInerney (extra outside mid) - McLean (7th forward, back-up ruck)
Sub: Fox

Next few players in line: Jordon, Sheldrick, Reid, Hamling, Ladhams, Roberts, Francis, Young Warner.

As pure footballers, I'd rather Jordon or Sheldrick in that 22 over Wicks but for sake of team balance overall would go for Wicks as a specialist small forward.

Melican ahead of Hamling for now for that second key defender role but hope Hamling trains/plays well enough to make that position a toss-up between the two of them.

If we were playing a team with only one or two key/tall forwards, I'd put Fox in for Melican for more agility in the team. Jordon the new sub. Melican out of the 23.

When Mills returns, he goes into the midfield, Wicks out of the team and Hayward to play more of a small forward role in place of Wicks. Parker and Adams to split time at half forward in Hayward's vacated spot and in the midfield.

 

[caesar88]

Pre-season games will be super interesting if our injury list remains as positive as it currently is as I think we're in a position where the number of players challenging for spots is far greater than the number of players who will be guaranteed spots, giving us a lot of flexibility and options.

I think we have 13 certainties: Adams, Blakey, Florent, Grundy, Gulden, Heeney, Lloyd, McCartin, Papley, Parker, Rampe, Rowbottom & Warner.

And 21 challengers: Amartey, Buller, Campbell, Cleary, Cunningham, Fox, Francis, Hamling, Hayward, Jordon, Konstanty, Ladhams, McDonald, McInerney, McLean, Melican, Reid, Roberts, Sheldrick, Warner Jr. & Wicks.

Almost all (with the exception of Parker, Rampe and possibly Lloyd) should be net profits to last year's team, allowing us to pick from the best of the rest

 

[SydneyBlood]

Agree Caesar there is a lot of competition which is great to see. Based on form and team selections late last year, to start the season at the very least, I would guess there are a few more certainties or near certainties than your 13 unless the following completely stuff up their pre-season ... Campbell, McDonald, McLean and McInerney. We shall see. Potentially exciting times ahead.

Also agree that Parker, Rampe and Lloyd are becoming somewhat one-paced as happens to the best of them as time moves on. Probably add Cunningham to that list where Father Time is starting to catch up. Hopefully none of them fall off a cliff at an alarming rate.

I haven't watched a whole lot of Jordon down the years but have a sneaking suspicion he can impress in the pre-season and add something to the team if given the chance

 

[tombomb]

Agree Caesar there is a lot of competition which is great to see. Based on form and team selections late last year, to start the season at the very least, I would guess there are a few more certainties or near certainties than your 13 unless the following completely stuff up their pre-season ... Campbell, McDonald, McLean and McInerney. We shall see. Potentially exciting times ahead.

Also agree that Parker, Rampe and Lloyd are becoming somewhat one-paced as happens to the best of them as time moves on. Probably add Cunningham to that list where Father Time is starting to catch up. Hopefully none of them fall off a cliff at an alarming rate.

I haven't watched a whole lot of Jordon down the years but have a sneaking suspicion he can impress in the pre-season and add something to the team if given the chance

I'd be really surprised if Jordon wasn't in the team round 1, and in the starting 18.

 

[caesar88]

I'd be really surprised if Jordon wasn't in the team round 1, and in the starting 18.

With all due respect, I'm not sure why Jordon not being in the team or the starting 18 would be surprising. Considering the competition for spots in that wing rotation, and the fact he's shown less than pretty much any of our options for that wing rotation (with the exception of Warner Jr.), what are you basing your confidence in Jordon on?

 

[tombomb]

With all due respect, I'm not sure why Jordon not being in the team or the starting 18 would be surprising. Considering the competition for spots in that wing rotation, and the fact he's shown less than pretty much any of our options for that wing rotation (with the exception of Warner Jr.), what are you basing your confidence in Jordon on?

Because I don't think they would have got him to move to Sydney without some kind of commitment around a spot in the team. And it sounds like of all the recruits, he was the one we were targeting from a long way out.

Plus we are playing his old team.

That doesn't mean he doesn't have to perform in preseason, or it is a guarantee.

I have no opinion of him yet as a player, as I haven't really seen him play. But I think he will be named on the wing in round 1.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

With all due respect, I'm not sure why Jordon not being in the team or the starting 18 would be surprising. Considering the competition for spots in that wing rotation, and the fact he's shown less than pretty much any of our options for that wing rotation (with the exception of Warner Jr.), what are you basing your confidence in Jordon on?

You seem intent on supporting the incumbents of a mediocre midfield. Tho i note you consider Adams a cert, so that's one thing.

 

[caesar88]

Because I don't think they would have got him to move to Sydney without some kind of commitment around a spot in the team. And it sounds like of all the recruits, he was the one we were targeting from a long way out.

Plus we are playing his old team.

That doesn't mean he doesn't have to perform in preseason, or it is a guarantee.

I have no opinion of him yet as a player, as I haven't really seen him play. But I think he will be named on the wing in round 1.

I think they're all reasons he could be named. I think there's just as many he couldn't be named, as well. I wouldn't be surprised either way, but to each their own!

 

[caesar88]

You seem intent on supporting the incumbents of a mediocre midfield. Tho i note you consider Adams a cert, so that's one thing.

It's not that I support them, I've got my issues with each of them individually (besides Gulden). I'm just realistic. None of them are going to be anywhere but in the best 22 if they are fit.

Not sure what Jordon has to do with them though? Jordon will likely be playing on the wing/half forward.