Players to come back into our best 22?

[1Mitch1]

Matthews, Crouch, Everitt, Fozzy and Davis are all senior players to come back into the side. But the way we are going at the moment who could they replace? Im certain Everitt will come back as we need another ruckman with Jolly playing the lone hand. Fozzy's position looks to have been filled by McVeigh whilst Davis looks to be struggling to come back with the good form of Jack, Barlow, Moore and Bird. Personally i think Matthews and Crouch will really struggle to make our 22 again this year and im wondering what everyone else's opinion is on who will make way for these players or is our team settled as it is?

 

[TheMase]

You have the following players that will be available before mid-season (or available now)....

Everitt, Fosdike, Schmidt, Davis, Mathews, Crouch, Laidlaw...etc

We have a very good problem here!
My changes from the above would be...

Everitt for Grundy
Malceski for J.Bolton (I HOPE!)
Schmidt for someone! Perhaps Bevan

I won't mention Davis. I think he has a lot of work to do before he will return, whether he is up to it or not I guess we'll find out.

 

[robbieando]

Everitt should replace Grundy which allows LRT to go back into defence and Everitt to take over LRT's early season role as the second ruckman which can only improve the side. Malceski "could" return towards the end of May all going well and who he replaces all depends on form and injuries (I'd say he'd replace one of Moore or Bird). Other than that I think Fosdike, Schmidt and Davis will be players 23, 24 and 25 who will find it hard to brake back into the side. They will need injuries and major loss of form to get recalls.

Mathews and Crouch I doubt will see senior football again and will retire at seasons end (been great players and add good depth and expirence for the season). But we have the kids coming though that makes them surplus to requirements and they really need to hope for an injury crisis at the club to get a game, hence the reason why I think they will stuggle to get any games. Brennan is another who might find that because our side (or defence in this case) is so settled could find that he spot in the list could be under threat at seasons end. I doubt he'll play many senior games and only then because of injury.

Grundy will be the backup Key Position Player once Everitt replaces him in the side, ahead of Playfair and could get a few games here or there thoughout the season depending on injuries in the KP/Ruck positions. He has impressed me in the three games so far this year and has shown he is able to play both ends of the ground and is able to play man on man and also loose man in defence like Richards and LRT do. Rather see him as the loose man rather than man on man, but as a stop gap defender if an injury hit, he has proven he is a great back up to have.

Plus the likes of Laidlaw, White and few others kids could get a game if the coaching staff sees the need. Which while unlikely could indeed happen if the teams form heads South in a hurry. Main thing is we have blooded at least 5 young players so far this season that nobody expected us to blood and we are looking just as good as ever.

Otherwise I think we have a team at the moment that is close to full strength with only Everitt and Malceski to complete it and Fosdike, Schmidt and Davis to wait on the outside to push for games if form really drops off or injury strikes. That's a good thing to have in the back of your mind. Because last we worried what our depth would be like and now we worry less because the 5 best players outside the senior side are expirenced players who can add something to the team.

When you add in Mathews, Crouch, Playfair, Brennan and Laidlaw thats 32 players with senior games on our list basically ready to go (when fit of course) and 3 or 4 players who haven't played senior football who could step up if called upon. That's almost our entire list. Doesn't mean we are headed for a Premiership, far from it. It just means we are well placed to replace the senior players who are heading for retirement over the next few years, plus at the same time push for a finals birth that allows us to give September a red hot go which we didn't give last year because of the team we had towards the end of last year.

 

[themightybloods]

my best team with the whole squad available

B Barry C.Bolton Mattner
HB Malceski LRT Kennelly
C Jack Goodes McVeigh
HF O'Keefe Barlow J.Bolton
F O'Loughlin Hall Moore
Foll Jolly Kirk Buchanan
Bench Everitt Richards Ablett Bevan
Emerg Schmidt Grundy Bird

 

[Yoda_]

What is every ones thoughts on Moore, am a huge fan of him and play cricket with his brother, has been injured but his body finally seems to be giving himself a go, will he start to tear games apart or just be a solid player. Also I think that one of crouch or matthew are to negative type players that would only bring the side down and therefore as most of the people here have said they will probably retire at season end.

 

[robbieando]

What is every ones thoughts on Moore, am a huge fan of him and play cricket with his brother, has been injured but his body finally seems to be giving himself a go, will he start to tear games apart or just be a solid player.

I think he is a great prospect for the future who always shows what is a capable of doing when he plays senior AFL football. Has speed, can brake though packs and can kick a goal on the run from outside 50. He certainly has what it takes to play 200 games for the club if his body holds up. Last night I think was his best game for the club because he put together everything he is able to do and showed why we traded Schneider and put him into the side looking long term. He is the player we wanted Schneider to be, but Schneider just wouldn't become.

Also I think that one of crouch or matthew are to negative type players that would only bring the side down and therefore as most of the people here have said they will probably retire at season end.

Crouch I think they have allow him another preseason to get his body right and it clearly still isn't right. He has been replaced by Bevan in the side now and to be honest I can't see him coming back into the side unless Bevan gets a long term injury and Crouch proves to the coaching staff via a long period in the reserves that he is a) match fit and b) still fast enough to play as a tagger on small defenders. I doubt he is and hence they let him try and get back to the senior side, but in the end he'll fall short and retire.

Mathews is the interesting one. Was surprised to see him dropped for Round One in favour of Kieran Jack and thus Jack now has the leg up on the 2nd defensive tagger role in the side going forward because of his age. Mathews can still gain that role and still play on if Jack gets injured or loses his form but I'm guessing that he will "retired" at seasons end if he doesn't regain his spot from Jack and to be honest I can't see him coming back because Roos has decided that pace and youth is an important factor going forward and Crouch and Mathews don't have that anymore.

Thus we should wave goodbye to both and look to the future....

 

[Rhino5]

What is every ones thoughts on Moore, am a huge fan of him and play cricket with his brother, has been injured but his body finally seems to be giving himself a go, will he start to tear games apart or just be a solid player. Also I think that one of crouch or matthew are to negative type players that would only bring the side down and therefore as most of the people here have said they will probably retire at season end.

I was sceptical of Moore at first, but I have to say I've been very impressed with how he's gone so far. He's probably ahead of Bird at this stage, as I think Bird has struggled a bit to adjust to the hype and has been quite poor with his disposal at times. As for the best 22, I really don't think there is room for Crouch or Matthews anymore. As long as Barlow keeps getting a run, I'm happy.

Oh, and dropping Jude Bolton would be crazy....

 

[grimlock]

If Vez ever gets proper match fitness I think he will force himself into the 22 as well.

 

[Dudley]

Malceski for J.Bolton (I HOPE!)

Hmm, are you still playing footy ?

Remind me how they play? and how exactly malceski would replace what J Bolton gives us?

That is the most ridiculous swap ever

Malceski is a good player, maybe he will be very good one day, when he either builds a tank, or stays back and learns to defend properly.

But he is no J Bolton, never will be, he would be an outside midfielder.

Silly silly comparison

 

[grimlock]

Jude's been spending more time outside of the centre, so I don't think it's an absurd suggestion at all. It doesn't have to be a straight swap anywayn, you could push Moore into the middle and Mal up forward.

 

[Hooley McBoob]

I highly doubt that Crouch and Mathews will get back into the 22. I would love to see Grundy stay as I think he will be a great key position player in the future.

I would love to see Davis back in maybe 3 or 4 rounds.

Personally I'd drop LRT but that's purely because I can't stand him, not because he doesn't deserve to be in the 22.

 

[bedford]

Everitt should replace Grundy which allows LRT to go back into defence and Everitt to take over LRT's early season role as the second ruckman which can only improve the side. Malceski "could" return towards the end of May all going well and who he replaces all depends on form and injuries (I'd say he'd replace one of Moore or Bird). Other than that I think Fosdike, Schmidt and Davis will be players 23, 24 and 25 who will find it hard to brake back into the side. They will need injuries and major loss of form to get recalls.

Mathews and Crouch I doubt will see senior football again and will retire at seasons end (been great players and add good depth and expirence for the season). But we have the kids coming though that makes them surplus to requirements and they really need to hope for an injury crisis at the club to get a game, hence the reason why I think they will stuggle to get any games. Brennan is another who might find that because our side (or defence in this case) is so settled could find that he spot in the list could be under threat at seasons end. I doubt he'll play many senior games and only then because of injury.

Grundy will be the backup Key Position Player once Everitt replaces him in the side, ahead of Playfair and could get a few games here or there thoughout the season depending on injuries in the KP/Ruck positions. He has impressed me in the three games so far this year and has shown he is able to play both ends of the ground and is able to play man on man and also loose man in defence like Richards and LRT do. Rather see him as the loose man rather than man on man, but as a stop gap defender if an injury hit, he has proven he is a great back up to have.

Plus the likes of Laidlaw, White and few others kids could get a game if the coaching staff sees the need. Which while unlikely could indeed happen if the teams form heads South in a hurry. Main thing is we have blooded at least 5 young players so far this season that nobody expected us to blood and we are looking just as good as ever.

Otherwise I think we have a team at the moment that is close to full strength with only Everitt and Malceski to complete it and Fosdike, Schmidt and Davis to wait on the outside to push for games if form really drops off or injury strikes. That's a good thing to have in the back of your mind. Because last we worried what our depth would be like and now we worry less because the 5 best players outside the senior side are expirenced players who can add something to the team.

When you add in Mathews, Crouch, Playfair, Brennan and Laidlaw thats 32 players with senior games on our list basically ready to go (when fit of course) and 3 or 4 players who haven't played senior football who could step up if called upon. That's almost our entire list. Doesn't mean we are headed for a Premiership, far from it. It just means we are well placed to replace the senior players who are heading for retirement over the next few years, plus at the same time push for a finals birth that allows us to give September a red hot go which we didn't give last year because of the team we had towards the end of last year.

a lot of people forget that fossy could have won a norm smith in 05,but he could be trade bait in the future

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Malceski is a good player, maybe he will be very good one day, when he either builds a tank, or stays back and learns to defend properly.

But he is no J Bolton, never will be, he would be an outside midfielder.

Silly silly comparison

Excuse me, what? Sydney has enough players who know how to "stay back and defend", but what we need is flair and drive and run, and that's what Eski gives us. It's a silly comparison alright, Bolton isn't half the player Malceski is.

 

[TheMase]

Hmm, are you still playing footy ?

Remind me how they play? and how exactly malceski would replace what J Bolton gives us?

That is the most ridiculous swap ever

Malceski is a good player, maybe he will be very good one day, when he either builds a tank, or stays back and learns to defend properly.

But he is no J Bolton, never will be, he would be an outside midfielder.

Silly silly comparison

Thank you Grimlock. I did not compare the two players at all. I have no need to do that.

What exactly DOES J Bolton give us? I understand you talking about JB as an inside player, and Malceski as an outside player. Well, as Grimlock pointed out, JB has been playing very little in the centre. What he offers us can be provided by Kirk, Ablett, Buchanan, Moore, Bird.... etc

Not to mention for a player with as many games as he has, he has given us very little for a long time.

I will say Jude Bolton for Schmidt if I have to substitute a player of similar ilk. Either way, Jude Bolton gives us very little, and has done for a long time. His skills are very ordinary, decision making questionable, and does not get anywhere enough of the ball for a top line midfielder. I am not even going to talk about how SLOW he is...

silly silly POST.

 

[bedford]

Thank you Grimlock. I did not compare the two players at all. I have no need to do that.

What exactly DOES J Bolton give us? I understand you talking about JB as an inside player, and Malceski as an outside player. Well, as Grimlock pointed out, JB has been playing very little in the centre. What he offers us can be provided by Kirk, Ablett, Buchanan, Moore, Bird.... etc

Not to mention for a player with as many games as he has, he has given us very little for a long time.

I will say Jude Bolton for Schmidt if I have to substitute a player of similar ilk. Either way, Jude Bolton gives us very little, and has done for a long time. His skills are very ordinary, decision making questionable, and does not get anywhere enough of the ball for a top line midfielder. I am not even going to talk about how SLOW he is...

silly silly POST.

a bit harsh on jude,has struggled recently but has still got a few brownie points up his sleeve.
bevo will go before him

 

[smasher]

What is every ones thoughts on Moore, am a huge fan of him and play cricket with his brother, has been injured but his body finally seems to be giving himself a go, will he start to tear games apart or just be a solid player. Also I think that one of crouch or matthew are to negative type players that would only bring the side down and therefore as most of the people here have said they will probably retire at season end.

Moorey is a fair cricketer himself,the boys are all talented.The reason Jarred didn't play much last year was as his mum said "there are too many good players ahead of him".The year before was lost to an injured thumb.
My cousin was in his junior teams at Langy and Moorey was winning games off his own boot from an early age till the under 18s.He also did really well in the TAC with the Stingrays ,was All Australian,BOG in final of National comp and won Stingrays B+F where he was captain.I was surprised he has taken so long to get a good run with the Swans but he is finally getting a chance.I hope he can have a long career .

 

[lazy]

In

Everitt, Fosdike, Davis

Out

Grundy, Bevan, Bird


Matthews, Crouch.... Gone. Jack and Moore must stay in.

 

[Jizza9]

Does anyone think Playfair will get a game for us?

 

[Hooley McBoob]

I really hope so. We need height.

 

[rancidpants13]

In

Everitt, Fosdike, Davis

Out

Grundy, Bevan, Bird


Matthews, Crouch.... Gone. Jack and Moore must stay in.

i agree, mathews and crouch should not be brought in for anyone at the moment
and at this stage i would be loath to drop bird, he's getting better every week
bevan still probly the most vulnerable, with grundy
and possibly luke ablett or richards, although richards has been triffic and ablett got better the other night

 

[Tuco]

I'm pretty happy with the line up as it is right now. On form and performance, we really don't have a lot of guys deserving to be dropped. Moore and Jack
are playing like first pick players. Barlow is wild card that any coach would love to have in the deck. And Grundy and Bird are making the most of the places they've received.

Of these, Jack, Barlow, Grundy and Bird are the ones likely to be considered when a more senior player wants back in.

When Everitt comes in, you'd think that Grundy and Barlow would probably have to fight it out for a spot, as LRT would drop back to the defence as others have pointed out. I'd say Grundy would lose out on that one just because of Barlow's versatility. It's great having another mobile tall who can kick goals roaming around the field with Goodes! But having said that, I reckon Grundy has done enough for him to hold Brennan out of the side a little longer.

Bird is doing really well. He'll be given a few more games throughout the year. But he will be the first to go down to make way for a more senior player: probably Davis, Mathews, Fossie or if Roos feels like he has enough coverage in the middle of the ground, perhaps he might even go down for Spida's return, though I doubt that.

We'll really have headaches when Mal and Crouch are ready to come back in. Some of the younger players might tire. And injuries will make room. But if our list holds together I'd hate to see Jack tipped out for Crouch.

Methinks we won't have to play unfit players if we make the finals this time around.

 

[rancidpants13]

I'm pretty happy with the line up as it is right now. On form and performance, we really don't have a lot of guys deserving to be dropped. Moore and Jack
are playing like first pick players. Barlow is wild card that any coach would love to have in the deck. And Grundy and Bird are making the most of the places they've received.

Of these, Jack, Barlow, Grundy and Bird are the ones likely to be considered when a more senior player wants back in.

When Everitt comes in, you'd think that Grundy and Barlow would probably have to fight it out for a spot, as LRT would drop back to the defence as others have pointed out. I'd say Grundy would lose out on that one just because of Barlow's versatility. It's great having another mobile tall who can kick goals roaming around the field with Goodes! But having said that, I reckon Grundy has done enough for him to hold Brennan out of the side a little longer.

Bird is doing really well. He'll be given a few more games throughout the year. But he will be the first to go down to make way for a more senior player: probably Davis, Mathews, Fossie or if Roos feels like he has enough coverage in the middle of the ground, perhaps he might even go down for Spida's return, though I doubt that.

We'll really have headaches when Mal and Crouch are ready to come back in. Some of the younger players might tire. And injuries will make room. But if our list holds together I'd hate to see Jack tipped out for Crouch.

Methinks we won't have to play unfit players if we make the finals this time around.

i'm not being cruel, but there is no longer a place for crouch in our best 22
i suspect injuries will pretty much end his career as it stands now, and a HUGE pat on the back for a true swans warrior but if anyone can come up with an argument for crouch to replace ANYONE in our 22 at the moment, i'd like to hear it
in fact, i'd think the likes of tim schmidt and maybe pat vezspremi if he's fit would be ahead of crouch now, and probly mathews as well
we would be taking a serious step backwards bringing crouch or mathews into this team now
as good as they've been, we've moved on and are looking to a bright, bold future

 

[Dudley]

Not to mention for a player with as many games as he has, he has given us very little for a long time.

I will say Jude Bolton for Schmidt if I have to substitute a player of similar ilk. Either way, Jude Bolton gives us very little, and has done for a long time. His skills are very ordinary, decision making questionable, and does not get anywhere enough of the ball for a top line midfielder. I am not even going to talk about how SLOW he is...

silly silly POST.

LMAO, righto

Yep, he is a hack, gives us nothing

Seriously, it amazes me the ignorance about JB

Teams rely on balance, so if you are going to drop players, best if you replace them with players who would fulfill at least a similar role. Otherwise, you just look silly.

 

[TheMase]

LMAO, righto

Yep, he is a hack, gives us nothing

Seriously, it amazes me the ignorance about JB

Teams rely on balance, so if you are going to drop players, best if you replace them with players who would fulfill at least a similar role. Otherwise, you just look silly.

What does Jude Bolton give us that another player cannot?

Please with your response, keep in mind we've added Moore and Bird to the team that can both get the hard ball from packs.

You could almost mount an argument (based on your comments) that we are now off balance with extra inside midfielders, and not enough outside midfielders.

Schneider (forward/outside mid) > Moore (inside mid)
Fosdike (outside mid) > Bird (inside mid)

 

[robbieando]

What does Jude Bolton give us that another player cannot?

Gametime.....

Sure he is not the same player he was a few years ago, but he is still able to play more time in the middle than Moore or Bird and that makes his spot in the team more important at the moment than anybody understands. The team is pick not by the best 22 players available, but the 22 players who fit the roles required by the coaching staff and that goes for ALL clubs.

As they get more games under their belts then Jude place in the senior team rightfully becomes under question, because they are the ones who are pushing for his role in the side, Malceski isn't. You and everyone else is right that his form over the past 2 years hasn't been as good as it has and could be, but that doesn't mean he is at the stage where he is ready to be dropped. However he could reach that stage VERY soon, but we all know how the Swans keep the senior players on....

Malceski is still to prove he is going to be able to return this season and if he does as planned then its likely it won't be for one of the messageboard whipping boys in Bevan, Jude or McVeigh. Its going to be for one of the kids we have blooded this year, whether we all like that fact or not.

Please with your response, keep in mind we've added Moore and Bird to the team that can both get the hard ball from packs.

and lost Schmidt and Mathews....

We basically dropped a player in Mathews who was past it and replaced him with Bird and Moore and found that Schmidt was left out because he was injured. Thats two in two out right there.

You could almost mount an argument (based on your comments) that we are now off balance with extra inside midfielders, and not enough outside midfielders

Schneider (forward/outside mid) > Moore (inside mid)
Fosdike (outside mid) > Bird (inside mid)

I wouldn't.

We haven't gained any extra inside midfielders, but we have lost run in the midfield (thank you Fosdike being injured and Schneider traded) which in someway was returned in Kennelly returning to the side and Mattner covering Malceski's spot until he comes back, in terms of run off half back.

We are a better side this year with the side we have at the moment and to be honest I would only have Everitt and Malceski back in the side from the one that lined up on the weekend. Because those two players WOULD improve the side.

I don't think we need Fosdike as things stand, but he could push McVeigh for a spot if McVeigh's early season good form heads South. Schmidt could take over for Jude, if Jude's form also heads even further South or he could replace a Moore or Bird as well. Davis could be a lighting rod up forward if Micky got injured because that would be a role he would be suited very well to, the full forward role in the hole behind Hall.

My team heading forward could very well look like this:

1. Hall, 3. McVeigh, 5. R.O'Keefe, 6. C.Bolton, 9. Malceski, 10. Everitt, 11. Barlow, 15. Jack, 16. Jolly, 17. Kennelly, 19. O'Loughlin, 20. Ablett, 21. Barry, 24. J.Bolton, 25. Richards, 29. Mattner, 30 Roberts-Thomson, 31. Kirk, 32. Buchanan, 33. Moore, 37. Goodes, 42. Bevan.

Impossible to put them into a starting 18, so I listed a team of 22 who would play (keep in mind this ISN'T who I think is the best 22 players on our list, but the best 22 players for our senior TEAM). Hard on Bird I know but I really don't want to lose Moore from this side. The bright side of the above team is having Fosdike, Schmidt, Bird, Davis and Grundy all ready to step in if called upon. Plus its a side that retains the youth/expirence mix at the same time.