Who will have a breakout year in 2017?

[Vin Rogue]

I think we are creating a really flexible midfield mix across the ground. Unlike in the past where we rotated mids forward I think we now have the players to do this right across the ground. Rampe, Mills, Jones, Lloyd and possibly Newman in defence as well as Parker, Heeney, JPK, Jack, Hewett eventually Papley, Hayward maybe Towers etc forward.

It's smart coaching. With a ceiling on rotations, the team that is freshest in the midfield will finish off quarters strongly. Our team composition does give us wonderful flexibility so that when the stoppers hurt Hanners and Parks - it will not mean that we are a lost cause as it has done in the past. The team that bats deepest in the midfield should be the favourites for the flag. We failed to match it with GWS last year - but on paper we may just be able to do it this year. I hope that Horse has the courage to give Rampe a try out in engine room, cos he could easily become JPK's doppelganger and the loss of Titch will be seen as the opportunity needed to launch a new rocketship.

 

[Grongey]

Naismith and Tippett can't play in the same side imo
Tippett is a number 1 ruck , plays his best there but has no clue how to play deep , just tries to wrestle his opponent in a high jump contest like basketballers do. Has no clue with leading patterns etc

Naismith is a number 1 clear as day

Can't disagree. Naismith is in line for a huge year in 2017, the no third man up rule will really suit him.

 

[Jack2Jack]

Can you 'breakout' in your first year at AFL level? I think Darcy Cameron may spend a fair bit of time in the seniors this year, whether through good form or sheer necessity I'm not sure (hopefully the former or we may be in serious trouble). I don't think he'll ever be a star for the record, but he could be a solid player if he can handle the step up to AFL level and continue his good form from last year. (I would suspect if he continues his good form shown at WAFL level he should be having some very big games in the, lower standard, NEAFL to put his hand up for selection at least)

Looking at our ruck stocks in their probable (current) pecking order Naismith/Tippett/Sinclair/Cameron.
Hopefully Tippett recaptures his 2nd half of 2015 marking and form (where he played the forward/ruck role so well) but if not, Cameron, if he can translate his marking game to AFL level could very well be the best forward target of the group, which maybe could get him a forward/ruck spot.
Even if not, as mentioned, he could be forced to play through necessity, going on history, there is a very, very likely chance that both Naismith and Tippett will spend at least 5+ games on the sidelines each (hopefully not at the same time), while Sinclair is just Sinclair and even he is fairly injury prone too.

Unless the other 3 can reverse their recent history, how Cameron goes may actually be very important, so hopefully he falls into the 'breakout' category rather than the 'playing because we have no option' category. Even looking at our Key forward stocks, Franklin/Tippett/Reid, they are very thin as well (with the latter 2 both very injury prone and likely to miss games), so Cameron may even be forced to play in that role should the rucks defy history and stay healthy.

 

[The King!]

Dew is a chance to breakout of his polo

 

[scaryness]

Newman. Reckon Hayward might surprise too.

Everyone on the Hayward bandwagon.

Will be a great player.

 

[doona]

Dew is a chance to breakout of his polo

As long as he is filling, stretching and breaking through the red, I'm ok. He is an awesome coach.

note: I was trying to get you to imagine something.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I would love to see Rohan have a proper breakout year and finally fulfil his potential as an AFL footballer - but I'm not convinced it is ever going to happen.

I blame it all on Lindsay Thomas - without that injury I fully expect Rohan would be well and truly living up to the expectations of a first round draft pick in a pretty hot draft.

Big call that. The injury was a shocker but he seems pretty much fully recovered, at least physically. His fading in and out of games doesn't look to be related to physical confidence, more to being in the right places at the right times. They say at this level it's 90% between the ears. That'd be my guess.

 

[swansfan51]

Big call that. The injury was a shocker but he seems pretty much fully recovered, at least physically. His fading in and out of games doesn't look to be related to physical confidence, more to being in the right places at the right times. They say at this level it's 90% between the ears. That'd be my guess.

The injury was very close to 5 years ago.

Before he was drafted he couldn't stay involved in games consistently, so I wouldn't be blaming the injury for it.

 

[Punts]

The injury was very close to 5 years ago.

Before he was drafted he couldn't stay involved in games consistently, so I wouldn't be blaming the injury for it.

Not really a normal injury

He is the only one in the comp running around with a rod and screws from ankle to knee

I have the same mate and it's a campaigner I can tell you that

Bock and n brown couldn't handle the injury and struggled to even come back

Totally agree about before he was drafted , as I said the other day he has decided to play so he should cop it when not playing well

 

[The Swans Blog]

Sam Naismith surely, build a good fitness base and he can one of our better ruckman over the years.

Hewett is another, along with fringe players like Robinson and Foote.

Looking at Sinclair to step up or step off.

 

[mcs095]

Big call that. The injury was a shocker but he seems pretty much fully recovered, at least physically. His fading in and out of games doesn't look to be related to physical confidence, more to being in the right places at the right times. They say at this level it's 90% between the ears. That'd be my guess.

He looked every bit ready to breakout at the time of the injury - although the inconsistency was there. I agree it is all between the ears that the problem sits - but I think a fair part of it may be that he doesn't have complete confidence in his body.

As Punts says, for some players this sort of injury is not easily overcome, even when the body is right. I so want to see Rohan become the player he should - but if he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised to see his place in the team under serious threat, in particular if we find some of our younger recruits with a bit of pace and pizazz coming on well.

 

[mcs095]

Can you 'breakout' in your first year at AFL level? I think Darcy Cameron may spend a fair bit of time in the seniors this year, whether through good form or sheer necessity I'm not sure (hopefully the former or we may be in serious trouble). I don't think he'll ever be a star for the record, but he could be a solid player if he can handle the step up to AFL level and continue his good form from last year. (I would suspect if he continues his good form shown at WAFL level he should be having some very big games in the, lower standard, NEAFL to put his hand up for selection at least)

If what I've heard from a couple of guys I know in Perth is correct, Cameron must be a really decent chance of pushing for a place in the 22 at some stage next season. If his form in the WAFL stands up, he will rip it up in the NEAFL, and if we get any injuries/loss of form then he will be more than a decent shot for some games at some stage.

 

[Deccas]

Nic Newman will nail down a spot for sure. Rose and Foote might as well. I think Hewett and Mills wont so much break out as steadily improve to the point of indispensability
There's a lot of Hayward love going on in here, but I just cant see him overtaking both Dawson and Rose who have more years in a professional AFL environment, both will probably get a shot before Hayward by virtue of seniority and physical development, and both are well capable of nailing down a spot.

 

[bungee]

Hey mate. I get where you are coming from but please play the ball & not the man. No need for that kind of crap on here IMO.

We all support the club differently & in our own unique way. I'm sure Punts wants nothing but good things for the club as you do. We wouldn't be posting here otherwise.

You disagree about Reid, that's cool (& obviously a common theme around here). Rather than critising those who disagree, provide logical reasoning as to why you disagree. Do it respectfully & it will leave a longer lasting impression & may even sway a few arguments in your favour.

I think it's a bit rich to insist that anyone criticising the baggers has to stump up logical reasoning when the baggers so rarely do. It's pretty hard to debate a post like 'Reid LOL'. There are some on this board who slag off with one liners consistently. I too found this a real turn off and took an extended break from the board. Especially when the same posters would build our opponents to be shit hot. I come here looking for reasoned argument, informative discussion and intelligence. Now and then I find a gem but other times I feel this board has played itself out.

 

[bungee]

Looking at Reid's first two full seasons at AFL level when he was our key forward and some other key forwards in their initial seasons at AFL level.

Reid
23 games, 22 goals, averaged 10.4 disposals, 4.6 marks in 2011
22 games, 31 goals, averaged 9.4 disposals, 3.8 marks in 2012

Jack Riewoldt
18 games, 18 goals, averaged 10.8 disposals, 4.8 marks in 2008
20 games, 32 goals, averaged 12.9 disposals, 6.4 marks in 2009

Tom Hawkins
9 games, 12 goals, averaged 8.6 disposals, 3.7 marks in 2007
10 games, 13 goals, averaged 11.9 disposals, 5.1 marks in 2008
24 games, 34 goals, averaged 11.6 disposals, 5.5 marks in 2009

At this point in time it looked as though Reid was following the career trajectory of many good young developing forwards, showing slow gradual improvement across first 50 games before having a breakout season somewhere between 50-100 games. However, unlike Hawkins and Riewoldt, Reid never had a breakout season in this time.

From 2013-2015 he played 52 games, kicked a total of 40 goals, averaged 11.7 disposals and 4.5 marks which is quite mediocre by any metric. His big contract makes it look worse which may be why he cops a fair bit on this board. During this time his role seemingly changed to accommodate the arrival of Buddy and Tippett. He spent time playing all over the ground, at times spare man in defense, up on the wing/forward flank, chopping out in the ruck, seemingly playing a similar role to LRT late in his career. Given his return in this time I'm thinking perhaps Reid isn't really all that versatile at all and should just be played solely as a forward. He looked far more impressive in late 2015 when Buddy was out and Tippett played predominantly in the ruck leaving him to be the focal point up forward, kicked 8 goals in 4 games and was getting 18+ possessions and taking 10 marks each game.

Longmire seems to have the right idea, early 2016 IIRC he said that had Reid been fit he would be our CHF. Assuming he plays this role and manages to stay injury free I think we should see a better Sam Reid in 2017. No, he won't have an awesome breakout season where he gets into All-Australian contention, probably never will. But doesn't mean his return won't improve our side.

Amen

 

[bungee]

I'm a massive Rohan fan and sitil have no idea how he manages to get up week after week with that injury but he has chosen to play and he really needs to start to be more consistent because he down games a shocking to say the least

Rohan had a bad break but he's completely healed and has no more excuses. While his electrifying speed thrills us he's gone the way of Jetta if he doesn't pull something out in terms of presence and consistency.

 

[bungee]

Can you 'breakout' in your first year at AFL level? I think Darcy Cameron may spend a fair bit of time in the seniors this year, whether through good form or sheer necessity I'm not sure (hopefully the former or we may be in serious trouble). I don't think he'll ever be a star for the record, but he could be a solid player if he can handle the step up to AFL level and continue his good form from last year. (I would suspect if he continues his good form shown at WAFL level he should be having some very big games in the, lower standard, NEAFL to put his hand up for selection at least)

Looking at our ruck stocks in their probable (current) pecking order Naismith/Tippett/Sinclair/Cameron.
Hopefully Tippett recaptures his 2nd half of 2015 marking and form (where he played the forward/ruck role so well) but if not, Cameron, if he can translate his marking game to AFL level could very well be the best forward target of the group, which maybe could get him a forward/ruck spot.
Even if not, as mentioned, he could be forced to play through necessity, going on history, there is a very, very likely chance that both Naismith and Tippett will spend at least 5+ games on the sidelines each (hopefully not at the same time), while Sinclair is just Sinclair and even he is fairly injury prone too.

Unless the other 3 can reverse their recent history, how Cameron goes may actually be very important, so hopefully he falls into the 'breakout' category rather than the 'playing because we have no option' category. Even looking at our Key forward stocks, Franklin/Tippett/Reid, they are very thin as well (with the latter 2 both very injury prone and likely to miss games), so Cameron may even be forced to play in that role should the rucks defy history and stay healthy.

Tippet's first half of 2016 was pretty damn good too, until his injury. He spent the rest of the year getting back into form only to have his jaw broken. if he can stay fit he will be huge this year.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Tippet's first half of 2016 was pretty damn good too, until his injury. He spent the rest of the year getting back into form only to have his jaw broken. if he can stay fit he will be huge this year.

Not a bad tip, he could build on his early 2016 form and finally fulfil the promise

 

[GotTheGoodes]

I come here looking for reasoned argument, informative discussion and intelligence. Now and then I find a gem but other times I feel this board has played itself out.

Be the change you want to see.

I get it. There's some crap on here at times. If enough of us post quality & rebutt that stuff with the reasoned argument, informative discussion and intelligence you mentioned then the whole board will be all for the better.

You're a great poster, I'd hate to see you leave the boards mate. Chin up, soldier on.

C'mon you bloods!!

 

[The Swans Blog]

I'm tipping that The Swans Blog will have a breakout year

 

[connolly]

I'm tipping that The Swans Blog will have a breakout year

We are training the house down

 

[Keyter]

I think it's a bit rich to insist that anyone criticising the baggers has to stump up logical reasoning when the baggers so rarely do. It's pretty hard to debate a post like 'Reid LOL'. There are some on this board who slag off with one liners consistently. I too found this a real turn off and took an extended break from the board. Especially when the same posters would build our opponents to be shit hot. I come here looking for reasoned argument, informative discussion and intelligence. Now and then I find a gem but other times I feel this board has played itself out.

Ditto.

 

[Deccas]

I think it's a bit rich to insist that anyone criticising the baggers has to stump up logical reasoning when the baggers so rarely do. It's pretty hard to debate a post like 'Reid LOL'. There are some on this board who slag off with one liners consistently. I too found this a real turn off and took an extended break from the board. Especially when the same posters would build our opponents to be shit hot. I come here looking for reasoned argument, informative discussion and intelligence. Now and then I find a gem but other times I feel this board has played itself out.

This so many times.

On Galaxy Nexus using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[brad cooper]

I think Josh kennedy will have a breakout year he's promised a lot over the last 7 seasons but should finally be able to find some consistency and string more than 2 good games together. He's been able to live off his family's name for most of his career but, i think with more hard work he could forge his own legacy.

PS If only he'd turned up in last years gf we'd have our 6th flag.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Thinking about jpks gf performance saddens me because he absolutely smashed it and doesn't have 2 medals around his neck to show for it.