Mega Thread Non-Freo AFL Discussion 2024

[Joao]

Dogs could have easily won if they took their chances. Pending who's still out vs the Pies I think they are every chance next week.

Sydney is what Freo would look like with a couple more quality forwards and an effective coach.

I don't rate many of their forwards (Papley definitely), I do rate the number of blokes that can hit targets in the backline and midfield though. Also all those mids who kick 2-3 goals per game. That's the difference.

 

[Dockeroo]

Swans are still waiting on Callum Mills

14

Callum Mills

Age

29

Ht

188cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

287.0

4star

D

18.4

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

3.4

4star

MG

293.4

4star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

MG

284.4

5star

to come in who’s an AA midfielder many would have considered their best before the season started too.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Dogs could have easily won if they took their chances. Pending who's still out vs the Pies I think they are every chance next week.




I don't rate many of their forwards (Papley definitely), I do rate the number of blokes that can hit targets in the backline and midfield though. Also all those mids who kick 2-3 goals per game. That's the difference.

Papley is quality crumber that we're dying for, and someone like a Hayward who is pretty unassuming but just kicks goals.

Both defences and midfields are elite so we're okay in that sense, and I'm okay with the run we can generate off half back.
The goal scoring power of their mids over the first half of this year is truly insane though.

I feel like Young will become a goal scoring mid eventually, and it's something we can unlock in Serong (somehow) since he was a goal scoring mid as a junior and he's an attacking player with a good kick (except around goal for some reason).

 

[Paracleet]

Have to say Warner and Gulden absolutely disappear when the going gets tough for the Swans midfield. All of them, bar Rowbottom, seem to do what in a team that wasn't winning all the time would be called 'cheating ahead of the ball'.
In fairness they are very good at it, but they seem ill equipped to deal with an opposition midfield really getting on top. Swans style doesn't seem like it's made for finals to me.

Anyway I'm not saying I don't want Warner, he's a jet. Just in the real world I can't see us being prepared to pay the trade price required to have a guy come in getting paid more than our midfield stars and reap their laurels as well.

Then again maybe they are? Andy and Caleb are pretty team success orientated.

 

[DragoDelph]

Have to say Warner and Gulden absolutely disappear when the going gets tough for the Swans midfield. All of them, bar Rowbottom, seem to do what in a team that wasn't winning all the time would be called 'cheating ahead of the ball'.
In fairness they are very good at it, but they seem ill equipped to deal with an opposition midfield really getting on top. Swans style doesn't seem like it's made for finals to me.

Anyway I'm not saying I don't want Warner, he's a jet. Just in the real world I can't see us being prepared to pay the trade price required to have a guy come in getting paid more than our midfield stars and reap their laurels as well.

Then again maybe they are? Andy and Caleb are pretty team success orientated.

Andy, Caleb, young can cover for Warner like they do for Fyfe.

 

[Quazar2]

The swans are the most skilful side in the league.
People saying oh they can’t be that accurate all year - eh yes they can. Their players are better than most other sides. More class. Better skills.

I think you're right, strong vibe about them this year. No Buddy and it's barely been an issue, in fact probably freed up others to share the load. They are strong af, scary-looking; gifted some nice academy picks along the way but what can you do..?! Whilst other 'contenders' have wobbled the last few weeks the Sydney train keeps on a-rolling.

Getting Chad now seems like a Mission Impossible, why would you leave when the going's that good? Unless he just is homesick on the quiet and Freo feels like a good fit for him, but right now it's a pipedream. Rather sorrowfully

 

[Midnite65]

Swans are still waiting on Callum Mills to come in who’s an AA midfielder many would have considered their best before the season started too.

If Mills and potentially Parker eventually push their way back in the midfield minutes for some will diminish significantly which might not sit too well with some of them.

 

[Midnite65]

I think you're right, strong vibe about them this year. No Buddy and it's barely been an issue, in fact probably freed up others to share the load. They are strong af, scary-looking; gifted some nice academy picks along the way but what can you do..?! Whilst other 'contenders' have wobbled the last few weeks the Sydney train keeps on a-rolling.

Getting Chad now seems like a Mission Impossible, why would you leave when the going's that good? Unless he just is homesick on the quiet and Freo feels like a good fit for him, but right now it's a pipedream. Rather sorrowfully

They are still heavily reliant on Heeney, Warner and Gulden playing blinders in each game to look so good. They are going to have to be up for a long time until GF day.

 

[Taylor]

If Mills and potentially Parker eventually push their way back in the midfield minutes for some will diminish significantly which might not sit too well with some of them.

Parker was at 75% of the bounces last year, with him missing Warner's % has remained about the same.

Adding two more into the rotation will diminish some quite a bit.

 

[mike91]

Naughton has escaped serious injury again. At least a month out. He's had some seriously impressive luck twice now

 

[Alfonz]

Can't dispute how good Sydney look. But it will be something if they win the flag with a KPP cohort of Melican, Francis, McDonald, McClean and Amartey. I feel like that will catch up with them at the business end of the year.

 

[apuchar]

Can't dispute how good Sydney look. But it will be something if they win the flag with a KPP cohort of Melican, Francis, McDonald, McClean and Amartey. I feel like that will catch up with them at the business end of the year.

McCartin will replace Francis or Melican

 

[gaskin]

Can't dispute how good Sydney look. But it will be something if they win the flag with a KPP cohort of Melican, Francis, McDonald, McClean and Amartey. I feel like that will catch up with them at the business end of the year.

They can carry that group because they get goals from elsewhere.

 

[Lach72]

Have to say Warner and Gulden absolutely disappear when the going gets tough for the Swans midfield. All of them, bar Rowbottom, seem to do what in a team that wasn't winning all the time would be called 'cheating ahead of the ball'.
In fairness they are very good at it, but they seem ill equipped to deal with an opposition midfield really getting on top. Swans style doesn't seem like it's made for finals to me.

Anyway I'm not saying I don't want Warner, he's a jet. Just in the real world I can't see us being prepared to pay the trade price required to have a guy come in getting paid more than our midfield stars and reap their laurels as well.

Then again maybe they are? Andy and Caleb are pretty team success orientated.

I wish we had someone midfield who’d could disappear under pressure while getting 25 and 4 and taking hangers..l

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Have to say Warner and Gulden absolutely disappear when the going gets tough for the Swans midfield. All of them, bar Rowbottom, seem to do what in a team that wasn't winning all the time would be called 'cheating ahead of the ball'.
In fairness they are very good at it, but they seem ill equipped to deal with an opposition midfield really getting on top. Swans style doesn't seem like it's made for finals to me.

Anyway I'm not saying I don't want Warner, he's a jet. Just in the real world I can't see us being prepared to pay the trade price required to have a guy come in getting paid more than our midfield stars and reap their laurels as well.

Then again maybe they are? Andy and Caleb are pretty team success orientated.

Given his GF performance a few years ago and goals kicked while the game was in the balance the last couple of weeks, that is a very big call on Warner

 

[Lach72]

Given his GF performance a few years ago and goals kicked while the game was in the balance the last couple of weeks, that is a very big call on Warner

That’s a lot of words when you could’ve just said “complete horse shit”

 

[Dockeroo]

Imagine if a freo onballer had 25 touches and 4 goals in a game.

 

[Lach72]

Imagine if a freo onballer had 25 touches and 4 goals in a game.

lol you’re a funny bloke.

Peak Fyfe and Mundy might kicked a few in their day but geez…

 

[Alfonz]

McCartin will replace Francis or Melican

Good player, but still isn't AA quality. And at this stage I think it would be best for his own health that he retires like his brother.

They can carry that group because they get goals from elsewhere.

Obviously they are carrying them now. But I am talking about what happens later after a long season and under the heat of finals pressure. History is against them. The only premiership team I can remember that didn't have an AA calibre KPP was the fluke Bulldogs win due to cheating umpires in 2016.

 

[mattis117]

Imagine if a freo onballer had 25 touches and 4 goals in a game.

It wasn't that long ago that Walters had 32 and 6...

Enjoy the highlights, hopefully it helps you feel better: https://www.afl.com.au/video/170442...dal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1498991407001

 

[E Shed]

Sydney is what Freo would look like with a couple more quality forwards and an effective coach.

Given that we are - according to Champion Data - the number one side in the comp at effectively transitioning the ball from half back to half forward and are creating at least as many looks at goal as everyone we've played (including Sydney) I'd say only the first part of your sentence is true. I would replace effective coach with - goal kicking midfielders.

 

[errant bounce]

lol you’re a funny bloke.

Peak Fyfe and Mundy might kicked a few in their day but geez…

Freo's never really been a club who like goal kicking mids. always been a pretty classic set-up, just ruck rover sorts. the tall midfield was genuinely revolutionary though, maybe it didn't kick on as much as we thought but having three distinct mids who were all more traditionally built for key positions wasn't something that'd been done before.

Stephen and Brad Hill probably the closest we've had.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Good player, but still isn't AA quality. And at this stage I think it would be best for his own health that he retires like his brother.



Obviously they are carrying them now. But I am talking about what happens later after a long season and under the heat of finals pressure. History is against them. The only premiership team I can remember that didn't have an AA calibre KPP was the fluke Bulldogs win due to cheating umpires in 2016.

It wasn’t a fluke . It was the most contrived result in history.

 

[One_Wing]

Sydney convert a lot of seemingly low percentage shots. So maybe they are overachieving but they've kept it up for long enough that maybe its just a skill issue for the rest of the competition.

 

[E Shed]

It wasn’t a fluke . It was the most contrived result in history.

and will remain so, until Carlton get a flag. Last years umpiring for them in the finals was 2016 Bulldogs level. Not seen before or since.