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Player Watch #11 Tom Papley

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Tom Papley

Player Profile
[PLAYERCARD]Tom Papley[/PLAYERCARD] swapped his plumbing tools for a Sherrin when the Sydney Swans sprung a draft surprise in 2015 – and the pocket-rocket forward has since become a crucial member of coach John Longmire’s side. Papley has played 20 or more senior games in every one of his four full seasons in the AFL and was at his best in 2019, topping Sydney’s goal-kicking leaderboard and finishing fourth in the Bob Skilton Medal voting. The Gippsland Power product took on more time in the midfield in 2019 and is likely to again split his time between the forward line and centre bounce this year. Papley was selected in the AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 team in 2017. Draft history: 2016 Rookie Draft selection (Sydney) No. 12; 2016 AFL Draft rookie elevation (Sydney).

[PLAYERCARD]Tom Papley[/PLAYERCARD]
DOB: 13 July 1996
DEBUT:2016
DRAFT: 2016
RECRUITED FROM: Bunyip (Vic)/Gippsland U18

www.sydneyswans.com.au

Tom Papley | AFL

Follow Tom Papley's progress through AFL
www.sydneyswans.com.au www.sydneyswans.com.au
 
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Superstar swan said:
Didn’t paps say a month ago it will be sad to lose a couple of mates in a curnow deal 🤔
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If everyone seriously thinks it takes until the last two minutes to finish these deals, I would like to talk to them about the legitimacy of wrestling.
 
Jack2Jack said:
Need him back to his best and try to form a mosquito fleet with Rosas and a Campbell/Dattoli/Cleary or whoever.
Not to sink the boot in, but he also really needs to get that tackle pressure back up to help compensate the Hayward loss. He should be that real leader of the small forward brigade and set the tone.

He's capable, he was a pressure gun early in his career but it's tapered out of his game and he needs to re-find it again. It's a want/attitude thing. Hopefully he sparked by a bit of a team shake up.

First 4 seasons (82 games) - 278 tackles (3.4 per game)
Last 6 seasons (114 games) - 186 tackles (1.6 per game)
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Yeah, I think 2026 will be a telling year for Paps. He's been great in patches over the last few years, and has probably been hampered by injury, but I feel he hasnt performed to his true potential.

And what I mean by that is he has the attributes to be the best small forward in the AFL but he hasnt delivered on that consistently. He has the skills, goal sense, competitive nature etc.

I hope the addition of Curnow, and hopefully strong years from Amartey & McDonald, along with a bunch of other high pressure smalls will set the stage for Papley to shine.

If everything goes according to plan. Our forward line can be the most potent it has been in years, and possibly more well-balanced than it has been in years. Paps is perfectly positioned to lead the small forwards.

I'm excited to see how it all unfolds.
 
Jack2Jack said:
Need him back to his best and try to form a mosquito fleet with Rosas and a Campbell/Dattoli/Cleary or whoever.
Not to sink the boot in, but he also really needs to get that tackle pressure back up to help compensate the Hayward loss. He should be that real leader of the small forward brigade and set the tone.

He's capable, he was a pressure gun early in his career but it's tapered out of his game and he needs to re-find it again. It's a want/attitude thing. Hopefully he sparked by a bit of a team shake up.

First 4 seasons (82 games) - 278 tackles (3.4 per game)
Last 6 seasons (114 games) - 186 tackles (1.6 per game)
Click to expand...
The game has changed
 

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GoTheSwannies said:
Yeah, I think 2026 will be a telling year for Paps. He's been great in patches over the last few years, and has probably been hampered by injury, but I feel he hasnt performed to his true potential.

And what I mean by that is he has the attributes to be the best small forward in the AFL but he hasnt delivered on that consistently. He has the skills, goal sense, competitive nature etc.

I hope the addition of Curnow, and hopefully strong years from Amartey & McDonald, along with a bunch of other high pressure smalls will set the stage for Papley to shine.

If everything goes according to plan. Our forward line can be the most potent it has been in years, and possibly more well-balanced than it has been in years. Paps is perfectly positioned to lead the small forwards.

I'm excited to see how it all unfolds.
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Kozzie Pickett is the best small forward. A raft of others including Papley who can all be the best on their day.
 

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Adnico26Parker said:
Paps had one of the biggest Swans players reunions (current players at least) I've ever seen at his wedding on the weekend!

View attachment 2470115
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What I find interesting:

1. How few non-footy players are there? (I can't actually tell whether the few I can't identify are not footy players or I just can't identify them.) I suppose it's possible they had a separate shot with just the footy player guests (plus the bride).

2. Who/what is supporting the bride? Don't think Paps is doing it with just one arm.

3. The current (and past) players who are missing.

It's great to see so many past players and that they're still mates.
 
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McGowan3 said:
Must be the camera angle. Looks like a giant.
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I reckon he’s been (badly) photoshopped in. Looks all out of proportion.

I’d have to go back and check dates (and almost certainly realise my memory is flawed) but I did a double take at Robinson as I didn’t think his time overlapped with Papley’s.

I spent a while scrutinising the guy standing behind OFlo and Aliir, trying to work out who he was. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before without his Alice band.

And is the guy crouching at the front, near the bride’s foot, Charlie McCartin?
 
Callipygian said:
What I find interesting:

1. How few non-footy players are there? (I can't actually tell whether the few I can't identify are not footy players or I just can't identify them.) I suppose it's possible they had a separate shot with just the footy player guests (plus the bride).
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I suspect it’s just a shot of the footy contingent. The only one I can’t identify (assuming that is Charlie McCartin at the front) is the guy standing next to Heeney.
 
liz said:
I reckon he’s been (badly) photoshopped in. Looks all out of proportion.

I’d have to go back and check dates (and almost certainly realise my memory is flawed) but I did a double take at Robinson as I didn’t think his time overlapped with Papley’s.

I spent a while scrutinising the guy standing behind OFlo and Aliir, trying to work out who he was. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before without his Alice band.

And is the guy crouching at the front, near the bride’s foot, Charlie McCartin?
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Is it an actual photo or is it mostly doctored? The more I look at it, the more it looks weird.
 

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liz said:
I suspect it’s just a shot of the footy contingent. The only one I can’t identify (assuming that is Charlie McCartin at the front) is the guy standing next to Heeney.
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Ben Ronke
the one next to Tom McCartin looks like Brody Mihocek photobombing.
 
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liz said:
I suspect it’s just a shot of the footy contingent. The only one I can’t identify (assuming that is Charlie McCartin at the front) is the guy standing next to Heeney.
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They are the exact same two I am unsure about (I hadn't considered Charlie McCartin and can't say whether it is or isn't). I'm also unconvinced that is Ronke (although I note his tag on the photo - could he have taken the picture?). The other one I can't tell (and I'm assuming nobody else can either) is the mostly obscured guy standing behind Paddy. Also, I'm assuming it is Errol between Paddy and Parker. I don't know if I'm seeing the photo in the same resolution as others - I've got a small (laptop) screen and it is pretty grainy.

Didn't get the Alice band reference at first. Now, that I've realised who you are referring to I do, but I didn't find him hard to recognise.

I did recognise Robbo. I wasn't surprised because it doesn't feel like he was that long ago. I'm also not surprised they overlapped (without having checked) because Paps must have been at the club at least 10 years by now, no?

I think the bride has draped herself along one of those railings you can see in the background and probably is supporting herself with her right arm.

Not sure why Logan is standing out so much. Maybe he is standing on top of something.
 
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