Past #10 Aaron Francis

[Ticky009]

I dunno, for nearly a decade we built our defence around Rampe who is a pretty loose unit

Ramps sets the bar high. So high you need to be able to climb a goal post to get reach it.

 

[Millky95]

Ramps sets the bar high. So high you need to be able to climb a goal post to get reach it.

That or jump over the chain

 

[SSwans2011]

I don't think moving Paddy to the forward line would be a great move. Some players just thrive being behind the ball, and Paddy seems to be one of those players. It would be a bit silly to move him to a position he never seemed to really own after a career best season at the other end of the ground.

If there's a role change for Paddy next year, I think it should be to a moe one-on-one role. He has the size, and I'd still back him to being a contested marking source.

It's a position where we don't really have many alternatives, whereas Amartey and McLean were in the selection conversation to play tall forward pretty much all year, even though I'm still not quite convinced either will become best 22 locks in that position.

 

[alex4445]

I don't think moving Paddy to the forward line would be a great move. Some players just thrive being behind the ball, and Paddy seems to be one of those players. It would be a bit silly to move him to a position he never seemed to really own after a career best season at the other end of the ground.

If there's a role change for Paddy next year, I think it should be to a moe one-on-one role. He has the size, and I'd still back him to being a contested marking source.

It's a position where we don't really have many alternatives, whereas Amartey and McLean were in the selection conversation to play tall forward pretty much all year, even though I'm still not quite convinced either will become best 22 locks in that position.

I think we saw in the second half of the season that teams were doing a much better job of stopping his intercept marking. I would guess the coaches were thinking that in his first season they would have him play to his strengths as he improved his one on one defence and now that we have picked up Francis we can potentially have him play as our primary interceptor with Paddy playing more one on one.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I think we saw in the second half of the season that teams were doing a much better job of stopping his intercept marking. I would guess the coaches were thinking that in his first season they would have him play to his strengths as he improved his one on one defence and now that we have picked up Francis we can potentially have him play as our primary interceptor with Paddy playing more one on one.

Doubt we'll see Francis in seniors straight away but if he gets his fitness up, learns our structures and earns the trust of coaches and teammates he could be there by the bye.
If so, it will be very interesting to see how we structure things. I'm hoping Gould is playing well enough to be played as the second lockdown KPD but if so it's going to get crowded and force some heavy thinking about both structure and personnel.
McCartins x 2
Rampe
Lloyd
Fox
Gould
Francis
Florent
Blakey
makes 9. Someone x 2 moves or misses out. Good to have competition for spots but not easy. Not even counting Harry!

 

[alex4445]

Doubt we'll see Francis in seniors straight away but if he gets his fitness up, learns our structures and earns the trust of coaches and teammates he could be there by the bye.
If so, it will be very interesting to see how we structure things. I'm hoping Gould is playing well enough to be played as the second lockdown KPD but if so it's going to get crowded and force some heavy thinking about both structure and personnel.
McCartins x 2
Rampe
Lloyd
Fox
Gould
Francis
Florent
Blakey
makes 9. Someone x 2 moves or misses out. Good to have competition for spots but not easy. Not even counting Harry!

You could be right but generally we play traded in players straight away. Ladhams, Hickey, Clarke, Taylor, Thurlow and even Talia all played early after being brought in. He will have some competition though.

 

[Cadsky]

Doubt we'll see Francis in seniors straight away but if he gets his fitness up, learns our structures and earns the trust of coaches and teammates he could be there by the bye.
If so, it will be very interesting to see how we structure things. I'm hoping Gould is playing well enough to be played as the second lockdown KPD but if so it's going to get crowded and force some heavy thinking about both structure and personnel.
McCartins x 2
Rampe
Lloyd
Fox
Gould
Francis
Florent
Blakey
makes 9. Someone x 2 moves or misses out. Good to have competition for spots but not easy. Not even counting Harry!

Rampe may get the ROK treatment and Blakey to a wing potentially.

 

[sataris]

How many brownlows are we thinking?

 

[Jewelsbon]

How many brownlows are we thinking?

More importantly, how many Craig Birds is he worth?

 

[sataris]

More importantly, how many Craig Birds is he worth?

Need swansfan51 for the official Craig Bird / Brownlow exchange rate.

 

[Kapers]

Rampe may get the ROK treatment and Blakey to a wing potentially.

Don't know why I keep seeing the Blakey to the wing idea.

He's found his best spot, why mess with it?

 

[SSwans2011]

I categorically would not do it, but here's what's sure to be a popular opinion.

IF we were going to move one of the McCartins forward, I'd move Tom before Paddy. Paddy plays Tom's role, and Francis plays Paddy's role.

But really, I'd just swap Paddy and Tom's roles, and go from there.

 

[kelpie_X]

I will be interested to see how it effects Blakey‘s role. IMO Blakey became far more defensive (less attacking) in the second half of the season. I wonder if Francis comes in to play that defensive role and Blakey is let off the leash …

Let's hope so

 

[The King!]

He doesn't have to play defence, he waa drafted as a utility who could potentially be a big midfielder, but certainly a fwd/def

He may even just take Goulds role in VFL

 

[WhippingCupcakes]

H

Horse has turned a few lazy footballers into ones who run both ways. Backing ourselves to do it again with Francis

He either runs both ways or doesn't play. I'm sure he'll learn that pretty quick.

 

[Jimbo OZ]

I categorically would not do it, but here's what's sure to be a popular opinion.

IF we were going to move one of the McCartins forward, I'd move Tom before Paddy. Paddy plays Tom's role, and Francis plays Paddy's role.

But really, I'd just swap Paddy and Tom's roles, and go from there.

No thanks. Tom can't kick so we really don't want him zoning off to intercept and then trying to pass.

 

[hairy biker]

From the Essendon review;

“The review also recommended the need to drive higher training standards and to build a better fitness base for our players leading into the season."

Firstly amazing admission from a professional sporting team and secondly if I were Aaron Francis I'd be hiring a personal trainer over the break.

What was acceptable at Essendon won't be at the Swans and I'd be surprised if Aaron hasn't already been made aware of that fact.

 

[Kiama Chris]

From the Essendon review;



Firstly amazing admission from a professional sporting team and secondly if I were Aaron Francis I'd be hiring a personal trainer over the break.

What was acceptable at Essendon won't be at the Swans and I'd be surprised if Aaron hasn't already been made aware of that fact.

I'd be surprised if you weren't 100% correct. Not so sure about the personal trainer vs a program provided by the club but definitely extra work.

 

[SSwans2011]

No thanks. Tom can't kick so we really don't want him zoning off to intercept and then trying to pass.

That's a fair point, but really he's not that bad a kick (only marginally less effective than Paddy though he admittedly goes for the safer options) and he can always chip it around or dish it off to a better user. We don't exactly have a shortage of options to deliver the ball out of the backline. That's not to mention even with their respective roles, Paddy only averages a few extra touches per game anyhow.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

From the Essendon review;



Firstly amazing admission from a professional sporting team and secondly if I were Aaron Francis I'd be hiring a personal trainer over the break.

What was acceptable at Essendon won't be at the Swans and I'd be surprised if Aaron hasn't already been made aware of that fact.

I know of a guy who's very knowledgeable about supplements that could turn Essendon around over the course of a pre season.

 

[Kiama Chris]

You may have seen the post that the Warner boys are back in the gym.

From the Essendon review;



Firstly amazing admission from a professional sporting team and secondly if I were Aaron Francis I'd be hiring a personal trainer over the break.

What was acceptable at Essendon won't be at the Swans and I'd be surprised if Aaron hasn't already been made aware of that fact.

 

[scaryness]

I rate him as having scope for significant improvement and the Swans are known for getting that out of these type of players.
I think he will be best 22 straight away and within a few months he will be a very good player.

Here's hoping.

 

[Callipygian]

I rate him as having scope for significant improvement and the Swans are known for getting that out of these type of players.
I think he will be best 22 straight away and within a few months he will be a very good player.

Here's hoping.

I'm not expecting him to be best 22 straight away (notwithstanding the fair point made that we often do give trade ins a crack at it off the bat) but it will be very good news if he does find his way into our best 22 because it means he will be better than someone else already in the team.

I think it's more likely that he's been told Rampe's is on his last legs and he can position himself to replace Rampe when he goes (in competition with Gould).

 

[Kiama Chris]

I'm not expecting him to be best 22 straight away (notwithstanding the fair point made that we often do give trade ins a crack at it off the bat) but it will be very good news if he does find his way into our best 22 because it means he will be better than someone else already in the team.

I think it's more likely that he's been told Rampe's is on his last legs and he can position himself to replace Rampe when he goes (in competition with Gould).

I just can't picture Gould as a natural replacement for Rampe nor do I see a need to do a one-for-one replacement of Lloyd when the time comes.
The biggest loss when Rampe hangs them up will be his leadership and organisational skills plus his ability to play taller than his actual height.
I'm more concerned about the leadership.

 

[JZ_Skitzo]

From the Essendon review;



Firstly amazing admission from a professional sporting team and secondly if I were Aaron Francis I'd be hiring a personal trainer over the break.

What was acceptable at Essendon won't be at the Swans and I'd be surprised if Aaron hasn't already been made aware of that fact.

Brother in law worked for essendon on the strength and conditioning side for a couple seasons. Was shocked by the training philosophy used when he walked in the door. Said the senior guys training was pretty poor and the vfl dudes worked all day then trained harder than afl listed guys. Driven by minimising load during the week to try and avoid injury, rather than load up the body and get it more resistant to injuries.