VFL 2023 Swans Reserves

[Callipygian]

Indhi Kirk, Toby Alker, and Christian Webster have all been signed on for the 2023 VFL team.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Indhi Kirk, Toby Alker, and Christian Webster have all been signed on for the 2023 VFL team.

Does that then suggest that Indhi will not be rookied?

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Unless King is considered a complete and utter bust, a Ressies contract might be good.

 

[hairy biker]

Swans list manager fumes over minimal VFL coverage

“The lack of media on that competition is just staggering.”

www.sen.com.au

Kinnear Beatson has hit out at what he says is a complete lack of coverage for the VFL, with the Sydney list manager describing it as “pretty frustrating”.
Beatson suggested the lack of coverage makes it harder for clubs to attract more players to the league.

As Beatson notes, the SANFL and WAFL in particular are covered in depth by those states’ respective media.
.....we’ve got a new VFL competition, the best second-tier competition in the land behind the AFL and the lack of media on that competition is just staggering,” Beatson said on SEN’s The Run Home.
“To my recollection, there wasn’t an article in the Herald Sun or The Age about the second-best competition (in the land), so it’s pretty hard to promote players and attract players to play in it if it’s not promoted.

“In the best competition behind the AFL, it’s just staggering and the apathy towards promoting this part of the football calendar... I don’t know who runs it or whatever but it’s pretty frustrating.”

He ain't wrong and as for calling it the VFL, well it shows the lack of respect from the AFL.

 

[grimlock]

Maybe he could start with a call to the Swans media department where the coverage of the VFL could be in much more detail.

 

[Callipygian]

Does that then suggest that Indhi will not be rookied?

I think so. But that's just my semi-educated guess.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I think so. But that's just my semi-educated guess.

That's how it turned out.

 

[caesar88]

That's how it turned out.

Not surprising. Edwards showed more and he was taken as our Cat B rookie. Anderson in last year's draft had showed more than Kirk, and he didn't get picked up. Even Connor McDonald showed more, and he wasn't picked up by anyone.

It's a shame as I'm sure Beatson & co would love nothing more than being able to pick up local and/or father-son prospects to add to our list, but they'd have to be justifiable beyond just where they're from or who they know.

 

[Bandit55]

Swans list manager fumes over minimal VFL coverage

“The lack of media on that competition is just staggering.”

www.sen.com.au

He ain't wrong and as for calling it the VFL, well it shows the lack of respect from the AFL.

Media coverage of second tier sporting competitions is in decline. It's not only the VFL, there's very little coverage of Sheffield Shield cricket these days.

 

[SydneyBlood]

It's a really big/tall squad of 44. For the sake of it, if the grand final 22 started in the first round, reserves would have ruckmen Ladhams, McAndrew, Owen. KPP's or third tall types Melican, Francis, Gould, Edwards, McDonald, Amartey, McLean.

10 out of 22. Bit unbalanced. Realise it's rare that all 44 or available due to injury and so on and also there's more of a need to have extra depth in those "specialised" positions.

EDIT: Mistakenly included McLean in that list of players. So, 9 out of 22

 

[Kiama Chris]

It's a really big/tall squad of 44. For the sake of it, if the grand final 22 started in the first round, reserves would have ruckmen Ladhams, McAndrew, Owen. KPP's or third tall types Melican, Francis, Gould, Edwards, McDonald, Amartey, McLean.

10 out of 22. Bit unbalanced. Realise it's rare that all 44 or available due to injury and so on and also there's more of a need to have extra depth in those "specialised" positions.

There's quite a bit of flexibility in our smaller AFL standard players that allows us to get by with fewer in reserve while the youngsters develop in the VFL. The seniors are young themselves so too many in reserve could lead us to holding players back too long.
We just picked up 4 smalls out of 6. Small forward, mid/forward, wing/mid and small defender. Good spread.

 

[SydneyBlood]

Yep, for sure. Along with the yet to be named VFL players the game day 22/23 will be a balanced outfit.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Yep, for sure. Along with the yet to be named VFL players the game day 22/23 will be a balanced outfit.

Assuming everyone is fit the VFL side will look something like:
Defenders
Gould Francis Melican Rankin Cunningham Vickery Edwards
Forwards
McLean Amartey Wicks Sheather Konstanty HHK Warner
Rucks
Ladhams McAndrew Owen
Mids
Campbell Sheldrick Roberts Magor Mitchell
That's everybody.
Edwards can play forward as well as a tall as he did in the Academy games. Owen and McAndrew will probably spend time there too. A few of those forwards might do time in the mids too.
The draftees will probably start with shorter minutes as they build reserves.

 

[Callipygian]

It's a really big/tall squad of 44. For the sake of it, if the grand final 22 started in the first round, reserves would have ruckmen Ladhams, McAndrew, Owen. KPP's or third tall types Melican, Francis, Gould, Edwards, McDonald, Amartey, McLean.

10 out of 22. Bit unbalanced. Realise it's rare that all 44 or available due to injury and so on and also there's more of a need to have extra depth in those "specialised" positions.

EDIT: Mistakenly included McLean in that list of players. So, 9 out of 22

Pretty interesting given that we see our ruck and KPF depth as a key list need. I guess the issue is that most of these guys probably won't have long AFL careers or be A graders.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Media coverage of second tier sporting competitions is in decline. It's not only the VFL, there's very little coverage of Sheffield Shield cricket these days.

The CA website itself is dire. It does not market the Shield or even provide Stats. Of course it proves Tower of BBL stats.. the one good thing is the streaming coverage which I use and enjoy.

 

[Wolftone]

Assuming everyone is fit the VFL side will look something like:
Defenders
Gould Francis Melican Rankin Cunningham Vickery Edwards
Forwards
McLean Amartey Wicks Sheather Konstanty HHK Warner
Rucks
Ladhams McAndrew Owen
Mids
Campbell Sheldrick Roberts Magor Mitchell
That's everybody.
Edwards can play forward as well as a tall as he did in the Academy games. Owen and McAndrew will probably spend time there too. A few of those forwards might do time in the mids too.
The draftees will probably start with shorter minutes as they build reserves.

I think Cory will play in the mids/wing.

 

[Bloods86]

Pretty interesting given that we see our ruck and KPF depth as a key list need. I guess the issue is that most of these guys probably won't have long AFL careers or be A graders.

It's not a need in 2023. Although with Ladhams/Hickey often on the sidelines, another pure ruck (Owens) is good to have in there to share with McAndrew when needed.

It's 2024 without Bud, Reid, Hickey, maybe Rampe, probably Melican, maybe one of Gould/Amartey/McLean (all on 1 year left, no guarantees about senior opportunities in 2023, might get them considering offers). That's when a lot of that depth we have in 2023 suddenly needs to become best 22 in the seniors and there's maybe only 2 KPDs (at best), Owens/McAndrew (if they're good enough to survive), and no KPFs in the VFL, and as backup for seniors.

 

[Bloods86]

Assuming everyone is fit the VFL side will look something like:
Defenders
Gould Francis Melican Rankin Cunningham Vickery Edwards
Forwards
McLean Amartey Wicks Sheather Konstanty HHK Warner
Rucks
Ladhams McAndrew Owen
Mids
Campbell Sheldrick Roberts Magor Mitchell
That's everybody.
Edwards can play forward as well as a tall as he did in the Academy games. Owen and McAndrew will probably spend time there too. A few of those forwards might do time in the mids too.
The draftees will probably start with shorter minutes as they build reserves.

That's a decent list, for 2023 I reckon the midfield will be the area of concern (then in 2024 it massively swings to the tall stocks), we've lost a bit there with Clarke in seniors, Stephens establishing himself as well, Taylor, Bell and Ronke all gone. Magor was a good get though. Not sure when the VFL contracts get done, but keeping Shipley and a couple of the others, with another year under their belts will be important too.

We'll often have at least one sitting out to be sub, sometimes a couple depending on scheduling/locations, and there's always a few injuries, but here's my starting lineup.

FB: Gould Melican Cunningham
HB: Rankin Francis Vickery
C: Warner Magor Campbell
HF: Wicks Amartey Sheather
FF: Konstanty McLean Owen
R: Ladhams/Hickey Sheldrick Roberts
Int: McAndrew Edwards HHK Mitchell Top-Up
Eme: 3 x Top-Ups

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Remember the medi sub is effectively replaced with fifth interchange. Even the ones are mainly selected to our game plan, I reckon there will be some tweaking. This means a purely defensive forward like Clarke may not be selected when the Oppo lacks a gun half back.

Assuming everyone is fit , I reckon we make 3 changes to the GF side for the game v the GoCo.

In, Hugo HK. Sheldrick, McDonald
Out. Clarke, Reid, McLean.

So my twos would look like

B Cunningham Edwards Francis
HB Rankin Gould Vickery
C Warmer Magor Mitchell
HF Wicks Reid Konstanty
FF Amartey McLean Sheather
R Ladhams Clarke Roberts

I/C Owen, McAndrew, Melican, Toppy X 2

 

[Bloods86]

Remember the medi sub is effectively replaced with fifth interchange. Even the ones are mainly selected to our game plan, I reckon there will be some tweaking. This means a purely defensive forward like Clarke may not be selected when the Oppo lacks a gun half back.

Assuming everyone is fit , I reckon we make 3 changes to the GF side for the game v the GoCo.

In, Hugo HK. Sheldrick, McDonald
Out. Clarke, Reid, McLean.

So my twos would look like

B Cunningham Edwards Francis
HB Rankin Gould Vickery
C Warmer Magor Mitchell
HF Wicks Reid Konstanty
FF Amartey McLean Sheather
R Ladhams Clarke Roberts

I/C Owen, McAndrew, Melican, Toppy X 2

I thought the AFL had already decided and publicised that it is a tactical sub, not a 5th interchange. So I don't think much will change about what we do. Most clubs will keep the sub until the 3rd or 4th qtrs, in case of an injury, then pull the trigger. We're likely to stick with the likes of Campbell, maybe Cunningham (although if he regains form, he'll be back in seniors as soon as they can find a spot) as sub each week, maybe rotate it if it would mean that these guys miss all gametime over a few weeks.

Also not sure about what you mean with those ins/outs and the side. Are you saying that HHK will be the senior sub or in seniors, Sheldrick is likely to be in seniors, along with Logan (they wouldn't be ins then)? And is there going to be no backup ruck in seniors?

 

[caesar88]

One player who I reckon might've winced a little as we called out Konstanty's name is Sheldrick. I still think his path into the senior side is as a forward, and he might've liked his chances up against Clarke and Wicks. Now a third rival is added into the mix offering much the same things as Sheldrick.

The pre-season games are gonna be fascinating between these four.

 

[Bloods86]

One player who I reckon might've winced a little as we called out Konstanty's name is Sheldrick. I still think his path into the senior side is as a forward, and he might've liked his chances up against Clarke and Wicks. Now a third rival is added into the mix offering much the same things as Sheldrick.

The pre-season games are gonna be fascinating between these four.

Yeah, my point at the time was that we have plenty of players who can go up forward (because they have been small forwards before). And the club has never been big on having pure small forwards anyway, we'd often start mids careers there and slowly integrate them into other areas. Papley was the closest we've had in a while, but then we're trying to push him into the mids as well. Just seemed odd. Konstanty might be better, but it does hinder Sheldrick and a few others, potentially increase the risk of someone leaving.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I thought the AFL had already decided and publicised that it is a tactical sub, not a 5th interchange. So I don't think much will change about what we do. Most clubs will keep the sub until the 3rd or 4th qtrs, in case of an injury, then pull the trigger. We're likely to stick with the likes of Campbell, maybe Cunningham (although if he regains form, he'll be back in seniors as soon as they can find a spot) as sub each week, maybe rotate it if it would mean that these guys miss all gametime over a few weeks.

Also not sure about what you mean with those ins/outs and the side. Are you saying that HHK will be the senior sub or in seniors, Sheldrick is likely to be in seniors, along with Logan (they wouldn't be ins then)? And is there going to be no backup ruck in seniors?

See HHK in the 22 along with Sheldrick. Campbell the 5th. Depending on who we play Ladhams and Hickey should both play.

Cunningham was a very ordinary 2s player when there this season. I personally see him only getting seniors gigs if there is a swathe of injuries. FWIW I have written off Reid as best 22 player. My wishlist is for Parker to play more fwd time than in the mids.

 

[caesar88]

Yeah, my point at the time was that we have plenty of players who can go up forward (because they have been small forwards before). And the club has never been big on having pure small forwards anyway, we'd often start mids careers there and slowly integrate them into other areas. Papley was the closest we've had in a while, but then we're trying to push him into the mids as well. Just seemed odd. Konstanty might be better, but it does hinder Sheldrick and a few others, potentially increase the risk of someone leaving.

The club probably knew this anyway though. I thought it was telling when Dalrymple said that if you have an excess of talent you can always trade it out. I don't think Beatson & Dalrymple are going to be wiping away tears of shock if any of the players we've picked up in the last few drafts don't end up having long careers with us. The best few will find their way into the team; the rest will either provide strong depth or net us a decent hand at the trade table by leaving.

 

[Callipygian]

GUH, I like you naming three bold changes to the senior team and naming those you would replace too. However I can't see HHK pushing Reid out of the team just yet, barring injuries. Also, HHK is still on the come back trail from injury.

Bloods86, compared to your VFL team, I would move McAndrew to ruck, Ladhams to the forward line and Owen to the interchange. I would also switch Sheather and Magor. Plus I wouldn't mind Mitchell playing on the wing in Campbell's place but then I can't figure out where to put Campbell - so maybe can live with that one.

I think Sheldrick is in front of Konstanty and needn't worry too much. In the longer term they have very different roles to play (inside mid v small pressure forward), and, in the short term, Sheldrick has a head start - he's a year older and has a harder body. Assuming Roberts' best chance into seniors is via the same position, he's the one that I think has more to worry about.