Zero hanger can report to me after class & write a 1,000 word essay on why Gus Sheldrick was overlooked in favour of J.Jordon.
Some commentary around J.Armatey vs S.Wicks will earn extra credit.
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Opinion 2024 and Beyond
- Thread starter DeathlyAccurate
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Zero hanger can report to me after class & write a 1,000 word essay on why Gus Sheldrick was overlooked in favour of J.Jordon.
Some commentary around J.Armatey vs S.Wicks will earn extra credit.
I really like our list going forward but I think in 2024 at least we have a huge hole in our key defensive stocks
For Key Defenders over 194cm we have
McCartin
Hamling
Melican
Edwards
Snell
Out of those players one is top quality, but has a history of concussions, one is okay, but has played something like 6 games in 4 years, one is better than I think people think he is (Melican) but is not a top quality player and the other two are basically brand new and have not proven themselves at all yet.
My worry is if McCartin goes down Swans will basically be in the middle of the ocean and having just accidentally dropped our fuel container overboard.
For Key Defenders over 194cm we have
McCartin
Hamling
Melican
Edwards
Snell
Out of those players one is top quality, but has a history of concussions, one is okay, but has played something like 6 games in 4 years, one is better than I think people think he is (Melican) but is not a top quality player and the other two are basically brand new and have not proven themselves at all yet.
My worry is if McCartin goes down Swans will basically be in the middle of the ocean and having just accidentally dropped our fuel container overboard.
caesar88
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What do you think of their ability though?
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caesar88
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If Mills plays in defence they probably wouldn't be. He's an upgrade on Cunningham, but in his absence Cunningham's clearly the best option.
Down the other end, it's our lack of small forwards that should worry us. We need a strong forward half pressure game and I'm not sure a rotation of resting mids will cut it.
Fans tend to want the 22 best players to be in the team, but the coaches will be looking more at the best players for the 22, regardless of profile, ability or excitement.
These are the sort of debates we will and should be having about the structure of our team. Which good player to leave out to get it right. Lots of opinions that all have merit.
With that team:
Mills to the midfield, Cunningham back in.
One of Jordon, Campbell or McInerney starts in the VFL.
Wicks in on the bench, Adams to the midfield, Hayward starts.
If I was REALLY brave Fox replaces Lloyd. This would strengthen the man-to-man defence but possibly weaken our exit.
Even Rampe could be under pressure.. Probably unlikely but he seemed to be a fair bit off last year.These are the sort of debates we will and should be having about the structure of our team. Which good player to leave out to get it right. Lots of opinions that all have merit.
With that team:
Mills to the midfield, Cunningham back in.
One of Jordon, Campbell or McInerney starts in the VFL.
Wicks in on the bench, Adams to the midfield, Hayward starts.
If I was REALLY brave Fox replaces Lloyd. This would strengthen the man-to-man defence but possibly weaken our exit.
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
Grundy can lay on silver service, but Chad, Parker and Rowy don’t get first mitts on the ball. Will need at least one of Adams and Gus in the mids at all stoppages.
In regards Jordon, I love Mofra’s quote:These are the sort of debates we will and should be having about the structure of our team. Which good player to leave out to get it right. Lots of opinions that all have merit.
With that team:
Mills to the midfield, Cunningham back in.
One of Jordon, Campbell or McInerney starts in the VFL.
Wicks in on the bench, Adams to the midfield, Hayward starts.
If I was REALLY brave Fox replaces Lloyd. This would strengthen the man-to-man defence but possibly weaken our exit.
“A 22 year old midfielder with 65 games under his belt, Jordon has spent half his career getting either subbed on or subbed off. He’s such a sub expert, ScoMo paid the French not to build him”.
D
Del198236
Guest
Yep, we tried to get an 'a-grade' KPD but failed. Agree McCartin is hugely important, and also agree Melican is under-rated and given a strong pre-season and a good run with injury, he could be an excellent 2nd / 1st tall.
Hamling had a bad injury which took him out for a couple of years, he might turn out to be a great pick up for 2-3 years. In that time one or both of Snell & Edwards might come on..
We're walking on thin ice, but that ice might not break.
Still happy we didn't trade in McKay for the salary he would be getting, and also happy we didn't get Barrass for the salary and draft capital he would demand
fingers crossed
Also I did not mention him as he isn't quite KPD size but I like Francis. I think he is a solid Rampe replacement.
I will also be a little surprised if Rampe is still in the team at the end of 2024. He is aging now and not the player he once was.
D
Del198236
Guest
Havnt lost hope for Francis, but he's another having a make or break year.. Francis, Arnold, Melican - theres a diamond in there somewhere
I reckon Rampe organisation skills down back are HUGELY important..
Callipygian
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That will require him to be selected for seniors. Not a given.
I thought Lewy did very well in the games he was selected in last season.
I did too, and I don't dislike him being in the side like some people but I think if he is in the side he is definitely going to be a whipping boy whose mistakes will definitely be highlighted compared to most players.
Doesn't help that being a defender their mistakes are more noticable than most players anyway.
Membling
Brownlow Medallist
Membling's best 22 fùlly fit... not that too many care but hey, seems the time.
FB: Lloyd, Hamling, Rampe
HFB: Mills, McCartin, Blakey
C: Campbell, Adams, Gulden
HFF: Parker, McDonald, Heeney
FF: Papley, McLean, Hayward
R: Grundy, Rowbottom, Warner
Int: Florent, Amartey, JMac, Fox
Looking at our mids mix, definitely need a tall impact/break away player.
Backline looks slow when the ball hits the gound
FB: Lloyd, Hamling, Rampe
HFB: Mills, McCartin, Blakey
C: Campbell, Adams, Gulden
HFF: Parker, McDonald, Heeney
FF: Papley, McLean, Hayward
R: Grundy, Rowbottom, Warner
Int: Florent, Amartey, JMac, Fox
Looking at our mids mix, definitely need a tall impact/break away player.
Backline looks slow when the ball hits the gound
Last edited:
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
Really hard to settle on best 22. But really no surprise. We now have the depth and versatility to tailor our B22 to the occasion. I like your team. But agree we need pace and I see this from Ollie and JMac. I want our fwds to have leadership and this is where I think Mills will play.
sataris
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I honestly think Cunningham is near undropable for this reason.
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Membling
Brownlow Medallist
Can see that being the case, moving him 8n for Fox.
Either way we have Cunningham, Sheldrick, Jordon, Melican, Francis, Reid, Ladhams, Corey Warner and Roberts all potentially vying for a spot and could do a decent job of it.
D
Del198236
Guest
Assuming all are fit - Ticky posted in the 2023 injury thread that Mills is still a way off, McAndrew recovering from a broken hand and Amartey still has dodgy hammys
The Chad is the impact/break away player, add a few cameos from Papley too
Cunningham, Florent, Blakey are all quick. Rampe still isn't slow. Campbell & JMac will offer support.
FB: Lloyd, Rampe, Melican
HB: Florent, McCartin, Blakey
C: Campbell, Mills, Gulden
HF: Parker, McDonald, Heeney
FF: Papley, McLean, Hayward
R: Grundy, Warner, Rowbottom
Bench (& Sub): Cunningham, JMac, Adams, Wicks, Amartey
Depth / VFL (*good chance of getting a game and have something to offer)
Wow! theres a lot of depth there!
FB: *Arnold, *Francis, *Fox
HB: Vickery, *Hamling, Magor
C: *Jordan, *Sheldrick, *Corey Warner,
HF: *Reid, *Mitchell
FF: *Ladhams, *Konstanty, *Buller
R: *McAndrew, *Roberts, *Cleary
Bench: Kirk (small defender?), Edwards, Snell, Green
Would love to see Sheldrick, Corey Warner, Mitchell, Konstanty, Arnold, Buller get a run of 5-6 games
Would also love to see Vickery, Magor, Edwards, Cleary, Kirk debut - just to get a look at them at the level
There are a fair few AFL standard players waiting for a chance and a couple who could be AFL standard with a few games under their belt. Plus a number in the pipeline. Looks a lot healthier than 12 months ago.
Feel like we a light on for top end talent, but I can't remember us ever having this much depth.
There are a few players in the above 22 that are going to have play more consistently or they are going to find themselves in the reserves.
1 good game, 2 average ones, and a bad one, every 4 weeks is not going to be good enough anymore.
Good team Membling, but I would tinker on the assumption of full fitness.
Sam Reid comes in for Amartey, incl. as back up ruck. Cunningham comes in for Fox.
And a fit Sheldrick would have Rowbottom, and even Warner (2022 version) under pressure.
caesar88
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Agree with all of these KC except Lloyd. He is one of only 11 players who I think are certainties to play all 23 games this year if fit. It's a group that I don't even have Rampe in. Have seen some chat often grouping Rampe & Lloyd as "the veterans" who may need replacing, but to me they're very different cases.These are the sort of debates we will and should be having about the structure of our team. Which good player to leave out to get it right. Lots of opinions that all have merit.
With that team:
Mills to the midfield, Cunningham back in.
One of Jordon, Campbell or McInerney starts in the VFL.
Wicks in on the bench, Adams to the midfield, Hayward starts.
If I was REALLY brave Fox replaces Lloyd. This would strengthen the man-to-man defence but possibly weaken our exit.
Rampe's a 33 year old defender who has made his name over the last decade by playing on blokes twice his size who now has to adjust his game and contribute in other ways (either as a smaller lockdown type, or more of a rebounding option) or his importance in the team plummets. His body's also gotta hold up and he's at an age now where injuries will be more and more likely.
Lloyd on the other hand is a just-turned-30 year old flanker, very little comparative wear and tear on the body from a decade spent in a largely uncontested capacity, and probably the most durable player we've had of the last decade. There's no reason Lloyd can't keep keeping on for another few years at least. Horse & co absolutely love him and I think he's the key cog in the set-up that allows the likes of Blakey & Florent to get their defensive rebounds going, which you touched on yourself.
Either way the thought of one day having neither of them in our defence has me feeling like
