VFL 2026 Swans Reserves

[Callipygian]

I guess the 2025 thread is now obsolete, so here's the new one.

Today I learned that Jack Kluske and Nic Shipley will play VFL for us again this season. But Matt Lloyd has moved on and Ben Edwards is apparently going to sit the season out. That's all I know so far except they're optimistic they're going to have a better season.

I saw Dean Kelly at training and so I surmise he will continue as a line coach in the VFL. Come to think of it, I didn't keep an eye out for Malceski. I will look out for him as it would be great to see him and confirm that he is 'in da house', so to speak.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I guess the 2025 thread is now obsolete, so here's the new one.

Today I learned that Jack Kluske and Nic Shipley will play VFL for us again this season. But Matt Lloyd has moved on and Ben Edwards is apparently going to sit the season out. That's all I know so far except they're optimistic they're going to have a better season.

I saw Dean Kelly at training and so I surmise he will continue as a line coach in the VFL. Come to think of it, I didn't keep an eye out for Malceski. I will look out for him as it would be great to see him and confirm that he is 'in da house', so to speak.

Mal has been in some of the training photos.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

I guess the 2025 thread is now obsolete, so here's the new one.

Today I learned that Jack Kluske and Nic Shipley will play VFL for us again this season. But Matt Lloyd has moved on and Ben Edwards is apparently going to sit the season out. That's all I know so far except they're optimistic they're going to have a better season.

I saw Dean Kelly at training and so I surmise he will continue as a line coach in the VFL. Come to think of it, I didn't keep an eye out for Malceski. I will look out for him as it would be great to see him and confirm that he is 'in da house', so to speak.

Great that Shipley and Kluske are back for 2026!

I had a suspicion Edwards might head back to WA after this season, best of luck to him and Matty for 2026

I saw Mal posted on IG he is at a golf trip in NZ

 

[dosser]

That's sad about Lloyd

 

[Kiama Chris]

That's sad about Lloyd

I wonder if it has meaning re Jake

 

[dosser]

I wonder if it has meaning re Jake

I doubt it. It's probably more a reflection of trying to afford to live in Sydney as a VFL player.

 

[Callipygian]

Malceski confirmed that Dean Kelly (DK) and Adam Kennedy

40

Adam Kennedy

Age

33

Ht

183cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.9

4star

K

8.4

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.8

4star

MG

245.6

4star

D

1.0

1star

K

1.0

1star

HB

0.0

1star

M

0.0

1star

T

0.0

1star

MG

10.0

1star

D

18.6

5star

K

9.8

4star

HB

8.8

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.4

4star

would continue as VFL line coaches this season. I think last year there was a 3rd line coach too (I can't remember now who it was but I know I posted in last year's thread). I wonder if they'll get a third one.

I reckon our ressies are going to do better this year. Just feels like we have improved depth and a (currently) healthier list.

 

[liz]

Malceski confirmed that Dean Kelly (DK) and Adam Kennedy would continue as VFL line coaches this season. I think last year there was a 3rd line coach too (I can't remember now who it was but I know I posted in last year's thread). I wonder if they'll get a third one.

I reckon our ressies are going to do better this year. Just feels like we have improved depth and a (currently) healthier list.

They couldn't really do worse. But health is the key. Edwards (Ben) didn't have as good a season this year as last but he was still a decent quality VFL player. But we've lost our best non-listed player from last year (Lloyd) so, unless there are some surprise recruits, our VFL contingent will be weaker than this year. And it was already weak. So the health of our AFL squad will be key to being competitive in the VFL, together with, hopefully, improvement in guys who are likely to remain mostly in the VFL (Green, Snell, Andrew, Edwards, Hanily, Bowman et al.)

 

[Callipygian]

They couldn't really do worse. But health is the key. Edwards (Ben) didn't have as good a season this year as last but he was still a decent quality VFL player. But we've lost our best non-listed player from last year (Lloyd) so, unless there are some surprise recruits, our VFL contingent will be weaker than this year. And it was already weak. So the health of our AFL squad will be key to being competitive in the VFL, together with, hopefully, improvement in guys who are likely to remain mostly in the VFL (Green, Snell, Andrew, Edwards, Hanily, Bowman et al.)

Sadly, we've lost two out of our three best non-listed players (Lloyd and Edwards with Shipley being the third - I'm not wanting to rank them). I haven't heard about any new signings yet (bedford normally has the best intel about that AFAICanTell) but hopefully we'll get some and they'll be good. I agree that the health of our AFL list will be crucial. But also the VFL-playing AFL-listed players are gaining experience and we should improve on that account too e.g. Snell, Edwards, Corey, Andrew, Bowman, Green etc. Conversely, except for Cooty, all the new players will have less experience than those who have departed.

 

[robbieando]

Some good pick ups in the draft to add overall depth up forward that has been lacking for a few years. Should see some improvements there

 

[wolftone57]

I guess the 2025 thread is now obsolete, so here's the new one.

Today I learned that Jack Kluske and Nic Shipley will play VFL for us again this season. But Matt Lloyd has moved on and Ben Edwards is apparently going to sit the season out. That's all I know so far except they're optimistic they're going to have a better season.

I saw Dean Kelly at training and so I surmise he will continue as a line coach in the VFL. Come to think of it, I didn't keep an eye out for Malceski. I will look out for him as it would be great to see him and confirm that he is 'in da house', so to speak.

So, our two best VFL Listed players are not playing next year? Wow.

 

[wolftone57]

They couldn't really do worse. But health is the key. Edwards (Ben) didn't have as good a season this year as last but he was still a decent quality VFL player. But we've lost our best non-listed player from last year (Lloyd) so, unless there are some surprise recruits, our VFL contingent will be weaker than this year. And it was already weak. So the health of our AFL squad will be key to being competitive in the VFL, together with, hopefully, improvement in guys who are likely to remain mostly in the VFL (Green, Snell, Andrew, Edwards, Hanily, Bowman et al.)

We need to get some good players in. The VFKL listed players last year were very ordinary with the exception of about 5 or 6 players. Edwards and Matty Lloyd were standouts. Nick Shipley does a job. We need to get a stronger VFL listed player outcome or the reserves won't improve. It is hard for young developing AFL players to play with guys who are obviously two to five rungs below them and are simply not up to the VFL level. Mind you our AFL depth has been pretty poor as well when injuries hit. This was realised last year and they knew this had to be fixed as we could not keep playing Francis etc as patchwork forwards. So, now we have the AFL depth and hopefully that bleeding Head of Fitness and Physical Development doesn't bleeding injure them all like he did last year.

 

[bedford]

Great that Shipley and Kluske are back for 2026!

I had a suspicion Edwards might head back to WA after this season, best of luck to him and Matty for 2026

I saw Mal posted on IG he is at a golf trip in NZ

With Tony Morwood as a partner

 

[SwansLifer]

While he will definitely miss all of pre Christmas pre season. His name came up that he was moving back to Sydney and obviously AFL is out of the realm.

 

[bedford]

VFL season to start on March 20/21 which is round 2 of the AFL season
There are 21 rounds with each team playing 18 games plus 3 byes

 

[Callipygian]

VFL season to start on March 20/21 which is round 2 of the AFL season
There are 21 rounds with each team playing 18 games plus 3 byes

How can they be so hopeless. In the AFL team we have more rounds than teams. And in the VFL there's a golden opportunity to have a great fixture where every team plays each other once but they don't do it and instead they shorten the season and insert an abundance of byes so that we narrowly miss that happy result and have fewer rounds than teams.

Are there going to be 20 teams in 2026, with the Bullants leaving the competition (just as a favour to us, their bunnies)?

Also, the GF will be the weekend of prelims for the AFL: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1457481/2026-vfl-and-vflw-season-dates.

 

[S120]

I'm really looking forward to observing the reserves in 2026. With Mal back as a club legend but also a very experienced coach in other systems and with a stack of new guys, it has the makings of an exciting year ahead.

Doing best 23's for seniors can be a little OTT atm but if you do a vague best 23 for the seniors as the following, it creates a really interesting reserves side.

Wicks - Melican - McCartin
Blakey - Serong - Bice
Gulden - Mills - McInerney
Rosas - McDonald - Jordon
Papley - Amartey - Curnow
Grundy - Warner - Heeney

Sheldrick - Rowbottom - McLean - Cunningham - Campbell

That's just a quick, slap-dash effort of a best 23 at the moment so I don't really care to argue too much about it because it's just a vehicle to get to where I actually want to get, which is what the rest of the squad would mean a reserves side might look like:

Rampe - Edwards - Andrew
Lloyd - Snell - Bowman
Warner - Adams - Kyle
Phillipou - King - Cootee
Dattoli - Ladhams - Hanily
Green - Cleary - Roberts

Hamling - Hetherton - Chamberlain

You've got three vastly experienced guys in Lloyd, Rampe, and Adams who should be pushing for seniors time but at minimum would do wonders for the experience of young guys to play alongside. A stack of talented young guys to learn from them. Proper depth in the key positions down back, up forward, and in the ruck. Exciting smalls running around and a properly structured midfield.

Of course this is all presuming no injuries which almost certainly won't happen and I haven't factored in whomever else the club brings in to fill out the VFL squad, but I'm much more optimistic/excited about seeing something like that reserves side than I was in 2025.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Giants make another high-profile VFL signing, former Port Melbourne player Harvey Hooper

GIANTS VFL Lands Gun Midfielder

The GIANTS are delighted to announce a major signing for its VFL side.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

[bedford]

Giants make another high-profile VFL signing, former Port Melbourne player Harvey Hooper

GIANTS VFL Lands Gun Midfielder

The GIANTS are delighted to announce a major signing for its VFL side.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

That was the one i spoke about quite a few weeks ago , but couldn't say the name and his number was passed on to our people that needed to know . not happy , he was exactly what we needed for the VFL
Might've been a better job opportunity , as that was one of the reasons it was in secret !

 

[joeykanga]

That was the one i spoke about quite a few weeks ago , but couldn't say the name and his number was passed on to our people that needed to know . not happy , he was exactly what we needed for the VFL
Might've been a better job opportunity , as that was one of the reasons it was in secret !

Doesnt it also say he's joining his previous VFL coach at the GIANTS. It could be as simple as that connection for the choice of Sydney clubs now that he's living in Sydney

 

[bedford]

Doesnt it also say he's joining his previous VFL coach at the GIANTS. It could be as simple as that connection for the choice of Sydney clubs now that he's living in Sydney

It was his partner moving to Sydney initially . If you don't believe me i'll pm
Also i didn't read it

 

[joeykanga]

It was his partner moving to Sydney initially . If you don't believe me i'll pm
Also i didn't read it

Theres nothing i didnt believe. Was just adding to your thoughts as to why he chose GWS over us from what i read in the story.
You and the story already explained why he was moving to Sydney.

 

[bedford]

Theres nothing i didnt believe. Was just adding to your thoughts as to why he chose GWS over us from what i read in the story.
You and the story already explained why he was moving to Sydney.

At the time when he left Port he said nothing about moving to Sydney

 

[joeykanga]

At the time when he left Port he said nothing about moving to Sydney

Sydney as in the city rather than the team. DIdnt you say it was for his partner. Are you gaslighting me.

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

I'm really looking forward to observing the reserves in 2026. With Mal back as a club legend but also a very experienced coach in other systems and with a stack of new guys, it has the makings of an exciting year ahead.

Doing best 23's for seniors can be a little OTT atm but if you do a vague best 23 for the seniors as the following, it creates a really interesting reserves side.

Wicks - Melican - McCartin
Blakey - Serong - Bice
Gulden - Mills - McInerney
Rosas - McDonald - Jordon
Papley - Amartey - Curnow
Grundy - Warner - Heeney

Sheldrick - Rowbottom - McLean - Cunningham - Campbell

That's just a quick, slap-dash effort of a best 23 at the moment so I don't really care to argue too much about it because it's just a vehicle to get to where I actually want to get, which is what the rest of the squad would mean a reserves side might look like:

Rampe - Edwards - Andrew
Lloyd - Snell - Bowman
Warner - Adams - Kyle
Phillipou - King - Cootee
Dattoli - Ladhams - Hanily
Green - Cleary - Roberts

Hamling - Hetherton - Chamberlain

You've got three vastly experienced guys in Lloyd, Rampe, and Adams who should be pushing for seniors time but at minimum would do wonders for the experience of young guys to play alongside. A stack of talented young guys to learn from them. Proper depth in the key positions down back, up forward, and in the ruck. Exciting smalls running around and a properly structured midfield.

Of course this is all presuming no injuries which almost certainly won't happen and I haven't factored in whomever else the club brings in to fill out the VFL squad, but I'm much more optimistic/excited about seeing something like that reserves side than I was in 2025.

Great call we actually have a much better balance of talls and smalls, youth and experience and most importantly depth.

We seem to have addressed our needs with drafting and trading this year, unlike previous seasons.

Should be a great season for the 1’s and 2’s based on a clean bill of health.

Btw the senior side looks about right in any case!!