Analysis 2026 - The Way Forward

[Wheresbuddy]

Spending a bit of time thinking about the VFL side. The development there is an important part of the way forward. Assuming Rampe, Serong, Rosas, Bice and Ladhams are playing seniors. This could be miles out but changes would be pretty much one for one. Again assuming we take all 5 academy kids.
21 listed players so I'm missing two.

FB Cunningham Edwards Andrew
HB Carmichael Snell Roberts
C Lloyd Adams Chamberlain
Foll Green Cleary Kyle
HF King McLean Bowman
FF Hanily Hamling CoWarner
IC McNamara

Main points:
If Rampe and Serong play seniors one of Cunningham or Bice/Roberts gets squeezed out
Hamling will most likely need to play forward again
We need a VFL listed ruck due to the shortage of KPFs
The spine is not too bad.
The midfield is REALLY shallow with Adams, Cleary, Roberts? Kyle? McNamara? CoWarner? and maybe one more not in seniors.
The 44 max list kills us.

It will be interesting to see how the 5 man interchange will be utilised in the AFL. If it comes to pass that a player doesn't get much ToG, I think they should be able to play VFL.

On a related note, it would be great to have less injuries in 2026 as I feel if we are having to play any more than 5 or 6 VFL top ups, we really struggle. Any news on who those top ups could be next year? Hoping Geddes, Shipley, Ben Edwards and Matty Lloyd return.

 

[dosser]

Spending a bit of time thinking about the VFL side. The development there is an important part of the way forward. Assuming Rampe, Serong, Rosas, Bice and Ladhams are playing seniors. This could be miles out but changes would be pretty much one for one. Again assuming we take all 5 academy kids.
21 listed players so I'm missing two.

FB Cunningham Edwards Andrew
HB Carmichael Snell Roberts
C Lloyd Adams Chamberlain
Foll Green Cleary Kyle
HF King McLean Bowman
FF Hanily Hamling CoWarner
IC McNamara

Main points:
If Rampe and Serong play seniors one of Cunningham or Bice/Roberts gets squeezed out
Hamling will most likely need to play forward again
We need a VFL listed ruck due to the shortage of KPFs
The spine is not too bad.
The midfield is REALLY shallow with Adams, Cleary, Roberts? Kyle? McNamara? CoWarner? and maybe one more not in seniors.
The 44 max list kills us.

You are assuming Dattoli is playing seniors? I wonder if he may get a run through the mids in the VFL after a pre-season?

 

[Kiama Chris]

You are assuming Dattoli is playing seniors? I wonder if he may get a run through the mids in the VFL after a pre-season?

We gave him a run in seniors. IMO it will be very sad if our first round pick gets stuck in the VFL. The likelihood of him making seniors as a mid is around zero, so I hope not.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Dattoli is going to have some sort of year in 2026.

Free of a back injury and with a full pre season - we are all going to be witness to something very special. Can’t wait.

 

[RilesMacca]

What I do like with Curnow is he'll take the oppos best defender, which allows Joel to be the second man up and McDonald to get up the ground more. Amartey is a fairly productive goalkicker when fit, but there's justified questions on is he good enough to be the number 1 man. Him out of the limelight as the main target forward may help him flourish given he's known to fade in and out of games.

Keen to see what Logan will produce. His work rate, pressure and run, as well as his field kicking has progressively improved in his game since he's joined the club. Alongside keeping fit, hoping he can piece those assets together and provide well as an option and link up man up the ground whilst turning back to goal and impacting inside 50. It's exciting on what we'll get out of Curnow, but at a minimum he'll make our forward line more functional.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Seemed most appropriate to post this here

LOVE THIS CONTENT!!!!



(NB. also posted in the media thread)

 

[Kiama Chris]

Seemed most appropriate to post this here

LOVE THIS CONTENT!!!!



(NB. also posted in the media thread)

Worth every penny we have paid him. Edwards looking good. The concentration on Papley is

 

[Kiama Chris]

Will some kind soul open a preseason thread? Need somewhere to park all those trained down houses.

 

[dosser]

Will some kind soul open a preseason thread? Need somewhere to park all those trained down houses.

I'm anticipating that almost all the players will run a PB at some stage this off season. In fact, there may even be reports that one or two players have returned from the break in the best condition they've ever been in!

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Part 2 of the Reconditioning series is up:

Building precision and resilience with Bill Knowles - Part Two

Knowles’ methods go beyond drills and strength session, instead, they are about physical education, teaching athletes to understand movement from the ground up.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Adnico26Parker]

I wonder how many of the players not in the 1-4 year group will be at the start of preseason training on Monday?

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Part 2 of the Reconditioning series is up:

Building precision and resilience with Bill Knowles - Part Two

Knowles’ methods go beyond drills and strength session, instead, they are about physical education, teaching athletes to understand movement from the ground up.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

How good is Paps? Definitely faster and more springy compared to the big boys although Logan looks pretty nimble too. Amartey looks like he could do more work on his core and Edwards looks a bit sluggish.

 

[Kiama Chris]

How good is Paps? Definitely faster and more springy compared to the big boys although Logan looks pretty nimble too. Amartey looks like he could do more work on his core and Edwards looks a bit sluggish.

I think this is a level of complexity of physical training far beyond anything they've ever experienced. I thought Amartey looked the least in tune with his own movements. Paps and Logan were really good. All of them taking it very seriously.

 

[melbournehammer]

I think this is a level of complexity of physical training far beyond anything they've ever experienced. I thought Amartey looked the least in tune with his own movements. Paps and Logan were really good. All of them taking it very seriously.

cant help but reach the conclusion that given the hurdles are the same height for paps and for amartey that it isnt the least bit surprising that he can be athletic under the hurdle

 

[SwansLakeside]

Posts above,
exactly what I want to see. Our players in the pool, in the gym, building core strength and brute power.
Let's start season 2026 with a full squad to pick from.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Just a thought. Oh no! They cried, not again.
How might Serong go replacing Hayward?
Comments from training about his hand and kicking skills. Pretty quick. Should be ace at the defensive side of the game (harder to exit?). Played a chunk of time out of defence at Box Hill and still ended up B&F.
Just a thought.
Edit: Two tall forwards + Serong?

 

[dosser]

Just a thought. Oh no! They cried, not again.
How might Serong go replacing Hayward?
Comments from training about his hand and kicking skills. Pretty quick. Should be ace at the defensive side of the game (harder to exit?). Played a chunk of time out of defence at Box Hill and still ended up B&F.
Just a thought.
Edit: Two tall forwards + Serong?

I've seen worse ideas (most of them mine). Interesting thought.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I've seen worse ideas (most of them mine). Interesting thought.

Pretty sure we brought him in to play lock down defence so I doubt we'll play with his role unless he starts in VFL. But I have these quirky thoughts.

 

[RubbaDuck]

I thought Cox has made a fair bit of progress with stopping teams from running out of our defence. Hayward played an important role using his speed to run down ball carriers Campbell also used his pace to run down ball carriers but Hayward also negated opposition intercepting defenders in the air, limiting how much rebound they could create.

Can we replace the speed and aerial defensive skill of Hayward, as well as his forward skills? He had a fairly unique skill set.

 

[Jewelsbon]

I thought Cox has made a fair bit of progress with stopping teams from running out of our defence. Hayward played an important role using his speed to run down ball carriers Campbell also used his pace to run down ball carriers but Hayward also negated opposition intercepting defenders in the air, limiting how much rebound they could create.

Can we replace the speed and aerial defensive skill of Hayward, as well as his forward skills? He had a fairly unique skill set.

I think you named the perfect Hayward replacement in your post - Campbell. He has the speed, tackling capacity and goal kicking ability to match it with Will. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head that he would lag behind in is marking ability, but perhaps with the responsibility that will develop.

 

[RubbaDuck]

I think you named the perfect Hayward replacement in your post - Campbell. He has the speed, tackling capacity and goal kicking ability to match it with Will. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head that he would lag behind in is marking ability, but perhaps with the responsibility that will develop.

Fair point but Campbell's only 181cm. Hayward is 186cm.

McInerney might be a better option at 189cm. He's got pace and height but lacks Hayward's physicality to tackle and take contested marks. I think if Cox wants Juzzy to play midfield/forward he needs to bulk up, then his stats for tackling and contested marking might better reflect his height and pace. He'd also need to work on his goal kicking but there's an opportunity to help fill Hayward's role if he's prepared to work at it

 

[Kiama Chris]

Fair point but Campbell's only 181cm. Hayward is 186cm.

McInerney might be a better option at 189cm. He's got pace and height but lacks Hayward's physicality to tackle and take contested marks. I think if Cox wants Juzzy to play midfield/forward he needs to bulk up, then his stats for tackling and contested marking might better reflect his height and pace. He'd also need to work on his goal kicking but there's an opportunity to help fill Hayward's role if he's prepared to work at it

Campbell also not much of a leaper so not a great mark or spoil. Juzzy can nail a tackle but not so much on the run which is a speciality of Hayward and Campbell. Neither is an immediate complete replacement. Bowman is the same size but it's way early days. Hence my interest in Serong, as unlikely as that might be.

 

[Jewelsbon]

Fair point but Campbell's only 181cm. Hayward is 186cm.

McInerney might be a better option at 189cm. He's got pace and height but lacks Hayward's physicality to tackle and take contested marks. I think if Cox wants Juzzy to play midfield/forward he needs to bulk up, then his stats for tackling and contested marking might better reflect his height and pace. He'd also need to work on his goal kicking but there's an opportunity to help fill Hayward's role if he's prepared to work at it

We do have options, which is the main thing and the trading of Will the most logical, though one of the saddest for me personally

 

[Punts]

Campbell will struggle again imo

Is what he is now

 

[McGowan3]

Campbell will struggle again imo

Is what he is now

Maybe but he doesn't need as many possessions as others to be damaging.