Dane Swan Update

[understudy]

Ill be giving regularly updates on his progress throughout the year.

Interesting character this bloke. Always surprises me on the upside and has skills and talents that arent immediately apparent.

Had a pretty good preseason by all accounts but I take it he is not necessarily the hardest worker or most dedicated at the club but just does what he needs to.

I never believed he'd be a regular at Collingwood or even still be on our list.

All credit to him that he is still on our list and getting regular games.

 

[understudy]

26/2/06

Dane played the full game against the Saints on Sunday.

Bit errant with his general skills and kicking early but seemed to pick this up as the game went along.

Kicked a top goal in the third that really excited and surprised me.

D.Swan 8K 8H 16D 3M 0HO 1T 0FF 2FA 1G 0B


General

Whilst his kicking style appears somewhat awkward, he is generally effective up to around 40 to 45 metres. Anything beyond this distance is a bit of a stretch for him.

Takes a good grab for his size, is good one on one and generally keeps his feet well.

Excellent poise and generally decision making. Very rarely gets caught with the ball and has great evasive skills that can get him out of trouble.

Provides great run from half back for the pies but not yet ready to take the best small opposition forward as witnessed by Yze carving him up in the 2005 Queens birthday contest.

Additionally he has neither great pace or endurance and does not have deadly disposal by foot or hand.

However im expecting him to cement a spot on the hbf and be a solid defender for us in 2006.

 

[Murray]

Not quick enough.
Who would you prefer him or either of the Shaw's, that is who he is up against?

 

[understudy]

Not quick enough.
Who would you prefer him or either of the Shaw's, that is who he is up against?

Ill take Dane over Heath thanks (who can possibly play off the bench) and put Rhyce on a wing.

Time will tell ...

 

[Stan.]

Thx for this important service understudy i always felt i didnt know enough about swan and i really did need to know more.

Anyway considering your interest in swan from denmark could you tell me how many people he has bashed lately.

Futhermore he could be a replacement for caracella has he can be handy around the goals and is harder at the ball than cara.

Maybe swan upfront and heath across the back what do you think.

 

[understudy]

Maybe swan upfront and heath across the back what do you think.

Can kick goals but not reliable, flexible nor skillful enough to play up front for mine.

Not completely sold on Heath yet, needs to do a lot more hard yards to secure half back flank.

My preference and how I think it pans out is Dane HBF, Heath on the bench and Daisy Thomas to replace Carrot.

 

[Coin_Toss]

I rate Swan. He isn't blessed with sheer pace and his kicking at times is poor, but he hardly gets caught with the ball and his decision making is excellent. Also, Swan isn't afraid to put his head over the ball - unlike Lonie and Davis.

He is in our best 22 for sure!

 

[jefffff34]

Easily best 18, him and Lockyer should be able to hold down back pocket positions.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Don't write off Heath

 

[understudy]

Thanks for the comments.

Good to see a bit of interest in this thread.

I'd encourage everyone to start a thread of their player and give us their thoughts.

Works better and creates more discussion than just lumping them all in one thread.

Whilst this thread will slip down the list Ill update this thread as things develop and it will come back up to the top.

It will therefore act as a good record of how Dane's season progresses.

 

[Jabso]

If Swan can play as good as he did last year, and find a little more consistancy, than he is a shoe-in for the starting 18 let alone 22.
Caracella is deceptively good at getting a contested disposal out of a pack. Was top 5 in hard ball gets for us for a good period of last year and ended up just outside of that.

 

[Stan.]

Caracella gets the hard ball u say?

Top 5 for hard ball gets at the club last season u say!

Your dreamin.

 

[bradrowe#32]

I rate Swan. He isn't blessed with sheer pace and his kicking at times is poor, but he hardly gets caught with the ball and his decision making is excellent. Also, Swan isn't afraid to put his head over the ball - unlike Lonie and Davis.

He is in our best 22 for sure!

Agree with everything you've said. He's developed into a useful footballer. Last year he won plenty of the ball and always provided a contest. I would have him in my best 22.

 

[yeah-nah]

Slow and whenever played up the ground loose as they come. Not overly skilled or hard at it. For a guy with 5 pre seasons under his belt the engine of a smoking Datsun 120Y. Basically has nothing and a moron as well. But otherwise OK.

Will be gawn by the end of the year with Walker and Hall and Id guess Yakkaboochi - dont let it hit your arse on the way out Dane.

 

[MarkT]

Not quick enough.
Who would you prefer him or either of the Shaw's, that is who he is up against?

Maybe he’s up against Heath who has a long way to go yet but I wouldn’t think Rhyce. Swan is ahead of heath. Personally I’d play him every time ahead of Morrison as well who I don’t think has anything at all to offer us unless we have a few injuries. Just a stupid recruiting move if you ask me. As for other competition, Lockyer staked a good claim on the weekend. Johnson did himself no favours once again although he’d want to be more in line for a midfield spot anyway. There really aren’t many others in line for Dane’s spot as a small backman. As a midfielder he’d struggle to get a game.

 

[joefootylover]

Lockyer. Johnson, Rhyce, Heath, Morrison, Swan. Thats six players looking at thh two small backman positions, and thats assuming we don't go with a flanker size player for one of the pockets, and that we don't play either Maxy or Clem on smaller forwards, both of whom can do a job.

If you play a flanker on one of the small forwards (like Davies, Rowe, O'Brian, Stanley, Cook or Toovey) or if you play Clem or Maxy on a small and bring in Jason Cloke then there is only one spot for a genuine small back pocket, thats six guys after one spot.

Now, IMHO that one bloke will be Lockyer every time, if he is not injured.

if you are playing two smalls then Morrison, Swan, Johno and Rhyce would all be in the mix for next in line, if you play 2 on the park and one on the bench then you might start considering Heath as well...

Now I don't know how things will pan out during the season, but to say there are not many players around 180cm 80kg who play across half back and want the back pocket/flank oppostie Tarkyn is just ill considered.

That said, I'm pretty happy that there is going to be competition for those spots and pressure for players like that to step up to midfield or wing if they want a game!
GO PIES! in 2006!

 

[understudy]

My boys coming along beautifully.

 

[Rozza44]

My boys coming along beautifully.

Definatley, having a great start to the season, Well done Swanny

 

[FIGJAM]

If he had skills and an extra yard of pace, he'd be a superstar!

Yet to crack the 50 game barrier, so we should give him more time to see if he can lift in the decision making area.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Great start to the season. #1 in AFL for marks and #3 in AFL for disposals.

 

[Jabso]

Great work but I still rate him more as a Nathan Brown (MELB) like backman. His disposals aren't damaging enough but he can probably improve that easily if he just took some risks. He seems to have a lot of time but I'm not sure if he can be accoutable in the midfield. Is a good clearance player and fantastic in traffic.
I have been saying play him in the back pocket but as long as he's playing in the mid ahead of Lockyer and Morrison (same type, but younger and better) it's alright.

 

[silverphoenix]

Where did yeah-nah go?

Throw some dead horse on those words mate, might go down a bit better!

 

[understudy]

Must admit my boy's even exceeded my expectations and certainly has proved his worth to be fair higher than many in the magpie army had anticipated.

 

[magpies42]

If he had skills and an extra yard of pace, he'd be a superstar!

Yet to crack the 50 game barrier, so we should give him more time to see if he can lift in the decision making area.

i dont see what is wrong with his skills? they are not buckleyesque but i would say they are above average!

 

[jefffff34]

Once again I was right.