Dane Swan

[soreplums]

I guess it's all about finding that balance. Ball comes bak so what benefits the team most? Swanny in the midfield with beams? Blair and sidey more time up forward or do we get a better return having beams, sidey and Blair more in the middle with swan more time up forward?

 

[Fruit]

S

I guess it's all about finding that balance. Ball comes bak so what benefits the team most? Swanny in the midfield with beams? Blair and sidey more time up forward or do we get a better return having beams, sidey and Blair more in the middle with swan more time up forward?

Surely if three of Swan, Ball, Pendlebury and Beams are in the centre square at the bounces we would have the strongest on-ball brigade in the league. Obviously they will all have quick spells on the pine so one of that quartet will generally always be having a break. If Sidebottom, Blair, Thomas etc have their turns in the rotations to complement them I am sure that we will be a force tough to beat.

 

[soreplums]

S

Surely if three of Swan, Ball, Pendlebury and Beams are in the centre square at the bounces we would have the strongest on-ball brigade in the league. Obviously they will all have quick spells on the pine so one of that quartet will generally always be having a break. If Sidebottom, Blair, Thomas etc have their turns in the rotations to complement them I am sure that we will be a force tough to beat.

I agree, but which Midfield/forward combination would provide the best return on the scoreboard?

 

[Stripes B and W]

I would expect Swannies minutes to be spread as per 2012 providing he remains fit. He is a goal kicking mid anyway, averages about 1 goal per game for the past 6 or seven seasons, which is a pretty solid return.
He is a remarkably consistent player, no reason this won't continue.
Interesting to look at a player like Porplyzia, strong body, excellent one on one and very strong mark who plays almost permanent forward. He has around the same number of shots on goals as Dane ( apart from one year ) but is a much superior converter.
LeCras has a great record in his past 3 years of football, also a much better converter than Dane, approx 2.5 goals per game. His ability to mark on the lead mostly, and crumb goals really makes him an elite small/medium forward.

I'd play Dane as a forward ony if the return was 2.5 goals per game minimum, 60 goals minimum per season. he would need almost 120 shots on goal. This is a huge number unless you are a Buddy, Jack R has not had this number of shots in the past 2 seasons..
He'll impact most as a mid, which i am sure is where he will play.

 

[Fruit]

I agree, but which Midfield/forward combination would provide the best return on the scoreboard?

I am figuring that with the return of Ball and the emergence of Beams we wil be powerful in the middle while allowing Sidebottom and Blair to spend more time forward where they were both so important in the 2010 finals. Maybe it's the ability to use them forward more rather than in the middle that will give us a boost particularly with more crumbling opportunities that may arise also because of Ball's comeback to the team.

 

[loki04]

I'd like to see him spend more time fwd but not permanently yet, if we are winning the midfield battle then sending Swan forward is good as when he has gone forward he looked our most dangerous goal avenue even more so then Cloke.

 

[vjknight]

ive been advocating sending swan forward for 2 years now. its been mostly about what he brings to the forward line that is different from what we have had, and likely any other side has had before - someone with the unmatchable combination of burst, strength, cunning, and it must be said 'sufficient' accuracy in front of goal. i dont buy the robbing peter argument as he could pinch hit in the midfield anytime when needed, and we do have a nice list of A grade mids outside of swan. sure against the high end sides he might get more mid time, but when playing the rest its an opportunity to build percentage by either swannie snagging a bag or creating space for others.

just an opinion.

 

[Nardz]

Frankly, I find the use of the term "swan being pushed out of the midfield" highly offensive.

The guy is one of the best midfielders we've ever seen in black and white.. He won't be pushed out of anything.

That being said, I don't mind the idea of him drifting forward and kicking a few goals.. but there's no question about where he belongs for that centre square bounce with the match on the line.

 

[Cory]

According to Maxwell, Swans in career best shape.

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2013-01-14/swan-in-careerbest-shape-maxwell

He just looks in such good shape and so fit – I haven't seen him like this in the 11 years I've been playing here with him. It just shows that he is working at all those things.
Nick Maxwell

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2013-01-14/swan-in-careerbest-shape-maxwell

 

[legendstatus]

Great a positive article about Dabe Swan - can only mean one thing, "the good article JINX" .. be prepared for a drama now !!!!

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

My preference would be that he gets less posessions, but does more damage with the ones he DOES get.

 

[soreplums]

He did innately looks a lot trimmer in the latest photos of him at training

 

[Collingwoodity]

The same as previous years.

No need to change him.

Would have been probably 2nd in brownlow not missing 2 games suspended plus dealing with his obesity

 

[jonbe54]

My preference would be that he gets less posessions, but does more damage with the ones he DOES get.

It is what it is Ed, he probably runs himself into the ground so much it effects his accuracy of disposal a bit but anyway when he has it the opposition doesn't and he always ATTACKS with his run. More accuracy would be nice but you and I both know he's a walk up start in any side in the league.

 

[KJpie]

1- Yes
2- Yes
3 - No
He is most valuable to us spending more time as a leading half forward in 2013 imo

Ditto RE: 1, 2 ,3 FF,

Yeh, more valuable as an outside mid/ forward.

Just my opinion, but when he was asked to put his head over the ball in 2012 a few times he did not fully commit and even pulled out of the contest at times. I'm a big believer that Ball was a missing ingredient last year especially during the finals.

The positive, obviously Beam's massive improvement!

 

[KJpie]

My preference would be that he gets less posessions, but does more damage with the ones he DOES get.

My preference would be that he gets "more" possessions, and does more damage with the ones he DOES get.

Yes I know, cake and eat it!

 

[Soul_Pie]

My preference would be that he gets less posessions, but does more damage with the ones he DOES get.

Same, but my other preference also that he is stronger defensively. Look at that Sydney team, in particular the midfielders; absolute non-negotiable accountability, it reminded me so strongly of our 2010 side. Swan was down this year in this department.

If those two flaws are sorted out (his disposal and defensive side) then he will once again be the best mid in the competition. But by the same token I'd love to have him as a forward because he could easily kick 50 goals and it's also an area of need. If only we had two of him.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

So its agreed then.

Swan has to get more of the ball, dispose of the ball better, kick more goals, lay more tackles, run harder, be a better leader, lose weight, behave himself off field, and be nicer to his mum.

 

[KJpie]

So its agreed then.

Swan has to get more of the ball, dispose of the ball better, kick more goals, lay more tackles, run harder, be a better leader, lose weight, behave himself off field, and be nicer to his mum.

I'll simply settle for a premiership medal around his neck. Stating the obvious, there earned big time.

 

[Dave06]

The game is won in the middle. Swan is a devastating midfielder. You keep him there.

This. He will spend some time forward as usual but his running capacity plays a huge part in how damaging he is. If you put him forward more often he is running less, meaning his opponent is too, which gives them greater opportunity to close him down.

On a different note, our entire midfield was defensively poor last year, reckon its a bit harsh for people to be laying so much of the blame at Swanny's feet.

 

[Fruit]

Defe

Same, but my other preference also that he is stronger defensively. Look at that Sydney team, in particular the midfielders; absolute non-negotiable accountability, it reminded me so strongly of our 2010 side. Swan was down this year in this department.

If those two flaws are sorted out (his disposal and defensive side) then he will once again be the best mid in the competition. But by the same token I'd love to have him as a forward because he could easily kick 50 goals and it's also an area of need. If only we had two of him.

Good point. I know that when we played the Kangaroos they put a huge focus on the fact that Collingwoods mid fielders had been running forward of the ball and were not giving the opposition enough respect. While Swan missed that game he was clearly one of the players they thought had slipped into that habit.

 

[Rusty22]

You know the thing about this bloke is that he stays in the midfield, dominates with 35+ disposals and kicks 3+ goals, and now we have another one in beams.
Swanny is a freak, ive actually never seen him being caught holding the ball.

 

[wandering123]

Swan causing a little bit of stir in West Vic. See Gary Rohan responded
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4768524883315&id=1001232864&set=o.176445089153648&__user=0

More to the point, the local newspaper has made an ass of themselves publishing a cropped photo