End of year changes

[swansfan51]

I don't think any retirements have been announced, and most of us expect Jude to go around for another season, so we'll need to cut at least 3 off the senior list at the end of the year. Who do you think is in the at-risk category and who deserves another chance? I'd give Walsh and Spangher from this list another shot, Spangher played decently last year and didn't get a chance in 2012

Brett Meredith
Jesse White
Mark Seaby
Nathan Gordon
Jarred Moore
Matthew Spangher
Tommy Walsh
Andrejs Everitt? Less likely but has fallen out of contention recently

Who will get another year on the rookie list? Cunningham and Heath would be the most likely

Dylan McNeil
Campbell Heath
Jack Lynch
Eugene Kruger
Harry Cunningham
Shane Biggs

 

[grimlock]

Nathan Gordon, Tommy Walsh and Andrejs Everitt are contracted for next year.

Heath may well get a senior promotion, while I would keep Cunningham, Biggs and Lynch

 

[swansfan51]

With that being the case grimlock you'd think the first 3 will be Moore, Meredith and White?

 

[S120]

Moore we all know is gone. Seaby surely is as well and I think Gordon would be very lucky to get another year. Gordon and Meredith may well battle it out for a spot on the list but I think there is a very good chance both will be gone.

Of the rookie listed guys, I think Biggs, Cunningham, Lynch will all get another year on the rookie list (going on what I've read and heard from the coaches this year) and Heath will be promoted. That leaves Kruger and McNeil to be cut.

That would leave room for 3 draftees to be brought in on the senior list if the four above are gone (obviously not taking into account any potential trades).

EDIT: Didn't see Gordon had another year...still wouldn't surprise me to see him cut TBH

 

[grimlock]

With that being the case grimlock you'd think the first 3 will be Moore, Meredith and White?

Moore's definitely gone. Meredith has been emergency twice in the past month but I think that's because he was a good candidate to be the traveling emergency. I also wouldn't close the book on White's Swans career just yet, with Mumford, Pyke and Seaby hit with injuries this year (and Seaby also uncontracted), White may have usefulness as a backup backup ruckman.

 

[Dangas]

Moore's definitely gone. Meredith has been emergency twice in the past month but I think that's because he was a good candidate to be the traveling emergency. I also wouldn't close the book on White's Swans career just yet, with Mumford, Pyke and Seaby hit with injuries this year (and Seaby also uncontracted), White may have usefulness as a backup backup ruckman.

Could he ever be a backup backup forward?

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Brett Meredith
Jesse White
Mark Seaby
Nathan Gordon
Jarred Moore
Matthew Spangher
Tommy Walsh
Andrejs Everitt? Less likely but has fallen out of contention recently

s

I think it's more that he's injured.

 

[bedford]

Out Moore , Seaby, Spangher, Gordon. Trade , Mal and possibly White

 

[CAS79]

Gordon in the run home has been pushing an emergancy spot

He was only upgraded to our full list last draft and we've had a very stable list, Gordon will survive this year.

The only two dead set certs are Moore nd Seaby, from there other players depend on certain factors.

Given the factors of chasing a premiership I doubt the club is pushing the negitive feeling by openly discussing One name that has yet to be mentioned is TDL, Longmire is loath to use him and his last game saw him removed rapidly from the team. He may well be on the trade table.

However with the circumstances of the club pushing for a flag there wont be a lot of talk in the club about this communicated until after the season.

 

[bedford]

gordon will become a star at some NEAFL club, because thats his level and he has done well to go so far.

 

[Riders of Rohan]

I hope we hit this draft hard, let go of more than the required 3 players and start building for the future. We're going to face an exodus of players over the next few years and I don't believe we're ready for it.

Goodes, ROK, Shaw, Richards, LRT, Mattner, Bolton, Malceski and Pyke will all be gone from our starting 22 over the next 2-3 years.

The 3 definites imo are Seaby, Meredith and Moore. White might stay depending on their intent to draft a ruckmen or not, Spangher is not forcing his way into the senior team, his injuries are a fair way behind him and Walsh is taking his spot. Could be gone this year.

Hope we can snag a trade for TDL back west, but Fremantle don't need him, they have a superior version of him in Mayne and West coast really don't need him either with their forward line.

 

[Mick Oxlong]

I hope we hit this draft hard, let go of more than the required 3 players and start building for the future. We're going to face an exodus of players over the next few years and I don't believe we're ready for it.

Goodes, ROK, Shaw, Richards, LRT, Mattner, Bolton, Malceski and Pyke will all be gone from our starting 22 over the next 2-3 years.

The 3 definites imo are Seaby, Meredith and Moore. White might stay depending on their intent to draft a ruckmen or not, Spangher is not forcing his way into the senior team, his injuries are a fair way behind him and Walsh is taking his spot. Could be gone this year.

Hope we can snag a trade for TDL back west, but Fremantle don't need him, they have a superior version of him in Mayne and West coast really don't need him either with their forward line.

Don't mind what you're saying! If I could add to that a little bit by suggesting that TDL would be the perfect target for the other West...GWS! He has a good amount of experience, is still young and would certainly be a good forward foil for their talls. That said, they're a new great rival and I hope they suffer for years to come!

Depending on how far we make it into the finals, I've said this before and I'll say it again...Bolton may just retire at the end of this season! I would love him to continue in his current vein of form and have no doubt he could continue on for another season but there is that danger of playing for one season too long and I do hope I'm wrong!

 

[Tedeski]

I hope we hit this draft hard, let go of more than the required 3 players and start building for the future. We're going to face an exodus of players over the next few years and I don't believe we're ready for it.

Goodes, ROK, Shaw, Richards, LRT, Mattner, Bolton, Malceski and Pyke will all be gone from our starting 22 over the next 2-3 years.

The 3 definites imo are Seaby, Meredith and Moore. White might stay depending on their intent to draft a ruckmen or not, Spangher is not forcing his way into the senior team, his injuries are a fair way behind him and Walsh is taking his spot. Could be gone this year.

Hope we can snag a trade for TDL back west, but Fremantle don't need him, they have a superior version of him in Mayne and West coast really don't need him either with their forward line.

We've been hearing this since Kelly, Lockett & Schwass finished................................we've had our most successful era for 70 years after this.

You need to have more faith in our system. You might as well say over the next 2 to 8 years we'll lose a lot of players. Of course we will!

The key is who we gain in this period & for 10 years now, we have built a culture where we attract players to our club because from the other side, they have a great respect for the way we goi about things.

Now if a player struggles to get regular game time at a particular club, more often then not, if they fit a position we require filled in the team, then we offer them a contract with the promise of "do it our way, listen, work hard & do your time & we'll give you a start in our best 22".

Morton, Walsh, Everitt & Armstrong are the next batch that are in the process of hopefully taking the next step. They just have to be patient & have our gameplan & team discipline drilled into them whilst they play in the reserves. Their attitude towards this long education, determines how resilient they become & how much they will cherish their position in the team should they have the intestinal fortitude to go along with the process & make it. Unfortunately some get distracted along the way & won't make it.

We really only need a couple a year to hit the ground running with the opportunity we present them with. The competition is littered with players that aren't given the opportunity they desire for their best position on the ground. Have a look at Simpkin of Geelong. He was on our list but didn't step up for us. Geelong now have a player that at least was educated in our system & fine tuned by the Geelong system. He's doing OK! Our club is ahead of the pack with this 'new' way of recruiting.

Keep the faith because amongst those four (Morton, Walsh, Everitt & Armstrong), I believe we will develop at least two permanent fixtures in our best 22 for the next 5 or 6 years.
That's a better strike rate than some teams have fared by having 3 picks in the top ten in the draft! It's done Melbourne no favours.

Just my thoughts!

 

[Tedeski]

One more thing I'd like to add.

I really have a great feeling about Walsh.
Have a look how far he has had to come to get into the starting line up in our team for a Qualifying Final.

He has perhaps given up more & worked harder than any player on our list (along with big Mike) having left his home land. He wouldn't be high up on the payroll either.
Rest assured, the guy is giving his all for the club because he's made a big sacrifice. He wants it real bad & I liked what I saw last week against the Cats. He was far, far from our worst player having watched the replay for a second time.

He ran very hard both ways & just for that alone, he has earnt his place in the team tomorrow afternoon.

Judge him fairly in this game against the Crows. Don't just judge him by how many goals he kicks. Our forward pressure on the opposition's defence over the last few weeks has dropped off some what. Apart for the first Q against the Hawks. Watch Tommy Walsh's forward pressure. He'll pleasantly surprise you at how hard he works without the ball.

I have confidence in him becoming one of our first picked every week over the next few years. Hopefully this week is the beginning of his career.

 

[Syd]

* Applause *

Well said.

 

[Riders of Rohan]

We've been hearing this since Kelly, Lockett & Schwass finished................................we've had our most successful era for 70 years after this.

You need to have more faith in our system. You might as well say over the next 2 to 8 years we'll lose a lot of players. Of course we will!

The key is who we gain in this period & for 10 years now, we have built a culture where we attract players to our club because from the other side, they have a great respect for the way we goi about things.

Now if a player struggles to get regular game time at a particular club, more often then not, if they fit a position we require filled in the team, then we offer them a contract with the promise of "do it our way, listen, work hard & do your time & we'll give you a start in our best 22".

Morton, Walsh, Everitt & Armstrong are the next batch that are in the process of hopefully taking the next step. They just have to be patient & have our gameplan & team discipline drilled into them whilst they play in the reserves. Their attitude towards this long education, determines how resilient they become & how much they will cherish their position in the team should they have the intestinal fortitude to go along with the process & make it. Unfortunately some get distracted along the way & won't make it.

We really only need a couple a year to hit the ground running with the opportunity we present them with. The competition is littered with players that aren't given the opportunity they desire for their best position on the ground. Have a look at Simpkin of Geelong. He was on our list but didn't step up for us. Geelong now have a player that at least was educated in our system & fine tuned by the Geelong system. He's doing OK! Our club is ahead of the pack with this 'new' way of recruiting.

Keep the faith because amongst those four (Morton, Walsh, Everitt & Armstrong), I believe we will develop at least two permanent fixtures in our best 22 for the next 5 or 6 years.
That's a better strike rate than some teams have fared by having 3 picks in the top ten in the draft! It's done Melbourne no favours.

Just my thoughts!

You have more faith than me it seems, but a 2009 trade/draft period won't happen again, and it would be folly to keep staying on the same path expecting it to. We have the oldest list in the AFL and these retirements will hurt us significantly, just look at Adeliade when the bulk of their senior stars retired, they spent 3 years down the bottom before coming back up again, and I think something similar will happen to us. I think it was a mistake not to rest some senior players against the easier sides and bring in some of the future players to get some experience this year. Did we really need to go full strength against Dogs, GWS, GC, Melb.

 

[alanlau34]

In 2005 we had a very settled team. When you're pushing for a flag, you don't mess with the best 22.

The problem for our seconds is that our bottom six are very good. Most other teams rotate their younger players through the crappy players of the team.

I am not too worried about our old warriors. They are all midfielders who will spend their twilight years in the forward line (LRT is already there!), so the transfusion of new blood isn't a massive priority.

 

[J_Moore]

You have more faith than me it seems, but a 2009 trade/draft period won't happen again, and it would be folly to keep staying on the same path expecting it to. We have the oldest list in the AFL and these retirements will hurt us significantly, just look at Adeliade when the bulk of their senior stars retired, they spent 3 years down the bottom before coming back up again, and I think something similar will happen to us. I think it was a mistake not to rest some senior players against the easier sides and bring in some of the future players to get some experience this year. Did we really need to go full strength against Dogs, GWS, GC, Melb.

I share similar worries to you about our impending retirements. Where we differ from the crows is mid-age talent. They had virtually none. We have a fair bit.

If we drop off, I think it'll be back down to 7th-10th range, rather than the terrible seasons the Crows endured.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

What we dont want to happen is all our senior players retiring at the same time, this is what happened to our forward line Hall, O'Loughlin, Davis, Bradshaw all went within a year or 2 of each other resulting in a huge chasm.

 

[Syd]

Bradshaw was recruited in to replace Hall and lasted only a handfull of games so I wouldn't include him there.

Davo had done squat since the Geelong SF in 05, so again no big loss.

Hall and Micky being the noticeable ones but IF White had continued his upwards trajectory and teamed with Reid we'd have been covered for both those retirements. Sadly the Great White Hope wasn't.

 

[bedford]

Who's 60m bomb at 3Q time in the 06 GF got us back into it, Davis was good for us and still is

 

[SM]

Thing is, Goodes isn't a match winner these days, ROK isn't a deciding factor in matches like he used to be, and LRT is, well, LRT. The only player we'll miss is Richards. Yes I know everyone will say that Goodes is a one of a kind player and is a huge lift for the team when he is up and about, but if anything, this season has shown that we can at least cope without him, we aren't reliant on him any more.

 

[S120]

We will definitely miss ROK and Goodes as much as Ted. ROK has been a beast in close and very few forwards can give what Goodes gives even when not at full strength.

We can certainly cope without him playing his best but he would leave a huge gap if he was absent altogether. We did ok without him this year but we barely played any top level teams during that time.

 

[Tedeski]

Thing is, Goodes isn't a match winner these days, ROK isn't a deciding factor in matches like he used to be, and LRT is, well, LRT. The only player we'll miss is Richards. Yes I know everyone will say that Goodes is a one of a kind player and is a huge lift for the team when he is up and about, but if anything, this season has shown that we can at least cope without him, we aren't reliant on him any more.

The last chapter of his book hasn't even been thought of yet!
Perhaps today Goodesy will provide the author with some more quality material to include!

 

[SM]

The last chapter of his book hasn't even been thought of yet!
Perhaps today Goodesy will provide the author with some more quality material to include!

Yep I will happily swallow my words after today, however I more meant that we don't REQUIRE him to be a match winner to win, we can win even if he's quiet.