Mid Season Review (Players)

Papermate

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[MENTION=98]Forbes[/MENTION] [MENTION=628]Raffi[/MENTION] [MENTION=3746]Goodes[/MENTION] [MENTION=131]THE ROCK[/MENTION] [MENTION=68]Zarrix[/MENTION] @otherswansposters

#2 Tony Armstrong

Games played: 3 (2 as sub)
List ranking: 15-25

A new recruit, Armstrong has played limited games so far this year, but his last game against Essendon was quite outstanding and in the first half in particular he would have been in our best five on the ground. He's shown that he is very capable of a role along the HBF, and once one of our older brigade down back retire, I'd expect him to take over. At the moment he is on the fringes of the 22, but I would like to see him get an extended run because his pace and elite foot skills are can be of great use to us. One thing that I really like about Tony though, is how much he enjoys playing for the club, you can see it means everything to him.

Grade: C+

#14 Craig Bird

Games played: 11 (1 as sub)
List ranking: 12-18

After starting of the year on fire Bird has had a down patch in the last month. He leads the competition in tackles, and has been a doing a job on the best midfielders each week as our predominant tagger. What made him so effective in the beginning of the year however, was his ability to impact offensively and if he can bring that back into his game then he has the potential to be one our ten best players. His place in the 22 is now very much secure and he will be a big part of our midfield in years to come, and will most likely be our main tagger for the best inside midfielders in the game.

Grade: B+

#24 Jude Bolton

Games played: 11
List ranking: 8-13

Just a machine year after year. I thought that he would slow down significantly this year and finally retire, however he has proved me wrong by having one of his best seasons ever. His ability in close and in the midfield is really something else and he is one of the best leaders at our club. His tenacity and intensity is among the best in the competition and over the course of the year I have really grown to appreciate what an amazing player he is and has been for the last ten years. One thing which is amazing though, is he is also a very skilled player and I very rarely see him cough up the ball and around goals he is a dead eye dick. Guys like him are what makes it so fulfilling in supporting the club, and you really do just run out of superlatives when talking about Jude. (L)

Grade: A+

#8 Trent Dennis-Lane

Games played: 5 (1 as sub)
List ranking: 18-25

TDL is really an interesting player. When he is in the team we really do have a much better forward structure and he is very capable of kicking multiple goals on a consistent basis. His creativity and composure around goals is something which is pretty rare amongst our team and usually when the ball goes to him, it's in good hands. Unfortunately for him, his tackling pressure isn't really where it should be and he just doesn't find enough of the ball to make him a lock for the best twenty two each week. Right now his position in the team is very tentative and he is probably competing with Mitch Morton for a spot in the side.

Grade: C-

#13 Andrejs Everitt

Games played: 7 (4 as sub)
List ranking: 18-25

Another one of those players who are right on the fringes of the team is Everitt. One of things which has really plagued Everitt has been where he has been played in the team and how it effects his performance. As a defender or as the substitute he finds it very hard to impact the game and just drifts out the game too easily. When he is played on the wing and the HFF however, he really seems to come into his own with his pace and big kicking. His game against Essendon was very promising and he showed that he really can be a good player at this level, and along with good games against North and Hawthorn he should be in the best 22 imo. If he can get a sustained run in the wing/HFF position, I am very confident he can become another Swans recycled success story.

Grade: C+

#37 Adam Goodes

Games played: 5
List ranking: 1-2

It's been an interesting season for Adam, with injury taking him out for 5 weeks and for really the first time in his career. He started off pretty slowly as usual in the first couple of games but then really was beginning to turn it on just before he got injured against Adelaide. If he hadn't of gone down, no doubt in my mind that we would have won that game and would probably be sitting on top of the ladder at the moment. It will be key to our season however that he comes back from injury strong and most likely if he can contribute two or so goals a game in the forward line while he fully recovers.

Grade: B

#39 Heath Grundy

Games played: 11
List ranking: 8-13

Despite still being somewhat frustrating by foot and still prone to making horrible decisions in the backline at times, Grundy has been very dependable this year. Along with Richards, he has comprised one of the better KPD tandems in the league. I don't remember a player really getting a hold of him so far this year except Roughead in the first quarter in Round 5. Grundy's position in the side is as safe as houses, and he does the job week in and week out on the opposition's second big man while providing good rebound, so we can't really ask for much more from him.

Grade: B

#4 Daniel Hannebery

Games played: 11 (1 as sub)
List ranking: 8-13

Hanners has really been progressing very nicely this year and has become another one of our consistent midfielders. I really liken him to Steele Sidebottom in the way he is able to garner his possessions from his huge work rate and you can always seem him loping along the wings of the SCG racking up the ball. This year he is averaging 22 disposals and 4 tackles a game which is very pleasing and he has really worked on his kicking in the off season has it has improved vastly. At only 21, Hanners is really progressing well and should build on his game for the rest of the year; providing a great outside presence for the midfield.

Grade: B

#15 Kieren Jack

Games played: 11
List ranking: 3-8

Kieren has really upped his game this year after having a horror 2011 due to ankle injuries. While he isn't at his B&F winning best from 2010 he has been our second best midfielder behind Kennedy this year and is still very capable of doing a tagging job if required. Jack has been one of the keys to the Swans outside game and along with Jetta has been our best in terms providing run and carry from the midfield. His pace and disposal is always top notch and even when doing tagging jobs he is able to rack up the ball at will. His leadership is also a very evident part of his game and I have no doubt he will take over as captain from Goodes when he retires.

Grade: A-

#32 Lewis Jetta

Games played: 11
List ranking: 3-8

Amazing. Terrific. Brilliant. Words can not describe how good Jetta has been this season. After a poor 2011, their were queries on his ability to make a consistent impact at AFL level. Boy has he dispelled those rumours this year, with three months of absolutely breath taking football. Jetta is almost the centrepiece of our offensive structure with his blistering pace and ability to cut the forward press to pieces, and has managed to score 27 goals this year, 5th in the coleman! Not only is he scoring goals but he is racking the ball too and his possessions are always bloody brilliant. Suffice to say it's a very very good thing when he gets the ball. "Thank god Jetta has it, now something good will happen" has been a key phrase for me this year.

Grade: A++++ (No wait, that last + is Drambuie.)

#34 Alex Johnson

Games played: 11
List ranking: 11-15

Like our whole backline this year, AJ has been rock solid. For a second year player, he is so very reliable in shutting down his man and providing rebound from the back 50. He is prone to the odd error sometimes but most of the time is very calm and assured. He has really dominated in a couple of games this year and has the ability to rack up 20+ touches which is pretty impressive for a tall. His spot in the side is also safe as houses, which is very impressive given he's only in his second year at the club. AJ displays all the traits of being a 200+ gamer for the Swans in defence.

Grade: B+
 

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DavyRed

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#2
Generally okay but Tony Armstrong a C+ while TDL a C-, how does that work? Don't get me wrong, I like Armstrong and agree he's got a great future with us but how do you think he's contributed more than TDL? I'd argue that TDL has had much more of an impact than Armstrong. TDLs tackling may not be up to Bolts' standards but his effort is much better than last year. My view is that he adds a lot to our forward line - right now more than Armstrong's added to the half-back line.

Also, I'd make Johnson a B-. I think he's been a little less dependable this year than last. I've watched him a lot and he does seem to make a few too many clangers.
 

Sanecow

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#5
This wasn't just a matter of selecting the 16 players in the 700-player AFL system who I perceive to have the least talent. Realistically, those guys should be that far off getting a game that they are just anonymous names on a team list.

14. Jesse White (Sydney)
Hard to include another member of the White clan but the classic illustration that an athlete does not a footballer make. Wonderful physical tools but seemingly going backwards in terms of development and opportunities.
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/blogs/whi...wrongs-inaugural-bottom16-20120613-209km.html
 
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