Player Watch Sam Swadling

[Rusty Beam]

Ok so what's his AFL level role look like ? Flanker ? Wing ?

Either of those early on. But ultimately he’s a midfielder

 

[satty]

Not to mention this isn't/shouldn't be his final playing size. He is only going to get more stronger and bigger in size.

He will be a nightmare to play on, size, physicality and endurance .

 

[cfc19902010]

It's Dan's 200th next week

I hope he goes in harder than he did in his 199th

 

[Chrispiesssss]

Well, that’s going to be like having a birthday on Christmas Day.

That’s my reality

 

[soreplums]

Well, that’s going to be like having a birthday on Christmas Day.

My mate has his birthday on Christmas Day

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Get him in vs the Dogs.

I'd honestly like him in this week over Sidebottom but there's no way he's missing Pendles' milestone.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

I hope he goes in harder than he did in his 199th

Almost impossible for him not to.

 

[pablo disco bar]

Just play him

 

[satty]

Think I am going to go ahead and order swadling guernsey, sense his debut coming soon.

 

[ramrod12]

Hey guys big swaddling fan and hoping he gets a game. But saw a very average game on paper today. What was the reasoning for this and do you still feel he is a chance next week

 

[TradeDraft]

Hey guys big swaddling fan and hoping he gets a game. But saw a very average game on paper today. What was the reasoning for this and do you still feel he is a chance next week

Was in the Forward Pocket so barley saw the ball

Made a Difference when put him in the Midfield/Down Back

 

[gouki88]

Hey guys big swaddling fan and hoping he gets a game. But saw a very average game on paper today. What was the reasoning for this and do you still feel he is a chance next week

He played forward in the first half and barely touched the footy. Think he had 17 or so disposals in the last 2.5 quarters once he played closer to the footy.

Think he’s a serious chance soon, if not next week. Looks like they’re prepping him for senior footy where he’ll likely play in the front half

 

[satty]

He played forward in the first half and barely touched the footy. Think he had 17 or so disposals in the last 2.5 quarters once he played closer to the footy.

Think he’s a serious chance soon, if not next week. Looks like they’re prepping him for senior footy where he’ll likely play in the front half

It is a big mistake to play him in the front half. He has never played there in the vfl nor in the juniors.

Fly is big on setting players up for success, and in the case of swadling that will have to be by starting him on the half back line.

It is where he is succeeding in the vfl and it is where he should be starting in the AFL.

 

[gouki88]

It is a big mistake to play him in the front half. He has never played there in the vfl nor in the juniors.

Fly is big on setting players up for success, and in the case of swadling that will have to be by starting him on the half back line.

It is where he is succeeding in the vfl and it is where he should be starting in the AFL.

He rested forward plenty last year?

 

[satty]

He rested forward plenty last year?

I didn't see any mention of forward time in his draft scouting report. Unless I missed something.

Even then, why take him away from the position where he has developed confidence and a certain game sense.

There is no doubt he has the size to succeed in the forward line, I mean look at him . Maybe we just hold off on that until he has a firm footing at the AFL level.

 

[gouki88]

I didn't see any mention of forward time in his draft scouting report. Unless I missed something.

Even then, why take him away from the position where he has developed confidence and a certain game sense.

There is no doubt he has the size to succeed in the forward line, I mean look at him . Maybe we just hold off on that until he has a firm footing at the AFL level.

Sam Swadling Draft Profile

West Perth prospect Sam Swadling is a consistent accumulator who seems to find the ball wherever he plays.

central.rookieme.com

Swadling is also adept at providing a target when resting forward. His size and strength make him a hard matchup for defenders, allowing him regular goal scoring opportunities. Although he did not make the most of them this season. Still, given Swadling is hardly the crash-and-bash type - despite his size, there is a school of thought that he may well end up a better forward than midfielder. That dual-position potential is always welcome, especially when it comes to those highly sought after hybrid midfielder-forwards.

While capable of providing a marking option when resting forward, Swadling was let down by his goalkicking this season. He finished with five goals and 15 behinds from scoring shots across all grades in 2025, a step down from his 15.9 as a bottom-ager in 2024.

 

[satty]

Sam Swadling Draft Profile

West Perth prospect Sam Swadling is a consistent accumulator who seems to find the ball wherever he plays.

central.rookieme.com

So it appears that has had very limited exposure there.

So personally I still feel that same , we should have him play off the half back, and role him up to the wing or even given him some midfield minutes.

Once he has established himself in those roles, then we slowly introduce him to the forward line and allow him to work on his forward craft.

 

[stormskye]

It is a big mistake to play him in the front half. He has never played there in the vfl nor in the juniors.

Fly is big on setting players up for success, and in the case of swadling that will have to be by starting him on the half back line.

It is where he is succeeding in the vfl and it is where he should be starting in the AFL.

Why are you so strong on this? Do you have a coaching/development background? Because we often play mids etc in multiple positions. The coaches know far more about developing him than you or I.

All his draft notes mentioned he spent plenty of time forward.

One snippet of scouting notes:. “Compounding Swadling’s impact is his ability to go forward, offering a dangerous option one-out inside 50. Some recruiters believe he is more suited to the attacking third”

 

[satty]

Why are you so strong on this? Do you have a coaching/development background? Because we often play mids etc in multiple positions. The coaches know far more about developing him than you or I

It is my opinion, more than welcome to ignore it.

 

[stormskye]

It is my opinion, more than welcome to ignore it.

I’m was curious because of how strong about it you’ve been.

 

[Horaceg]

So it appears that has had very limited exposure there.

So personally I still feel that same , we should have him play off the half back, and role him up to the wing or even given him some midfield minutes.

Once he has established himself in those roles, then we slowly introduce him to the forward line and allow him to work on his forward craft.

Maybe trialling him forward to see if there’s anything to work with, anyone that racks up the pill should be allowed to do that, seems a waste up forward unless having a bit of a rest.

 

[satty]

I’m was curious because of how strong about it you’ve been.

We have already seen Collingwood play around with allan's positioning by playing him everywhere for the first few years aside from inside mid which happens to be his natural position.

Now according to Jen , it seems the Collingwood staff feel they may have miscalculated by not playing him as an inside mid.

I would prefer if we don't do the same thing with swadling.

 

[manicpie]

We have already seen Collingwood play around with allan's positioning by playing him everywhere for the first few years aside from inside mid which happens to be his natural position.

Now according to Jen , it seems the Collingwood staff feel they may have miscalculated by not playing him as an inside mid.

I would prefer if we don't do the same thing with swadling.

Most young mids start up forward. They don't have the extra pressure of having to defend a lot. HFF allows them to to be involved in play further up the ground more. Turnovers don't hurt as much when forward also. There's method in the maddnes

 

[satty]

Most young mids start up forward. They don't have the extra pressure of having to defend a lot. HFF allows them to to be involved in play further up the ground more. Turnovers don't hurt as much when forward also. There's method in the maddnes

Nick started at the half back line, schezel same as well.

It seems it is a better from a development standpoint to have them start there and then move up.

Forces them to really find tune their decision making and ability to read the play faster under tough conditions.

That's where I have been coming from.

That said, nick and Harry are freaks so they could be the exceptions rather than the rule.

 

[SchuPie]

Most young mids start up forward. They don't have the extra pressure of having to defend a lot. HFF allows them to to be involved in play further up the ground more. Turnovers don't hurt as much when forward also. There's method in the maddnes

I think he has Danger traits (don't come at me) so he could be a really good forward
I just wouldn't have put him there today