Media Swans Talk in the Media 2025

[Ticky009]

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[bedford]

It's sad

 

[The Blue Max]

I would absolutely love to see a healthy Mills in the midfield. I think that's been one of the things we have been missing in there, a two way player who can take control and stem the bleeding when we lose momentum.
I love Rowbottom, he's my favourite player but he just isn't a two way player, he's the one who has been picking up the slack for the other more attacking minded players. He needs help, and the midfield needs balance. Mills fits that role perfectly.

The only problem with this is that we still haven't replaced McCartin (the Paddy variety). Mills has been trying to plug that hole but he's not really that player either. This is the season we really need someone to step up. Serong, Edwards, Snell, heck even if MacDonald ends up back there I don't really care. They just need to get Tom and Melican some help back there.

Good point. The game hasn’t changed so much you can run an undersized backline.

Ramps can’t cover the talls anymore - it’s why Francis and Hamling have been filling the gap.

Neither showed they are up to it, sadly.

We still have a serious hole back there - our recruits MAY starburst - but I worry about our resilience - Oldies and Repats.

 

[dosser]

Good point. The game hasn’t changed so much you can run an undersized backline.

Ramps can’t cover the talls anymore - it’s why Francis and Hamling have been filling the gap.

Neither showed they are up to it, sadly.

We still have a serious hole back there - our recruits MAY starburst - but I worry about our resilience - Oldies and Repats.

Hamling has been an adequate replacement without being a star.

 

[RubbaDuck]

I strongly agree with this. I think it’s undoubtedly best for the side in the long and short term for someone to convincingly push him out - imo it’s most likely to be Serong - but having watched him for so long I think we all know he will not give up his spot without a fight and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him play a lot this year. Same with Lloyd and Cunningham.

For the sake of our side long term but also in 2026, we need enough competition to be pushing these guys out, but they are true professionals who have lasted this long by using everything at their disposal and will use the competition (and I’m sure the move to the rookie list in the case of Rampe and Lloyd) to motivate themselves for one last crack at it. “You sent me to the rookie list and kept Paddy Snell on the seniors list? I’ll show you” sort of stuff. Not personal but using anything to get themselves up.

You're right, of course.

We need to make it clear to all of our players that any spot if up for grabs, if they can better an incumbent player (or players) they should feel confident to put up their hand for a senior game.

An older but experienced list is not so much of a risk if there are genuine understudies ready to step into a role. The "overnight miracles" that Geelong seem to unearth every year are mostly just very good players waiting behind someone better. Some of them have had to wait a long time but those understudies allow them to manage older stars. It gives them true depth across virtually every position.

In both 2022 and 2024 our lack of depth came to bite us in finals. We risked playing Sam Reid because we didn't have anyone ready to step into his role. McDonald was a huge loss to our 2024GF team, as was Mills.

Last year's run of injuries presented countless opportunities for our less experienced players to show their abilities, push their claims or at the very least, to grab some experience and confidence at senior level.

Injuries aside, the VFL is the development arena for young or returning players who need game time, experience or just to work on their craft. So our VFL team and development coaching must align with the gameplan of the senior team to offer a clear pathway to seniors.

The best teams are bloody hard to crack into, but the challenge to get there will probably do more for a player's career than, say, getting a few easy games at Norf.

Serong could turn out to be a bloody wonderful pickup, but we won't know until he genuinely earns a spot in the seniors