The Swift thread

[September_Glory]

Been mentioned before, if he had been given more opportunities then Ebert, who is likely to be the better player?

Ebert. Heart and character > talent.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

Been mentioned before, if he had been given more opportunities then Ebert, who is likely to be the better player?

Ebert still?

 

[rhinowce]

Been mentioned before, if he had been given more opportunities then Ebert, who is likely to be the better player?

Why compare him too Ebert??

 

[richy4]

1) Swift dominating?? A very generous assessment IMO.

2) Couple of BOG's? Again generous. Did put in some decent and promising performances at the end of '09. That's getting to be a long time ago now. This was after a few games, not his first two.

3) High standard from the get go? Once again very generous, and rewriting history.

4) Excellent WAFL form? Others not? The majority of Eagles players do well in the WAFL. Dalziell for example, regularly accumulates very high stats. Swift's stats looks good, but a lot of cheap, ineffective possessions like Dalziell.

5) Others don't dominate WAFL like Swift? Simply incorrect! Jordan Jones who you picked out to compare with Swift has been regularly getting very high stats with a much poorer team. Masten invariably gets 30+ games when he plays WAFL.

As a WC supporter I would like to see all our recruits become stars at the highest level. I try to take an unbiased or if anything generous attitude to them all. After a few years if they haven't made it, I guess you have to give up. I've tried to see the best in Swift and still hold out some hope for him. But the fact is, he is a poor kick if not a woeful kick, and this is the most basic and important skill of the game. He has made some improvement from last year, e.g. not getting done for HTB like he was last year. A second thing about Swift is that he doesn't have the physical strength or mass to compete at the highest level. He gets thrown around like a rag doll. I can't say whether he is arrogant or not, but I remember a WC site interview he did last year where he said he was focussing on core strength not muscle mass. The guy needs more weight and power, does he think he is Chris Judd or someone? His game yesterday was very poor, surely you would have to agree with that? I would say if he's not traded, and there's no point giving him away for nothing, he might have one more year to establish himself.

Swift was very good in those games late in 09. Call it generous, he was very promising then.

Jordan Jones has had a couple of good weeks. Whenever Swift plays for Claremont he generally has really good games.

I understand why he was going for the core strength but putting on some muscle mass should also be a main focus. But it's not like he chooses what to do, there are professionals for that sort of thing. I may have too much hope for him, but i'm not just basing it on the games in the past before this season. He hasn't been that bad as people are making him out to be, besides yesterday. He may be weak in tackles, but people who say he lacks intensity are just wrong. He puts his body on the line and is throwing himself at the ball.

When he is playing in the middle, he looks very good. He is Kerr-like with his handpasses it's always creative and attacking. His kicking would be less of a problem too. A big problem for me is the position he is playing, if he is going to get more opportunities at another club i would like to see him get traded. He has the talent.

 

[ioppolo]

Bad example, let's try him and Masten? Even now I rate Swift over Masto.

 

[September_Glory]

I've followed Swift and backed him hard, but it's becoming a struggle.

If this talk of Shuey going off on field is true, it wouldn't surprise me. We've developed a tightly knit group and Swift doesn't seem to be part of it. Seems like a bit of a loner post-game, doesn't seem to have a bond with anyone. I remember the only time he looked like he had a mate on the park was when Ryan Neates was playing in the pre-season. His current form is just so out of whack with how the rest of the team is playing; no intensity whatsoever.

That's a shrewd observation. I thought (didn't want to say at the time) the same thing following the great Geelong win.

I remember watching the on field celebration and there was Tom, walking around mostly by himself when everyone is pumping each other up.

Thought it was a stark image at the time

He's a very smart guy, 99.5 TER or something, maybe he's thought too hard about the game and forgotten the basics. Regardless, I think he's gone; it's unfortunate for him that we 've gone so well to date, because otherwise he and Stevens would've gotten a lot more gametime.

Knowledge is Hassle. (Academic intelligence is over rated anyway imo)

His intelligence makes the lack of improvement more damning in my eyes. Intellectually, I'm sure he's fully aware of his deficiencies. But physically and mentally, he's just not there.

The optimist in me says he is just one or two breakout games away from feeling like he "belongs" again. But the way the team is going, those opportunities are almost gone.

 

[Lion El'Johnson]

Ebert is far better. Wins contested ball better and far superior mark. Isn't making as many errors by foot this year either.

And no, Swift did not dominate from the start. If you think back his first games were exceptionally ordinary. He was given a good run, played some good games but has gone backwards since (through injury and therefore confidence?). I don't know what West Coast should do with him but..

 

[mattyc75]

was excited when he was drafted due to his pre knee op reputation.(But then i was excited when we drafted notte too).
since then i just dont think he has shown that he can be an integral part of a winning team.
would be a good time to see if he can flourish at afl level by trading him

 

[The Dodger]

Been mentioned before, if he had been given more opportunities then Ebert, who is likely to be the better player?

Not much of fan of Ebert's game on the weekend, but you can see why he gets more opportunity than some of the "more talented" younger players on our list.

 

[bali-dog]

Oh come on, Hams is 25 this year and Strijk is turning 24! They were drafted as mature aged recruits, that's not a fair comparison at all! Why don't you point to Troy Wilson and ask why every player drafted doesn't have a body like that?

At the start of this year Smith was lucky to stay in the side, but was able get continual games and improve. While Darling and Shuey were draft steals.

so theyre actually 23 and 24?..how many AFL game have they played..the point is they bring something to the game..why did smith get continual games-emac+waters were out? but he proved himself..smith apparently has had a whole lot less time and games to adjust to AFL,and wow, has he adjusted in a very short time..okay,he's had continual gametime or consecutive matches..but we were having these discussions about masten,and to a lesser extent,swift,last year..so whats changed now? last year smith was not in sight,but talked about as a hopeful..in half a season he's grabbed his oppurtunity and stepped up..masten has certainly had his chances,and swift to a lesser extent..so next year will we still be talking the same things about swift+masten,or will they have stepped up..or faded.
and as i said..if swift(and masten) step up-great..i'm happy for them,and the team.

 

[Arecsa]

Ebert is far better. Wins contested ball better and far superior mark. Isn't making as many errors by foot this year either.

Ebert's heart and toughness cannot be question, but every week he still makes multiple frustrating errors by foot or hand.

 

[KaaL]

Ebert and Swift are the 2 that should not be the one kicking the ball out of defense. It usually just comes right back!

 

[Arecsa]

Swift just needs more time. Kid will be a gun, already seen glimpses of what he can do with some confidence and form. He'll get there.

 

[the harry]

4 weeks ago Swift was still 20, my point was Hams and Strijk are 3 and 4 years older than Swift and this time next year Swift will still be younger than Hams when he debuted and the same age as Strijk at debut, who can't crack more than a game as a sub this year.

Smith has played 13 games this year (for a total of 21) and at a guess without being dropped this season? Also I would guess playing in our backline this year would be easier than up the field last year.

All I'm saying is comparing Swift to some of the players you chose meant it was destined to be unfavourable and he still has time before being a write of.

 

[eagles rule]

I have hope Swift can make it but it appears like he is under pressure to play a certain role for the team that doesn`t suit his natural game and this is leading to indecisions with his decision making .I don`t recall him kicking with the hunched back action this seems like a new flawed action .

 

[Sammy J]

Keep the faith. He has played like, 20 games. Of those 20 he has played probably 5-6 outstanding games, some ok ones and some poor ones. He's inconsistent - which is a byproduct of him being young and being in and out of the team.

He was pretty bad yesterday, but I still believe he'll be a pretty good player long term. Finds space well, just needs a bit more bulk and hardness. Needs more time.

 

[Avalor]

Swifty has been found wanting this year, but I wouldn't write him off. He has talent. I don't think any of us on BF know the inside story on him, and there always is one / niggles , studies, developing perceived weaknesses, etc...

Another preseason and it might be a different story. I'm prepared to wait and see.

 

[Winky]

Keep the faith. He has played like, 20 games. Of those 20 he has played probably 5-6 outstanding games, some ok ones and some poor ones. He's inconsistent - which is a byproduct of him being young and being in and out of the team.

He was pretty bad yesterday, but I still believe he'll be a pretty good player long term. Finds space well, just needs a bit more bulk and hardness. Needs more time.

Its good to see some positive views and you are absolutely right. The only guy I would be happy to see the back of in the eagles squad is JON and that is simply because despite his obvious talents he simply does not look like beingan AFL player despite multiple chances with Richmond and to a lesser degree WCE (Mainly Pre season). Swift is unfortunate in that with all players firing his simply isn't in the best 22 at the moment and that means he gets a few games and is then dropped. There is no question on his bravery or committment nor in his willingness to work hard. He does make an occassional skill error but so do a number of players, At the moment I would prefer swift over Masten simply because he works harder and actually is harder at the ball. Masten has talent but needs to hold the ball a bit longer and work harder to get it. I've watched both Swift and J Jones a lot this year and there is no question Swift has more value as a midfielder. I hope and am sure Jones will be OK but will be a solid player rather than a star.

If you look at the history of most posters on this board over the past few years the following would have happened:

Worsfold gone; Sumich gone; Cox traded; Kerr traded; Butler traded; Embley gone; McKenzie gone; Ebert gone; Masten gone; Nikoski gone; Priddis gone; Lynch gone; Rosa gone; Smith gone; A Selwood gone; B Jones gone; Oh...and we would have recruited Fevola....fills you with confidence regarding judgement doesn't it?

We would have been travellin

 

[bali-dog]

All I'm saying is comparing Swift to some of the players you chose meant it was destined to be unfavourable and he still has time before being a write of.

point taken..
well, i hope he defies my point, and starts impacting on games..that would give us some required midfield depth,and be good for all.
i'd still like to see what koby stevens has got to offer..

re the above Winky post-i got snipey on the coaches at times last year,and embley and lynch..who didnt..but never got caught up in that 'trade them' mentality..and certainly never a hate thing.?

 

[happy_eagle]

He's not best 22, and will make way for Kerr

 

[wceblog]

As I said in one of the other threads the big difference I notice between Swift 2009 vs Swift 2011 is he's missing that burst of pace to get himself out of congestion/trouble.

I recall him trying and failing to breakaway from Matt Thomas vs PTA and similarly Callan Ward this weekend and both of them are deficient in pace.

Even at WAFL level he doesn't appear to be breaking away from anyone like he was doing repeatedly during his first year (lots of videos up on youtube if anyone needs a reminder).

To add to that whenever he gets the ball he seems to be stationary or moving slowly, which compounds his lack of pace issue and can kill the momentum built up in plays even if he is accurate with disposal.

He needs to re-discover that pace plus get much stronger through the hips and core so he can hold his ground under physical contact (it seems as if he's become less powerful during his time at the club?).

 

[Reminiscence]

I am a Swift fan. No doubt about it, but watching him last game was really disappointing. I still have faith in him, and I think his diminishing game has been the result of a role change. I would much prefer him in the center square + stoppages guts, but seems to be playing away from the contest, and being the link man, which isn't his strength. He has been inconsistent this year, but he deserves another year at least before judgement is written off.

I will admit he has been woeful at times, and downright cringe worthy in others. But he's shown some good things, and atleast his handballs are still elite.

 

[mattyc75]

Ebert's heart and toughness cannot be question, but every week he still makes multiple frustrating errors by foot or hand.

as does emac and schofield,usually resulting in goals.
Would rather have ebert trying his guts out and making a few errors than swift seemingly cruising and still making the errors

 

[CursoryMercenary]

Shouldn't trade him yet but hard to see him making it at West Coast.

 

[paran]

First bad game since he came back into the side after round 10. [sarcasm] So surprising from 20 yo who hasn't played 30 games yet and playing out of his preferred role [/sarcasm]. Seriously ppl, use some perspective and don't throw the baby out witht he bathwater. Not a fan of dropping players after one game, and hopefully he's given another go. Of course, if Kerr returns then I'd expect him to be dropped.

Swift has shown that he consistently is one of the top players in WAFL, so his lessons remain at the AFL level, no WAFL.