Analysis The Way Forward

[Punts]

McKay from Carlton right? I dont know would be next to no chance I reckon Carlton would let him go.

Won’t be up to then

FA next year

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Won’t be up to then

FA next year

Yer sorry I meant they will try getting him to sign before it comes to that

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

With the umpires from 2016 in control.

1-1 frees till 3rd Qtr time

 

[swanssince2002]

McKay would be ridiculously awesome but hard to see him leaving Victoria in the first place. It will depend on how Carlton performs next season. In high demand if he goes to FA though, hard to match. Only takes 1 Vic team to pay a kings ransom.

 

[Former Decathlete]

Not sure the point about Stewart. Nor Blicavs tbh, I mean it's not every decade that there's a 198cm runner trying to qualify for the Olympics, who decides to switch to AFL.

Tom is 22, 2 years into his KPD career. Paddy is 1 year into his KPD career, with a handful of games at VFL level down back last year. There's also only 2 players that are noticeably taller than them in that list, one of them only a part time defender. Not sure the point.

De Koning is athletically brilliant as well as being huge with long arms.

McCartins not athletic enough to play on Cameron and not quite big enough to deal with Hawkins.

 

[Deccas]

Jesus buddy is top 10 in the whole league for his position. Beaten by may but used his experience to get the team going. Seems silly to criticise his grand final performance, we got cleaned up in the middle and he barely saw it.

Within the media everyone is trying to retire him so th can be the first to herald the end of the champion but you'd expect better from his supporters.

The whole McDonald can be the man next year stuff is ridiculous. I think McDonald has every chance of being the best key forward in the competition in 10 years and where he is at right now is tracking very nicely. Plenty of young talls aren't playing as many games as him in thier 4th season let alone thier second. But gambling our season on him being one of the very very rare key forwards that score 50 goals in just thier third season is a risk we don't have to take, because we still have buddy as a declining but still good for 50ish goals a year key forward!

 

[GoTheSwannies]

With the umpires from 2016 in control.

But then who gets the frees?

 

[Bloods86]

De Koning is athletically brilliant as well as being huge with long arms.

McCartins not athletic enough to play on Cameron and not quite big enough to deal with Hawkins.

He played well on Hawkins in 2020 from memory? That was after only half a year as a KPD. Also, Paddy as I've said, is only a year into his KPD career, maybe he can continue to develop one-on-one.

Anyway, I've been on the "draft a KPD" train for several off-seasons. I'm not sure Gould's the answer, although he is certainly in the frame to replace Rampe. Getting another this draft/off season is crucial, and if they can be about 195cm great. I don't think there's a rule that says they need to be taller.

 

[Citrus22]

a reid replacement would be good agile second ruck/fwd drifting around impacting the game

might still be him next year - but when it isn't him, it's just choosing spare ruck/tanks at the moment

Amartey could fill that role over the next few years if his trajectory of improvement continues, very similar style player imo

 

[Former Decathlete]

How does Amartey go at VFL level?

Edit

VFL Stats - Joel Amartey

vfl.aflmstats.com

2 games over 120 FP so he is clearly capable of dominating at VFL level.

That's a good sign.

 

[swanssince2002]

How does Amartey go at VFL level?

Was selected in the VFL best 22 at the end of the season, he was great in the reserves.

 

[Former Decathlete]

I'd be keeping Amartey. More upside.

Id probably allow McLean to head to the Saints for more opportunities.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'd be keeping Amartey. More upside.

Id probably allow McLean to head to the Saints for more opportunities.

I'd go the other way. Think McLean is ahead anyway and at worst he's depth.

 

[Bloods86]

I'd go the other way. Think McLean is ahead anyway and at worst he's depth.

McLean has shown in one or two games at AFL level that he can be a game breaker. Amartey hasn't had the same ceiling. But the rest of the time there's not a lot of difference, some decent games, then quiet ones. At VFL level this year, Amartey was clearly ahead until the last game or two. Top 5 goalkicker, while also being backup ruck, which McLean barely did. Amartey also had a couple of games where he went off in the first half injured, so it was even more impressive. So I'd rate Amartey higher in both ruck and forward results this year.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

McLean has shown in one or two games at AFL level that he can be a game breaker. Amartey hasn't had the same ceiling. But the rest of the time there's not a lot of difference, some decent games, then quiet ones. At VFL level this year, Amartey was clearly ahead until the last game or two. Top 5 goalkicker, while also being backup ruck, which McLean barely did. Amartey also had a couple of games where he went off in the first half injured, so it was even more impressive. So I'd rate Amartey higher in both ruck and forward results this year.

Feel both are extended depth and that isn't a bad thing you need depth whoever we can get the most return I'd trade.

 

[Former Decathlete]

I'd go the other way. Think McLean is ahead anyway and at worst he's depth.

Yep fair enuff. It is a difficult one. Neither has a set position at afl level.


Seems a waste to have them both in the VFL.

I assume they will be seeking further opportunities.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yep fair enuff. It is a difficult one. Neither has a set position at afl level.


Seems a waste to have them both in the VFL.

I assume they will be seeking further opportunities.

Ideally you don't want to throw all your depth though, especially when lets be real Buddy surely has a number of rests next year

 

[The King!]

I realise there's nothing stats wise to support this

but i think mcdonald looks potentially a sky's the limit type - has had flashes including on debut , just so raw but could be a star

Mclean strikes me and sorry to say hope i am wrong as a guy who is tall so got further than he should and won't last as an afl player

Armatey could be an ok player but nothing special , solid depth/ handy 3rd forward

 

[Dubsforsam1]

One of the key action this season is to ensure players get rested more. Ideally we would be in a place where Buddy can miss 4/5 games to freshen up with the same applying to Hickey, Reid, Parker, Heeney, Papley etc (not necessarily the same number of games missing each) but ensuring they are fresh for finals

 

[Slingshot Footy]

I realise there's nothing stats wise to support this

but i think mcdonald looks potentially a sky's the limit type - has had flashes including on debut , just so raw but could be a star

Mclean strikes me and sorry to say hope i am wrong as a guy who is tall so got further than he should and won't last as an afl player

Armatey could be an ok player but nothing special , solid depth/ handy 3rd forward

I'm a big supporter of McLean but seeing him move in the Grand Final reminded me of how slow he really is. He's not mobile, in a game plan and structure that demands it, McLean really stands out in our team and not in a good way.

Speed and agility training should be his chief focus in the off season otherwise I'd be leaning towards Amartey more in the future. I've got the utmost confidence in McDonald to find his own, Stephens is the perfect contemporary example he can look to for inspiration.

Moving forward, I think Rowbottom will only benefit from another preseason under his belt which will hopefully aid our contested ball winning abilities. Sheldrick should also be given some extended minutes in the seniors to hasten our broader development in this area as well.

Blakey is probably two years away from getting some opportunities in the midfield like Blicavs does for Geelong, that could be a real difference maker in the future.

There's a lot to like, and lots of our best young players are still finding their best position or the best way to use their strengths to help the team.

I'm just hoping we don't throw the baby out with the bath water because of last week's blunder.

 

[Bloods86]

Feel both are extended depth and that isn't a bad thing you need depth whoever we can get the most return I'd trade.

I don't think either will be elite in their own right, but remembering they're 23, with McLean getting a late start in an AFL system, and Amartey looking like a project player when we drafted him - I think there's still improvement. Also, with Buddy, Reid, Hickey leaving in a year (Reid maybe 2 if he can stay fit), there's at least 1 or 2 spots that we need to fill in the AFL team from 2024 onwards. We might draft someone this year, but it's unlikely they'd be ahead of Amartey/McLean anytime soon, so we're probably going to need them to be more than depth in the short-medium term. Highly likely they both or at least one gets a fair few games next year given the age/bodies of those I just mentioned.

Basically, we'd be mad to willingly let them go, or pro-actively tell them to look elsewhere. It's only if they are adamant they want to go, that we should think about trading (Amartey could probably feel the hardest done by, somehow getting overlooked in favour of McLean and an injured Reid for the GF).

I'm also on board with the idea that Logan, Amartey and McLean could form a good forward combo once the above retirements happen - most espoused by caesar88 . They're all different, offer different things, and if they perform the right roles, no reason we can't be successful without 3 out and out gun KPFs. We won in 2012 with a young Reid, part time Goodes, part time LRT, resting ruck. i.e. here's our top 10 from 2012 with the talls marked. We have Heeney, Paps, Hayward, Warner, Parker, Gulden who could fill other spots. HHK has looked a likely type, maybe not in 2023, but beyond. Sheather too.

 

[Punts]

Be playing jmac rotation mid and wing

Went backwards this year

Imo because of Dawson

 

[Swan4Life]

IMO we need:

(a) an extractor at stoppages - Sheldrick would be a strong candidate but we need to see him in action at AFL level to be certain.

(b) an on-baller with speed - I would even consider packaging our picks 14 and 17 in the draft to move up and get someone who can break away from stoppages. Or maybe consider Stephens for the role.

Get that sorted and we are a strong chance to make another prelim.

 

[Bloods86]

IMO we need:

(a) an extractor at stoppages - Sheldrick would be a strong candidate but we need to see him in action at AFL level to be certain.

(b) an on-baller with speed - I would even consider packaging our picks 14 and 17 in the draft to move up and get someone who can break away from stoppages. Or maybe consider Stephens for the role.

Get that sorted and we are a strong chance to make another prelim.

Warner, Papley, Gulden, Campbell not enough for b)? We have options (incl Stephens over time), but if we don't play more than one at each bounce usually, why do we need another?

Got plenty of wing options. Happy to get a bigger extractor, or just a tall mid to add to the mix (like Hustwaite).

 

[The King!]

can the coach win a flag?