Question is basically in the title but what are the question about your team going into the 2022 season? What are you worried about, what are you hopeful about?
For me the big question for the Swans is just how our young players can continue developing, guys like Warner, Rowbottom, Blakey, McDonald, McInerney, Campbell, Gulden, Wicks, McCartin etc, all of whom showed so much promise and all of whom took big steps in 2021 but the question is can they do it again and get better, or more consistent.
The massive problem for the Swans in 2022, and what could really derail our season is midfield depth. We lost both Dawson and Hewett at the end of this year and while our first team midfield looks good there is very little to no depth under that first team. 2 or 3 midfielders get injured and we are scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of who comes into the side.
Defence is going to be interesting. In 2021 the team was really caught out with only having 1 key defender, Rampe no longer able to play tall like he used to and as a result we only had McCartin, with our other defenders often being caught out for height. With the hopeful addition of Paddy McCartin in defence with his brother this could provide a bit more stability down back.
Big questions about Buddy too. Can he have a season like 2021 again where he played most of the season and was one of the best key forwards of the year. I think if he stays fit he can, but in the last few years staying fit has been Buddy's challenge, not his form when he is actually playing. Also if Buddy is still playing mid to late 2022 will he get another contract, something that would have felt insane when we signed him up at the end of 2013. Would love to see him playing and McDonald can learn more while being marked on the oppositions second or third tall defender.
So I am hopeful for the 2022 season with our young guys coming through, but how they develop is a big question mark, as is our tall defensive stocks and Buddy's run with injuries. I am hopeful of another season in the top 8, but with the extreme lack of midfield depth pushing for the top 8 could be in the hands of the footballing gods.
For me the big question for the Swans is just how our young players can continue developing, guys like Warner, Rowbottom, Blakey, McDonald, McInerney, Campbell, Gulden, Wicks, McCartin etc, all of whom showed so much promise and all of whom took big steps in 2021 but the question is can they do it again and get better, or more consistent.
The massive problem for the Swans in 2022, and what could really derail our season is midfield depth. We lost both Dawson and Hewett at the end of this year and while our first team midfield looks good there is very little to no depth under that first team. 2 or 3 midfielders get injured and we are scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of who comes into the side.
Defence is going to be interesting. In 2021 the team was really caught out with only having 1 key defender, Rampe no longer able to play tall like he used to and as a result we only had McCartin, with our other defenders often being caught out for height. With the hopeful addition of Paddy McCartin in defence with his brother this could provide a bit more stability down back.
Big questions about Buddy too. Can he have a season like 2021 again where he played most of the season and was one of the best key forwards of the year. I think if he stays fit he can, but in the last few years staying fit has been Buddy's challenge, not his form when he is actually playing. Also if Buddy is still playing mid to late 2022 will he get another contract, something that would have felt insane when we signed him up at the end of 2013. Would love to see him playing and McDonald can learn more while being marked on the oppositions second or third tall defender.
So I am hopeful for the 2022 season with our young guys coming through, but how they develop is a big question mark, as is our tall defensive stocks and Buddy's run with injuries. I am hopeful of another season in the top 8, but with the extreme lack of midfield depth pushing for the top 8 could be in the hands of the footballing gods.
