Training Pre Season - Who's deadset training the house down 2024 style.

[caesar88]

he should be in the side because he's good enough to be in the side
i don't get the seemingly harsh criticism of last night
a few things didn't come off but you could see him trying stuff that's beyond most players at that level
a couple of feints with the ball, one of them before he had an angled shot that went wide for a point ...
sheldrick is class, and he's tough ... he's good enough right now to contribute to our senior side

I wasn't criticising him last night. I was responding to rusty's post that he should be getting games because he's young and we need to get games into young players. I don't agree with that at all.

I think Sheldrick's good enough to get a game if Adams is out. If Adams plays then I don't think he's good enough to get a game. That is less a criticism of Sheldrick and more the reality of where he is at right now with a bunch of more experienced players ahead of him.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I wasn't criticising him last night. I was responding to rusty's post that he should be getting games because he's young and we need to get games into young players. I don't agree with that at all.

I think Sheldrick's good enough to get a game if Adams is out. If Adams plays then I don't think he's good enough to get a game. That is less a criticism of Sheldrick and more the reality of where he is at right now with a bunch of more experienced players ahead of him.

Gus was selected for R1 two years ago.

Whilst our team is better now - so is Gus.

I know I’m biased - but I genuinely believe he’s best 22 - Adams & Parker or not.

And by the end of the season he’ll be viewed as indispensable. The heir to Parker.

 

[caesar88]

Gus was selected for R1 two years ago.

Whilst our team is better now - so is Gus.

I know I’m biased - but I genuinely believe he’s best 22 - Adams & Parker or not.

And by the end of the season he’ll be viewed as indispensable. The heir to Parker.

He was selected for round 1 in 2022 when Warner was out and Heeney played more midfield, so Sheldrick debuted in the forward line. The following week when Warner returned, Sheldrick was dropped, with Wicks kept as the smaller forward.

Last year when he had his best run of form in five games, four of them were without at least one of Parker, Mills & Warner in the team. The one was against West Coast, which was Mills' return from injury so only played 24% inside.

So despite how promising he may be, I'm yet to see any evidence that he is in our best 22 when all the relevant players are fit & available.

Some of those relevant players - Parker, Mills, potentially Adams - aren't available this time, so he's right in the frame, but there are other things to consider. Like if Sheldrick's still fourth or fifth or sixth in the midfield pecking order, we'll need to weigh up if what Sheldrick will offer in the midfield when he's in there for say 40% of the game will be worth more than what someone like a Fox or a Roberts will offer up forward or down back respectively for 80% of the game.

 

[bedford]

I agree and disagree.

We want to get a good look at him yes, but we also need to let our best midfield (available or otherwise) get used to playing with each other. We can't afford to prioritise one player's development over that.

Great call

 

[bedford]

Great call

Which part Rusty

 

[ShireSwan]

Commentators highlighting our structure effectively stunting our ability to compete in the forward line. Against one of the best defences in the league we are letting them have a spare back. Mind boggling.

It's almost like you don't give away your real game-plan against a rival in the preason....

 

[ShireSwan]

He was selected for round 1 in 2022 when Warner was out and Heeney played more midfield, so Sheldrick debuted in the forward line. The following week when Warner returned, Sheldrick was dropped, with Wicks kept as the smaller forward.

Last year when he had his best run of form in five games, four of them were without at least one of Parker, Mills & Warner in the team. The one was against West Coast, which was Mills' return from injury so only played 24% inside.

So despite how promising he may be, I'm yet to see any evidence that he is in our best 22 when all the relevant players are fit & available.

Some of those relevant players - Parker, Mills, potentially Adams - aren't available this time, so he's right in the frame, but there are other things to consider. Like if Sheldrick's still fourth or fifth or sixth in the midfield pecking order, we'll need to weigh up if what Sheldrick will offer in the midfield when he's in there for say 40% of the game will be worth more than what someone like a Fox or a Roberts will offer up forward or down back respectively for 80% of the game.

Parade comprehensively rained on.

 

[bedford]

Parade comprehensively rained on.

View attachment 1917233

What is that pic about

 

[the hypnotoad]

I agree with most of that.

Although Tom Stewart is a much better defender up to this point.

But I think there are signs in preseason that Blakey is starting to 'believe' (matrix style) that he can just control a section of the ground. Defend, attack, intercept.

He is taller, quicker, and more skillful than anyone else on the half back line. And now he is starting to get stronger as well.

Injuries aside, I think everyone in the media will have him as a lock in the All Australian team come mid year.

and he's getting smarter, regards game sense and positional sense as a defensive player ...

 

[ShireSwan]

Guys . It's a trial game

Yep. Reminds me of one of the greatest sports press conferences of all time by the great Allen Iverson.

 

[ShireSwan]

As others have said. The thing that is frustrating me the most is that three years in our forward coach still hasn't coached our young forwards how to lead to different areas to split the defenders. Honestly, McVeigh as forward coach has been an absolute failure and should be moved on.

That's been the Swans way for best part of a decade, hasn't it? (Aside from Buddy doing Buddy things).

 

[ShireSwan]

Rowbottom looking significantly more explosive, hope it translates to a breakout year offensively

I think that's more on the coaches than the player tbh. He's had the capability, but been playing a negating role in the middle for the last two years. Given the absences with injury atm - expect that role to continue tbh.

 

[ShireSwan]

Thought Campbell stuck to his guns. Melican was better than expected, as was Ladhams except when he over reaches.

Zeus knows what Horse is thinking. Without Pyke is he reverting to bad habits?

That's the first I heard that he left! CRAP!

 

[ShireSwan]

I didn't think Sheldrick was as bad as some made out. Not a lot went right for him tonight, but I feel like it was all down to the tempo. He was just playing with the wrong intensity for that game.

It was kind of slow and sloppy, the kind of game where you just had to show some poise and calm and the ball was in all likelihood going to spill out to you rather than you needing to get it. Nearly every player who "cracked in" turned it over or gave away a free.

Sheldrick - understandably, given he was a fringe player wanting to make an impression - was going at full bore every contest and I felt he kind of put himself under pressure and overcooked a lot of his possessions because of it.

Very redeemable IMO. If Adams is out for multiple games as well as Parker, then Sheldrick can play round 1 knowing he's got some room to breathe, and games to build his form up and he can be less... mani

Ooh, much sunnier than your last Sheldrick post.
Go Gus !

 

[Kiama Chris]

Thought Campbell stuck to his guns. Melican was better than expected, as was Ladhams except when he over reaches.

Zeus knows what Horse is thinking. Without Pyke is he reverting to bad habits?

Campbell and Cunningham slaughtered Charlie Cameron to the extent that he gut punched Errol. Lost it. Great effort by both rotating on and off him. He was exhausted and they were relatively fresh. Good play and good coaching.
Pretty sure McCartin was pulling the levers in the backline on the field and reckon he did a great job. Melican
I saw both quarters down my end. The defence was not manhandled except a couple of times Hipwood got away on Lizard but the coaches sent out Hamling who quietened him right down.

 

[Nuggetz]

Campbell and Cunningham slaughtered Charlie Cameron to the extent that he gut punched Errol. Lost it. Great effort by both rotating on and off him. He was exhausted and they were relatively fresh. Good play and good coaching.
Pretty sure McCartin was pulling the levers in the backline on the field and reckon he did a great job. Melican
I saw both quarters down my end. The defence was not manhandled except a couple of times Hipwood got away on Lizard but the coaches sent out Hamling who quietened him right down.

That gut punt was a weak act from Cameron. He's lucky he didn't do any significant damage to Gulden. This is why I don't like Cameron for his shitty cheap shots.

 

[Nuggetz]

Blakey has the best kick outs in the afl imo. Watching it live & on tv, some of his kicks are insane due to accuracy, difficulty & distance. He sees things 10 steps ahead of others with his kicks. It's wild. He should be taking majority of the kick outs. There's also Braedan Campbell who could have a similar impact with his kicking if given the opportunity, imo he's underutilised & could be an absolute weapon in our front half if given the opportunity.

It definitely feels like McCartin & Blakey will be the alphas in defence this season. Their time is now.

 

[Kiama Chris]

That gut punt was a weak act from Cameron. He's lucky he didn't do any significant damage to Gulden. This is why I don't like Cameron for his shitty cheap shots.

It's a pity that he has such a nasty streak because otherwise he's a fantastic player. Eddie Betts my favourite in my lifetime. A genius and it would seem a lovely fella.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Blakey has the best kick outs in the afl imo. Watching it live & on tv, some of his kicks are insane due to accuracy, difficulty & distance. He sees things 10 steps ahead of others with his kicks. It's wild. He should be taking majority of the kick outs. There's also Braedan Campbell who could have a similar impact with his kicking if given the opportunity, imo he's underutilised & could be an absolute weapon in our front half if given the opportunity.

It definitely feels like McCartin & Blakey will be the alphas in defence this season. Their time is now.

One of the advantages of Lloyd is that Blakey or Campbell or even Cunningham can take the second kick and get it 90-100 metres from defensive goal. When Blakey kicks it short and gets the handball receive anything can happen.
Just PLEASE don't let Florent take the kick-ins. He is so indecisive. Got us into trouble again last night. Not a strength of his at all.

 

[caesar88]

One of the advantages of Lloyd is that Blakey or Campbell or even Cunningham can take the second kick and get it 90-100 metres from defensive goal. When Blakey kicks it short and gets the handball receive anything can happen.
Just PLEASE don't let Florent take the kick-ins. He is so indecisive. Got us into trouble again last night. Not a strength of his at all.

I felt we missed Lloyd coming out of defence last night. We just looked kinda out of shape with our exits and made a lot of the wrong decisions as to where and who to go to. Played right into the hands of those pesky Brisbane smalls like Rayner, McCarthy, Lohmann etc. who pounced on every turnover opportunity.

Lloyd's so much more important than he gets credit for. He's akin to what Freo suffered from without David Mundy in their midfield last year. An absence that might not seem like much on paper but you don't realise how much you need about 20-25 simple, smart, tidy disposals to good options in the defensive half until you don't have them.

That said, Lloyd is from the old school, classic Swans style of looking bang average in pre-season, so I doubt we would've seen them last night anyway LOL

 

[RubbaDuck]

I like Gus, just get a Tom Mitchell vibe in that I think Horse doesn't rate him. He will prefer to shuffle the magnets around to cover Mills / Adams / Parker and bring in guys like Roberts and Fox.

Mitchell played more games in his final year at the Swans than he did in any subsequent year at Hawthorn. What's your point?

Horse will play the best fit in any vacancy in our best 22. You can afford to play favourites, a coach can't. They'll do what they think is best for the team overall.

 

[RubbaDuck]

.....That said, Lloyd is from the old school, classic Swans style of looking bang average in pre-season, so I doubt we would've seen them last night anyway LOL

Exactly. Most players are not going to bust a gut in a stinking hot humid practice match. Even for the young guys vying for selection, on the periphery of the best 22 are going to have injury avoidance top of mind. They'll have also been told to go half hard on the opposition.

 

[caesar88]

Could anyone else not tell Ladhams & Grundy apart half the time? I think the moisture made everyone's skin look so shiny that Ladhams' tattoos were hard to spot and with his new long hair he legitimately looked like Grundy at times. It was one thing when it was just the headband but when he tied it up in the bun halfway through I thought for sure he was just taking the piss.

 

[rustycrate]

I wasn't criticising him last night. I was responding to rusty's post that he should be getting games because he's young and we need to get games into young players. I don't agree with that at all.

I think Sheldrick's good enough to get a game if Adams is out. If Adams plays then I don't think he's good enough to get a game. That is less a criticism of Sheldrick and more the reality of where he is at right now with a bunch of more experienced players ahead of him.

Young but the future. It is one thing to look at the present, and that is most important. But you cannot ignore the future. Most struggling clubs look at the present. They need wins to justify their existence. Swans take care of the present but always have an eye to the future. That is why we stay in contention continually.

Going all in with the best team is what you are stating.

Me , I agree, but I always have an eye to the future as well.

Sheldrick and Roberts etc need opportunities in the overall scheme of things. Yes we need to win a premiership this year. But not at the expense we throw everything at it for a few years and find ourselves like St Kilda or Essendon or North and gave to rebuild. Sheldrick and Roberts leave for better opportunities. Rebuild is awful. Swans contend and inject youth at the same time. That is what I am saying 88.

 

[bloodsbigot]

Weird. Didn't even notice Lloyds absence.