Analysis 2019 List, Game Plan and Best 22?

[RUNVS]

Aye. I heard the interview as well. I am so pleased we have such an intelligent decent bloke involved in the recruitment of young blokes.

The take away was the clear expectation Blakey will be playing a lot of seniors footy in 2019.

He places a clear premium on skills when recruiting. On being asked whether they recruit for a particular need or position, he said (words to the effect),

"No we do not recruit for a specific position. Just because we need a small back pocket does not mean we will take the best small lock down back in the draft. What if they are not good enough? We take players on skills and expect they will find their place in the 22."

Sounds pretty sensible to me.

To be honest though I can see both arguments, as what happens if you have 3 really good key defenders, and the next best in the draft come your pick is another key defender, but you really need a small forward, do you still draft the key defender.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

To be honest though I can see both arguments, as what happens if you have 3 really good key defenders, and the next best in the draft come your pick is another key defender, but you really need a small forward, do you still draft the key defender.

Think he looks at skills and ability to adapt. He used the example of Chris Johnson at Brisbane. CJ was supremely talentented and ended up being arguably the best back pocket of the modern era.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

From Beatson's comments, Blakey is in best 22.

 

[Number37]

From Beatson's comments, Blakey is in best 22.

He is.

 

[BloodySwan]

From Beatson's comments, Blakey is in best 22.

Junktime had Craig Coomes as a guest (AFL recruiter) and he was pretty adament Blakey will be best 22 next year. He was going on about the quality and he recons Rankine, Walsh & Lukosious will all be up there with the best players in their teams next year - Rankine if he goes to the Suns will be there best player from day 1.

Beatson reckons Blakey would be a top 3 pick without injury so he very well could be best 22 from round 1. Whichever way you look at it I think we've got to stop playing Buddy as a FF. His body ha barely held up the last 2 years and we've still got a few left in his contract. We need to push him to the flank ala Ablett Snr to ensure we get the best out of him.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Agree, tho some here support the policies that have seen him slaughtered.

 

[RUNVS]

So now the drafts are done and dusted what is everyone thinking?

Just from the highlights I think Blakey, Rowbottom and Foot look like they could be pushing for early selection in 2019.

 

[caesar88]

Foot probably isn't ready and would be unfair to expect him to be. Has a nice bag of tricks but they're mostly qualities he couldn't quite pull off if thrown into senior footy.

Blakey and Rowbottom the clear two who I could see having a crack at senior level straight away.

 

[RUNVS]

Foot probably isn't ready and would be unfair to expect him to be. Has a nice bag of tricks but they're mostly qualities he couldn't quite pull off if thrown into senior footy.

Blakey and Rowbottom the clear two who I could see having a crack at senior level straight away.

Hard to believe that Foot won't even be 18 for another month.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

So now the drafts are done and dusted what is everyone thinking?

Just from the highlights I think Blakey, Rowbottom and Foot look like they could be pushing for early selection in 2019.

Could be a very young Swans side in 2019 considering towards the end of 2018 a few of our champions who were part of the 2012-2016 era look just about done.

 

[RUNVS]

Could be a very young Swans side in 2019 considering towards the end of 2018 a few of our champions who were part of the 2012-2016 era look just about done.

Agreed. Rohan and Hannebery are gone now, and to be honest I would not be remotely surprised if Jack, Smith, Grundy and maybe even Kennedy are out of our best 22 come the end of 2019.

I really hope I am wrong about Kennedy though, and that he was carrying some sort of injury in 2018 that made him look really poor.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Agreed. Rohan and Hannebery are gone now, and to be honest I would not be remotely surprised if Jack, Smith, Grundy and maybe even Kennedy are out of our best 22 come the end of 2019.

I really hope I am wrong about Kennedy though, and that he was carrying some sort of injury in 2018 that made him look really poor.

Think you are right re Smithy and Reg and you can add McVeigh to the list. Jack was ineffective and only his contract keeps him at the Club.

Still think JPK has more years. I too think he was carrying an injury this year.

 

[Jewelsbon]

Agreed. Rohan and Hannebery are gone now, and to be honest I would not be remotely surprised if Jack, Smith, Grundy and maybe even Kennedy are out of our best 22 come the end of 2019.

I really hope I am wrong about Kennedy though, and that he was carrying some sort of injury in 2018 that made him look really poor.

Or carrying a whole midfield!

 

[caesar88]

Agreed. Rohan and Hannebery are gone now, and to be honest I would not be remotely surprised if Jack, Smith, Grundy and maybe even Kennedy are out of our best 22 come the end of 2019.

I really hope I am wrong about Kennedy though, and that he was carrying some sort of injury in 2018 that made him look really poor.

Wait when did JPK look really poor? This was perhaps his most quiet season since maybe 2011, but he was still a brute. Our midfield is transitioning into the Hewett/Heeney/Florent era and so less is being asked of Kennedy. I know some have this idea that he carried the midfield this year. I disagree. I think he had less to do as others slowly came in and started doing Kennedy’s role. Only difference is they just weren’t ready to match Kennedy’s level. This will be the new reality going forward. No longer will Kennedy be the first toiler in the engine room getting 30 touches and getting it out to the others. It’s a necessary change as we are slowly phasing him out and bringing his successors in, but the transition was always going to be bumpy, both for Kennedy and the whole midfield.

 

[RUNVS]

Wait when did JPK look really poor? This was perhaps his most quiet season since maybe 2011, but he was still a brute. Our midfield is transitioning into the Hewett/Heeney/Florent era and so less is being asked of Kennedy. I know some have this idea that he carried the midfield this year. I disagree. I think he had less to do as others slowly came in and started doing Kennedy’s role. Only difference is they just weren’t ready to match Kennedy’s level. This will be the new reality going forward. No longer will Kennedy be the first toiler in the engine room getting 30 touches and getting it out to the others. It’s a necessary change as we are slowly phasing him out and bringing his successors in, but the transition was always going to be bumpy, both for Kennedy and the whole midfield.

This compares Kennedy's 2018 season to his 2016 season. In almost every respect his 2016 season was a lot better

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy...&pid1=1758&pid2=1758&fid1=S&fid2=P&fopt2=2016

 

[caesar88]

This compares Kennedy's 2018 season to his 2016 season. In almost every respect his 2016 season was a lot better

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy...&pid1=1758&pid2=1758&fid1=S&fid2=P&fopt2=2016

Nearly every player on our list had a better 2016 than 2018. I still don’t see how that makes Kennedy’s year poor. His lessened impact is a mixture of age and the way his role is being shaped.

 

[The King!]

Now lists are finalised, bottom of the top 8 looks the best we can achieve imo

Anything else is a bonus

 

[The King!]

Wait when did JPK look really poor? This was perhaps his most quiet season since maybe 2011, but he was still a brute. Our midfield is transitioning into the Hewett/Heeney/Florent era and so less is being asked of Kennedy. I know some have this idea that he carried the midfield this year. I disagree. I think he had less to do as others slowly came in and started doing Kennedy’s role. Only difference is they just weren’t ready to match Kennedy’s level. This will be the new reality going forward. No longer will Kennedy be the first toiler in the engine room getting 30 touches and getting it out to the others. It’s a necessary change as we are slowly phasing him out and bringing his successors in, but the transition was always going to be bumpy, both for Kennedy and the whole midfield.

Kennedy played some awful footy in 2018, his best was great like v the cats, but he looked slow quite often

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

So who can we expect to make the top 28, who will comprise the 8 who might get a handful of games and who will be plying their trade in the Ressies?

Of those we traded and drafted in I see only Blakey and Menzel being top 28 next year. Paddles, Clarkey and Thurlow might get a handful of games.

McInerney, Foot and our new rookies will have development years.

So imo this is best 28

Rucks - Naismith, Sinkers
Mids/wingers ,- jpk, Parker, Mills, Dawson, Hewett, Lloyd, Heeney, Rowbottom, Florent
Backs - Reg, Smith, Rampe, Allir, Melican, Fox, Jones, Ling, McVeigh
Fwds - Buddy, Reid, McCartin, Menzel, Ronke, Papley, Haybarn, Blakey

29-35 Cameron, Cunningham,Clarke, Rose, Jack, Maibaum, Thurlow

 

[RUNVS]

So who can we expect to make the top 28, who will comprise the 8 who might get a handful of games and who will be plying their trade in the Ressies?

Of those we traded and drafted in I see only Blakey and Menzel being top 28 next year. Paddles, Clarkey and Thurlow might get a handful of games.

McInerney, Foot and our new rookies will have development years.

So imo this is best 28

Rucks - Naismith, Sinkers
Mids/wingers ,- jpk, Parker, Mills, Dawson, Hewett, Lloyd, Heeney, Rowbottom, Florent
Backs - Reg, Smith, Rampe, Allir, Melican, Fox, Jones, Ling, McVeigh
Fwds - Buddy, Reid, McCartin, Menzel, Ronke, Papley, Haybarn, Blakey

29-35 Cameron, Cunningham,Clarke, Rose, Jack, Maibaum, Thurlow

I think people very easily dismiss Cunningham because he isn't flashy but he is a proven player and I think is pretty close to a lock in our best 22.

 

[TheMase]

So who can we expect to make the top 28, who will comprise the 8 who might get a handful of games and who will be plying their trade in the Ressies?

Of those we traded and drafted in I see only Blakey and Menzel being top 28 next year. Paddles, Clarkey and Thurlow might get a handful of games.

McInerney, Foot and our new rookies will have development years.

So imo this is best 28

Rucks - Naismith, Sinkers
Mids/wingers ,- jpk, Parker, Mills, Dawson, Hewett, Lloyd, Heeney, Rowbottom, Florent
Backs - Reg, Smith, Rampe, Allir, Melican, Fox, Jones, Ling, McVeigh
Fwds - Buddy, Reid, McCartin, Menzel, Ronke, Papley, Haybarn, Blakey

29-35 Cameron, Cunningham,Clarke, Rose, Jack, Maibaum, Thurlow

At this stage I would feel that some of the guys you have in the 29-35 bracket have senior experience and therefore should be in the 28 until performances prove otherwise.

I’d change Rowbottom (Clarke), Fox (Thurlow) and Ling (Cunningham)

From what I have seen of Rowbottom I do feel he could well be a bolter next year but that’s yet to be proven. Ling could definitely make his mark next year too. Fox for me will likely continue to be a 29+ player

Group looks good on paper. I feel like McInerney might develop quickly and surprise a few too, Turner a real smokey too if he bounces back from his ACL.

 

[S120]

At this stage I would feel that some of the guys you have in the 29-35 bracket have senior experience and therefore should be in the 28 until performances prove otherwise.

I’d change Rowbottom (Clarke), Fox (Thurlow) and Ling (Cunningham)

From what I have seen of Rowbottom I do feel he could well be a bolter next year but that’s yet to be proven. Ling could definitely make his mark next year too. Fox for me will likely continue to be a 29+ player

Group looks good on paper. I feel like McInerney might develop quickly and surprise a few too, Turner a real smokey too if he bounces back from his ACL.

I'm liking the look of our list right now too. I think we're not going to need to rely too much on the really old guys (McVeigh, Grundy, Jack) who can start making way for middle aged guys and we have a good core of 18-20 year olds who look very promising.

I like that we've added three senior-ready middle aged players in Thurlow, Clarke and Menzel. I was hoping for more established guys than them coming into the trade period, but I can make an argument that this is a digression to what we do best - taking out-of-favour, undervalued players and making them valuable in very set roles in Sydney. I like that prospect.

I'd have loved us to jump up and take Collier-Dawkins as a really big-bodied mid in the first round (him being a Swans fan also made me sentimentally in favour of it, to be frank) but otherwise I like the picks we made going on their general traits, biographies and little highlights packages of each player. I think they each fit what we need.

The coaches have what they need for 2019 on this list to be a good side, better than 2018. They need to make it work.

 

[S120]

I also hold hope for some guys on our list who aren't talked about much atm. I don't count Dawson as one of them because I think a lot of people really like him, but I really believe he can be an every-week inside midfielder at AFL level. I think O'Riordan could play from round 1 in 2019 and would expand his game greatly - he just needs senior exposure each week. I think Amartey could well play in 2019. He'd be an ideal 2nd ruck/forward. I'd be very interested seeing him play mainly forward with Sinclair as our first ruck, for example. I think Maibaum would need injuries but I believe in his ability at AFL level. He, Stoddart and Ling will all be pushing it play much next year if we have a good run with injuries but I see all three as having senior potential - I can see all three being delisted or requesting trades in 12 months time too however, so who knows.

 

[Cadsky]

Ok, now all the drafts are complete (and I'm sitting at work bored) I've had a chance to look over are complete list and do my best 22.

Best 22 is assuming all players are fit to play.


B: Aliir Melican Rampe

HB: McVeigh Jones Lloyd

C: Heeney Mills Cunningham

HF: Hayward Reid Franklin

F: Papley Menzel Ronke

FOL: Naismith Kennedy Parker

I/C: Hewett Thurlow Clarke Florent


Unlucky: Sinclair, Smith, Grundy, Mccartin, Jack, Dawson


The Rest: Blakey, Rose, Fox, Pink, *Tippett, Wicks, Rowbottom, McInerney, Foot, Styles, Bell, Ling, Maibaum, Stoddrt, O’Riordan Tucker, Reynolds, Cameron, Amarty.


I think we run 1 ruck as Reid & Aliir can rotate though if required. Naismith offers more than Sinclair as a pure ruck so gets the nod from me. Melican takes over from Grundy this year. Jones & Mills to rotate off HB and through the middle.

 

[Jewelsbon]

Ok, now all the drafts are complete (and I'm sitting at work bored) I've had a chance to look over are complete list and do my best 22.

Best 22 is assuming all players are fit to play.


B: Aliir Melican Rampe

HB: McVeigh Jones Lloyd

C: Heeney Mills Cunningham

HF: Hayward Reid Franklin

F: Papley Menzel Ronke

FOL: Naismith Kennedy Parker

I/C: Hewett Thurlow Clarke Florent


Unlucky: Sinclair, Smith, Grundy, Mccartin, Jack, Dawson


The Rest: Blakey, Rose, Fox, Pink, *Tippett, Wicks, Rowbottom, McInerney, Foot, Styles, Bell, Ling, Maibaum, Stoddrt, O’Riordan Tucker, Reynolds, Cameron, Amarty.


I think we run 1 ruck as Reid & Aliir can rotate though if required. Naismith offers more than Sinclair as a pure ruck so gets the nod from me. Melican takes over from Grundy this year. Jones & Mills to rotate off HB and through the middle.

I like your list Cads but I'd swap Reid for Sinkers - though on second thought, that would be round two because you can bet your life Reid will get injured!