Best 22 for the start of 2017?

[Kirkswan]

B: Smith - Grundy - Marsh/Johnson
HB: Lloyd - Aliir - Rampe
C: Heeney - Parker - Mills
HF: Hewett - Franklin - Jones
F: McVeigh - Reid - Jack
R: Tippett, Kennedy, Hannebery
I/C: Naismith, Rohan, Papley, Cunningham
Emg: Sinclair, Edwards, Towers

Hey SouthSwans, I like your team except... I'm not sold on Marsh in the starting backline (have you seen him play in the seconds & seen something that I haven't?), or why you would have Jones int the forwards or centres (when he was so effective running out of defence)? Care to elaborate and convince me?

 

[Kirkswan]

Position of Isaac Heeney in 2017 to commence the year...

My thoughts are if Papley isnt fit for round 1 then I think we need him forward, anyone else think differently? With Mcglynn gone there is only Rose really and that doesnt fill me with much confidence, I think Horse will need him forward to start.

Very open to opposite opinions though as I cant see how the fwd line jigsaw pieces get filled with papley missing round 1, if that eventuates.

Agree, unless there is someone else that Horse is ready to give a go to...

 

[Kirkswan]

Would prefer K. Jack as a small forward and have Heeney in the mids. K.Jack is slowly going out of the the top mids, but forward he has an amazing goal sense and can really impact the game. With our midfield as well, you can rest JK3, Parker, Heeney in the forward line with their marking capabilities.

I am also interested to see Hewett's development and what 2017 has in store for players like Rose/B.Jack/Dawson/Towers or if one of our draftee's can stand up.

I agree with Heeney into mids and KJack into the forward line but that would still leave a Papley unreplaced, so who would you put in there?

Being able to rest JK3, Parker, Heeney in the forward line is a real bonus; and I really think that Hewett might develop into something special maybe this year and next. Rose & Jack? Let them go and see if they can get a run somewhere else as imo neither of them will be as good as what we have currently or what we have drafted.

I know nothing about Dawson apart from he's a forward who was drafted in 2015. Care to enlighten me? Strengths, weaknesses? Anyone know what Shaw has to say about him?

and Towers... he showed patches of really good form and ability last year, but I think his race might be run, cause I would really like to pin my hopes on the draftees.

 

[SouthSwans]

Hey SouthSwans, I like your team except... I'm not sold on Marsh in the starting backline (have you seen him play in the seconds & seen something that I haven't?), or why you would have Jones int the forwards or centres (when he was so effective running out of defence)? Care to elaborate and convince me?

Fits the profile to be an effective high half forward, puts on heaps of pressure defensively with elite ground level intensity, couple that with his burst running capacity and he could be a weapon in that role with the front six (especially if Heenz is going to be in the midfield and Paps isn't going to be firing on all cylinders for a little while).

Marsh will improve, has a great attitude. Is diligent and accountable in the role of negating a dangerous opposition forward. Isn't quick and not the best fast-time decision maker offensively (doesn't give us many intercepts or rebounds in pressured or contested situations), but between Grundy, Rampe, Aliir, Lloyd & Smith there is plenty of effective intercepts and rebounds, so I think we have room for a purely lockdown player back there.

 

[CD__]

Heeney should definitely be playing midfield. He will still be able to kick goals as he floats down.

 

[mtooler]

I havent forgotten the GWS final, we had a disfunctional forward line that day and Mcglynn and Richards are out. Assuming Reid gets a spot and then an unknown.

 

[cinderella man]

Assuming all fit and ready to play (other than Alex Johnson) and our current list, atm I'd go with:

B: Nick Smith - Heath Grundy - Dane Rampe
HB: Jake Lloyd - Aliir Aliir - Callum Mills
C: Zak Jones - Luke Parker - Isaac Heeney
HF: Kieren Jack - Lance Franklin - Gary Rohan
F: Tom Papley - Kurt Tippett - Sam Reid
R: Sam Naismith - Josh Kennedy - Dan Hannebery

I/C: George Hewett - Nic Newman - Dean Towers - Jarrad McVeigh

Emer: Callum Sinclair - Harry Cunningham - Jeremy Laidler

If this bloke is playing regular senior footy next year outside a spate of injuries to defenders we do not have the depth to be a premiership quality football side. Apart from going back with flight and taking the odd courageous mark his foot skills are complete shit putting aside the ride he can give it and his decision making under pressure is putrid. He has survived as an insurance policy type back up defender, a role Talia could step into if his indiscretions are behind him and his foot is good to go. Laidler has one decent attribute and that is his willingness to put in the odd cheap shot and antagonize the opposition.

Think of the quality sides and main opposition to a premiership next year and ask if he would be in them sides or even on their lists. Btw this is not having a pot shot at you or the team you have put up it is just my observation on Laidler and our depth once I seen him in your emergencies. If we have to play him regularly we are Yuk.

 

[kelpie_X]

He did learn from the best. His old man was a snipey pest too.

His old man was a campaigner. Just ask the Sunbury football club

 

[caesar88]

In brackets are the potential candidates for that position if chosen player is not up to scratch.

FB: Nick Smith (lock), Heath Grundy (lock), Harrison Marsh (Jeremy Laidler, Michael Talia, Alex Johnson?)
HB: Sir Dane of House Rampe (lock), So Nice They Named Him Twice (lock), Zak Jones (or Callum Mills)
C: Callum Mills (or Zak Jones), Kieren Jack (lock), Isaac Heeney (Please Horse make him wear lead in his boots so he can't leave this position)
R: Kurt Tippett (See: Naismith), Josh Kennedy (lock), Dan Hannebery (lock)
HF: Luke Parker (loves the goals), Buddy Franklin (lock), Sam Reid (through lack of other choice)
FF: Gary Rohan (lock), Sam Naismith (See: Below), Tom Papley (lock)
I/C: Jake Lloyd (lock), George Hewett (lock), and any one of Jarrad McVeigh, Jordan Foote, Jordan Dawson or Nic Newman (whoever performs best over rest of pre-season)

As for Tippett and Naismith, both are good ruck-man but Tippett literally goes MIA as a forward. Since he's still a better option than Sinclair, I say Tippett plays ruck, where he'll at least contribute, and Naismith can play forward. Because unlike Tippett, he actually seems to not really be scared of anything (including rebounding the ball out of defensive fifty like a 700-pound dinosaur). He'd give it a good crack just standing in the goal square using his height a la Sandilands in 2015. If we play Tippett forward we are doomed

 

[mtooler]

In brackets are the potential candidates for that position if chosen player is not up to scratch.

FB: Nick Smith (lock), Heath Grundy (lock), Harrison Marsh (Jeremy Laidler, Michael Talia, Alex Johnson?)
HB: Sir Dane of House Rampe (lock), So Nice They Named Him Twice (lock), Zak Jones (or Callum Mills)
C: Callum Mills (or Zak Jones), Kieren Jack (lock), Isaac Heeney (Please Horse make him wear lead in his boots so he can't leave this position)
R: Kurt Tippett (See: Naismith), Josh Kennedy (lock), Dan Hannebery (lock)
HF: Luke Parker (loves the goals), Buddy Franklin (lock), Sam Reid (through lack of other choice)
FF: Gary Rohan (lock), Sam Naismith (See: Below), Tom Papley (lock)
I/C: Jake Lloyd (lock), George Hewett (lock), and any one of Jarrad McVeigh, Jordan Foote, Jordan Dawson or Nic Newman (whoever performs best over rest of pre-season)

As for Tippett and Naismith, both are good ruck-man but Tippett literally goes MIA as a forward. Since he's still a better option than Sinclair, I say Tippett plays ruck, where he'll at least contribute, and Naismith can play forward. Because unlike Tippett, he actually seems to not really be scared of anything (including rebounding the ball out of defensive fifty like a 700-pound dinosaur). He'd give it a good crack just standing in the goal square using his height a la Sandilands in 2015. If we play Tippett forward we are doomed

I like most of this Tippo as our best ruck seems the way to go.

 

[stew42]

In brackets are the potential candidates for that position if chosen player is not up to scratch.

FB: Nick Smith (lock), Heath Grundy (lock), Harrison Marsh (Jeremy Laidler, Michael Talia, Alex Johnson?)
HB: Sir Dane of House Rampe (lock), So Nice They Named Him Twice (lock), Zak Jones (or Callum Mills)
C: Callum Mills (or Zak Jones), Kieren Jack (lock), Isaac Heeney (Please Horse make him wear lead in his boots so he can't leave this position)
R: Kurt Tippett (See: Naismith), Josh Kennedy (lock), Dan Hannebery (lock)
HF: Luke Parker (loves the goals), Buddy Franklin (lock), Sam Reid (through lack of other choice)
FF: Gary Rohan (lock), Sam Naismith (See: Below), Tom Papley (lock)
I/C: Jake Lloyd (lock), George Hewett (lock), and any one of Jarrad McVeigh, Jordan Foote, Jordan Dawson or Nic Newman (whoever performs best over rest of pre-season)

As for Tippett and Naismith, both are good ruck-man but Tippett literally goes MIA as a forward. Since he's still a better option than Sinclair, I say Tippett plays ruck, where he'll at least contribute, and Naismith can play forward. Because unlike Tippett, he actually seems to not really be scared of anything (including rebounding the ball out of defensive fifty like a 700-pound dinosaur). He'd give it a good crack just standing in the goal square using his height a la Sandilands in 2015. If we play Tippett forward we are doomed

Re Tippett as a forward, here's his goalkicking stats from when he joined the Swans:

2013 33 goals from 10 games, definite pass mark
2014 28 goals from 6 games, even better than 2013
2015 39 from 20 games, not brilliant still nearly 2 goals per game, useful
2016 15 goals from 14 games, bad. BUT averaged 27 hitouts per game (according to Fanfooty, is this right?). Different role, which he performed well.

I think it's a bit overdramatic to say that we're doomed if Tippett plays forward, especially as he averaged nearly 5 goals per game for us in 2014.

 

[S120]

Tippett's performance, more than most other Swans I've seen, appears to be highly contingent on him being fully fit with no nagging injury. Not 75% or 80% but 100% perfect.

That's not to say he doesn't put himself out on the field when he isn't 100%, he has shown he can play through pain. But the only times he looks like a real star of the comp are when he's just had a huge pre-season (ie. his first year with us when he was suspended for half the year and had to train his arse off, the beginning of 2016 when he had a great run as a ruckman). When he's at that level, he's physically imposing and cannot get beaten in the air (he might not take the mark but he won't get outmarked). When he's playing with something he seems to be far more easily beaten in the air.

Dunno if it's a mental thing due to discomfort or frustration or what, but god if you could just keep him properly fit for the year he'd be a monster. I'm now very sceptical that that can happen though.

 

[storeymjs]

Re Tippett as a forward, here's his goalkicking stats from when he joined the Swans:

2013 33 goals from 10 games, definite pass mark
2014 28 goals from 6 games, even better than 2013
2015 39 from 20 games, not brilliant still nearly 2 goals per game, useful
2016 15 goals from 14 games, bad. BUT averaged 27 hitouts per game (according to Fanfooty, is this right?). Different role, which he performed well.

I think it's a bit overdramatic to say that we're doomed if Tippett plays forward, especially as he averaged nearly 5 goals per game for us in 2014.

So with Tippo's stats from 2014 did he only play 6 games as a forward or am I missing the point?

 

[storeymjs]

If Rohan and Papley are both no go's for Round 1 does anyone think it is likely that we will see Florent and Edwards?

 

[S120]

If Rohan and Papley are both no go's for Round 1 does anyone think it is likely that we will see Florent and Edwards?

Going on what we've heard from the club so far, I suspect Kieren Jack is a greater chance of playing as a small forward in place of Papley in round 1 than Florent.

And with Rohan, Towers surely would be further ahead for selection than Edwards - although I'm very keen to see his progression. He could be another truly valuable rookie choice for us if he's finally turned a corner in his career.

 

[storeymjs]

Going on what we've heard from the club so far, I suspect Kieren Jack is a greater chance of playing as a small forward in place of Papley in round 1 than Florent.

And with Rohan, Towers surely would be further ahead for selection than Edwards - although I'm very keen to see his progression. He could be another truly valuable rookie choice for us if he's finally turned a corner in his career.

So who comes in for Papley in your opinion?

 

[S120]

So who comes in for Rohan in your opinion?

Well I don't really know if Rohan is even gonna miss round 1, but if so, Towers.

 

[storeymjs]

Well I don't really know if Rohan is even gonna miss round 1, but if so, Towers.

You could very well be right but when I hear Rohan has injury troubles I always think it best that we don't rush him

 

[stew42]

Going on what we've heard from the club so far, I suspect Kieren Jack is a greater chance of playing as a small forward in place of Papley in round 1 than Florent.

And with Rohan, Towers surely would be further ahead for selection than Edwards - although I'm very keen to see his progression. He could be another truly valuable rookie choice for us if he's finally turned a corner in his career.

So take the scenario that Papley is out and Rohan is in. Would you move Jack/Parker/Heeney forward and bring in a midfielder (Foote, Robinson)? Or give someone like Florent, Rose, Hayward, BJack a go as a direct replacement for Paps?

 

[Number37]

Re Tippett as a forward, here's his goalkicking stats from when he joined the Swans:

2013 33 goals from 10 games, definite pass mark
2014 28 goals from 6 games, even better than 2013
2015 39 from 20 games, not brilliant still nearly 2 goals per game, useful
2016 15 goals from 14 games, bad. BUT averaged 27 hitouts per game (according to Fanfooty, is this right?). Different role, which he performed well.

I think it's a bit overdramatic to say that we're doomed if Tippett plays forward, especially as he averaged nearly 5 goals per game for us in 2014.

Doesn't matter who plays forward, we had the best forward of the last 10 years and struggled to get a functioning forward line at times.
Our ball use, structure and game plan will be the telling factor. If it resembles some of the worst crap from last year then we are doomed, if it resembles some of the good stuff from last year with Buddy, Tippo, resting mids, Paps/Rohan we have enough fire power to match any defense.

 

[S120]

So take the scenario that Papley is out and Rohan is in. Would you move Jack/Parker/Heeney forward and bring in a midfielder (Foote, Robinson)? Or give someone like Florent, Rose, Hayward, BJack a go as a direct replacement for Paps?

I'd probably go for Rose. I liked what he gave us in the middle of the year, if he had have taken more opportunities in front of goal he probably would have stayed in the side for quite a while.

Heeney must play midfield. Rest him forward but he has to be in the middle as a starting point from now on imo. I'd like to see Mills get more time on a wing this year and Newman could be brought in at HB to facilitate that - been a Newman stan for a while now.

 

[SouthSwans]

So take the scenario that Papley is out and Rohan is in. Would you move Jack/Parker/Heeney forward and bring in a midfielder (Foote, Robinson)? Or give someone like Florent, Rose, Hayward, BJack a go as a direct replacement for Paps?

Jones

 

[kelpie_X]

So take the scenario that Papley is out and Rohan is in. Would you move Jack/Parker/Heeney forward and bring in a midfielder (Foote, Robinson)? Or give someone like Florent, Rose, Hayward, BJack a go as a direct replacement for Paps?

I'd bring in Robinson. I liked what he was doing before being injured

 

[Deccas]

I really like Cunningham as a small forward. I think Rose will play and be good for us this season too. They'd be my first two cabs off the rank of we get injuries in the small forward roles.

On Galaxy Nexus using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[6yearsold]

I'd probably go for Rose. I liked what he gave us in the middle of the year, if he had have taken more opportunities in front of goal he probably would have stayed in the side for quite a while.

Heeney must play midfield. Rest him forward but he has to be in the middle as a starting point from now on imo. I'd like to see Mills get more time on a wing this year and Newman could be brought in at HB to facilitate that - been a Newman stan for a while now.

talk about revisionism. rose was putrid whenever he got a chance last year. whether he took his so-called chances or not.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-sydney-swans--james-rose