Opinion Our biggest improver in 2014

[Wolftone]

I agree . You want to give young players opportunities so that they feel they are achieving however you don't wanna gift games, it's not good for the side , culture or a players development if they don't feel like they have to keep striving to get better.some of our best players have had to put the hard work in before getting their chance.

Correct me if I'm wrong but mcveigh was a number 3 pick and didn't get a game his entire first year, kieren jack,came off the rookie list after a couple of years and they have become club champions and captains. Plus our entire host of players such as Kennedy, mglynn, Richards , pyke , rampe , have all had their own hardships in the game before forging careers.

If the player wants success, and play in a team that has the best culture in the land ,then they have to earn their right just as lot of our club champions have had to

I don't think there is any doubt that toward the end of last year both Towers and Membrey were seen to have earned a chance. The coached just decided to go for experience over raw recruits. in other words we played Rohan & Jetta instead. They like BJ, Harry, Xav, Lloyd, Marsh, Big Sammy, Biggsie & Robbo will have to continue to improve and impress in the Twos. Add to that Laidler, Jones, Perris, Nankervis & Derrickx who are also in the same boat. Aliir, Hewitt & Patrick Mitchell are all development players at this stage. Aliir because is being developed as a KD, Hewitt is too young and needs his body to develop and skills development, Mitchell is of course a work in progress.

All players who play seniors earn the right to get a game but I think there will be a tendency to rest some of the older players even if they get a niggle. I don't think there will ever be a situation now, without injury, that we could gift games by resting some old blokes. The players who come in are well versed in the Sydney ethos and will play their role. If you have a look at what happened last season as young players had to take more responsibility we flourished because they all came in and played their role. Where we started to stuff up was bringing injured players back before they were ready. Add to that a terrible injury toll. But I am proud of our young blokes and the way they handled themselves last season. BJ, yes Jesse even Jesse, Harry, Bigsie, Tommy Mitchell, Lukie, Big Tommy (was just getting there when injured), Dane & Xav. Dre stepped up too. What happened last season is a group of players took the next step. That will happen again this year as we rest veterans and mix and match to nullify opposition strengths and amplify our own to exploit their weaknesses.

 

[Wolftone]

Tommy's in the position that Jessie and Andrejs were last year. They were fortunate enough that injuries gave them another chance to pick up their careers and move forward. Both grabbed the opportunity presented to them.

My Concern for Tommy is he may do everything right this year but still be stuck in the ressies looking for a break.

I think Tommy has a far better chance as a defender. I liked him as a defender when he went back there in the Two's. He is now training in the defensive group and looks to be slotting in there. He is a big beast of a guy, great physique, he could be very useful against the huge forwards or resting rucks in time. I think he will probably get a go if he plays well in the Twos. The defence was under huge pressure and several defenders were carrying niggles, including Teddy, but we basically had no replacement unless we played an underdeveloped Xav (who will get a go this year I think to alleviate the stress on the defence).

By the way Tommy can punch the shite out of a ball when spoiling, I saw a couple that went 20-30 metres.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Very positive thread this. Making me feel all uplifted like.

 

[GotTheGoodes]

Tommy's in the position that Jessie and Andrejs were last year. They were fortunate enough that injuries gave them another chance to pick up their careers and move forward. Both grabbed the opportunity presented to them.

My Concern for Tommy is he may do everything right this year but still be stuck in the ressies looking for a break.

Please don't say that... *looks at Rohan worryingly*

 

[bungee]

Craig Bird the 10th best tagger in the league. http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/blues-ed-curnow-emerges-as-afls-no-2-tagger-20140111-30nri.html

Can Birdy lift that (without becoming a complete a,,,hole like Crowley) ? Bird also has the ability to hurt on the rebound. Another big preseason (looking very good so far) and I think he's still got a lot of upside. IMO he'll be one of our most important players this year.

 

[swans2014]

IMO there should be pride in merely having a chance at playing for our great club. If they don't feel that pride, excitment and hunger to play for our club and want to go elsewhere then good for them, good luck somwhere else I say.

I think it's about a bit more than pride, excitement and hunger. These guys are professional athletes, football is their livelihood, and the career span of an AFL player is very short, so they need to follow opportunity wherever it exists. A player could very well love the Swans and not want to leave because of their passion for the club and desire to play seniors in Sydney, but if there are no opportunities to get into the seniors all the love and passion for the club shouldn't keep them at a place where they don't get the chance to play regular senior football. Football is a job for these guys, and in any other field of work people would never question the pride, excitement and hunger of a person who left an employer that repeatedly passed them over for promotion (that's effectively what one player getting senior games over another is in the football workplace).

The Swans are a strong team and it's not easy to break into a side that's settled and winning games. The only reason so many younger (e.g. Brandon Jack) and fringe (e.g. Everitt and White) got so much senior football in 2013 was because of a massive injury toll, so if the Swans don't have another horror run with injuries it will be hard for young and fringe players to establish themselves in the 22.

I'm not talking so about the first and second year players as they are very much in the development stage and probably don't expect to play much senior footy early on, more the guys who've been on the list for 3 or more years but still haven't broken into the senior team as regulars. By that stage they're already 21-22 years old and realistically will only be able to play at the elite level for another 8-10 years before their bodies give up on them (apart from the occasional freak like Goodes or Jude Bolton).

In 2013, a year in which the senior list was destroyed by injury, only 2 young/rookie players (Rampe and Mitchell) were able to break into the side for extended periods and establish themselves as important parts of the 22. A lot of others got chances, but I don't think you could say that any of them are even close to being automatic selections at this stage. Based on that, it's unlikely that more than 1-2 guys who haven't already had an extended run in the seniors have a chance of being the breakout player of 2014, so the ones to look at are more likely to be those who are already in the best 22-25. I mentioned Smith and Parker before, and I'd add Rohan as he could be anything if he gets his body right. Of those who are yet to debut or play more than a handful of games it's a lot harder to say, but based on those that I've seen (I don't live in Sydney so can't see reserves games) I'd say Cunningham or Biggs.

Either way, the Swans look well stocked for young talent, so the players who do break in will have earned their spots against stiff competition, and competition for spots is great for any team. Those who miss the cut will look elsewhere and good luck to them, I always like to keep an eye on Swans players that change clubs and hope that they do well.

 

[GotTheGoodes]

I think it's about a bit more than pride, excitement and hunger.

...

Those who miss the cut will look elsewhere and good luck to them, I always like to keep an eye on Swans players that change clubs and hope that they do well.

Great response swans2014. I really like it when someone can come up with a logical and well reasoned response that makes me think "Hey, they've got a point there" and make me re-assess what I've said.

Rather than the issue of players' decisions to leave or not, I was more trying to focus on the perception that a fear of us losing a player due to lack of opportunity would influence our decision to pick/play them. In fact, I think we actually agree that it's a business and someone's desire/passion shouldn't alone be an indicator of their suitability of selection. The best combination of players need to be picked each week. That combination doesn't have to be the most skilled or the fittest. Just the combination that should maximise our returns and fulfil our strategies (in both the short & medium term). In the short term we need to win the game by matching up player X and making sure we've got enough player type Y to cover our strategy and game plan. In the medium term, we need to be making sure our younger players are given opportunities (within the scope of the shorter term planning) that allow development and confidence to allow them to become more regular/senior members of the group.

No doubt it's a very fine balancing act and I for one am glad I'm not making the calls this year as to the make up of our squad week in week out. All going well we're going to have some cracking players miss out by the looks of it. But we can't hold back and need to be somewhat ruthless when it comes to players potentially exiting because they can't crack the seniors. We've shown in the past we've got a a very good culture (people, processes and procedures) with which to mould players to fit our group no matter their shape, size or (more importantly) initially percieved skill &/or potential.

I'm not scared of young guys leaving. I know we've got a club made of the right stuff to attract the right people and players who are more than likely willing to wait their turn and buy in to their role and what is expected of them. They may not feel too warm and fuzzy about it but I'd rather see them feel like they have well and truely earnt their spot by the time their chance finally arrives to try to claim it. Then they can claim it as theirs and really take some ownership and pride in what it's taken to get to that point as opposed to feeling it's their right based on nothing but time on a list or games played in the reserves alone.

 

[swans2014]

I was more trying to focus on the perception that a fear of us losing a player due to lack of opportunity would influence our decision to pick/play them.

I think the Swans have shown under Longmire that young players will only get a run based on merit. I would imagine that the coaches knew that Lamb was frustrated by the lack of opportunities but that didn't stop them selecting other young guys in the finals ahead of him. Towers was from all reports doing great things in the reserves but he didn't get a senior game, instead they promoted players off the rookie list who got games ahead of him. Towers, unlike Lamb, was contracted beyond 2013 so no risk of leaving, but it still shows that the match committee will pick the players that they think are needed to win the match, not rotate younger players through a few bench spots to keep them keen.

One of the unfortunate things about having a strong club is that good players have to be let go, but there are far worse problems to have in footy!

 

[Superstar swan]

I'm quite disappointed that everitt had to leave, I see him as a player that had enormous upside , but like others have said he was a casualty of our clubs strong position. We have enough young talent that have experienced regular senior football in Mitchell , rohan , Parker, jetta , Reid and hannnerbry that hopefully will be swans for life

 

[Riders of Rohan]

I'm quite disappointed that everitt had to leave, I see him as a player that had enormous upside , but like others have said he was a casualty of our clubs strong position. We have enough young talent that have experienced regular senior football in Mitchell , rohan , Parker, jetta , Reid and hannnerbry that hopefully will be swans for life

I'd completely forgotten about Everitt, can't even remember who he got traded to. Carlton or west coast?

 

[Danair]

Jetta. Hopefully he can stay healthy and get back to his 2012 form.

 

[Superstar swan]

I'd completely forgotten about Everitt, can't even remember who he got traded to. Carlton or west coast?

Carlton we effectively traded him for Laidler which may work out pretty well in the end

 

[SouthSwans]

Parker, Jetta, Reid & Tippett to have a monster 2014.

 

[GotTheGoodes]

If Reid can finally get into a forward line with Tippett, Goodes and now Buddy as well then man oh man... I can see him tearing it up big time!

He carried our forward line until Tippett got there and then got injured. The only thing I can think of is they will want to use him ala LRT in a swingman type role in defence. Initially I think they'd rather play LRT mainly forward and Reid mainly back in the hope Reidy can develop the defensive side a bit more and lock down that role before LRT retires next season or season after IMO.

 

[Punts]

Rohan will take of this year , is having a huge pre season and he will not be paid much attention by other clubs due to they have not seen much of him due to his injuries and also Buddy , Tippett , Reid , Goodes , Jetta etc will be paid a lot more attention.
Gary is 190cm , so he will be a hard match up for the smaller defenders and you also have to have pace as Gary is one of the quickest players in the league.( Hard match up)
I think he will have a year like Jetta did in 2012 , 35+ goals.

Reid has no excuse with Buddy , Tippett , Goodes in the side , interesting to see how they play him , I think he will be giving a little bit of a licence to play really high up the and drop in defence at times and go were he wants , sorta how the Hawks used Gunston at times , noticed when I watched a few replays that the Hawks give Gunston a licence to go anywhere at times. (He will love running out with Buddy , Tippett , Goodes and knowing he wont be taking the num 1 defender , confidence should be through the roof).

LRT is an interesting one (best 22 in my books) but with AJ back the 3rd tall role is covered , plus AJ gives u run out of the back half and can play on smalls to which gives him the edge over LRT but LRT gives you heart and grunt and can play forward or back , not saying AJ doesn't give his all , I still think AJ was the biggest loss last year out of all the injured guys.

With Buddy up there now and Reid being that swinger plus AJ back it will be interesting to see what role LRT will play , maybe 3rd tall and use AJ of the HBF with his speed ?

 

[Punts]

(HOLE TEAMS KICKING EFFICIENCY NEEDS TO IMPROVE)
To be 16th in kicking efficiency in 2013 for a top 4 side pretty poor , needs to improve if we are any chance this year , cant keep turning the ball over otherwise the top Teams hurt you every time.

 

[bedford]

Is that from Champion Data, who Roos didn't rate

 

[Punts]

Yer think so mate

 

[bedford]

don't trust them

 

[Swansujelly]

hopefully Towers is. Has the tools, just needs a chance I rekon. Imagine him, Rohan and Jetta running amok.

 

[Wolftone]

hopefully Towers is. Has the tools, just needs a chance I rekon. Imagine him, Rohan and Jetta running amok.

Yes Deano has the best kicking style I have seen in a long time and was very close to cracking it last year. I think we should have played him in the finals and not Rohan & Jetts as they were not ready to play finals footy. I would have played Deano & BJ.

The speed machines; Jetts, BJ, Rohan, Deano, Harry, Hannas, Kizza, Jones?, Perris & Robbo.

Clever little buggers; Parker, Mitchell, Lloyd, Macca. Joey (not so little but bloody clever), Ryano (see Joey), Birdy, Rohan (see Joey), Marsh (see Joey) & Goodes (see Joey), Aliir (seems to be clever at the baulk ,might be the next Harry O/ now known as Heritier Lumumba).

Elite delivery; Mal, Macca, Biggs, Reg, LRT, Deano, Jones, AJ, Kizza,

Guts; personifies; Hannas, Kizza, Teddy, Jones, Parker, Mitchell, Joey, LRT, Ryano, Goodes, everyone in the seniors really.

 

[Punts]

Towers has exceptional speed for 189cm , he is a very good mark also.
He does have all the tools for AFL , a very long a kick yes but far from an elite kick and was his big problem in the VFL and games I saw in the 2s last year it still hurts him , he has to clean it up to become anything at AFL Level (hope he can)

 

[Swansujelly]

Yes Deano has the best kicking style I have seen in a long time and was very close to cracking it last year. I think we should have played him in the finals and not Rohan & Jetts as they were not ready to play finals footy. I would have played Deano & BJ.

The speed machines; Jetts, BJ, Rohan, Deano, Harry, Hannas, Kizza, Jones?, Perris & Robbo.

Clever little buggers; Parker, Mitchell, Lloyd, Macca. Joey (not so little but bloody clever), Ryano (see Joey), Birdy, Rohan (see Joey), Marsh (see Joey) & Goodes (see Joey), Aliir (seems to be clever at the baulk ,might be the next Harry O/ now known as Heritier Lumumba).

Elite delivery; Mal, Macca, Biggs, Reg, LRT, Deano, Jones, AJ, Kizza,

Guts; personifies; Hannas, Kizza, Teddy, Jones, Parker, Mitchell, Joey, LRT, Ryano, Goodes, everyone in the seniors really.

i'd put marsh in the speed machines too, he's quick.

 

[bedford]

I have no doubt he should be a good player, but how many from all clubs are talked about being potential superstars some don't even get a game. Personally i'm more excited about the return of a player like AJ who proved himself time after time in his short career and an outstanding performance in the big one.

 

[bungee]

Not at all Mick , I have no doubt he should be a good player, but how many from all clubs are talked about being potential superstars some don't even get a game. Personally i'm more excited about the return of a player like AJ who proved himself time after time in his short career and an outstanding performance in the big one.

Good point about potential/talent. And then you get guys like Kelly, Kirk & Pyke who were considered ill-suited to AFL at best but wanted it badly enough. So much depends on the heart of the beast.