Autopsy Practice Match: Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions 24th Feb @ 12pm Tramway Oval on Foxtel

[caesar88]

I know you are not angry with me. How could you be?
The questions will always be asked. He needs to do something this year. If he is not best 22 come round 23 then more questions will come. It is inevitable. That is life in the AFL.

It is not the end of the world though.

Thank you for another successful walk up the hill.

 

[caesar88]

McAndrew's ability to get a hand on the ball and control the tap was pleasantly surprising. Obviously faded as the game went on but was nice to see

 

[WillHayward]

How did Mitchell and tall defender go

Still don’t rate Stephens , soft outsider

Basically every player ever who is small and skinny is a soft outsider for a few years.

I've seen it a million times over.

And it changes as their bodies develop and mature until they are 24 or 25.

Leigh Matthews famously said he used to think Nigel Lappin was a soft outsider until he coached him and realised he was a ****ing gun. Leigh then said he never judged young skinny kids harshly ever again and he learned a lesson.

I think Stephens is the least of our worries

I'm truly worried about a lack of 2nd ruck, lack of 2nd fwd, lack of massive defender, lack of massive inside mid...

 

[ShireSwan]

I see you're back on this, even though Campbell ran out the game fine (though didn't play particularly well) and he was playing in a position where his tank didn't have much of a bearing.

Campbell has averaged 72.3% TOG in his first two seasons. Not exactly Mills or Heeney levels of fitness, but higher than his 2020 counterpart McDonald (71.6%) or a fellow midfielder Rowbottom (71%) managed in their first two years in the system. McDonald is regularly benched for long stretches of second halves, while Rowbottom only started maintaining his level over four quarters last year, in his fourth year. Campbell is only entering his third year.

I don't recall any such concerns about whether those two would make it, despite needing a lot of work on their tank.

I asked you the above in his player thread but didn't get a response, so thought I'd try again, since it's such a pressing concern, specific to Campbell apparently.

Not all gifted juniors develop into A or even B graders.
I reckon he'll be one like that myself.
Nice kick, good vision, but I'm not sure he has the physical tools, or mongrel to be in the clubs top 18 players. The athletic requirements really are extreme these days. He reminds me a bit of some white European guys in the NBA. You can tell some of them a gift and know the game, but they're never going to compete with the sheer athleticism of others in the league who also have a gift.

I guess it could turn around as he develops, but he's an outside chance IMHO.

 

[The King!]

Thank you for another successful walk up the hill.

might use that one

 

[The King!]

17 pages

who gives a **** about some picnic at a dump in summer v the Lions

 

[WillHayward]

17 pages

who gives a * about some picnic at a dump in summer v the Lions

Terrific entrance to this thread.

Kapoow!

 

[caesar88]

Not all gifted juniors develop into A or even B graders.
I reckon he'll be one like that myself.
Nice kick, good vision, but I'm not sure he has the physical tools, or mongrel to be in the clubs top 18 players. The athletic requirements really are extreme these days. He reminds me a bit of some white European guys in the NBA. You can tell some of them a gift and know the game, but they're never going to compete with the sheer athleticism of others in the league who also have a gift.

I guess it could turn around as he develops, but he's an outside chance IMHO.

If I've learnt one thing it's not to place a ceiling on what a young player can go on to be.

 

[SeanM]

Two games ago in the 1st intra club Campbell was probably the 2nd best player on the field (to Parker). He was effortless making precise attacking kicks on the run under pressure. And buzzing around midfield getting involved.

At the time I was thinking how lucky we were to have both Gulden and Campbell long term in our midfield with their attacking kicking. They can do things our other midfielders can't. Gulden can win the ball, has a massive workrate and can hit precise kicks under pressure. Campbell has an attacking kicking game but also will be able to hurt teams with his midfield running.

Now 2 games later, we are worried about Campbell's career. It is funny how things can change so quickly. And how precarious things are.

 

[RUNVS]

Two games ago in the 1st intra club Campbell was probably the 2nd best player on the field (to Parker). He was effortless making precise attacking kicks on the run under pressure.

At the time I was thinking how lucky we were to have both Gulden and Campbell long term in our midfield with their attacking kicking. They can do things our other midfielders can't. Gulden can win the ball, has a massive workrate and can hit precise kicks under pressure. Campbell has an attacking kicking game but also will be able to hurt teams with his midfield running.

Now 2 games later, we are worried about Campbell's career.

Most of us never saw that game though so we can only judge him on what we have seen.

 

[SeanM]

I just think Campbell is starting his 3rd season. And I feel we are panicking that he now needs to establish himself and cement a position.

But I still think he is early in his career. I looked at the other players drafted in 2020 and not many have established themselves.

 

[BarneyBent]

I like Campbell, but you don't even need to look beyond the Swans to find a comparable player in the same draft year who has dramatically out performed him, in Gulden.

Campbell hasn't yet come on as we'd like. That doesn't mean he won't. Also doesn't mean he will. Jordan Dawson

12

Jordan Dawson

Age

27

Ht

191cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.0

4star

K

11.4

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.8

4star

CL

0.6

3star

D

15.7

4star

K

10.9

4star

HB

4.9

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

2.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

D

11.8

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

3.0

5star

CL

0.6

3star

took years and now he's a captain (unfortunately not for us). But it's also fair to say we'd be a lot more confident if he'd shown more to date.

Basically, people need to chill a little. He's not a lost cause, but I'm less confident than I was 2 years ago.

 

[RUNVS]

I like Campbell, but you don't even need to look beyond the Swans to find a comparable player in the same draft year who has dramatically out performed him, in Gulden.

Campbell hasn't yet come on as we'd like. That doesn't mean he won't. Also doesn't mean he will. Jordan Dawson took years and now he's a captain (unfortunately not for us). But it's also fair to say we'd be a lot more confident if he'd shown more to date.

Basically, people need to chill a little. He's not a lost cause, but I'm less confident than I was 2 years ago.

Not about the rest of what you were saying but in regards to Dawson he took years because he had quite a lot of injuries in his first few years. We all saw the talent and were desperate to get him into the team.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Not about the rest of what you were saying but in regards to Dawson he took years because he had quite a lot of injuries in his first few years. We all saw the talent and were desperate to get him into the team.

I have to say, in Dawson’s first couple of years I viewed him as frustratingly error-prone & found myself cursing his selection on occasion.

But the Swans knew they had a good one.

They’re good judges.

And they’ve signed Campbell long term. Which says a lot.

Our issues aren’t Campbell - they are the ruck situation & whether Logan is ready to succeed a declining Buddy.

 

[mattpolo8]

All ripping on Campbell's game but did T McCartin take a mark?

It's pre season. We have tanked every game since the Roos era. It means absolutely nothing and is by no means a reflection on what's to come.

For the record, last year GWS beat us by 5 goals in the pre season then we came out 4 weeks later and gave them a bath.

 

[wills2g]

I think the campbell criticism is fair.

Everyone can give examples of senior players having a terrible game or what not but they’ve already proven and established themselves as best 22.

Campbell is yet to really have an impact or show consistency so some probably are hoping that he’d try to show more of himself even if its preseason. Preseason is where you want to see fringe players show something and esp as a top draft pick.

I dont blame campbell, i just cant see where he fits in the team and who he could push out if he was moved out of defence?

 

[SeanM]

It will be interesting to see how we handle selection for Carlton as the final preseason match. Ideally we would try to get close to our best 22 playing together. But also need to balance getting a look at players and managing fitness.

Forwards - I assume Reid and Franklin will still be on managed game time like today. McLean played 2 quarters in the VFL, I wonder if there is a temptation to look at him as full forward option. I assume Sheldrick will play as a small forward as the leading candidate for that position. Also hopefully Papley comes back.

Mids - I liked seeing Gulden play inside mid so ideally he gets another go there. Would also like to see Campbell pushed into midfield. But that could mean less midfield time for someone else like Roberts.

Rucks - If Ladham comes in, I assume it will be on managed minutes. So we would still need McAndrew to play a bit. But this may force out Edwards.

Defenders - Wonder if any of Cunningham, Blakey or Fox would be ready to come back. That would give us a bit more speed in the backline. But may mean less opportunity for someone else. Not sure if Gould would be fit enough to come in or if a spot would be available. But it would be a opportunity to play against an AFL forward line.

 

[RubbaDuck]

I know it is not on topic but Florent was everywhere today. He is the professional. I love his evasiveness in tight situations. He goes this way, he goes that way, he swivels, he jinks, he has all the moves and he almost always goes on a run and delivers the ball. Class.

I'll join you in sneaking off topic.

Florent shakes, shimmies, shuffles, swivels and swerves through traffic in a fashion that can only be described as Judd-esque. He never looks like he's moving fast, yet those chasing him can never keep up. Either he's using dark physics, so those around him are running against the gravitational pull of a black hole or he's runs at the optical sweet-spot where the video speed (frames per second) is precisely in sync with the cadence of his legs (ie, the stroboscopic effect).

 

[caesar88]

It will be interesting to see how we handle selection for Carlton as the final preseason match. Ideally we would try to get close to our best 22 playing together. But also need to balance getting a look at players and managing fitness.

Forwards - I assume Reid and Franklin will still be on managed game time like today. McLean played 2 quarters in the VFL, I wonder if there is a temptation to look at him as full forward option. I assume Sheldrick will play as a small forward as the leading candidate for that position. Also hopefully Papley comes back.

Mids - I liked seeing Gulden play inside mid so ideally he gets another go there. Would also like to see Campbell pushed into midfield. But that could mean less midfield time for someone else like Roberts.

Rucks - If Ladham comes in, I assume it will be on managed minutes. So we would still need McAndrew to play a bit. But this may force out Edwards.

Defenders - Wonder if any of Cunningham, Blakey or Fox would be ready to come back. That would give us a bit more speed in the backline. But may mean less opportunity for someone else. Not sure if Gould would be fit enough to come in or if a spot would be available. But it would be a opportunity to play against an AFL forward line.

We need to treat this next game as the rehearsal for the real stuff and drop the more experimental moves.

I'd rather see the guys who have viable chances at midfield minutes in the senior team (Gulden & Campbell) play there against Carlton, even if that means none for the others like Roberts.

I'd rather see the guy who has a viable chance at leading our ruck division in the senior team (Ladhams) play in there, even if that means less of the pleasantly-surprising rotations from McAndrew and Edwards.

And I'd rather see the guys who have a viable chance at playing in defence for us in the senior team (Fox, Blakey), even if that means less minutes against Carlton for the likes of Francis and Gould (who I presume would've played in the main game today if fully fit.)

The game against the Lions was a decent first hitout for the team, but it was such a far-cry from the team and structure we'll likely be fielding in round 1, so in a preparation sense, we really need to do away with the charity rotations and refine the best 23 against Carlton.

 

[momentbymoment]

My take on Campbell.
Reminds me of Blakey in the early days. Talented but impulsive. Tries to do the exceptional, then gets flustered. Hopefully he finds his groove and we all move on to the next whipping boy.

 

[TheMase]

McAndrew's ability to get a hand on the ball and control the tap was pleasantly surprising. Obviously faded as the game went on but was nice to see

His ruckwork was more advanced than I had realised, which isn’t surprising since to date he has spent most of his time in the 2s down forward so we haven’t seen a lot of it.

Plenty of work to do with his all round game of course but pleasing to see.

 

[TheMase]

I thought Rowbottom in first half was in absolutely everything. Shaping up to be a big season for him.

Plenty had been said about Gulden, love his work.

Edwards showed he had the competitiveness to go with his athleticism. Still raw but he is an exciting prospect.

Glad McInerney has the hair back! He had a reasonable outing as did Stephens.

 

[Ticky009]

I have to say, in Dawson’s first couple of years I viewed him as frustratingly error-prone & found myself cursing his selection on occasion.

But the Swans knew they had a good one.

They’re good judges.

And they’ve signed Campbell long term. Which says a lot.

Our issues aren’t Campbell - they are the ruck situation & whether Logan is ready to succeed a declining Buddy.

Agreed. Campbell is the least of our worries. I'm keen to see how we proceed up forward this year, Buddy's influence should be lessening.

 

[BloodySwan]

It's a lot to base off of a small amount.

I liked the looks of Stephens and McDonald. Both look fitter, Stephens was good while McDonald was rusty but seemed to be able to contest more. He often gets pushed off defenders but held his own.

Gulden is going to have a break out.

Warner will continue to be a gun.

Heeney, Mills and Parker look every reliable.

No reason we can't push top 4 again.

 

[Superstar swan]

Logan has put alot of work in to improve his fitness. When he got to the club he could barley get out of the square without needing a lunch break...he is covering the ground very well these days and getting up to hb to present an option.

Just needs to string it all together now