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

[RubbaDuck]

Just rewinding the 2023 season and watching the Rd 22 GC game. We were struggling to win clearances (again), kicking our entire score from defensive rebound as we did with GWS. With 8:30 remaining in the 3rd, Papley goes into the midfield. He blasts out of the centre, shuffles a quick give 'n get with Rowie before kicking long and hard into the waiting hands of McDonald, while Sam Collins is still scratching his nuts. McDonald goals, Papley fires up the forwards, fires up the midfield and gets himself a few touches to get himself into the game. Meanwhile Gulden has moved to half-forward to shake a Touk tag. That's why players need to be flexible.

Flexibility to play a number of roles is not just to fill holes but to shift the make-up of the team for tactical reasons if needed. Watching Horse work (ably assisted by his lieutenants) is like watching a chess-master. Moves and counter-moves as he seeks to find an edge over his less experienced opponent.

Pieces that can move in many directions are as valuable in footy as they are in chess. Swans need a whole bunch of queens, and I mean that in a positive way.

 

[RubbaDuck]

Jordan won't be getting in over those two.

I think Jordan is more of a Stephens reset. Similar stature and career progression, actually midfielders who just haven't been able to crack in. I think Jordan has definitely showed more in the guts at VFL level and I think that is where the coaches are hoping to play him - competing for a serious spot with Angus and/or at worst giving relief to a battling but underperforming midfield. Using him as a winger would just be a break glass I rekn. Jmac has got to be the most underrated winger in the league, he's close to one of the best imo and an absolute lock, and no one is touching Campbell. And don't forget, wing is probably Guldens best position too.

Deffs a bit of romanticism around playing new recruits, but nothing wrong with Jordan playing VFL which I think is where he'll start. It's a long season and there will be plenty of times he gets called upon. Same goes for Hamling, I would be disappointed seeing Melican miss out if he is in similar knick to last year.

Hayward and Wicks are the other two whip coppers who will be a lock. Wicks especially, with an uninterrupted preseason, will be an absolute beast this year I rekn.

I get nervous when Jmac is in defense. I'd rather see him working a high half forward flank. He does his best work attacking down a wing but sometimes struggles to keep his cool in defence, kicking wildly into the hands of a waiting opposition.

I like Campbell on a wing. He learned his trade in defence but that left boot is an attacking weapon that can tear holes in defences. When he and Gulden can switch play with 60m pin-point darts, there's no way defenders can get set up. Campbell, like Gulden, will either find a free forward or bang in a rocket from 60-70m. He's got some good pace too. I think this may be his breakout year.

I'd like to see Fox given licence to take a more procactive rebounding attack down a wing. He's got a good tank, good defensive skills, plenty of speed, he's cool under pressure and his inside 50s tend to hit targets. Someone needs to replace Rampe one day, but that's not Fox, even if he had to do it quite a lot in 2023.

I love that we have more talent than we have positions to fit them all in.

 

[Millky95]

Just rewinding the 2023 season and watching the Rd 22 GC game. We were struggling to win clearances (again), kicking our entire score from defensive rebound as we did with GWS. With 8:30 remaining in the 3rd, Papley goes into the midfield. He blasts out of the centre, shuffles a quick give 'n get with Rowie before kicking long and hard into the waiting hands of McDonald, while Sam Collins is still scratching his nuts. McDonald goals, Papley fires up the forwards, fires up the midfield and gets himself a few touches to get himself into the game. Meanwhile Gulden has moved to half-forward to shake a Touk tag. That's why players need to be flexible.

Flexibility to play a number of roles is not just to fill holes but to shift the make-up of the team for tactical reasons if needed. Watching Horse work (ably assisted by his lieutenants) is like watching a chess-master. Moves and counter-moves as he seeks to find an edge over his less experienced opponent.

Pieces that can move in many directions are as valuable in footy as they are in chess. Swans need a whole bunch of queens, and I mean that in a positive way.

Think that is the best use of Papley in the middle. Maybe once a quarter or so. To get him into the game or to provide something different in there. Shouldn't be our main tactic though

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[strauchanie59]

I am here for the inevitable Pete Ladhams redemption arc.

 

[Shooter#17]

Hi guys,
Just curious on your thoughts on parker and sheldricks roles this year?
Do you see parker falling away with less mid time, and will sheldricks be a beneficiary of this and potential best 22?
Or will Luke still be the m1 of the side.
Feel free to move this to a more appropriate thread if needed.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Summary (ranking) of the HSun player ratings:

1. Errol Gulden
2. Nick Blakey
3. Chad Warner
4. Brodie Grundy
5. Tom Papley
6. Luke Parker
7. Tom McCartin
8. James Rowbottom
9. Taylor Adams
10. Ollie Florent
11. Isaac Heeney
12. Jake Lloyd
13. Logan McDonald
14. Dane Rampe
15. Braeden Campbell
16. James Jordon
17. Hayden McLean
18. Will Hayward
19. Justin McInerney
20. Callum Mills
21. Harry Cunningham
22. Joel Amartey
23. Robbie Fox
24. Harry Arnold
25. Sam Wicks
26. Lewis Melican
27. Joel Hamling
28. Peter Ladhams
29. Jack Buller
30. Angus Sheldrick
31. Lachlan McAndrew
32. Aaron Francis
33. Will Green
34. Sam Reid
35. Matthew Roberts
36. Caiden Cleary
37. Corey Warner
38. Jacob Konstanty
39. Cooper Vickery
40. Patrick Snell
41. Caleb Mitchell
42. Will Edwards
43. Jaiden Magor
44. Indhi Kirk

Full article: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...r/news-story/ab20a9d61ecf94bb92fdb88ec9652527

Not a mile off it.

 

[caesar88]

Summary (ranking) of the HSun player ratings:

1. Errol Gulden
2. Nick Blakey
3. Chad Warner
4. Brodie Grundy
5. Tom Papley
6. Luke Parker
7. Tom McCartin
8. James Rowbottom
9. Taylor Adams
10. Ollie Florent
11. Isaac Heeney
12. Jake Lloyd
13. Logan McDonald
14. Dane Rampe
15. Braeden Campbell
16. James Jordon
17. Hayden McLean
18. Will Hayward
19. Justin McInerney
20. Callum Mills
21. Harry Cunningham
22. Joel Amartey
23. Robbie Fox
24. Harry Arnold
25. Sam Wicks
26. Lewis Melican
27. Joel Hamling
28. Peter Ladhams
29. Jack Buller
30. Angus Sheldrick
31. Lachlan McAndrew
32. Aaron Francis
33. Will Green
34. Sam Reid
35. Matthew Roberts
36. Caiden Cleary
37. Corey Warner
38. Jacob Konstanty
39. Cooper Vickery
40. Patrick Snell
41. Caleb Mitchell
42. Will Edwards
43. Jaiden Magor
44. Indhi Kirk

Full article: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...r/news-story/ab20a9d61ecf94bb92fdb88ec9652527

Geez whoever wrote this has had a mare.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Geez whoever wrote this has had a mare.

Jon Ralph and Glenn Macfarlane

NB. They have Matty R. on the list twice, so there's that....

 

[stevie26]

Summary (ranking) of the HSun player ratings:

1. Errol Gulden
2. Nick Blakey
3. Chad Warner
4. Brodie Grundy
5. Tom Papley
6. Luke Parker
7. Tom McCartin
8. James Rowbottom
9. Taylor Adams
10. Ollie Florent
11. Isaac Heeney
12. Jake Lloyd
13. Logan McDonald
14. Dane Rampe
15. Braeden Campbell
16. James Jordon
17. Hayden McLean
18. Will Hayward
19. Justin McInerney
20. Callum Mills

Mills at 20 is a joke!

 

[caesar88]

Hi guys,
Just curious on your thoughts on parker and sheldricks roles this year?
Do you see parker falling away with less mid time, and will sheldricks be a beneficiary of this and potential best 22?
Or will Luke still be the m1 of the side.
Feel free to move this to a more appropriate thread if needed.

Others may disagree but for me personally I feel like when we went after contested bulls last year and wound up acquiring Adams, it wasn't with the intention of replacing one contested bull with another, as many seem to think Adams coming in will help Parker and free him up to play more forward. Adams will help Parker but I think it will be by them joining forces, a second big, mature body alongside the original.

If we simply cut into one contested bull's minutes to give them to another contested bull, are we actually getting better with our contested work?

And secondly, if it's not Parker who is going to help carry our contested core alongside Adams, then who is it? No one on our list screams that type that can get around that 15 contested possessions mark fairly regularly besides Parker and Adams.

Mills could be but he'll be out. Rowbottom could be but not in his current role. Many seem to think Sheldrick could be, but not with the opportunities he'll likely get being behind 5/6 others in the pecking order.

Not saying it's what I'd necessarily want but I'm fully bracing for Adams & Parker to be our two main CBAs players this year.

 

[Dan87]

McKirdy not naming one of Melican, Hamling or Francis is a massive cop out. One will play and it really stops him from having to make a decision that will reshuffle things

 

[BloodySwan]

Summary (ranking) of the HSun player ratings:

1. Errol Gulden
2. Nick Blakey
3. Chad Warner
4. Brodie Grundy
5. Tom Papley
6. Luke Parker
7. Tom McCartin
8. James Rowbottom
9. Taylor Adams
10. Ollie Florent
11. Isaac Heeney
12. Jake Lloyd
13. Logan McDonald
14. Dane Rampe
15. Braeden Campbell
16. James Jordon
17. Hayden McLean
18. Will Hayward
19. Justin McInerney
20. Callum Mills
21. Harry Cunningham
22. Joel Amartey
23. Robbie Fox
24. Harry Arnold
25. Sam Wicks
26. Lewis Melican
27. Joel Hamling
28. Peter Ladhams
29. Jack Buller
30. Angus Sheldrick
31. Lachlan McAndrew
32. Aaron Francis
33. Will Green
34. Sam Reid
35. Matthew Roberts
36. Caiden Cleary
37. Corey Warner
38. Jacob Konstanty
39. Cooper Vickery
40. Patrick Snell
41. Caleb Mitchell
42. Will Edwards
43. Jaiden Magor
44. Indhi Kirk

Full article: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...r/news-story/ab20a9d61ecf94bb92fdb88ec9652527

How is Arnold so high? Dude hasn't played a senior game yet it ahead of Mexican, Hamling and Francis?!?

 

[caesar88]

McKirdy not naming one of Melican, Hamling or Francis is a massive cop out. One will play and it really stops him from having to make a decision that will reshuffle things

Spot on IMO.

 

[wolftone57]

Geez whoever wrote this has had a mare.

Has had a woman horse? Gees I hope not.

On CPH2471 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[RUNVS]

Has had a woman horse? Gees I hope not.

On CPH2471 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Generally with horses we go male or female (or mare, gelding/stallion). People don't often call horses men or women

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Summary (ranking) of the HSun player ratings:

1. Errol Gulden
2. Nick Blakey
3. Chad Warner
4. Brodie Grundy
5. Tom Papley
6. Luke Parker
7. Tom McCartin
8. James Rowbottom
9. Taylor Adams
10. Ollie Florent
11. Isaac Heeney
12. Jake Lloyd
13. Logan McDonald
14. Dane Rampe
15. Braeden Campbell
16. James Jordon
17. Hayden McLean
18. Will Hayward
19. Justin McInerney
20. Callum Mills
21. Harry Cunningham
22. Joel Amartey
23. Robbie Fox
24. Harry Arnold
25. Sam Wicks
26. Lewis Melican
27. Joel Hamling
28. Peter Ladhams
29. Jack Buller
30. Angus Sheldrick
31. Lachlan McAndrew
32. Aaron Francis
33. Will Green
34. Sam Reid
35. Matthew Roberts
36. Caiden Cleary
37. Corey Warner
38. Jacob Konstanty
39. Cooper Vickery
40. Patrick Snell
41. Caleb Mitchell
42. Will Edwards
43. Jaiden Magor
44. Indhi Kirk

Full article: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...r/news-story/ab20a9d61ecf94bb92fdb88ec9652527

Skinny draftee ruck > Sam Reid.

Credibility zero.

 

[caesar88]

I love how he's obviously put Callum Mills

14

Callum Mills

Age

27

Ht

188cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.6

3star

D

18.4

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

3.4

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

1.2

4star

- who, let's be honest, is the only serious challenger to Gulden's claim as our best player - at number 20 because he didn't have a great year last year.

But then he's put Brodie Grundy

4

Brodie Grundy

Age

30

Ht

202cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

9.6

5star

CL

4.1

5star

HO

32.0

5star

D

16.4

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

9.6

5star

CL

4.0

5star

HO

34.6

5star

D

13.8

4star

K

5.2

2star

HB

8.6

5star

CL

2.6

5star

HO

20.6

5star

at number 4.

 

[SydneyBlood]

I love how he's obviously put Callum Mills - who, let's be honest, is the only serious challenger to Gulden's claim as our best player - at number 20 because he didn't have a great year last year.

But then he's put Brodie Grundy at number 4.

I agree with you but I guess it's more to do with Mills potentially missing half this coming season, hence not being able to contribute as much over a whole upcoming season. Not so much to do with last year's performance.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

McKirdy not naming one of Melican, Hamling or Francis is a massive cop out. One will play and it really stops him from having to make a decision that will reshuffle things

think it is a horses for courses selection. Melbourne has a small forward line

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I agree with you but I guess it's more to do with Mills potentially missing half this coming season, hence not being able to contribute as much over a whole upcoming season. Not so much to do with last year's performance.

yep.

 

[Ed_Gein]

Cunningham and Roberts in the backline? Hmm, to be honest I thought Melican was pretty good in the team in the back-half of last season and would've said he'd be ahead of both of them.

 

[patto14]

Cunningham and Roberts in the backline? Hmm, to be honest I thought Melican was pretty good in the team in the back-half of last season and would've said he'd be ahead of both of them.

The sooner Cunningham is placed where he belongs in the VFL side the better. Not AFL level for a team pushing for top 4.

Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk

 

[Kiama Chris]

The sooner Cunningham is placed where he belongs in the VFL side the better. Not AFL level for a team pushing for top 4.

Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk

That's a very definite statement about a player who finished top ten in the Skilton, routinely blankets the best small forwards and played 24 games last year. Doing that job he's not going to rack up the stats but the club seems to see some value in it.

 

[patto14]

That's a very definite statement about a player who finished top ten in the Skilton, routinely blankets the best small forwards and played 24 games last year. Doing that job he's not going to rack up the stats but the club seems to see some value in it.

A 30 year old defender who averages 14 possions a game, when will henhave his breakout? he needs to be shutting his opponent down like nick smth did. He is not even worthy to be in the same change room as Nick Smith. Top 10 of the skilton medal seems a outlier. He has a place in the afl, just not with a team looking to be a threat. P.s you don't need to agree with me.

If Cunningham is playing a majority of games in 2024 we are not serious about a flag.