Unofficial Preview SEASON 2025 - Best 22, Game Plan, Personnel

[Adnico26Parker]

Just catching up on some podcasts from last week, and heard Gerard Healy speculating in one that ‘word is we’re going to trial Logan at CHB next year’?

 

[Bloods86]

Just catching up on some podcasts from last week, and heard Gerard Healy speculating in one that ‘word is we’re going to trial Logan at CHB next year’?

Dear god no.

Didn't look comfortable down there, and would be dropping one of the bigger/slower guys instead, if we're going to 2 KPFs.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Dear god no.

Didn't look comfortable down there, and would be dropping one of the bigger/slower guys instead, if we're going to 2 KPFs.

It could have very well been a throwaway line, but he does get some good inside info from the club - I guess we'll see

Logan did do a block of the preseason last year/beginning of 2024 with the defence group, so who knows!

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Gulden, Fox & Lloyd watching from the sidelines:

What a day as well stinking hot

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Dear god no.

Didn't look comfortable down there, and would be dropping one of the bigger/slower guys instead, if we're going to 2 KPFs.

This is what happens when you dont draft/plan your KPD stocks well.

Logan will be absolutely wasted as a defender

 

[rustycrate]

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Great result for Cleary

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Going off of IG stories, Bice and Bowman are at training, as are Rowey and Foxy!

 

[Jeffers]

But at least they're having fun outside of footy. That's the main thing, right?

“Life is good”

 

[Kbroome]

Going off of IG stories, Bice and Bowman are at training, as are Rowey and Foxy!

Two of few that turned up on GF day, thus have turned up the earliest for pre season

 

[Callipygian]

Great result for Robbo in the time trial! His improvement there was the key behind his great season last year.

Was that Paton coming in 4th in the time trial behind Roberts?

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Great result for Robbo in the time trial! His improvement there was the key behind his great season last year.

Was that Paton coming in 4th in the time trial behind Roberts?

I think it's Hanily

 

[Callipygian]

I think it's Hanily

I can't tell if you're right but it's a good call. Paton isn't a 1st-4th year player so probably hasn't started yet.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

In all seriousness, aside from all physical testing over the summer. The Swans management needs to address the mental side of their game in 2025. Line up as many sports psychologists as you need.

1. Avoiding the slow First QTRs and not just relying on Warner/Heeney/Gulden to flick the switch for a quarter to seize control of the game. This was a pattern all year.
2. Grand Final and what went wrong. This is painful but the big bear in the room needs to be addressed. Just don’t go hiring that Consultant outfit the Crows used in 2018 which bordered on physical and mental harassment of the players. It broke that club in half.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Thinking about our Round 0 team:
I believe Mills replaces Parker (as a number) and there are three possible "new" faces to change the balance and focus of our team.

FB: Cunningham McCartin Rampe
HB: Bice Melican Blakey
C: Gulden Mills McInerney
HF: Jordon McDonald Warner
FF: Papley Amartey Hayward
Foll: Grundy Heeney Rowbottom

I/C: McLean second ruck, 3rd KPF
Roberts 7th defender
Lloyd 3rd winger
Sheldrick 5th inside mid incl Warner, Mills
Dattoli 4th small/med forward

Bice replaces Fox as a more attacking (but still solid defensive) option. Lloyd moves from defence to the wing to replace Florent.
Dattoli replaces Campbell.
Of course this requires that these three perform in preseason and earn those places but I believe our balance would be better in each third of the ground.
Also, I'd like to see Jordon playing a more attacking role. I believe he's capable of it.
I can hear "you can't leave out Florent". Fine - leave out Lloyd or Jordon but don't put him or Lloyd back in defence.
Fox and Campbell? Get left out often. Fine, leave out Bice but it needs to happen some time.
Campbell? Pffft!
My guess - none of it happens, except Mills.

 

[caesar88]

Thinking about our Round 0 team:
I believe Mills replaces Parker (as a number) and there are three possible "new" faces to change the balance and focus of our team.

FB: Cunningham McCartin Rampe
HB: Bice Melican Blakey
C: Gulden Mills McInerney
HF: Jordon McDonald Warner
FF: Papley Amartey Hayward
Foll: Grundy Heeney Rowbottom

I/C: McLean second ruck, 3rd KPF
Roberts 7th defender
Lloyd 3rd winger
Sheldrick 5th inside mid incl Warner, Mills
Dattoli 4th small/med forward

Bice replaces Fox as a more attacking (but still solid defensive) option. Lloyd moves from defence to the wing to replace Florent.
Dattoli replaces Campbell.
Of course this requires that these three perform in preseason and earn those places but I believe our balance would be better in each third of the ground.
Also, I'd like to see Jordon playing a more attacking role. I believe he's capable of it.
I can hear "you can't leave out Florent". Fine - leave out Lloyd or Jordon but don't put him or Lloyd back in defence.
Fox and Campbell? Get left out often. Fine, leave out Bice but it needs to happen some time.
Campbell? Pffft!
My guess - none of it happens, except Mills.

I am curious if Horse will "tire" of any players. And by that I don't mean he will decide he hates them, banish them to the VFL and throw away the senior selection key. I mean he may have realised there are some players he shouldn't have so much faith in anymore.

Names like Florent and Hayward are perennially frustrating. Amartey and McLean's performances (even McDonald's at times) had many fans questioning the merit of persisting with three talls. McInerney would want to start having impact in finals games. And, just to prove I am not being biased, Rampe is not the player he was, whilst Lloyd is yet to deliver in a grand final.

It doesn't make these players bad, or unworthy of being in the 22. But maybe it makes Horse question and scrutinise them a little more, and think to himself, "I've backed these guys in to the hilt over and over, for little reward thus far."

I believe this is what Paul Roos was getting at when he said that we needed to move on from certain players who had let us down. I don't believe he meant we should do a mass culling in the trade period, but maybe just be more ruthless with who we do and don't consider to be staples of the team.

 

[Kbroome]

Thinking about our Round 0 team:
I believe Mills replaces Parker (as a number) and there are three possible "new" faces to change the balance and focus of our team.

FB: Cunningham McCartin Rampe
HB: Bice Melican Blakey
C: Gulden Mills McInerney
HF: Jordon McDonald Warner
FF: Papley Amartey Hayward
Foll: Grundy Heeney Rowbottom

I/C: McLean second ruck, 3rd KPF
Roberts 7th defender
Lloyd 3rd winger
Sheldrick 5th inside mid incl Warner, Mills
Dattoli 4th small/med forward

Bice replaces Fox as a more attacking (but still solid defensive) option. Lloyd moves from defence to the wing to replace Florent.
Dattoli replaces Campbell.
Of course this requires that these three perform in preseason and earn those places but I believe our balance would be better in each third of the ground.
Also, I'd like to see Jordon playing a more attacking role. I believe he's capable of it.
I can hear "you can't leave out Florent". Fine - leave out Lloyd or Jordon but don't put him or Lloyd back in defence.
Fox and Campbell? Get left out often. Fine, leave out Bice but it needs to happen some time.
Campbell? Pffft!
My guess - none of it happens, except Mills.

Think i aline more with your last couple of lines.

Bice and Amartey out

Roberts to 6th defender Florent and Lloyd share the 7th defender/wing role until Lloyd slows down and is replaced by Bice and by then the roles become very apparent.

Dattoli from sub to on the bench and that leaves the sub role for Fox

 

[Kiama Chris]

I am curious if Horse will "tire" of any players. And by that I don't mean he will decide he hates them, banish them to the VFL and throw away the senior selection key. I mean he may have realised there are some players he shouldn't have so much faith in anymore.

Names like Florent and Hayward are perennially frustrating. Amartey and McLean's performances (even McDonald's at times) had many fans questioning the merit of persisting with three talls. McInerney would want to start having impact in finals games. And, just to prove I am not being biased, Rampe is not the player he was, whilst Lloyd is yet to deliver in a grand final.

It doesn't make these players bad, or unworthy of being in the 22. But maybe it makes Horse question and scrutinise them a little more, and think to himself, "I've backed these guys in to the hilt over and over, for little reward thus far."

I believe this is what Paul Roos was getting at when he said that we needed to move on from certain players who had let us down. I don't believe he meant we should do a mass culling in the trade period, but maybe just be more ruthless with who we do and don't consider to be staples of the team.

I believe he needs to rethink how he structures the team and uses the cattle he has. You and I and many others have said this ad nauseum and not just in relation to the GF. Key points:
1) Defence is too short and too often zones instead of man to man. Neither Florent nor Lloyd are much chop man to man. Fox is better but is still not tall. Blakey is important but also not a great defender. Can't wait for Snell.
2) We have done the midfield to death and I think the one I have picked is much stronger in contested situations. CBAs is more coaching and setup.
3) Forwards is both cattle and setup. Play McLean behind the ball as a block (like the Pies do), Warner more time forward and Hayward more as a marking player. The others as buzzy smalls along with the arriving mids. Get separation on Amartey and McDonald.

Perhaps the big thing is that he structures things to suit the players he trusts rather than picking the right players for the best structures.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

With preseason just around the corner, I wonder whether they’ve recruited a new assistant coach to replace McVeigh yet?

They'll also need to also replace Cox, if he takes over from Horse today

 

[Wheresbuddy]

They'll also need to also replace Cox, if he takes over from Horse today

I'd say there's really only one choice for our top job and that's big Coxie. Wouldn't mind Stewie Dew as the new assistant if he is available.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

I'd say there's really only one choice for our top job and that's big Coxie. Wouldn't mind Stewie Dew as the new assistant if he is available.

He's at the Lions full time now

 

[Wheresbuddy]

He's at the Lions full time now

That's a shame, although clubs have been known to let assistants go if a better opportunity presents itself

 

[Kbroome]

They'll also need to also replace Cox, if he takes over from Horse today

Was Coxxy the midfield coach or just the ruck coach because feel like there is slimmer picking if he was the ruck coach?

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Was Coxxy the midfield coach or just the ruck coach because feel like there is slimmer picking if he was the ruck coach?

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he was ruck and strategy coach

 

[Kbroome]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he was ruck and strategy coach

Well thats going to be difficult to replace