wolftone57
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- Nov 26, 2023
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He had to learn the job. He was not drafted as a lock down defender. He was drafted as the intercept & run off defender
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Unofficial Preview SEASON 2025 - Best 22, Game Plan, Personnel
- Thread starter caesar88
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Paton’s recruitment was a bit ho-hum.
But he’s more likely to be in the R0 team than any of our draftees.
I’m hoping he might surprise a few (me included).
But he’s more likely to be in the R0 team than any of our draftees.
I’m hoping he might surprise a few (me included).
JackHiscoxWasFast
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- Nov 30, 2023
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Die Easy sums up our season as a Xmas movie.
RedBloodBlackSwan
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- Aug 29, 2021
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I think the drafting of Paton and shift of Wicks to backline gives insight into the coaching philosophy for next year.
Last year clubs across the comp largely solved how to keep big and medium forwards at bay. The arbitrage discovered during the season was the small forward brigade - opposing team small defenders were mostly unaccountable attacking flankers and their medium defenders who were too generally too slow.
I think Swans are planning to have accountable, quick and agile (read small) defenders to counter other teams’ small forward brigades.
My prediction is that late next season or the season after, medium forwards will have a renaissance, creating mismatches where team defences become bifurcated into tall and small forwards.
Last year clubs across the comp largely solved how to keep big and medium forwards at bay. The arbitrage discovered during the season was the small forward brigade - opposing team small defenders were mostly unaccountable attacking flankers and their medium defenders who were too generally too slow.
I think Swans are planning to have accountable, quick and agile (read small) defenders to counter other teams’ small forward brigades.
My prediction is that late next season or the season after, medium forwards will have a renaissance, creating mismatches where team defences become bifurcated into tall and small forwards.
JackHiscoxWasFast
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Love a good bifurcation
Tha AFL constantly tell us that they listen to it's fans. What a load of crock!!
All the coaches, all the players and more importantly, all the fans hate it and want it gone. The AFL ignore all that and prefer to listen to some obscure source telling them that it's better if it stays.
Distinctly possible
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
Bice would be the most likely you don’t take a mature Agee to play in the VFL
Which of Blakey, Florent or Roberts does he replace though, would be the question.
If Florent is pushed further up the ground to support Errol and Jmac on the wing, then maybe Lloyd is the unlucky one.
Though Lloyd did put together a good patch on the wing late, so I think Bice in the Rd 0 team is a bit premature at this point.
Could be a sub option if we think he can play on a wing as well, shuffle others around.
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
Bice plays you shuffle the magnets around even if it’s a Campbell out and personally Roberts is in the mid rotation anyway.
Pretty likely that unless the newbies set the house on fire the coaches will want to see their form in VFL before they get a run. Here's hoping Macca gets the team working coherently so we get a good look.
Wow! Retro.
Well Campbell would hopefully be forward, otherwise yes is one that could make way, except for the fact that he wasn't even in the 22 on grand final day and was only playing 2nd or 3rd string half back/wing anyway.
Not sure why we'd put Roberts in midfield, especially given he's performed down back, and we have Mills and Sheldrick hopefully to come in.
Think people are just trying to find a spot for Bice despite it being one of our most well stocked roles.
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
Roberts looked near our best mid in the GF when moved there no reason he can’t be a mid. We don’t need to Mills every bloke and play them out of position their whole career.
Bice plays he’s a 23 year old ready made guy who doesn’t miss targets unlike half our defenders. He plays
Was that when the game was there to be won, or once the game was over? I don't doubt Roberts could be a good mid, but he's shown a lot of promise down back quite quickly, so I don't know why we would move him out of there. Mills is a great defender when fit, no shame in being Mills'd.
Especially as I said, since we have Mills coming back in, probably better for us if he plays midfield, and I certainly want to see more of Sheldrick, who as yet, doesn't have another position, outside resting forward a bit, unlike Roberts.
Bice hasn't played a single AFL game yet, but apparently we're assuming his kicking won't drop off at all at the higher level. I'm yet to be convinced that he's better than any of the 3 attacking half backs/wings we have in the 22 (Blakey, Florent, Jmac), or the other 2 less attacking types that can also play there (Roberts, Lloyd). And I'd also put Fox ahead of him in the backline too, because a harder defensive edge is what we should be looking for, rather than doubling down on more attacking flankers.
Of course, this is Rd 0 only, there will be injuries and obviously Lloyd isn't getting any younger, so there'll be opportunities as time goes on.
There's a lovely pic in one of the sets of Sid with a hold on Buller with a great look of determination on his face (Buller's too FWIW) so I wouldn't write him out of things too quickly either.
This is what we want. The guys who aren't "automatic" selections training and playing their guts out and putting big pressure on the selection committee to pick them. And for the selection committee to do it.
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So Paton was taken for the VFL?
- Oct 18, 2018
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I think insurance for Rampe if no one else is ready(Snell etc).
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
Rookie draft not ND. You are t taking a 23 year old in the national draft unless they are playing straight up
I don't think you take them with the absolute intent of playing straight up but that they COULD. IMO Dattoli, Bice and Paton are people that after assessment are likely to be ABLE to play seniors if worthy of a spot or if injury to others presents an opportunity. Bowman, Andrew and Leidler very much look more development prospects unlikely to play seniors in the coming season.
- Oct 18, 2018
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Not many are guaranteed to play straight up let alone a newbie.
Take a breath.
LukeParkerno1
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Sure but they are much more ready as a 23 year old and heaven knows we could do with Blakey not turning it over every second kick
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When they were drafted, I did not think Bice/Paton would be best 22 immediately.
I feel like the club prefers to have mature depth in the defence. Because it is an area where it is hard to throw a young inexperienced player into. Because you get punished if you lose your matchup with an opposition forward or if you turn the ball over with your disposal.
I felt they brought in Hamling for that reason the previous season. So we don't need to select the equivalent of Gould and Mills as our KPD. Although Melican/McCartin ended up playing most of the season.
And you can't really predict which area you will get your injuries. I was so surprised last season that Amartey/McLean/McDonald combination was able to play so many games together. Because usually McLean/Amartey have injury issues throughout the season.
I feel like the club prefers to have mature depth in the defence. Because it is an area where it is hard to throw a young inexperienced player into. Because you get punished if you lose your matchup with an opposition forward or if you turn the ball over with your disposal.
I felt they brought in Hamling for that reason the previous season. So we don't need to select the equivalent of Gould and Mills as our KPD. Although Melican/McCartin ended up playing most of the season.
And you can't really predict which area you will get your injuries. I was so surprised last season that Amartey/McLean/McDonald combination was able to play so many games together. Because usually McLean/Amartey have injury issues throughout the season.
So what is your point , is it about Bice/Paton ?
