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

[Kiama Chris]

The team listed is essentially the incumbents from 2024, what one would say consists of the safe selections. For R0, I doubt Cox will change it up and deviate drastically from what McKirdy has predicted.

Adams for Parker, emtasol.
I'm not looking for huge change but Florent at HB doesn't float my boat. He, Lloyd and Campbell not defensively strong so can't afford all three. Fox for one of them. Still not attacking enough with the smalls.

 

[Bloods86]

Adams for Parker, emtasol.

And Mills for Fox

Booooooo.

Just do Mills for Parker, swap out a tall for Campbell or even Cleary up forward.

 

[caesar88]

Lachie McKirdy's season preview:

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https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/sydney/sydney-season-2025-preview-lachlan-mckirdy-breaks-down-where-the-swans-sit/news-story/9d7bc125f3e7e2c295af49d7f6dba0be

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Pretty run of the mill, and I don't expect a journo like McKirdy to swing big on what is essentially just a generic preview seemingly not intended to rock the boat...

But this named best 23 won't win a flag.

 

[Punts]

Hope no Florent at hb

Let’s get some accountability and legit defenders

 

[Bloods86]

Hope no Florent at hb

Let’s get some accountability and legit defenders

Florent or Jmac will need to play off half back when Blakey is off the field or we lose a bit of rebound, but otherwise Florent to be backup wing (to Jmac, Gulden), Fox replaces him in defensive 50, with Roberts the other one to play there.

 

[Punts]

Florent or Jmac will need to play off half back when Blakey is off the field or we lose a bit of rebound, but otherwise Florent to be backup wing (to Jmac, Gulden), Fox replaces him in defensive 50, with Roberts the other one to play there.

Not for me

Jmac goes back to full time winger

They play someone else who wants to defend of hb

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Pretty run of the mill, and I don't expect a journo like McKirdy to swing big on what is essentially just a generic preview seemingly not intended to rock the boat...

But this named best 23 won't win a flag.

Yep, agreed, very vanilla and safe even though he's been the one pushing McCartin to the forward line, which he did it today again in a separate article!

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Three positional swaps ever club should be eyeing this season​

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Tom McCartin’s move up the field has been floated to help McDonald, McLean and Amartey; still big wraps on Jack Buller.


CALLUM’S CRACK ON BALL

Around the stoppages, he could form an elite combination with the likes of Isaac Heeney and James Rowbottom.


GIVE GRUNDY SOME HELP

Doesn’t need to play 26 games again in 2025. Pete Ladhams and Will Green are capable backups and should be given some opportunities to deputise.

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[Kiama Chris]

Three positional swaps ever club should be eyeing this season​

GET THE BEST MARKER AT FULL-FORWARD

Tom McCartin’s move up the field has been floated to help McDonald, McLean and Amartey; still big wraps on Jack Buller.


CALLUM’S CRACK ON BALL

Around the stoppages, he could form an elite combination with the likes of Isaac Heeney and James Rowbottom.


GIVE GRUNDY SOME HELP

Doesn’t need to play 26 games again in 2025. Pete Ladhams and Will Green are capable backups and should be given some opportunities to deputise.

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www.codesports.com.au

Interesting.
I don't mind the idea of Tom replacing Amartey but not either McDonald (roaming) or McLean (rucking) but it requires Edwards or Snell being up to scratch to take his place.
Mills must play mids.
Green is not ready. Also more in game spelling will help and will make better use of McLean.

 

[strauchanie59]

Lachie McKirdy's season preview:

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www.codesports.com.au

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/sydney/sydney-season-2025-preview-lachlan-mckirdy-breaks-down-where-the-swans-sit/news-story/9d7bc125f3e7e2c295af49d7f6dba0be

View attachment 2200112

Midfield is in a bit of a pickle. No real genuine speed in there (Warner's breakaway speed aside) and then only one, maybe two, contested-first players in there. Just very vanilla with a few weaknesses that get found out each season in the same way.

I hope, too, that only one of McLean and Amartey are in the team come early March. If our tall forwards aren't marking it (very rare), we need pacy, tackling smalls to impact when the ball gets brought to ground.

I have big concerns, too, about Grundy in 2025. He was cooked by Round 14-15 in 2024.

 

[Nuggetz]

I hope Buller becomes a best 22 for us. Had some very promising signs in his 1st season with us. Can nail the fwd/2nd ruck role.

 

[caesar88]

CALLUM’S CRACK ON BALL

Around the stoppages, he could form an elite combination with the likes of Isaac Heeney and James Rowbottom.

This is the exact trio I hope we run with as our main midfield this year. It would make for an incredibly well-balanced centre bounce crew.

 

[Nuggetz]

This is the exact trio I hope we run with as our main midfield this year. It would make for an incredibly well-balanced centre bounce crew.

It also depends on the instructions. Hopefully they've each got more freedom to hunt for the ball. I think mills providing instructions & footy nous will be very beneficial for the other midfielders.

 

[Bloods86]

Not for me

Jmac goes back to full time winger

They play someone else who wants to defend of hb

Yes, Jmac is a winger, and I'd put Florent off the bench as backup to him and Gulden.

But you need someone with attacking flair off HB when Blakey is off the field.

If that can't be Florent or Jmac occasionally (your words), and you don't rate Campbell, and you want more accountability, so presumably not bringing in an additional attacking half back into the 22, then who relieves Blakey?

 

[Kiama Chris]

Yes, Jmac is a winger, and I'd put Florent off the bench as backup to him and Gulden.

But you need someone with attacking flair off HB when Blakey is off the field.

If that can't be Florent or Jmac occasionally (your words), and you don't rate Campbell, and you want more accountability, so presumably not bringing in an additional attacking half back into the 22, then who relieves Blakey?

Snell?

 

[Bloods86]

Snell?

I don't really see how Snell is like Blakey. Sure, he can intercept as well as defend, we have others like Fox who can do that as well.

But we're talking about replacing Blakey (while he's on the bench) who intercepts/receives, then breaks lines on the rebound. The ones who can offer the most similar impact are Florent, Jmac, and then maybe Bice (but wouldn't need to bring in an additional player for it, especially if you want more defensive accountability overall).

 

[Kiama Chris]

I don't really see how Snell is like Blakey. Sure, he can intercept as well as defend, we have others like Fox who can do that as well.

But we're talking about replacing Blakey (while he's on the bench) who intercepts/receives, then breaks lines on the rebound. The ones who can offer the most similar impact are Florent, Jmac, and then maybe Bice (but wouldn't need to bring in an additional player for it, especially if you want more defensive accountability overall).

I think we have absolutely no idea what Snell is capable of after the sh*t-show VFL. Not saying he can, just wondering.
Personally, I think when Blakey is off do it differently rather than trying to imitate.

 

[Bloods86]

I think we have absolutely no idea what Snell is capable of after the sh*t-show VFL. Not saying he can, just wondering.
Personally, I think when Blakey is off do it differently rather than trying to imitate.

Fair enough.

I just think we have some players who offer similar traits as attacking half backs, so would have one of them in the defensive 6 at each bounce, with Blakey the main obviously, then Florent or Jmac filling in. In that order, because I'd have Jmac as a main winger and Florent going where needed.

 

[sthmelb_dimmies]

doubt Cox will change it up and deviate drastically from what McKirdy has predicted.

what’s “a McKirdy”?

 

[The King!]

Imo Still think Campbell will struggle at senior level and for most part of his career.

Not sure he is best 22

Needs to lock it in this year or it's not happening

 

[Kiama Chris]

Needs to lock it in this year or it's not happening

Be really interesting if Cox can get the best out of him. If there is a consistent best rather than the flashes we have seen. I hope so because the more competition for spots the better.

 

[The King!]

Be really interesting if Cox can get the best out of him. If there is a consistent best rather than the flashes we have seen. I hope so because the more competition for spots the better.

We have seen what he can do, just needs to put it all together

 

[Bloods86]

We have seen what he can do, just needs to put it all together

Needs to be put in positions to do it too.

 

[The King!]

Needs to be put in positions to do it too.

Well we have seen guys arguably played out of position or ideal position, like say Heeney, Mills, but they still impacted the game.

I agree Campbell has, especially as time goes spent bugger all time in the guts where he arguably would do his best, but he also has had minimal Impact far too often. His sub effort v GWS in terms of impact was an outlier. Even in the wrong position with the amount of running and movement in modern footy you think he could do more and make them move him.

We have seen glimpses of his best so let’s just hope the consistency can come

 

[Bloods86]

Well we have seen guys arguably played out of position or ideal position, like say Heeney, Mills, but they still impacted the game.

I agree Campbell has, especially as time goes spent bugger all time in the guts where he arguably would do his best, but he also has had minimal Impact far too often. His sub effort v GWS in terms of impact was an outlier. Even in the wrong position with the amount of running and movement in modern footy you think he could do more and make them move him.

We have seen glimpses of his best so let’s just hope the consistency can come

He was an outside mid/fwd when drafted. His best game was against the Bombers where he spent most of the game forward. Kicked 2.1, put pressure on, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50 (the best in the league averages about 2).

Against Port in the PF he had 6 tackles. Had another 3 as sub in the 3rd quarter of the GF.

A couple, buzzing around, kicked a goal against Giants.

We have a guy who played forward before drafting, is showing he can tackle, kick goals when he's around F50. But we've mostly played him as 2nd or 3rd string half back or wing.

It's fine to experiment, but people are making judgements on his ability/impact based on him playing in areas that make less sense.