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

[Bloods86]

I’ll say this, I’d prefer Campbell to have the odd run through the midfield at a centre bounce than Gulden.

Having said that, I’m not aware of Campbell lighting up games in the midfield in reserves, in the same way that say Mitchell used to. And he doesn’t appear to be one of those players that creates time and space. And he is never going to be a defensive mid.

I’d be pretty happy with Campbell playing half forward. He would do no harm than studying Okeefe when he played half forward. He could also really extend opposition defence, as you can’t let Campbell loose 60 metres out - he’ll make the distance.

Yeah I don't see him getting midfield time (very different type to Mitchell anyway), but he doesn't need to play there, he can just be tried at half forward which is where he also played before drafting (as well as outside mid). Especially when we've been complaining about a lack of smaller fwd options.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Mongrel Punt's Season Preview

The Big Questions - Sydney 2025 Season Preview - The Mongrel Punt

The Swans fell at the final hurdle last season. Is 2025 their year? The Mongrel asks the Big Questions in our 2025 Sydney Season Preview

themongrelpunt.com

 

[caesar88]

Mongrel Punt's Season Preview

The Big Questions - Sydney 2025 Season Preview - The Mongrel Punt

The Swans fell at the final hurdle last season. Is 2025 their year? The Mongrel asks the Big Questions in our 2025 Sydney Season Preview

themongrelpunt.com

Mixed bag.

Some interesting points raised along with some awful calls.

 

[Caj]

Thoughts on Mcinerney?

I feel he’s a bit overrated on here and went AWOL in the finals

He probably keeps his spot, but he’s one who I don’t think should be an automatic selection

 

[strauchanie59]

Thoughts on Mcinerney?

I feel he’s a bit overrated on here and went AWOL in the finals

He probably keeps his spot, but he’s one who I don’t think should be an automatic selection

His best is very good, but his bad is genuinely awful. Has the potential to be one of the best wingmen in the AFL.

He's about to head into his seventh season sitting on 92 games. Apart from that intercept goal in the 2022 PF against Collingwood, he's done nothing of note in any of the finals he's played.

 

[caesar88]

Thoughts on Mcinerney?

I feel he’s a bit overrated on here and went AWOL in the finals

He probably keeps his spot, but he’s one who I don’t think should be an automatic selection

Gonna rant a bit here, cause I've seen this sentiment around a bit too much for liking (so I'm not having a go at you!)

If anything I think McInerney is underrated.

I think there seems to be a consensus top 6-7 players at our club, and just because McInerney is not in it that somehow has led to him being lumped in with names he's substantially better than.

An AFL.com attempt at our best 22 for next year had McInerney - who was a top three-rated wingman at one stage this year - starting on the bench over Lloyd who has the name recognition but was definitely not as good (though I thought Lloyd was our best wingmen in the finals). A Mongrel Punt article had McInerney - rated consistent enough by our coaches to be top 5 in the B&F at one stage this year - in the same sentence as the perennially frustrating and inconsistent Florent & Hayward as "underperformers". Many in the pre-season had Campbell & Jordon getting that second wing spot over McInerney, which now seems laughable in retrospect.

I will say that I think he has another level he can go to. I think he can be Heeney/Gulden/Rowbottom/Blakey/Warner/Papley level good. (OK maybe not Heeney LOL.) I think his impact can be overshadowed and even diminished by those players, because I think back to the late-2020/2021 version of McInerney, when there was no Warner, Gulden etc. That McInerney was every bit as good as those players, breaking lines like Blakey, running and carrying like Warner, hitting targets like Gulden.

I'd still like to see a bit more of that McInerney, and I think he will get there. But why I have a lot of time for him is that he's proven he'll find other ways to contribute positively. If others are unleashed and playing well, McInerney is prepared to sacrifice his game to put blocks on, to make one-percenters, to take the thankless position at stoppages. Few others would so competently make those sacrifices and put their natural game on the back-burner when needed. That is why he was featured so often in those weekly 'one percenter' clips the Swans posted on Instagram this year, and why the coaches love him.

The "seen" stuff is pretty darn good with McInerney, but just as good is the unseen stuff.

 

[Bloods86]

Gonna rant a bit here, cause I've seen this sentiment around a bit too much for liking (so I'm not having a go at you!)

If anything I think McInerney is underrated.

I think there seems to be a consensus top 6-7 players at our club, and just because McInerney is not in it that somehow has led to him being lumped in with names he's substantially better than.

An AFL.com attempt at our best 22 for next year had McInerney - who was a top three-rated wingman at one stage this year - starting on the bench over Lloyd who has the name recognition but was definitely not as good (though I thought Lloyd was our best wingmen in the finals). A Mongrel Punt article had McInerney - rated consistent enough by our coaches to be top 5 in the B&F at one stage this year - in the same sentence as the perennially frustrating and inconsistent Florent & Hayward as "underperformers". Many in the pre-season had Campbell & Jordon getting that second wing spot over McInerney, which now seems laughable in retrospect.

I will say that I think he has another level he can go to. I think he can be Heeney/Gulden/Rowbottom/Blakey/Warner/Papley level good. (OK maybe not Heeney LOL.) I think his impact can be overshadowed and even diminished by those players, because I think back to the late-2020/2021 version of McInerney, when there was no Warner, Gulden etc. That McInerney was every bit as good as those players, breaking lines like Blakey, running and carrying like Warner, hitting targets like Gulden.

I'd still like to see a bit more of that McInerney, and I think he will get there. But why I have a lot of time for him is that he's proven he'll find other ways to contribute positively. If others are unleashed and playing well, McInerney is prepared to sacrifice his game to put blocks on, to make one-percenters, to take the thankless position at stoppages. Few others would so competently make those sacrifices and put their natural game on the back-burner when needed. That is why he was featured so often in those weekly 'one percenter' clips the Swans posted on Instagram this year, and why the coaches love him.

The "seen" stuff is pretty darn good with McInerney, but just as good is the unseen stuff.

Jmac was absolutely flying earlier in the year. There was a game, can't recall which, where he and a couple of others were keeping us in it, while everyone else was shitting the bed.

I didn't want to rush him back, but when fit, he's a lock based on form before injury.

 

[caesar88]

Jmac was absolutely flying earlier in the year. There was a game, can't recall which, where he and a couple of others were keeping us in it, while everyone else was shitting the bed.

I didn't want to rush him back, but when fit, he's a lock based on form before injury.

Yeah I'm certainly not gonna hold his finals performances from last year against him, given there were questions over whether he should be playing in the first place. Although he'd want to bring his best to a final soon, lest it get into his head and it become a "thing", the way Gary Rohan has admitted is the case for him.

McInerney's currently one of only five Swans on the list to have played in a final for us and not received a POTY vote in any of those games, the others being Hayward, Campbell, McDonald & Jordon. I think he's too good for that.

 

[tombomb]

Thoughts on Mcinerney?

I feel he’s a bit overrated on here and went AWOL in the finals

He probably keeps his spot, but he’s one who I don’t think should be an automatic selection

I thought he was having a really good year until the injury.

He's in our best 10-12 players imo.

 

[Caj]

Great feedback and an interesting discussion

I suspected the Mcinerney call would cause a bit of controversy

I do like him, I just think he needs to bring more and he does have the capability

 

[Nuggetz]

Great feedback and an interesting discussion

I suspected the Mcinerney call would cause a bit of controversy

I do like him, I just think he needs to bring more and he does have the capability

He's got a bit of x-factor, like a few of our players. I know he's been on ball at times but I think wing is his best position, ditto with Gulden. We could have the best wing combo in the comp with those two players. I hope Cox plays them primarily in the wing spots rather than shuffling them around like in the past.

 

[Nuggetz]

Could the Tmac fwd trial be as a defensive move to stop opposition intercept defenders, the likes of Harris Andrews, Steven May etc. Horse previously mentioned Parker, Hayward & Amartey playing that defensive fwd role.

I think Tmac's organisation & voice would also be something the coaches want to utilise in our fwd half. Tbh it doesn't look like there's a clear organiser in our fwd 6, either through inexperience, role or gameplan.

 

[zyzzbruh]

Could the Tmac fwd trial be as a defensive move to stop opposition intercept defenders, the likes of Harris Andrews, Steven May etc. Horse previously mentioned Parker, Hayward & Amartey playing that defensive fwd role.

I think Tmac's organisation & voice would also be something the coaches want to utilise in our fwd half. Tbh it doesn't look like there's a clear organiser in our fwd 6, either through inexperience, role or gameplan.

I don't think there's an organisation issue in the fwd line, I think it's more an expecting the ball on a platter issue - which by the way we are probably the best in the comp when it comes to that transition and finding forwards in space when we're on. Our problem is when it's not coming easy. Before last year we had buddy pulling it out if his backside when we weren't on. Unfortunately Amartey and McLean don't seem to have that same ability, and really our only option to turn to to pull something out is Heeney. I doubt Tmac would be any better but I'm hoping he will atleast be a better marking option.

In saying that we're way to slim in defence and don't think we can afford to move Tmac. Even if it starts off that way I don't see it lasting very long.