Review WAFL Watch 2011

[worsfold]

Player          D  K  H  M  T HO I50 G B 
STEVENSON, L    23 19 4  10 3 0  5   0 0 
SWIFT, T        26 15 11 6  1 0  0   0 0 
BROOME, L       5  2  3  0  3 0  1   0 0 
WEEDON, G       9  6  3  3  0 0  3   1 1
DALZIELL, B     23 13 10 6  5 0  2   1 0 
STEVENS, K      19 11 8  5  6 1  4   0 1 
BRENNAN, J      13 9  4  6  5 0  0   0 0
STRIJK, A       12 11 1  5  0 0  6   1 1
JONES, J        13 5  8  3  1 0  2   0 0 
LYCETT, S       6  5  1  4  6 15 3   0 1 
WILSON, B       12 9  3  4  0 0  0   0 1

Not all that impressive. I thought Stevenson was our best in the Claremont/Easts game.

Glad I didn't venture down to Bassendean as well

This years draft looks good a ruckmen has more tackles than everyone else other than a 1 inside mid?

 

[SpaceClef]

if he was touted as judd like, he would have been no.1 draft pick. its just people on BF. not to mention bringing back one or two good games in 09 when we absolutely smashed the opposition. and now when he doesnt play judd like, his game is simply assessed as shit.

he still looks too skinny though.

Yeh, i'm more referring to his raps pre-draft, from one of the raters - Wisbey or Quayle or someone.

Obviously missing so much footy via the knee recons meant he was an unknown quantity, but he was clearly highly rated.

Dont think he'll play much afl this yr but would be disappointed if we gave up on him.

 

[SillyKent]

Galileo9, keep in mind he missed almost 2 seasons of junior football, didn't play U-18 Championships or League football and had concerns over two long term knee injuries including one ACL which discounted his market value.

I only caught the 2nd half of his game today, I thought he was solid without being spectacular. He won a lot of in-close football at stoppages and in congestion and used it soundly, but didn't break any plays open with his dash.

 

[dajesmac]

Yeh, i'm more referring to his raps pre-draft, from one of the raters - Wisbey or Quayle or someone.

Obviously missing so much footy via the knee recons meant he was an unknown quantity, but he was clearly highly rated.

Dont think he'll play much afl this yr but would be disappointed if we gave up on him.

This. Also what SillyKent said. Saying that he would've gone pick one if he was Judd-like is an ignorant comment given the circumstances.

FYI Wiseby at least rated him worthy of being pick 2 behind Naitanui.

 

[Mattman93]

Actually he didn't call him worthy of pick 2 as such, but rather the second best talent in that draft in his opinion.

 

[dajesmac]

^ True, poor wording on my part.

 

[Matera92]

Should really be looking at this year as the equivalent of a normal draft pick's first year, he has basically had to catch up on two of the most important years of a young players development and really needs at least another pre-season into him before we can judge where he's going.

If things click for him will be our best mid bar Shuey by a long way.

 

[Prem87]

IMO Swift's inside work was brilliant at times today - although I didn't watch the first quarter and a bit.

In space he tends to either overcook his disposal or just takes too long. It's weird that his inside work is very rapid and accurate, yet it's almost the opposite when he has some time.

Not sure he'll be the Judd-like player he was touted to be pre-draft, but I think after another pre-season or two he will be solid.

Gets a bad rap I think because he's a bit maligned.

Exactly. Swift is at his best right in the middle of a pack has great vision and handball to create and although he lacks sustained speed has enough burst/dynamicness to get out a pack.

C: Gaff Swift Sheppard
R: Naita Masten Shuey

As someone mentioned above he should really be our replacement for Priddis in time. Maybe we've instructed him to play a little more outside to get that side of his game up to scratch..sounds like he racks it up yet lacks hurt factor out there..but he definitely hurts in the middle.

 

[sTeeL]

He doesn't look to take the game on. Kicks sidewaystoo much

 

[PRANKSTER666]

He doesn't look to take the game on. Kicks sidewaystoo much

Yep, always looking for the easy sideways option, lack of confidence.

But his foot skills look better this year, his technique looks to have tightened up a bit which is good to see.

Perhaps he just isn't enjoying his footy. Is very smart and wouldn't be surprised if he was to walk away from footy and pursue a different career, hope that is not the case.

 

[eagles rule]

He doesn't look to take the game on. Kicks sidewaystoo much

true ,he plays like it`s not his role to run and break lines and just have fun cutting teams up .

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

People need to stop making excuses for Swift. He's playing poorly and that's that.

I also hate people implying that he'll overtake Priddis. There's been basically no indication that he can play that role at a high level.

People need to stop playing favourites.

 

[WCErevival]

People need to stop making excuses for Swift. He's playing poorly and that's that.

I also hate people implying that he'll overtake Priddis. There's been basically no indication that he can play that role at a high level.

People need to stop playing favourites.

I agree with this. I said in another thread I dont think Swift will ever make it. I hope he does but it isnt looking good. He has been given enough time now and he isnt even dominating WAFL.

I wasn't one of the people on the 09 bandwagon either. Sure he played a couple of half decent games against poor opposition towards the end but a lot of his games were below average back then too.

 

[Masto]

The funny thing is Swift is routinely leading the stats in the WAFL, so what does that say for our other players? I have to admit when I saw Rhys Palmer tear it up my heart sank a little. Maybe we really do have a bunch of duds running around in the WAFL.

 

[WCErevival]

The funny thing is Swift is routinely leading the stats in the WAFL, so what does that say for our other players? I have to admit when I saw Rhys Palmer tear it up my heart sank a little. Maybe we really do have a bunch of duds running around in the WAFL.

Palmer would tear it up at WAFL level. He probably shouldn't of been dropped for the derby even though he wasnt in the best AFL form. Any of our midfielders that go back usually dominate. Masten and Gaff recently did.

From the sound of it Swift is getting a lot of disposals but not really doing anything standout. Much like Dalziell.

 

[Marlin01]

(Swift) He's playing poorly and that's that.

No he's not. He's not tearing it up, but he's playing very consistent, solid football, probably for the first time in his senior career. I think there are plenty of encouraging signs.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

No he's not. He's not tearing it up, but he's playing very consistent, solid football, probably for the first time in his senior career. I think there are plenty of encouraging signs.

Typical response to Swift criticism.

He's playing poorly with regards to the expectations of a 3rd year, full time player.

 

[ndot]

Typical response to Swift criticism.

He's playing poorly with regards to the expectations of a 3rd year, full time player.

admittedly i've only seen one claremont game this year, but his WAFL numbers haven't been bad at all. in fact, he's probably been our most consistent at WAFL level.

i fail to see how that equates to "playing poorly", even for a 3rd year player.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

admittedly i've only seen one claremont game this year, but his WAFL numbers haven't been bad at all. in fact, he's probably been our most consistent at WAFL level.

i fail to see how that equates to "playing poorly", even for a 3rd year player.

The numbers are high but the influence is below what you'd expect.

I haven't seen much of him either but what I saw this weekend confirmed what I have been told since late last year.

 

[Marlin01]

Typical response to Swift criticism.

It's probably typical because it's accurate.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

It's probably typical because it's accurate.

Yeah, because the bigfooty consensus has proved so accurate in the past.

 

[SwiftforPM]

The numbers are high but the influence is below what you'd expect.

I haven't seen much of him either but what I saw this weekend confirmed what I have been told since late last year.

You're right Jimmy, I flew down from Broome and watched him play last month and he simply doesn't try hard enough, if he's going to make it at AFL level he has to lift his rating by a fair bit.
Personally I think he easily has the ability to be an outstanding AFL footballer but whether or not he is committed to that is the question, there would just as many talented footballers that make it to those that don't and he may be one that doesn't.
He is still a young man and a long way off being fully physically developed, I think this would help him a fair bit, he needs to spend a lot more time developing muscle particularly in the upper body.
Anyway I really hope he does develop into a class player.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

Yeah, because the bigfooty consensus has proved so accurate in the past.

Yea but someone like you who hasn't seen him much is correct ?

Please stop with the bullshit.

Swift inside work at wafl level is very very good, its at afl quality.

He is very good in the centre.

His outside work is sub par, lacks seconds efforts at times chasing, and has alot of side kicks.

When on the outside seems lacontic.

Tends to use alot of left foot kicks as well, maybe from lack of confidence in his right foot.

But having said all that, his kicking on goal is very good hardly ever misses even from acute angles, if he see's the goals he seems more confident.

For me needs to continue in the wafl and bring him in the side in the second half of season as long as his form is good, but should be played in the middle not on a wing.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

Yea but someone like you who hasn't seen him much is correct ?

Yes.

Like I said, I've heard people talk about him. A few of my friends are Claremont fans and I trust their opinions.

 

[Underdog]

No he's not. He's not tearing it up, but he's playing very consistent, solid football, probably for the first time in his senior career. I think there are plenty of encouraging signs.

I think the reality is somewhere in the middle.

He's not playing poorly by WAFL standards but he's also not excelling at WAFL level. He playing as a good solid player.

Whether you think that is good enough to make the next step to AFL level is debateable.