What does this club need for '08

[Bloods boy from the Bush]

What position do the swans most need to fill to continue to be a top four side? I believe a quality CHB because as good as our backline is with Barry, Bolton, Kennelly ect... There is no real stand out tall defender to take on the competitions best forwards. The rest of the side seems fine to me but am open to suggestions.

 

[SWANNIES RULE]

A tall defender and a pacy midfielder.

But we'll worry about 2008 when it's 2008.

 

[Tuco]

I'm not convinced we're not going top four this year just yet. But we might need to seriously find another burst of rising talent to get up there next year.

I'm looking for a fab four in the middle for the next big push. At the very least Mal needs a partner in crime!

Not sure defenders are such an issue. Dempster, LRT, Leo, Bolton, Teddy, Crouch, Tiger should see us through for the next few years the way the game is going these days. We'll be wanting to see someone promising pushing for Leo's spot when he retires in a few years, though.

How we'll look in 2010 worries me a little, though.

 

[Corpuscles]

The backline surely has impressed all?... the Bolton Barry Kennelly (even Ted) connection has stood up... put in a potential super ESKI and it looks solid....I had doubts with rule changes/ interpretations
eg I think that our/SouthSwans/BF POTY votes are no far from the truth!

Simply missing in action players and consistency from top draw.... but that might be a strategy .... MOL, Goodesy the real Cptn Kirk, and the seemingly sooky BBBH are yet to stomp the authority!

The forward line is coached by Blakey (I am an unashamedly a Roosey fan ) but ....since when did Blakey learn how to run a forward line????..... Better learn quick !....or give him midfield.... and get Longmire to sort out the best forwardline in the biz!! ....need to kick goals

 

[SWANNIES RULE]

Yeah I guess we are right for defenders at this point.

But a midfielder with a bit of flair and pace is something we don't really have.

 

[DMJR]

At this time I think it is probable that we may have 'plateaued' with the current list but that it is far too early to consider a re-building phase. In other words with astute recruiting, we should be able to cover gaps which the younger players who successfully come through cannot cover.

We have done this in the recent past. Normally these gaps concern KPP types as these are a rarer commodity and take longer to develop. KPP we have tried to develop such as Saddington, Powell, Hunt, James, Stevens, and Ericksen have not come on as we wanted (for various reasons). Some specific recruiting to cover such gaps has also not worked as well as we would have wanted ie. Rogers, Chambers. But on the whole we have been successful with Ball, Hall, Jolly, Richards.

I think looking at the list we may find ourselves lacking KPP in the near future. As players get older they are more prone to injury and it also seems that for KPP we only really have Vogels and Grundy 'presenting' in the near future. After them White, Faulks, Currie are new to the system whilst of the rookies Barlow, Shaw and Rowe have not stamped themselves as have current/former rookies in Jack, Phillips or Simpkin.

For 2008 I believe we need to acquire one or two ready made KPP, be they backs or forwards. Ideally they would be players who were high pick drafts and/or showed talent in their previous club, but for whatever reason have not kicked on. Most clubs would have at least one player who fit this description. If we were cleverer enough to pick the right one at the right price (how many recruiters live and die by that creed), and depend upon the 'blood' culture and Sydney anonymity for a change of fortune, we could get a bonus.

Most contributors would have some player in the back of their minds who could be that 'Swan success story', and it can make for an interesting thread. To start off I would nominate Henry Playfair of Geelong. Grew up in Sydney playing teenage footy with LRT, only in early-mid 20's, showed a lot of promise and was establishing himself in the seniors in 2005 before injury cut short his season, now has been overtaken by N. Ablett and some guy called Hawkins.

 

[SWANNIES RULE]

Ryan Murphy from Freo is another possibility.

With Tarrant now in the Freo forward line, he's been relegated to the WAFL.

 

[Corpuscles]

. Ideally they would be players who were high pick drafts and/or showed talent in their previous club.

Interesting post!

Despite your Playfair alignment the cat is out of the bag... no club wants to see a progression of Sydney turning dust into Gold!...

We really have to be better able to bring on players.... not easy with a tight struggle over the line game plan which has priority over losing.

Vogels and Grundy (maybe others) would walk into best 22 of any of last years bottom 8! Fixter was easily Brions BOG!!.... there is a cruel tradeoff between winning ugly and losing... hopefully Swans membership over time can grow brains enough to accept & understand need for experimentation and development at the expense of a win and cheery smile!?

 

[CAS79]

The point about our strong backline is well made, though I think we need to keep an eye on our defensive focused rather than those whose role it is in turning defense into attack.

While Barry is doing a supurb job and Richards generlly does a good one I would like to see someone coming through the ranks getting ready to back them up or get ready to step up.

 

[Bloods boy from the Bush]

Ryan Ferguson from Melb could be handy and could free up leaping leo to team up with the Irishman and mal and really worry sides with those three charging our of defence towards Hall, MOL, Davis and RyanO.

 

[kainokaino]

im just wondering when kennely is back in for you boys

have him in both my dream teams

any help would be appreciated

 

[snappy]

i dont care how we get them or where they come from, but imo we need attacking players and play makers.. not run with, tagging, defensive take your opponent out of the game types... someone said getting used to winning ugly.. can we not try to win beautifly, i mean we kicked alot of goals in the last qtr last week, it is possible..

 

[oldman -pop]

Interesting post!

Despite your Playfair alignment the cat is out of the bag... no club wants to see a progression of Sydney turning dust into Gold!...

We really have to be better able to bring on players.... not easy with a tight struggle over the line game plan which has priority over losing.

Vogels and Grundy (maybe others) would walk into best 22 of any of last years bottom 8! Fixter was easily Brions BOG!!.... there is a cruel tradeoff between winning ugly and losing... hopefully Swans membership over time can grow brains enough to accept & understand need for experimentation and development at the expense of a win and cheery smile!?

OK so from our current list of young players second year who would get a regular game at other clubs and on the other hand who do you think my be delisted at years end and yes I no that question is hard to answer now

 

[snappy]

OK so from our current list of young players second year who would get a regular game at other clubs and on the other hand who do you think my be delisted at years end and yes I no that question is hard to answer now

hi pop good question id like to know your thoughts, i reckon laidlaw, and moore could be up there.. delistings well i reckon there could be a few.. from the 1sts.. mathews, crouch, could make way, dont know the 2nds to well though beven springs to mind..
also you seem to know a bit about happenings around the traps how is luke brennon traveling ? havent heard anything from him, didnt he come from hawthorn and is a ready made player?

 

[Tuco]

im just wondering when kennely is back in for you boys

have him in both my dream teams

any help would be appreciated

Club website says 3-4 weeks. Hoping sooner.

 

[oldman -pop]

hi pop good question id like to know your thoughts, i reckon laidlaw, and moore could be up there.. delistings well i reckon there could be a few.. from the 1sts.. mathews, crouch, could make way, dont know the 2nds to well though beven springs to mind..
also you seem to know a bit about happenings around the traps how is luke brennon traveling ? havent heard anything from him, didnt he come from hawthorn and is a ready made player?

Yes good footballer but just cannt get his mind set right at this stage but is comming of some injury probs but alot of football to be played so hopefully he puts his head down ass up and works hard and I must say it would be a eye openner playing in the canberra comp from playing VFL he has been seviceable thus far in games played

 

[Corpuscles]

OK so from our current list of young players second year who would get a regular game at other clubs and on the other hand who do you think my be delisted at years end and yes I no that question is hard to answer now

Hard to say Pop, gunna make an effort to go down to Canberra and watch the 2's for a decent look (have only seen part game thrashings this year), but really no one can tell till they debut at senior level and that way they are a bit protected from raids from othe clubs. Would not be surpised if Brabazon was offered to Shockers for (their high ) first rounder!

Vogels - Possibly the best of the lot but no spot for him until MOL goes
Grundy - Ditto, hard even for Davis to get a kick in Swans forward set up
Bevan - I like him , plain but tough - Lethal would grab him both hands
Auskick - What would he be like underneath fumbling Richo or Reiwoldt -with licence to roam, eventually better than Brown or Milne
Moore - Cats& Blues need a willing not too slow aggressive midfielder with skills
Schmidt - Carlton, Hawks Dees any number of teams would want versatility that is developing but likely to be cheap on the salary cap

All would walk into Richmond, and as individuals in selected several other sides, examples above.

Most of the volnerable are rookies. But from the list, I think we will see Swans offer active trades of quality next year in return for high round picks -offloaded for established , instead of delists. They have released players in the past to give them an opportunity (only one of Grundy & Vogels is going to be required and have a chance) and I would not be surprised if any of the above were offered for trade.

 

[Tuco]

Hard to say Pop, gunna make an effort to go down to Canberra and watch the 2's for a decent look (have only seen part game thrashings this year), but really no one can tell till they debut at senior level and that way they are a bit protected from raids from othe clubs. Would not be surpised if Brabazon was offered to Shockers for (their high ) first rounder!

Vogels - Possibly the best of the lot but no spot for him until MOL goes
Grundy - Ditto, hard even for Davis to get a kick in Swans forward set up
Bevan - I like him , plain but tough - Lethal would grab him both hands
Auskick - What would he be like underneath fumbling Richo or Reiwoldt -with licence to roam, eventually better than Brown or Milne
Moore - Cats& Blues need a willing not too slow aggressive midfielder with skills
Schmidt - Carlton, Hawks Dees any number of teams would want versatility that is developing but likely to be cheap on the salary cap

All would walk into Richmond, and as individuals in selected several other sides, examples above.

Most of the volnerable are rookies. But from the list, I think we will see Swans offer active trades of quality next year in return for high round picks -offloaded for established , instead of delists. They have released players in the past to give them an opportunity (only one of Grundy & Vogels is going to be required and have a chance) and I would not be surprised if any of the above were offered for trade.

Can't see any of those names you mentioned getting cut (other than Brabazon). But we may be approaching the time when a couple of younger players might seek to be traded if they can't get a run. Vogels for example must seriously be questioning his future in red and white at the moment.

IMHO Schmidt should definitely be retained.

 

[Corpuscles]

Can't see any of those names you mentioned getting cut (other than Brabazon). But we may be approaching the time when a couple of younger players might seek to be traded if they can't get a run. Vogels for example must seriously be questioning his future in red and white at the moment.

IMHO Schmidt should definitely be retained.

Just to clarify I am not suggesting all... but I reckon at least 2 will be offered... anyway only a forum guess!... possibly completely wrong!!

Discussion of "cut from list" should be revisited about round 20!

 

[oldman -pop]

Just to clarify I am not suggesting all... but I reckon at least 2 will be offered... anyway only a forum guess!... possibly completely wrong!!

Discussion of "cut from list" should be revisited about round 20!

Yes thats when we all can have a better idea

And lets hope the swans are in the top four at that stage

 

[Tuco]

Just to clarify I am not suggesting all... but I reckon at least 2 will be offered... anyway only a forum guess!... possibly completely wrong!!

Discussion of "cut from list" should be revisited about round 20!

Just to reclarify your clarification, I didn't think you were suggesting it either.

And I totally agree agree round 7 in what appears to be another positive year is a bit early to swing the dead cat.

 

[Bloods boy from the Bush]

After watching the weekends game it has become even clearer to me that Leo Barry is a great backman but not a particulary great Full Back and that is what the Swans need more than anything right now.

 

[smasher]

I have asked this before but still don't know the answer.If a player signed a 3 year contract at the end of 2006 ie Moore can he be released to another club or are his hands tied?

 

[Corpuscles]

I have asked this before but still don't know the answer.If a player signed a 3 year contract at the end of 2006 ie Moore can he be released to another club or are his hands tied?

Tempted to tease you ...but not this time

A contract is just that, an agreement both sides have to deliver and fulfill.
Contracted players have been traded, but the system is strongly weighted in favour of the club.

If however both club and player come to agreement that they cancel the contract then maybe. I do not know what contract Moore has, but it would only be released if Swans got an acceptable trade for him and he was willing to be traded to end destination club.

If you remember Everitt wanted to come to Sydney in 2005/6 but Hawthorn had a contract and would not release or trade him.

It is very difficult even for uncontracted players to move and only way they can do so without club involvement, in PSD which is a huge risk even for proven stars.

 

[swan song 2]

Hard to say Pop, gunna make an effort to go down to Canberra and watch the 2's for a decent look (have only seen part game thrashings this year), but really no one can tell till they debut at senior level and that way they are a bit protected from raids from othe clubs. Would not be surpised if Brabazon was offered to Shockers for (their high ) first rounder!

Vogels - Possibly the best of the lot but no spot for him until MOL goes
Grundy - Ditto, hard even for Davis to get a kick in Swans forward set up
Bevan - I like him , plain but tough - Lethal would grab him both hands
Auskick - What would he be like underneath fumbling Richo or Reiwoldt -with licence to roam, eventually better than Brown or Milne
Moore - Cats& Blues need a willing not too slow aggressive midfielder with skills
Schmidt - Carlton, Hawks Dees any number of teams would want versatility that is developing but likely to be cheap on the salary cap

All would walk into Richmond, and as individuals in selected several other sides, examples above.

Most of the volnerable are rookies. But from the list, I think we will see Swans offer active trades of quality next year in return for high round picks -offloaded for established , instead of delists. They have released players in the past to give them an opportunity (only one of Grundy & Vogels is going to be required and have a chance) and I would not be surprised if any of the above were offered for trade.

Did you make it to Canberra
What are your thoughts?