Updates?

[liz]

There were 5 players playing today - maybe 6 if you include Fixter - who are close to certain to be in our round 1 line-up, plus a couple more (LRT, Ablett, maybe James) who will be in contention. Rest were very raw kids. So as far as a season predictor goes, this meant nothing.

Thought the enthusiasm was there, the tackling was fierce for a practice game, and a few of the youngsters did some nice things. McGlone impressed me on several occasions, as did Dempster. McVeigh certainly showed he has some class about him. Matthew Davis showed he knows how to find the ball but wasn't too sure what to do with it when he had it. Of the "older", "fringe" players LRT looked pretty confident and composed, while James also looked good for the short time he was on the ground.

Hunt and Sundqvist are still officially sticks!

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Bron
Saddo played a stronger second half.

Not surprising with Lloyd off the ground...

[Charlie]

How many were playing? 24?

Schauble
J.Bolton
C.Bolton
McVeigh
Hunt
McGlone
James
Buchanan
Malceski
Ablett
Roberts-Thomson
Meiklejohn
Sundqvist
M.Davis
Goodes
Fixter
Saddington

Who were the rest?

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by jimmytootle
Saddo manned up against Lloyd in the first half. Mercifully Lloyd sat out the last quarter.

I feel sorry for Saddo - comes out during the week with a pumped up feel good article about himself - then gets murdered in a practice game the same week.

Though he can't be blamed I suppose he never would take Lloyd, but he would probably take simliar players such as tredrea and the like so the jury is still out on Saddo IMO.

Good to see Buchanan BOG for the Swans - though still find it hard to place him in the side - but if he keeps presenting like today he must be a chance to claim a spot.

Good to hear of no interuptions to players years so far in terms of injuries - and good to see all the young players / new recruits being the best players for the swans.

[sfan]

Originally posted by Cheer Cheer
I feel sorry for Saddo - comes out during the week with a pumped up feel good article about himself - then gets murdered in a practice game the same week.

Though he can't be blamed I suppose he never would take Lloyd, but he would probably take simliar players such as tredrea and the like so the jury is still out on Saddo IMO.

Good to see is is over his knee problems. IMHO Saddo will never be a key position player. He is not strong or quick enough. Has reads the play well and IMO is better suited to the wing or HBF where he does not have to muscle people. CHB will be our major problem this year and not sure who else can step up. C Bolton is not tall enough for the likes of Lloyd so maybe we need a game plan that cuts off the leads somehow.

[graemed]

How many were playing? 24?
Schauble
J.Bolton
C.Bolton
McVeigh
Hunt
McGlone
James
Buchanan
Malceski
Ablett
Roberts-Thomson
Meiklejohn
Sundqvist
M.Davis
Goodes
Fixter
Saddington

Who were the rest?

J. Willoughby
S. Dempster
T. Schmidt
P. Bevan
A. Rogers
L. Taylor
N. Potter

Willoughby needs devloping, he looked overawed and failed to get a possession although he did position heimself well on a couple of occassions only to be brushed aside by the opposition.

Dempster shows good signs especially when the ball hits the ground.

Scmidt did some good things and looks a likely type.

Bevan looked good as well although he had some clangers when in possession, but shows good prospects.

Rogers played the whole game in defence and was played on Lloyd for some part of the game. Flew for his marks but lacked presence and balance, went to ground on a couple of occasions too easily. Should improve with time.

Don't remember Taylor doing anything on my wing.

Potter has good size and was played both forward and back and should develop.

Definitely liked LRT showed plenty and was dangerous all over the ground.
Buchanan started like a house on fire but lost impact later in the game.
McViegh was excellent. played a lot like Fossy and looked like him too.
Ablett looks like making an impact if given chances and was solid.
Malceski did some good things and so did many of the others.

The most impressive youngster apart from LRT was definitely Kepler BRADLEY. He is a big kid and tagged Goodes for much of the first half. Looked much better after half time when given the latitude to move. He was terrific and looked ready for the bigtime and set to srep up. Wish we had him.

[liz]

Originally posted by graemed

The most impressive youngster apart from LRT was definitely Kepler BRADLEY. He is a big kid and tagged Goodes for much of the first half. Looked much better after half time when given the latitude to move. He was terrific and looked ready for the bigtime and set to srep up. Wish we had him.

Clearly Bradley can play but he's going to be a strange player to watch. He covers the ground well enough but his size and very strange gait make him look as if he is labouring. I suspect he will take some time to find his niche at AFL level.

[Reggi]

Good to see the youngsters get q hitout - notice thqt Sheedy said Lloyd was the difference between the sides - hope Heath is OK.

Good to hear thqt McVeigh i not like his brother and can play - reminded me of Crig Bradley a player, please excuse the French keyboard.

According to the AFL site Powell i now 88 kgs

[Tooth Fairy]

hehehe thought you mustn't have been using a qwerty board reggi. Very funny typing

Thanks for the updates all

[dendol]

yeah thanks for the updates and reports everyone - very much appreciated. Great to hear that most of our second year kids are doing well and looking the goods. After all the talk of McVeigh Jnr and his prospects, its promising to see that he played a very solid game.

I couldnt make it to yesterday's game because of Valentine's commitments, but I'll definately be at TS next week!

[dendol]

And also, to be fair to Saddo, it was a 15 a side game. I wasnt at the game to see, but did Saddo get beaten for strength, or was he mainly beaten on the lead? It would be tough for any defender to hold down Lloyd without help from teammates, especially now that hes put on an extra 6 or 7 kgs, whilst apparently not losing any of his mobility.

Good luck to all the fullbacks in the comp.

[Ajn]

Where did Matthew Davis play?

[liz]

Originally posted by dendol
but did Saddo get beaten for strength, or was he mainly beaten on the lead?

Primarily in the strength department - Lloyd was just tossing him aside like a ragdoll.

[desredandwhite]

I don't think I really cared about the result (of course, losing to Essendon ALWAYS hurts, but you know what I mean). What was interesting though, was seeing what needed improving, or what the kids had to offer.

Some random thoughts:

- LRT and Amon Buchanan were very keen to impress. Obviously want to strengthen their case for a senior spot.
- At a glance, Essendon's skills were a lot better than ours at this stage of the year (no real surprise, IMHO we have rarely been able to kick or mark with any cinfidence before April anyway).
- The kids looked overawed by the situation. Plenty of stray passes and fumbling/dropping of the ball. They'll be the better for it, this is probably their first bit of pressure like this. The more match practice they get, the better.
- Some of the kids showed a bit - Dempster, McVeigh, Willoughby and Schmidt displayed promising glimpses
- Goodes is all class, even this early in the year.

Not fussed about the result at all, as I said. The fact that the game was on was adequate... Footy's back. (That night's Kings result, winning by 16 after being 10 down in the first quarter, made up for it!! )

This season has really snuck up on me!

[SWANSBEST]

I just arrived home from Sydney and here are my impressions of the game.


Result means nothing as only a handful of Seniors played.

I will have to eat my words on McVeigh. He is an outstanding prospect and has filled out with no loss of pace or endurance . While he is no Voss in build ,he should survive the knocks at AFL level. I was very impressed with McVeigh.

Of the other young players Tim Schmidt has a backside as big as mine and did some good work. Only 17 years and he has a future. Matt Davis really knows how to find the ball and also being our youngst player will improve his delivery in time. He will be a ball magnet one day. Josh Willoughby is smaller than I envisaged and looked a lillle overawed . Obviously needs time. Nick Potter is a goer and did some useful things.

Of last year's recruits LRT was good as was Nick Malceski who will most likely play a few Senior games this year. James Micklejohn did some useful work around the packs by driving the loose bal forward a few times . He needs to do more work on his overhead marking. He will play Seniors when others are injured.

Paul Bevan and Scott McGlone(rookies) both found the ball but there is plenty of competition for players of their style and size . Dempster could get some games as he is very steady under pressure with good skills.

Amon Buchanan played well but will probably be a fill in player.

There are a few players who wiil struggle to ever get a game at Senior level but that is no different from other years.