Depth

[Go Swannies]

Stewie is second to Kirk in his number of tackles so far. And the young ones say his example and commitment at training inspires them. AND he's the captain of one of the AFL's best teams.

[footyhead]

Originally posted by Rizzo
I think McVeigh and Bevan have been fantastic and it would be a real shame for them to miss out. Having said that, I can't see any other passengers.

Do you mean to imply that these guys were passengers ??
I think not !

[Rizzo]

Not at all. Delete the word 'others'

[Bleed Red Blood]

Originally posted by sharp9
I think we have 5 top ten picks on the entire list (Fosdike, Bolton, Crouch, Fixter, McVeigh).

Warfe is a top 10 pick, I think it was pick 7.

Having such depth is great too.

Maxfield can't be dropped from the 22.(if he were, only team in the comp who have the depth to drop the captain?).

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by Bleed Red Blood


Maxfield can't be dropped from the 22.(if he were, only team in the comp who have the depth to drop the captain?).

Or maybe the least talented captain in terms of pure talent. But I love Stewie, and think his worth is more than his onfield footballing ability (as has been mentioned before). He absolutely embodies what I love about this team.

Having said all that, even if he wasn't captain, I don't think he should be dropped on current form. I thought he had a shocker against Brisbane, but apart from that has been solid.

[Sanecow]

Drop Maxfield? It gets funnier here every week.

[Old Royboy]

Midfield depth you can't have enough of. A dominant midfield conceals deficiencies elsewhere - makes the defence look good by pressuring opposition midfielders and the forwards look good with fast and accurate delivery. Our current depth IMO is the result of good work from our recruiting and training staff. Only potential problems are keeping the morale with up those who are borderline selections and the temptation at years end to trade a gun midfielder to get that elusive top KPP.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by sharp9
Difficult to believe that Malthouse can whinge about picks when they trade them for Woewoodin and don't get priority picks because former champions have so many sons (I believe they have six on the list and another one or two to come over the next couple of years).

I think we have 5 top ten picks on the entire list (Fosdike, Bolton, Crouch, Fixter, McVeigh). Surely the Wobbles have about the same?

If not they have only themselves to blame 'cos they have finished outside the top 6 at least 6 times in the last ten years.

Fixter was taken in the 2000 pre-season draft. Hardly a top 10 pick.

[NMWBloods]

Depth is something a bit foreign for the Swans - a champagne problem!!

This is possible what I see as the best 22 currently:

B Crouch Schauble C Bolton

HB Williams James Barry

C Fosdike Mathews Kennelly

HF Davis Hall Maxfield

F Goodes O'Loughlin Doyle

Foll Ball Kirk J Bolton

Int O'Keefe Bevan Saddington Schneider

It was really difficult to put this side together, which is a nice thing.

I'd like to see Mathews in the centre, as he is pretty good at CB clearances, and it could suit his role as a link man. However, instead of being the defensive half back link, he could move up to become an attacking link man.

As I've said before, I think Williams could become a useful half bank flanker, still giving us useful drive from the backline.

Kennelly, could move up to wing, and become a more attacking player.

Goodes could be designated a half forward flank, but essentially be given free reign to wander over the ground, and hence leave a permanent 5-man forward line.

Maxfield is tricky in that other players are gradually becoming better than him, however I still think he has a lot to offer the team. A half forward flank may suit him (or perhaps a half back flank). Either way, his intensity at the ball and his penetrating kicks are invaluable.

One of the problems was trying to fit Schneider onto the ground. Without him, the forward line is lacking a true crumber, although Davis does this pretty well. I think it would depend on the team we were playing whether we lined up taller or shorter in the forward line.

The nice thing about this team is that is ha a lot of flexibility, with many of the players capable of playing in different positions.

[Mark]

Tough on Mcveigh, but now pretty much a toss up between him and Bevan.

Apart from that, Swap positions of Kennelly and Williams and that is pretty much our best side on the paddock. Also doubt three big men to start, so Schneider/Saddo for Doyle.

All we need to do is keep them fit !

[Triple B]

Warfe was late teens from memory.

No way Top 10.

FWIW I believe if Mark Johnson never climbed all over his shoulder at the SCG he would not be looked down upon as much as he is on this board.

[Reggi]

1993 National Draft

Fitzroy Pick 9 Rowan Warfe

Sydney pick 17 (swapped for J Crawford)

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Mark
Tough on Mcveigh, but now pretty much a toss up between him and Bevan.

Yes, I forgot about McVeigh and LRT too!!

Apart from that, Swap positions of Kennelly and Williams and that is pretty much our best side on the paddock. Also doubt three big men to start, so Schneider/Saddo for Doyle.

At the moment I think Kennelly at HBF and Williams on the wing, although I still think over the course of the year Kennelly will move to the wing and Williams to HBF or HFF.

Saddo is a "big man"!

Depending on opposition, Schneider could come in for Doyle.

All we need to do is keep them fit !

Yep, although at least now we have more backup.

[sharpie]

Kennelly's drive out from half back is good enough now for him not to need to play on a wing. He is almost averaging a goal a game recently. He has got to stay there while that lasts. The opposition is going to have to tag Kennelly and Leo to shut us down - not a bad situation at all to have, having two defenders being tagged. Leaves plenty of other players with some well-deserved freedom. Bring it on.

[Thunder Shaker]

Top 10 picks

One thing to note about top 10 picks, there's still a few "zone selection" players on the Swans list:

Jason Ball - 1991 Zone selection (West Coast)
Leo Barry - 1994 Zone selection (Sydney)
Ben Mathews - 1995 Zone Selection (Sydney)
Stuart Maxfield - VMFL Zone selection (Richmond)

Here are players drafted with top 10 picks from the National Draft:
Jude Bolton - 1998 No 8 selection (traded pick from Geelong for Jason Mooney)
Jared Crouch - 1995 No 8 selection.
Nic Fosdike - 1998 No 3 (traded pick from Collingwood for Paul Licuria and Mark Orchard)
Jarrad McVeigh - 2002 No 5.
Rowan Warfe - 1993 No 8 (Fitzroy)

Source: AFL Season Preview 2004