Spriggs a swan

[Benevolent Ert]

Originally posted by footyhead
Think about it. Do the lions or the Power have 2 bit reject players running around for them cos there is gaping holes in their midfield ? No, the only way to win a flag these days is to have class in every position on the field. [/B]

Josh Mahoney
Adam Kingsley

[Rushed Behind]

Good get i rekon. time will tell but i rekon his disposal will be better with decent leeding forwords at sydney. bit of pace wont hurt to

[Snowy]

he is a truly shocking kick but at least with his endurance will get the ball a lot, may play well at the SCG

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by footyhead
Think about it. Do the lions or the Power have 2 bit reject players running around for them cos there is gaping holes in their midfield ? No, the only way to win a flag these days is to have class in every position on the field.

Ash McGrath
Byron Pickett
Damien Hardwick
Blake Caracella

[Bas]

Is his contract for 1 year, as he has played before?

I think worth the risk. He was highly rated before the knee injury and hopefully any mental block that he may have had since returning will vanish now that he has joined the Swans.

We have nothing to lose in picking up Spriggs and re-drafting Heath. If they don't perform next year then they have no one to blame but themselves.

I hope them both a great year next year. Our list has not changed much in two years, so a few will go at the end of next year if we have an unsuccessful year.

Felt sorry for Podsiadly who must have thought he was a good chance. Swans obviously thought Heath was a better prospect.

[swansrule100]

pressure is on him
but worth the punt

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Byron Pickett
Damien Hardwick
Blake Caracella

Um... these aren't "2-bit rejects."

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Um... these aren't "2-bit rejects."

Josh Mahoney was, and Cochrane is hardly a superstar, yet Port find a way to give players like these valuable roles.

They have just recruited Daniel Ward for next season.

You don't need a team of superstars if you have a tight and disciplined team where everyone understands his role and is prepared to deliver in it.

[NMWBloods]

I agree you don't need a team of superstars, however a couple of very talented players in the right spots do help as well as game breakers.

Also, I didn't refer to those two - only the ones I mentioned.

[SWANSBEST]

Liz

You made an interesting about Port re their recruitment of players who are certainly not of ''STAR" quality. Port however , does have a lot of real quality players and when combined with the lesser lights produce a superior team .

There was a comment in The Age today which describes the Port approach to recruiting . "Port, which follows its own unique vision rather than conventional wisdom, etc. " Port has had incredible success in the SANFL and are now continuing with this success in the AFL using their own unique methods . Presumably , their method is about moulding players into a champion team rather than having a team of champions.

[liz]

Which I think is what Roos has done to some success as well.

There are actually very few out and out stars in the Port team - certainly if you ranked them player by player they wouldn't compare as well to the Lions team, yet over the last few years they have been the most consistently performed team other than September. Now they have shown they can do it then too.

Tredrea is clearly top-notch (though not far ahead of Hall IMHO). Their ruck set up is very good despite being without Primus for most of the last two years. The way they use Lade and Brogan in tandem, especially up forward, is very damaging. Wanganeen is class, though maybe slightly on the wane.

Cornes snr emerged this year as a really damaging player but his defensive side is suspect (especially for a defender).

Other than that they have lots of very consistent runners through the midfield but few stars. There is no Michael Voss or Simon Black. Their most damaging midfielders a couple of years back were probably Francou and Stevens but they did it without both of these this year. Peter Burgoyne is talented but a little inconsistent. James is very effective but certainly not flashy.

Their defence, centred around Bishop, Montgomery and Wakelin is probably as blue collar as ours and isn't overly tall.

I reckon that - Tredrea aside - the reason they're so good is because their onball division is very very good at reading the ball at stoppages, especially in the middle of the ground, meaning that they get the ball forward and often.

Their depth has also been very impressive, managing to cope with injury lists at times that would have sent most other clubs towards a priority pick.

[NMWBloods]

They also have very good skills - their kicks and handballs usually hit their targets.

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
They also have very good skills - their kicks and handballs usually hit their targets.

As were Sydney's in 2003 - there was a tangible improvement almost as soon as Roos took over, which has to be at least partly due to them being more relaxed and thus more confident. It was why we were so damaging at times last year, despite not getting our hands on the ball as often as better teams.

2004 was a bit more patchy than 2003, skills-wise. So while we probably improved at stoppages (and had lots of practice at it) our use of the ball wasn't nearly as good, particularly delivery into the forward 50.

[mocaholic]

Originally posted by liz
2004 was a bit more patchy than 2003, skills-wise. So while we probably improved at stoppages (and had lots of practice at it) our use of the ball wasn't nearly as good, particularly delivery into the forward 50.

Bing! We have a winner. This is a critical issue and one that was a key downfall for us this year. I'm not agin the drafting of Spriggs in itself, however he is not going to assist us in this area. Another quick bloke with questionable disposal doesn't add variety to our centreline.

Without a doubt our improvement must come from within: Davis and Schneider fully fit and rotating on the ball.

[Sanecow]

Please note for future reference that I have chosen not to bag Spriggs at this time.