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but this guy has done his homework....
This assessment was done by a poster known as Dyer'ere over at the PuntRoadEnd forum, and for a Richmond supporter, it's surprisingly insightful
This assessment was done by a poster known as Dyer'ere over at the PuntRoadEnd forum, and for a Richmond supporter, it's surprisingly insightful
Shauble is 28, a b&f winner in the position, and seldom beaten. Injury problems may be under control. If Goodes can settle at chb (his natural position, IMO) they have a fine pair of key backs. Barry makes a nice trio. In the backup/development category I have a feeling LRT will make a key backman. His debut year was very promising. Not many 19yo talls show out but this kid did. His 2004 season was ruined by injury. He's tall, agile and often plays smart. Not usually a good mark. If LRT could hold a key back position, Goodes may be freed to play wing or forward. Probably take a bit longer. Mathews, Kennelly and Bevan (may get some 2nd year blues) along with Crouch, maybe Maxfield and perhaps Fixter give em plenty of options down back. On Mathews, he started to put his head over the ball again in 2004 after having 2003 off hard work. Improving his weaknesses and a good rebounder. May go to the midfield.
Craig Bolton is playing his preseason games in the midfield. I have seen him play his best football in negating midfield roles. As Kirk continues to take a more attacking role C.Bolton will tag the larger big name opposition ruckrovers and will do it well. He can hard tag, that is play a shutdown role or run-with, by which I mean, run off his opponent to create an overlap or goal shot when necessary. He continues to build his game and is quick too. Some will recall that we let him go through the PSD a couple of years ago. I regret this.
If Schneider can make a transition into a change or regular rover, and Williams and Maxfield hold their fitness/form, the Sydney on-ball division will be replete with options. However this is the department they most need to develop. McVeigh and Moore may get a go.
IMO Brett Kirk is one of the most valuable players in the AFL. From memory, only Cameron Ling beat him last year. In one game I watched him shut down Chris Judd as a side interest. Wasn't even his opponent. Use of the ball is reliable and sometimes uncanny in heavy traffic. Nothing pretty about his game.
Jude Bolton finishes his heavy work stylishly and wins plenty of hard leather. Kicks a goal. Williams and Maxfield in decline is a worry.
The Sydney forward line is the equal of any not just in its make up but in its balance.
Big bad Bazza is the key. Even though Hall doesn't kick as many goals as other full forwards he doesn't make as many U turns either. He brings team-mates into the game with his remarkable evasive skills and clever handball. He wasn't far off All Aust last year. He plays the position like a very deep chf, running hard and sometimes wide to meet the ball and breaking lines and tackles to create space before bringing the ball inboard to create a quality opportunity for a team-mate. In this way Hall's weakness (butter fingrs when marking) becomes his strength- quick recovery and dish often results in a shot from a better angle. (Richo could learn a lot from him.)
Michael O'Loughlin is not tall enough to play kp (Gaspar's flogged him their last 10? meetings) but he is unstoppable when he is able to use his pace and freakish talents to open up the forward line. The trick is to play another tall up forward to free up MO'L.
Ball and Jolly will provide the tall support for Bazza and MO'L. Probably the weakest link in the Sydney forward make-up in this role but they may only be part timers. There was oftne no genuine marking tall in the Sydney attacking zone in 04.
Nick Davis is a very flawed player. Half fit again in 04. But he provides the Sydney forward line with a big advantage. Because he is a good mark on the run and has a freakish accuracy from difficult angles he spreads the defence. You see, if ND leads to a dead pocket or deep to a flank and gets the mark, he'll kick the goal- either side and from 50m. You have to defend space that might normally be considered dead. He widens and deepens the area that has to be defended. This in turn opens space in the corridor.
Ryan O'Keefe is not a kpp. He is a big smart flanker. Nice mark. He gets up the park leaving space behind him for the other forwards and then pushes into the zone hard, timely, smart and usually central when the Swans win posession. Remember, there's often space there as the other Swans will provide a combination of genuine and decoy leads WIDE. He doesn't miss many ecause he's a good kick and he usually works central. As a type, he's not unlike A.Embley, not as quick but a better mark and smarter. He's addressed his previous lack of intensity. Buchanan may play this role at times in 05. Not as tall but can catch and kick.
Adam Schneider and probably Paul Williams will share the running hff duties in 05. Each has pace to burn and is is the final ingredient of the Sydney forward structure. Enough to get out of the area and push back when the time is right. Pace is used to break open the 50-60m area affording either a cool long shot on goal or a chip to one of the many leading players.
Goodes may play forward. Another big running player, like O'L and B.Hall. Dempster is being tried forward in the preseason. Moore, Willoughby and McVeigh may also be deployed to alter the structure.
BTW Sydney's wet weather form is bloody awful. Probably because of their reliance on clean handling and accurate use in the congestion (often their first use is backwards a wet weather sin). I mean they are filth in the wet. Really have to address this since it rains all the time in Sydney. Grin
One more comparison. Sydney is one of three or four AFL sides to play two heavy-duty inside ruckrovers. Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk. Unlike their Richmond counterparts Kane Johnsona and Mark Coughlan the sin-city pair runs very hard both ways during a game. Our chaps haven't run hard enough under Mr Frawley. I think that's about to change.
Craig Bolton is playing his preseason games in the midfield. I have seen him play his best football in negating midfield roles. As Kirk continues to take a more attacking role C.Bolton will tag the larger big name opposition ruckrovers and will do it well. He can hard tag, that is play a shutdown role or run-with, by which I mean, run off his opponent to create an overlap or goal shot when necessary. He continues to build his game and is quick too. Some will recall that we let him go through the PSD a couple of years ago. I regret this.
If Schneider can make a transition into a change or regular rover, and Williams and Maxfield hold their fitness/form, the Sydney on-ball division will be replete with options. However this is the department they most need to develop. McVeigh and Moore may get a go.
IMO Brett Kirk is one of the most valuable players in the AFL. From memory, only Cameron Ling beat him last year. In one game I watched him shut down Chris Judd as a side interest. Wasn't even his opponent. Use of the ball is reliable and sometimes uncanny in heavy traffic. Nothing pretty about his game.
Jude Bolton finishes his heavy work stylishly and wins plenty of hard leather. Kicks a goal. Williams and Maxfield in decline is a worry.
The Sydney forward line is the equal of any not just in its make up but in its balance.
Big bad Bazza is the key. Even though Hall doesn't kick as many goals as other full forwards he doesn't make as many U turns either. He brings team-mates into the game with his remarkable evasive skills and clever handball. He wasn't far off All Aust last year. He plays the position like a very deep chf, running hard and sometimes wide to meet the ball and breaking lines and tackles to create space before bringing the ball inboard to create a quality opportunity for a team-mate. In this way Hall's weakness (butter fingrs when marking) becomes his strength- quick recovery and dish often results in a shot from a better angle. (Richo could learn a lot from him.)
Michael O'Loughlin is not tall enough to play kp (Gaspar's flogged him their last 10? meetings) but he is unstoppable when he is able to use his pace and freakish talents to open up the forward line. The trick is to play another tall up forward to free up MO'L.
Ball and Jolly will provide the tall support for Bazza and MO'L. Probably the weakest link in the Sydney forward make-up in this role but they may only be part timers. There was oftne no genuine marking tall in the Sydney attacking zone in 04.
Nick Davis is a very flawed player. Half fit again in 04. But he provides the Sydney forward line with a big advantage. Because he is a good mark on the run and has a freakish accuracy from difficult angles he spreads the defence. You see, if ND leads to a dead pocket or deep to a flank and gets the mark, he'll kick the goal- either side and from 50m. You have to defend space that might normally be considered dead. He widens and deepens the area that has to be defended. This in turn opens space in the corridor.
Ryan O'Keefe is not a kpp. He is a big smart flanker. Nice mark. He gets up the park leaving space behind him for the other forwards and then pushes into the zone hard, timely, smart and usually central when the Swans win posession. Remember, there's often space there as the other Swans will provide a combination of genuine and decoy leads WIDE. He doesn't miss many ecause he's a good kick and he usually works central. As a type, he's not unlike A.Embley, not as quick but a better mark and smarter. He's addressed his previous lack of intensity. Buchanan may play this role at times in 05. Not as tall but can catch and kick.
Adam Schneider and probably Paul Williams will share the running hff duties in 05. Each has pace to burn and is is the final ingredient of the Sydney forward structure. Enough to get out of the area and push back when the time is right. Pace is used to break open the 50-60m area affording either a cool long shot on goal or a chip to one of the many leading players.
Goodes may play forward. Another big running player, like O'L and B.Hall. Dempster is being tried forward in the preseason. Moore, Willoughby and McVeigh may also be deployed to alter the structure.
BTW Sydney's wet weather form is bloody awful. Probably because of their reliance on clean handling and accurate use in the congestion (often their first use is backwards a wet weather sin). I mean they are filth in the wet. Really have to address this since it rains all the time in Sydney. Grin
One more comparison. Sydney is one of three or four AFL sides to play two heavy-duty inside ruckrovers. Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk. Unlike their Richmond counterparts Kane Johnsona and Mark Coughlan the sin-city pair runs very hard both ways during a game. Our chaps haven't run hard enough under Mr Frawley. I think that's about to change.
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