2025 Preseason.

[crackedactor 01]

51 point victory is better than a 51 point loss. 4Goals from Campbell was interesting. But its still just a practice game.

[UUaswan]

Always good to get a win even if it's Feb

Hopefully everyone pulls up OK, interested to hear about our defence, cant imagine how we can have Tom Mc as an "extra" up fwd and not in defence

[wolftone57]

I thought some good things came out of it. Mitchell looked right at home. Hannily was goo. Paton was also good.

Amartey & Campbell stood out.

This mids were on top for the majority of the game but took the foot off the pedal a few times which let them in.

It was bruise free footy after the rain came as none of the players wanted to get injured and rainy conditions are notorious for injuries.

All in all a good hit out. Next week will be far more intense I should think, building into Round 0

[Nico]

Finally trying Campbell in a different position. His talent is midfield or forward of midfield. Far too dangerous with ball in hand to be playing back. What, it rained in Sydney. Well I'll be buttered on both sides.

[Kafka's Ghost]

Is anyone else really struggling to get behind the club for this year? I’m finding I’m still really embarrassed and humiliated to be associated with them. Not a nice feeling but I can’t seem to shake it.

just curious if that’s a common experience here more than anything.

I’ve been struggling to take an interest since that disaster last September. Like many, have renewed my membership and will always support the club, but I’ve lost faith in this iteration of the senior team. So much talent, yet can’t get it together when it counts. Robbie Fox saying in the aftermath that “one game doesn’t define us” was a very sour moment for me. Sorry Robbie, but when it’s the GF, and second capitulation in 3 years, yes, it does. I’m hopeful that Dean Cox will be much more of a hard-arse, and re-instil pressure at the contest. I saw some highlights from the practice game, and the pressure looked ok, but we’ll see. To be honest, I’m relieved I’m not the only one who’s had their faith tested.

[wolftone57]

I’ve been struggling to take an interest since that disaster last September. Like many, have renewed my membership and will always support the club, but I’ve lost faith in this iteration of the senior team. So much talent, yet can’t get it together when it counts. Robbie Fox saying in the aftermath that “one game doesn’t define us” was a very sour moment for me. Sorry Robbie, but when it’s the GF, and second capitulation in 3 years, yes, it does. I’m hopeful that Dean Cox will be much more of a hard-arse, and re-instil pressure at the contest. I saw some highlights from the practice game, and the pressure looked ok, but we’ll see. To be honest, I’m relieved I’m not the only one who’s had their faith tested.

I think the GF bad performances were down to tactics and Horse not being able to react quickly to the change in momentum. Each time we have lost in this way, he has been unable to counter with any tactic that worked. In fact, he just didn't do anything in 2014. Said he was out of answers. That told me a lot. He would never win us another premiership. I was right. He was out of answers in 2022 and 2024 as well.

The pressure was good in the first half of this game when the ball and ground was dry. Both sides backed off a bit when the rain came and it was a bit Bruise Free. But that is ok, it is obvious why. No team wants injuries and the wet will do that. The speed at the ball was good and the hustle was also good. I liked the way we were directing the ball into the forward line. The lead up footy was very good and players were leading through a needle hole and getting there. The kicking was very good too, hitting targets on the lead.

Why was Campbell so good? Well, to me it seems that if you play a bloke where he feels he belongs he will give you 1,000%. Play him in a foreign land and he will look lost. It is like taking a jockey and sticking him in a Formula One Car, he isn't going to know the first thing about driving because he rides. A Melbourne Cup winning jockey is a last past the post Formula One driver. Campbell's natural ability to lead up at the ball and then after he gets either the mark or a free, to kick long goals is going to be special. I think we have totally wasted this bloke. He is the natural replacement for the Forward Isaac used to be. I always wanted him Forward/Mid.

Amartey is an enigmatic type of player. He needs to develop consistency. If he can do that, then anything is possible. I watched him just after we drafted him and thought, WOW. The reason, his ability to out-mark opponents and to lead up at the ball and back to goal. It is a natural talent. I also liked his athletic abilities, chasing down opponents, no matter their height or speed and catching them. He is incredibly athletic and fast for a big man. If he can get consistency this year we have an 80 goal forward there. He could, in the future kick 100.

Our mids were very good. There were times when we backed off a bit and went to sleep. I'd like to see that stop. These little lapses are dangerous. They lose you big games. I liked Mitchell a lot. He was strong at the contest and I can see him becoming a crowd Fav very quickly. Syd the Swan. Paton and Hannily were also good. They looked very much at home at the level. Gus will improve over time but it was a good hit out by him. The usual suspects were all good. I think they did what they had to do. Heens takes another specky. I wonder when Chad will try to match it lol. It is only a practice match but we had quite a few missing, as did they, but still looked co-ordinated. Our backs held up. This is something we have been saying for ages doesn't happen if one Key back is taken out. Francis was good. Hogan did not kick a bag. Greene either, 2 to Greene and Hogan 3 I think. Stringer will make them stronger but if Wicks can contain Greene then Rampe gets Stringer that would be good next time. I don't like The Lizard as a Key Back. Please stop now Mr Cox. Longmire tried that with disastrous results. It took run away from the HB line and Blakey was not able to contain his opponents in a standing wrestle. Let him fly in from the side or stand tall yes, but wrestle, NO! It was much better when Francis came on and Blakey was freed up.

I am keen to see how we handle the rampant Suns next week. We will have a few more back and hopefully will drop the McCartin experiment. Please leave well enough alone. You have a guy who took the most marks for any Key Defender last year and you want to turn him into a forward. He is susceptible to concussion and plying forward is only going to make him more of a risk. I think we have good key forwards and it is only a matter of them developing.

I am also very excited for this year's draft. As three players, in the top 20 prospects, will come from the Academy. This is exciting and there could be some Rookies on top of that as well. More Home Grown talent with no Go Home factor.

[Mountain Man]

I have only seen the highlights package so have been unable to assess how we used our rucks.

It seemed Grundy played throughout (ie in each quarter) and Ladhams appeared - but I was unable to see for how long.

I believe MsLean has been injured and presumably played reduced minutes in the VFL hit out.

So, question; any clues from yesterday on what 2025 plans are for the Rucks?

[UUaswan]

I'd play Ladhams and let Mclean stay put at either end of the ground.

Agree Tom Mc has to be a defender to free up Blakey.

I also think people are sleeping on Taylor Adams, I think he can have an impact.

Wicks as a lockdown might not be a bad idea either, far from his biggest fan but maybe he has a role there

[KSAS]

I also enter this season feeling dread after successive heavy GF losses where we didn't give a yelp. No matter how well the season pans out, only a Premiership or 2 can exercise our demons.

My biggest takeaway from Friday's trial game is that the hunger is still there and hoping it will be sustained.

Good summaries & analysis posted above. I'm pleased were at least experimenting with positional changes, even if they all don't come off, as it was a weakness Eade pointed out after the GF. I still would give McCartin another week as a Forward, as one match is too short of a sample.

It's good to know whether we can swing blokes around with confidence at the pointy end of the season rather than in hope. Logan, as a defender, is another being thrown around, which i also don't mind even though i still think he has a better future as a forward.

I was encouraged enough by Co Warner's performance that he has taken the next step to really push for the best 22 selection, along with Sheldrick (who was ok but should improve) and Cleary who has unfortunately been setback after his misdemeanour.

[Blood Fever]

We looked sharp against GWS and that is a good sign. However, these games are like soccer friendlies. Not sold on C. Warner till I see him do well in a normal H&A game.

[KSAS]

Callum Mills out till after the round 3 bye with his foot injury. Scans showed up a tear.

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/1721716/injury-update-callum-mills

[dejavoodoo44]

Callum Mills out till after the round 3 bye with his foot injury. Scans showed up a tear.

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/...e-callum-mills

Ugghh! But probably a good chance for Sheldrick to stake his claim for a regular midfield spot.

[mcs]

Mills really has done something to piss off the footy gods it seems. Sigh.

[Roadrunner]

Ugghh! But probably a good chance for Sheldrick to stake his claim for a regular midfield spot.

Fortunately Mills had a good pre- season so hopefully he will be back after the first few matches. It is a bit of a worry though, as he is now looking a bit injury prone. But as you say, it will give a young bloke a chance- other than Gus, who else is in the running?

[dejavoodoo44]

Fortunately Mills had a good pre- season so hopefully he will be back after the first few matches. It is a bit of a worry though, as he is now looking a bit injury prone. But as you say, it will give a young bloke a chance- other than Gus, who else is in the running?

Normally I'd say Cleary, but he's been a naughty boy, so I think he can't play the first two AFL rounds. Not sure about the preseason match against the Suns? Corey has been going well and I think Mitchell had a good game in the VFL practice match.