2026 Preseason

[Syd76]

Anyone read the Herald Sun? There is an article quoting Errol that there is a bolter for the Swans opening game. I refuse to pay so can't read

The so called bolter is said to be Harry Kyle.. the article that I read was from the Australian. and based off the training thus far .. and I quote "Kyle is set to be the standout of his class in the early stages"

[Auntie.Gerald]

Harry Kyle

https://archive.md/R0GwY

[KSAS]

Thanks AG . Interesting to note in that article that Papley missed Monday's hit out with soreness. Riak (calf) and Cootee (hip) also missed. Hope they are minor and we'll see them returning soon.

[dejavoodoo44]

I bumped into Errol and Logan at the Sydney FC game the other day and had a quick chat with them, got a few interesting insights:
- Logan has been training both forward and back over the preseason, reckons he will be playing a bit of both this season.
- Mills has been training with both the midfield and the backs
- When I asked who had impressed them so far in preseason they were quick to point to Rosas who they said is lightning quick and does things nobody else could dream of
- Errol had huge raps on Serong, called him an "absolute beast" and expects him to come in and make an impact straight away
- Errol also said Blakey has been brilliant in preseason and thinks Serong can really free him up to become even more of a rebounding weapon

That all seems pretty positive. Though personally, I'd prefer to see McDonald largely stick to playing forward. If he's fit and firing, he'd be an excellent alternative target to Curnow. Along with Amartey or McLean. I'd prefer it if it was more like the Sam Reid role, of sometimes dropping back for a few minutes here and there, to help out the defence.

Hopefully, as the season progresses, we'll see more of Mills as a big bodied mid. I'm still haunted by us being overpowered in grand finals, so he might be handy in guarding against that.

Also pleased to hear that Rosas is firing. As someone who's seen a lot of the Suns over the years, I was a bit surprised that he seemed to be on the outer last season. At his best, he's extremely skilful and can put points on the board in a hurry. Competition for the small and medium forward spots should be interesting this season. Dattoli is also someone I'll be looking at with interest. I was impressed with his ability to win one on one contests, even though he seemed nowhere near fully fit last season. So, with a decent preseason, he could be very useful, both as a small forward and an occasional midfielder.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Double post

[Auntie.Gerald]

Agree re Logan and Mills

ie being used in the backline when the game is not on our terms and we need to stack that backs but primarily Mills will play midfield and Logan forwards and or when there are tricky matchups up front of back

also re Logan it would be very helpful to defend on Curnow for small parts of training to learn from how Curnow engages / runs lines / holds etc and the little body work tricks

great news re the above a new players to the Swans

[imuninformedtwo]

That all seems pretty positive. Though personally, I'd prefer to see McDonald largely stick to playing forward. If he's fit and firing, he'd be an excellent alternative target to Curnow. Along with Amartey or McLean. I'd prefer it if it was more like the Sam Reid role, of sometimes dropping back for a few minutes here and there, to help out the defence.

Hopefully, as the season progresses, we'll see more of Mills as a big bodied mid. I'm still haunted by us being overpowered in grand finals, so he might be handy in guarding against that.

Also pleased to hear that Rosas is firing. As someone who's seen a lot of the Suns over the years, I was a bit surprised that he seemed to be on the outer last season. At his best, he's extremely skilful and can put points on the board in a hurry. Competition for the small and medium forward spots should be interesting this season. Dattoli is also someone I'll be looking at with interest. I was impressed with his ability to win one on one contests, even though he seemed nowhere near fully fit last season. So, with a decent preseason, he could be very useful, both as a small forward and an occasional midfielder.

Dattoli is an interesting one. In the near term, he'll play forward while he builds his tank and durability. But long-term, I reckon he's a midfielder. Some of his gathers and handball releases in chains of play last year were so clean and precise. Just an instinctive thing. At the very least, he may have tricks around the forward line and spend some time there, but he looks to me like someone who could and should spend the majority of his time as part of the on ball rotation once he's got the fitness base.

[Auntie.Gerald]

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/1946057/goodwin-reveals

simon Goodwin interview

[KSAS]

Watched 6 min video highlights via Youtube of club's latest match sim hitout (doesn’t appear on club's webste as yet).

https://youtu.be/TUHQw45eXx0?si=oquDEQX_K_Xgnnm_

Looked intense. Logan playing key forward with Charlie in the opposing team. Didn't see Armatey. Papley appears still missing with soreness, along with Riak & Cootee.

Rosas involved in a few clips which looked promising.

[rickmat]

Asking anyone who has access to Herald and their lead AFL article about the Swans match sim and who stood out.. nothing on Swans social media or eebsite

[dejavoodoo44]

Got my copy of the AFL Record Season Guide today. While I'm sure that I could find most of the stats online, these days; I do feel that it's an important little milestone, that says that the season is almost here. The last milestone to cross off is the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks time. Then it's pretty well the preseason and the dark days are over.

And on the Super Bowl, there is a Swans Academy representative, in the Seattle Seahawks punter, Michael Dickson. He went through the academy, before playing a few NEAFL games for us. He's now one of the top punters in the NFL. I wonder what he gets paid per kick?

[imuninformedtwo]

Just saw Cox's presser today. Main news was Mills will be settled in at half back for a bit. Not clear whether it was structural, or fitness decision that drove it. But that's where's he starting the year at least.

I'd personally rather him as a big bodied mid but it suggests our back starting seven will look something like:

Melican McCartin probably Cunningham

Blakey Serong Wicks

Mills as seventh defender.

You'd then think Ramps comes in for either Mills or Serong if there's an issue, and then Bice, Roberts or even Kyle chasing a spot on the bench or if one opens up among the smaller players. Edwards looks next in line if either McCartin or Melican goes down (touch wood that ain't happening to them, no offence to Edwards).

[dejavoodoo44]

Decided to answer my own question. It seems that Dickson is the highest paid punter in the NFL, at roughly $US 4 million a season. So far in this year's games, he's made 60 punts. If you give him 4 more in the Super Bowl, he'll make 64. So, doing the maths, that's $US 62,500 per kick. I suppose he makes the occasional tackle, as well?