2007 White Haired Boy

[Old Royboy]

Is definitely Reg Grundy. Last year the title belonged to Torture, until Roos discovered a grey hair or two mid season. For all the contribution Grundy has made, we may as well have just picked 21 blokes.

I understand the principle of giving a young player a good run in seniors to find his feet. But I believe that Roos has made a big mistake, not with the identification of Reg as the 2007 white haired boy, but the timing. Reg seems to me to be the sort of player who takes time to get going each year. Bringing him in stone cold after an extended injury layoff was a BIG mistake, Reg should have had a couple of weeks in the twos to get going before being elevated to white haired boy status. In the meantime, Laidlaw has been knocking on the selectors door so hard there is now no skin left on his knuckles.

Please selectors, Laidlaw for Grundy this week.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Vogels has to be brought into the side. I've always rated him as a solid player (on his day) and he's a fairly strong kid too. Roos, and Grundy, have a lot to answer for *shakes his head*

[Jewels]

Here here Roy, every week watching Laidlaw in the pre-season and in the reserves, you wonder what else the kid can do to get picked.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Here here Roy, every week watching Laidlaw in the pre-season and in the reserves, you wonder what else the kid can do to get picked.

Roos had a word to him about his kicking. Apparently it was far too accurate and making the leadership group look second-rate, which isn't part of the "bloods" culture.

[robbieando]

Here here Roy, every week watching Laidlaw in the pre-season and in the reserves, you wonder what else the kid can do to get picked.

Maybe if he was a different type of player to Grundy he would be considered for Grundy's spot at this point in time. But a midfielder for a tall, that is a pointless swap.

You would either bring back Vogels (who clearly doesn't have the faith of the coaching staff when you consider all his dropping over time, but is the most expirenced tall KP we have) or White (who is well build, but not yet ready for AFL level footy and would be swapping like for like with Grundy).

Laidlaw more than likely is pushing for a midfield spot that becomes available either though an injury (such as Buchanan's) or a younger midfielder being dropped (only Schmidt fits that bill). In truth, Nick Davis, get Buchanan's spot and Laidlaw is battling with Moore and Phillips to replace Schmidt when Roos decides to drop him.

To be honest with Grundy he has three problems

1) Lack of Match Practice
2) Lack of Game Time since his senior return
3) Use of him hasn't been as good as it was last year.

Each of the last two is a factor of the first one and hence I see no point in keeping him in the senior side, if he is going to not get solid game time so he can build up his match fitness and get good use of the ball in a way that a tall forward should. As to who should come in for him to be honest I couldn't care less if it was Vogels or White, they both will provide the same thing as Grundy has. So production and devlopment wise your better off bringing in Vogels so White keeps getting gametime in the twos.

As for Laidlaw, yes I would love to bring him in but unless Davis isn't fit enough to return this week, then I would wait another week before making the move on him. Therefore Davis in for Buchanan and Vogels in for Grundy and the week after Laidlaw for Schimdt.

[Old Royboy]

Maybe if he was a different type of player to Grundy he would be considered for Grundy's spot at this point in time. But a midfielder for a tall, that is a pointless swap.

Robbie, I'm guessing you havn't seen Laidlaw this year - he is much bigger now. He went forward in the second quarter last reserves game and kicked 5 goals in that time, several by bodying his opponent out.

He can swap for Grundy, with the added bonus that he can also join the midfield rotations if necessary.

[liz]

Laidlaw strikes me as a Nicks type player - maybe a tad quicker.

I think he'll be capable of playing any of the roles that Nicks played - ie running off a half-back flank (a role the Swans have reasonably well covered) or as a medium marking forward.

If he turns out to be close to the player that Nicks was at his best, we'll have a real "find".

I reckon he could provide another genuine - and different - marking option within the forward 50, especially while Davis is out. He is quicker and nimbler than Grundy.

I think Grundy needs a bit more space than other teams have been affording the Swans so far this year and with Hall playing closer to goal, Reg is neither presenting as a viable option in the 50 nor pushing up to the wings as a linkman. He'll be back - but he ain't providing much at the moment.

[NMWBloods]

If he is a Nicks style player, then we should be looking to get him into the side as soon as possible, to give us some forward flexibility and options on the ball or off half back.

[TheHood]

Is it just me or does anyone else underwhelmed by Simon Phillips?

He's not big enough, clever enough, skillful enough or really anything enough to blow my hair back.

I think Schmidty has been great for a fella of his development and I really think he will be our Malcevski of 2008.

I would love to see Laidlaw and Keiran Jack get their chance some time in 2007. I think with Monty down, McVeigh in a slump and Noggy down on form, it would be great to rotate when appropriate.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Is it just me or does anyone else underwhelmed by Simon Phillips?

He's not big enough, clever enough, skillful enough or really anything enough to blow my hair back.

I think Schmidty has been great for a fella of his development and I really think he will be our Malcevski of 2008.

I would love to see Laidlaw and Keiran Jack get their chance some time in 2007. I think with Monty down, McVeigh in a slump and Noggy down on form, it would be great to rotate when appropriate.

It's not just you, it's Schmidt >>>>>> Phillips IMO, he just seems like a natural footballer but some people here are expecting too much from him, too early. Next year could definitely be his big breakthrough year, if he'd half as good as Malceski by next year, i'd be stoked! I'm hoping we see MySpace come along next year aslo.

[liz]

Is it just me or does anyone else underwhelmed by Simon Phillips?

He's not big enough, clever enough, skillful enough or really anything enough to blow my hair back.

How much reserves footy have you seen?

Watch him at that level and you will see what he has. He looks to be the most natural and skilfull footballer running around in the twos most of the time.

The issue seems to be him translating that to senior level, though he showed a bit against more experienced players in the pre-season. It may just be a case of him not yet having the size or strength to compete at the top level, or he may turn out to be someone who just can't take that step up. But he's been thrown in the deep end with far less physical development than the Swans normally equip their younger players with, so that suggests he's impressing someone in the hierachy.

Comparing Schmidt and Phillips is a bit unfair. Schmidt is in his fourth year on the list and arrived at the club as a very solidly built chap - too solidly built indeed. Phillips is only in his second year and is a mere slip of a lad in comparison.

[hammo]

I'm also unconvinced about Phillips but one thing I do know is that he can kick a goal, which I guess is what we need in a crumbing forward considering we don't have one and Schneider is a shoo in to miss anything from 30 metres out directly in front.

I am even less convinced about Jack and certain that we can't have Jack and Phillips in the same team.

[Nico]

Very hard for Schmidt to have a lot of affect when he played only 34% of the game. I think he has shown enough to keep his place in the short term. I just wish one of these young blokes would play an absolute blinder and put the wind up some of the so called untouchables.

[SimonH]

Yet to see Schmidt do anything in the firsts that doesn't make me think: vanilla. Can catch okay, can kick okay, can run okay, can work within the team plan okay, can fail to do anything vaguely exciting or unexpected okay... you get the idea.

Very very happy to be proven wrong. Even put up a YouTube clip, if you feel really strongly about it.

Grundy is an old-school mark/kick/goal player, which in effect means he's an SCG specialist. It also means that he is going to continue to absolutely cream them every game he plays in Canberra (or any more static league), but will remain a potential liability at AFL level unless/until he improves the defensive side of his game. Spectacularly unsuited to the big grounds in Adelaide and Perth. The problem for him is with Everitt (and even Jolly) rotating forward, plus BBBH and MOL, how many big and none-too-fast marking targets can we have up there?

[NMWBloods]

I'm happy if we can add a couple of players like Schmidt or Moore into the side who aren't flashy but are efficient at getting the ball and getting it to someone else.

I think Grundy can still make it.
I hope Vogels can too, but I'm not sure.

I've seen little to suggest that Phillips is going to be a standout at AFL level. He may do it in Canberra, but he hasn't impressed me thus far in his few games.