Is it injuries or do the Swans need a clean-out & to rebuild

[Darren Thomson]

When we trade for players or draft picks do we then consider our game plan and change it to suit the list. Look at the way Rocket has the Bulldogs playing, and the difference from the flooding he introduced to Sydneys game. It's all controlled by the players you have

[sprite]

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j.bolton- only because he has trade value- wouldnt delist, i think his stocks outside the club are highish

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He has little or no value now - was on the tble last year and didn't attract anything. Why do people continually suggest he has currency.

I would be happy to be proven wrong - but don't think it will happen.

Trade value for high picks - Goodes, ROK & Jolly. But what do you get in return?

[dendol]

the media (and all but the most hopeful of us) thought we'd bottom out with Kelly, Schwatta, Maxfield, Dunks, Lockett, Cresswell et al all retiring or close to retiring at the end of the 2002 season. Roos proved that we didnt need to get anywhere near the bottom of the ladder to be successful, and Im hoping this will be the case again.

He had inherited a team of stoppers and grinders and developed his gameplan accordingly. It'll be interesting to see what he envisages in the next few years- if he doesn't indeed leave like he's been promising all these years - and if he'll have a change of philosophy about the way the game is played. Im praying that the likes of McVeigh, Moore, Jack, Bird, Vez and co really blossom and allow us to play an attacking brand of footy (it seemed this way before the mid season break).

Like others, just worried about our lack of tall options at both ends of the field. We've always been able to trade for a big forward, but ever since Dunks and Roos himself left, we never really had a true KPP backman and our defensive gamestyle has resulted because of this.

[bennyfrou]

the media (and all but the most hopeful of us) thought we'd bottom out with Kelly, Schwatta, Maxfield, Dunks, Lockett, Cresswell et al all retiring or close to retiring at the end of the 2002 season. Roos proved that we didnt need to get anywhere near the bottom of the ladder to be successful, and Im hoping this will be the case again.

He had inherited a team of stoppers and grinders and developed his gameplan accordingly. It'll be interesting to see what he envisages in the next few years- if he doesn't indeed leave like he's been promising all these years - and if he'll have a change of philosophy about the way the game is played. Im praying that the likes of McVeigh, Moore, Jack, Bird, Vez and co really blossom and allow us to play an attacking brand of footy (it seemed this way before the mid season break).

Like others, just worried about our lack of tall options at both ends of the field. We've always been able to trade for a big forward, but ever since Dunks and Roos himself left, we never really had a true KPP backman and our defensive gamestyle has resulted because of this.

I agree that KPP defenders have all but dissappeared from our list. Our defenders seem to be ad-hoc types.

I'd love to see another Paul Williams type of player running around too. Someone who can take the ball on the wing and run it to 50 and unload an accurate pearler to blow all our heads off.

[liz]

I agree that KPP defenders have all but dissappeared from our list. Our defenders seem to be ad-hoc types.

I'd love to see another Paul Williams type of player running around too. Someone who can take the ball on the wing and run it to 50 and unload an accurate pearler to blow all our heads off.

The KPP thing isn't just at the Swans. Across the board there's an increased focus on rebound and mobility, plus there are fewer "gorilla" forwards to mark because they, too, are expected to be mobile.

Someone like Jesse White has size, a good leap, sound spoiling instincts and is quick, and he's looked more convincing at reserves level as a defender than as a forward. He doesn't seem to have natural instincts of when to lead, nor does he read the ball coming forward particularly well. But his good closing speed and excellent leap mean he's not bad at defending against a leading forward. In his two senior outings he's looked lost up forward. I wish they'd give him a shot at FB (though not against Pav this weekend!!).

Jack might eventually become a Williams type if he gets let off the leash. He has the speed, though not yet the powerful build. But if his dad is anything to go by, he should have the genes to bulk up a fair bit.

I always hoped that Schneider might turn into a Williams-type. He had the same chunky build, the speed and a penetrating kick. Sadly he never developed the endurance while with us.

The other likely type is Veszpremi. Yes, we have to "keep a lid on things" where he's concerned but his powerful build and style (especially for an 18yo) and his thumping kick were on display yesterday. When you see more of him you'll also see he navigates his way through traffic with aplomb and has excellent vision. He's a little taller than Willo or Maxfield but he has the raw attributes to become that kind of player.

[ScottH]

When we trade for players or draft picks do we then consider our game plan and change it to suit the list. Look at the way Rocket has the Bulldogs playing, and the difference from the flooding he introduced to Sydneys game. It's all controlled by the players you have

The benefit of many low draft picks.

[bigswan]

Crouch has a year to go on his contract and if he can maintain what he did in the second half he can go on. He has played little football in the past two years so no wear and tear. Mathews, Everitt and Davis are probably finishing and perhaps Leo. But I see a bright future. I go back to that NAB Cup match against Hawthorn. We have youthful talent. The gaps appear to be at the KPP level. Grundy, White, Murphy, Faulks, LRT(still developing) are all possibilities down back but it is in the forward line that there might be some gaps.

[bennyfrou]

Crouch has a year to go on his contract and if he can maintain what he did in the second half he can go on. He has played little football in the past two years so no wear and tear. Mathews, Everitt and Davis are probably finishing and perhaps Leo. But I see a bright future. I go back to that NAB Cup match against Hawthorn. We have youthful talent. The gaps appear to be at the KPP level. Grundy, White, Murphy, Faulks, LRT(still developing) are all possibilities down back but it is in the forward line that there might be some gaps.

We will no doubt trade for a big name forward post-Hall???

[bennyfrou]

I agree that KPP defenders have all but dissappeared from our list. Our defenders seem to be ad-hoc types.

I'd love to see another Paul Williams type of player running around too. Someone who can take the ball on the wing and run it to 50 and unload an accurate pearler to blow all our heads off.

The KPP thing isn't just at the Swans. Across the board there's an increased focus on rebound and mobility, plus there are fewer "gorilla" forwards to mark because they, too, are expected to be mobile.

Someone like Jesse White has size, a good leap, sound spoiling instincts and is quick, and he's looked more convincing at reserves level as a defender than as a forward. He doesn't seem to have natural instincts of when to lead, nor does he read the ball coming forward particularly well. But his good closing speed and excellent leap mean he's not bad at defending against a leading forward. In his two senior outings he's looked lost up forward. I wish they'd give him a shot at FB (though not against Pav this weekend!!).

Jack might eventually become a Williams type if he gets let off the leash. He has the speed, though not yet the powerful build. But if his dad is anything to go by, he should have the genes to bulk up a fair bit.

I always hoped that Schneider might turn into a Williams-type. He had the same chunky build, the speed and a penetrating kick. Sadly he never developed the endurance while with us.

The other likely type is Veszpremi. Yes, we have to "keep a lid on things" where he's concerned but his powerful build and style (especially for an 18yo) and his thumping kick were on display yesterday. When you see more of him you'll also see he navigates his way through traffic with aplomb and has excellent vision. He's a little taller than Willo or Maxfield but he has the raw attributes to become that kind of player.

I must admit after the second quarter debarcle against the dogs I left the pub I was at to go to my little brothers birthday party and I hear Ves had an impact in quarters other than the second. But with all the talk I would love to see the Eski pin point a 50 m pass out of the back line to the Vespi free on the wing - him run to the 50m line and bang away straight over the umpires head... anybody else like to see that?