Next generation Swans?

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Captain
    Captain of the Side
    • Feb 2004
    • 3602

    Next generation Swans?

    The recent injuries to our young players has obviously been frustrating. However a lot of them have been injury free and in the system for a while and I'm not sure I like what I see.

    I'm worried that the next crop of young talent isn't going to be anywhere near good enough or deep enough for us to be competitive. I feel that we only have a handful of younger players who are going to be very good. Even this is based on more hope than reason.

    Potential to be guns:
    Johnston - lots of fingers crossed that he will develop and stand up in seniors
    Hannebery - same as Johnston
    Veszpremi - not much to be said, is a little pocket rocket
    White - still needs to develop further, but looks the goods

    Potential to be solid, firsts players, but not stars:
    Thornton - Strong pair of hands, nice kick, needs to get more involved
    Meredith - In the McVeigh mould. Will be very good, let's hope he can develop into a McVeigh type of player.

    Maybe's:
    Currie - Can play, needs more bulk, might go either way but will take time
    Smith - Good solid player, nothing exceptional, might step up

    Unlikely to to make it:
    O'Dwyer - Poor disposal, been in system ages, can't get a game when half the list is injured.
    Barlow - Doesn't cut it at senior level. Can be soft. Shame as he has talent.
    DOK - Disappointing considering he was a first round pick. Just hasn't come on as expected.
    Brabazon - Doesn't seem to get picked, coaches don't see a lot in him, hasn't played enough senior footy considering he has been here for several years and his age.
    Laidlaw - Injuries have hurt him. Probably best player on this list, but will be tough.
    Orreal - Just not good enough

    Unknown's
    Murphy
    Gilchrist
    Heath
    Pyke

    Obvious problems to all of this are 2 of our most exciting talents are untried at senior level (who knows how they will go) and another will be a target of the Gold Coast.

    With this being the last uncompromised draft, we need to hit it hard, by keeping our picks and maybe even trading a senior player of 2 for first round picks. Can't see how we aren't going to bottom out.
  • BSA5
    Senior Player
    • Feb 2008
    • 2522

    #2
    Orreal is a project player. You're being harsh.

    You're also writing DOK off very early. He's been injured for the last two years, and so his development has essentially been nil. You really have to think of him as a first year player this year, and if you do that, looking at the reserves reports, he's doing bloody well.

    Laidlaw is on the cusp of senior selection, by all reports, so I wouldn't be putting him in this category yet.

    Barlow showed increased intensity in the last couple of games he has played. Tonnes of talent, could go either way, but I'm not as pessimistic as some about his chances.
    Officially on the Reid and Sumner bandwagon!

    Comment

    • hammo
      Veterans List
      • Jul 2003
      • 5554

      #3
      Hopefully we see DOK in the seniors in the second half of the year. While he hasn't set the world alight, he has had a rotten run with injuries which can't have helped the times he has played.

      Meredith looks the goods. Junior watchers rated him on the same level as Veszpremi and he looks very polished from what we've seen.

      I'd also throw out a mention to the forgotten Swan, Tim Schmidt. One wonders if he has any chance of surviving the cull at the end of the year given his injuries but he showed as much potential as Bird as an inside midfielder not that long ago.
      "As everyone knows our style of football is defensive and unattractive, and as such I have completely forgotten how to mark or kick over the years" - Brett Kirk

      Comment

      • Captain
        Captain of the Side
        • Feb 2004
        • 3602

        #4
        Originally posted by hammo
        I'd also throw out a mention to the forgotten Swan, Tim Schmidt. One wonders if he has any chance of surviving the cull at the end of the year given his injuries but he showed as much potential as Bird as an inside midfielder not that long ago.
        Agree on Schmidt. He is a very good player, proven at senior level. Hopefully they keep him on the list.

        Comment

        • satchmopugdog
          Bandicoots ears
          • Apr 2004
          • 3691

          #5
          Originally posted by Captain
          Agree on Schmidt. He is a very good player, proven at senior level. Hopefully they keep him on the list.

          Is he a slow hobbit or a quick one? Have just about forgotten how he plays.

          Also the vibe about Gilchrist is positive but he is very skinny. Does he run or just walk?
          "The Dog days are over, The Dog days are gone" Florence and the Machine

          Comment

          • hammo
            Veterans List
            • Jul 2003
            • 5554

            #6
            Originally posted by satchmopugdog
            Is he a slow hobbit or a quick one? Have just about forgotten how he plays.
            Definitely not quick.
            "As everyone knows our style of football is defensive and unattractive, and as such I have completely forgotten how to mark or kick over the years" - Brett Kirk

            Comment

            • ROK Lobster
              RWO Life Member
              • Aug 2004
              • 8658

              #7
              Originally posted by satchmopugdog
              Does he run or just walk?

              Comment

              • Primmy
                Proud Tragic Swan
                • Apr 2008
                • 5970

                #8
                Can say with some conviction that Gilchrist is a keeper. Quick between the ears, can take charge, gets to the contest, isn't fazed by bigger oponents, has leadership qualities, and he is just a cygnet, but by the way has grown himself a very respectable beard! Whoda!

                Don't mind Heath and will watch with interest. Bit of a bullet, looks like he can get in low.

                Schmidty is a great bloke, not quick, but solid and stable. They can't all be stars, we do need some workers in there. I hope he is able to stay. Luck hasn't been kind to him, but if you remembeer a Port game a year or so ago, he was a Shtarr!
                If you've never jumped from one couch to the other to save yourself from lava then you didn't have a childhood

                Comment

                • connolly
                  Registered User
                  • Aug 2005
                  • 2461

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Primmy
                  Can say with some conviction that Gilchrist is a keeper. Quick between the ears, can take charge, gets to the contest, isn't fazed by bigger oponents, has leadership qualities, and he is just a cygnet, but by the way has grown himself a very respectable beard! Whoda!

                  Don't mind Heath and will watch with interest. Bit of a bullet, looks like he can get in low.

                  Schmidty is a great bloke, not quick, but solid and stable. They can't all be stars, we do need some workers in there. I hope he is able to stay. Luck hasn't been kind to him, but if you remembeer a Port game a year or so ago, he was a Shtarr!
                  We miss his short arsed toughness as well. We have a stable of thoroughbreds and only two old knackered nags to pull the cart.
                  Bevo bandwagon driver

                  Comment

                  • ROK Lobster
                    RWO Life Member
                    • Aug 2004
                    • 8658

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Primmy
                    Can say with some conviction that Gilchrist is a keeper.
                    It gets better!

                    Comment

                    • Industrial Fan
                      Goodesgoodesgoodesgoodes!
                      • Aug 2006
                      • 3318

                      #11
                      Originally posted by BSA5
                      Laidlaw is on the cusp of senior selection, by all reports, so I wouldn't be putting him in this category yet.
                      I would be.

                      Injured again.
                      He ate more cheese, than time allowed

                      Comment

                      • Industrial Fan
                        Goodesgoodesgoodesgoodes!
                        • Aug 2006
                        • 3318

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Primmy
                        if you remembeer a Port game a year or so ago, he was a Shtarr!
                        If I remember that Port game, he got dropped the next week. Kicked an important goal - didnt do much of anything else.

                        Still better than Ablett mind you.
                        He ate more cheese, than time allowed

                        Comment

                        • Triple B
                          Formerly 'BBB'
                          • Feb 2003
                          • 6999

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Industrial Fan
                          I would be.

                          Injured again.
                          Fortunately it wasn't a hammy or quad as usual, he came off second best in a contest and managed to hurt an ankle. Returned and played out the game so probably not a major concern and I would expect him to be fit for selection in a fortnight if needed.

                          That said, his sense of timing is woeful, would obviously have got a run in the seniors last weekend if not for the injury.

                          He's definately in the second category IMO.
                          Driver of the Dan Hannebery bandwagon....all aboard. 4th April 09

                          Comment

                          • rojo
                            Opti-pessi-misti
                            • Mar 2009
                            • 1103

                            #14
                            EB has got to be a 'maybe' at least. Could be another Goodesy if given the right kind of ......... (shove) - so I have heard said!

                            Comment

                            • Lucky Knickers
                              Fandom of Fabulousness
                              • Oct 2003
                              • 4220

                              #15
                              Originally posted by rojo
                              EB has got to be a 'maybe' at least. Could be another Goodesy if given the right kind of ......... (shove) - so I have heard said!
                              I think you heard wrong but I'd like to be surprised....

                              Comment

                              Working...