Swans may look to youth

[Nico]

Why do so many posters think the answer to our problems is to have every player a fast sprinter?
I don't mean to pick on your comment specifically, but leg speed is not the speed we want.
We want faster ball movement, a good kick is a lot faster than anyone running the ball (unless it is one of Kirk or B1's up and unders)
Look at the Cats, they have a couple of out and out speedsters, but really their apparent speed comes from quick, accurate passing.
Give me skills over pace any time.

I disagree. Apart from their ruckmen they and the Bulldogs have by far the most combined speed. Speed is not necessarily blistering pace but the ability to get over a lot of ground quicker than your opponents for the journey and get to the contests first.

Unfortunately we need a big infusion of pace and skills in all facets of our game.

[dimelb]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/photog...918182461.html

Good array of shots. I particularly noticed Jesse White taking a big overhead grab.

[Cardinal]

Good array of shots. I particularly noticed Jesse White taking a big overhead grab.

Seeing the youngsters together like that makes cause for optimism. Mind you if I saw the shots of the Essondon, Freo, Melbourne, even Richmond, etc youngsters I might be a little more concerned.

[Wazza]

Why do so many posters think the answer to our problems is to have every player a fast sprinter?
I don't mean to pick on your comment specifically, but leg speed is not the speed we want.
We want faster ball movement, a good kick is a lot faster than anyone running the ball (unless it is one of Kirk or B1's up and unders)
Look at the Cats, they have a couple of out and out speedsters, but really their apparent speed comes from quick, accurate passing.
Give me skills over pace any time.

I understand what your saying but I think pace is a balance thing and is related to size i.e no point playing a smaller player in todays game unless he is very very fast. Its too easy for a team to isolate and expose a small slow player.

The balance also is a game day thing, if Kirk Bolton & Ablett are in the middle where is that explosive break going to come from?

The Cats Bulldogs & StKilda have a good balance of pace & size across every line, they dont have too many mid to small players that are not very quick or with very good skills.

Too many of our mid to smalls lack either skills or pace not to say guys like Bolton do not add value or dont have place, its how many of these players you have in the side at any one time.

Cheeers

waz