LJ ready for senior selection.

[Hartijon]

LJ missed all of last year, has had to deal with massive (intentional) fluctuations in weight, is currently too skinny to play in a key position at AFL level (those suggesting he is a like-for-like replacement for Playfair are off the money, he wouldn't be nearly as strong as Playfair at the moment), is probably still a bit behind in terms of aerobic fitness, and going by the latest photo on the Swans website, has recently cut his hair, massively dampening his mojo.

As it stands, LJ will be selected as a flanker, meaning he'll have to knock somebody out of that position, he'll have to prove he's fit enough to play out a game there, he'll have to perform consistently, and he'll have to add at least 3 cm to his current head of hair to justify his selection.

Oh Dear!
SWANS Reserves coach Daniel McPherson is confident in-form forwards Lewis Johnston and Trent Dennis-Lane are ready for AFL football after the pair led Sydney to a comfortable win over Eastlake yesterday.
Johnston booted five majors and Dennis-Lane four in the 14.12 (96) to 8.13 (61) triumph, with both players exuding plenty of class as Sydney extended its lead atop the AFL Canberra ladder.


Obviously Mac Pherson A COACH (bow, scrape, you unworthy!) didn't read your post . Now a COACH has endorsed these two a full 7 days after this thread maybe we can start to look for sensible reasons why they can play,not why they can't . Please no more rubbish about too skinny,injured all last year etc.
The COACH says he is ready to go! Get behind the lad!!!!

[Bas]

AFL Record Season Guide for 2010 says LJ is 191cm and 93kg.

Plugger (who broke arm recently trail riding on a motor bike) was the same height but about 17kg heavier (110kg) during the bulk of his time at the Swans. How quickly we forget.

I've watched him in the ressies and I would like both to debut against the mugpies.

[Hartijon]

AFL Record Season Guide for 2010 says LJ is 191cm and 93kg.

Plugger (who broke arm recently trail riding on a motor bike) was the same height but about 17kg heavier (110kg) during the bulk of his time at the Swans. How quickly we forget.

I've watched him in the ressies and I would like both to debut against the mugpies.

That would be incredibly exciting Bas !

[aardvark]

That would be incredibly exciting Bas !

Hmmm.... some forwards who know how to kick goals...well there's a novel idea...I like it !!

[aardvark]

How about..

FF. Vez Braddy TDL
HF.Rohan Johnston McGlynn

and goodsy in the midfield........and white in the ressies....could be interesting

[Bas]

How about..

FF. Vez Braddy TDL
HF.Rohan Johnston McGlynn

and goodsy in the midfield........and white in the ressies....could be interesting

I would still like Jesse to play as it might be asking abit too much for LJ to play CHF at this stage. I'd have White with Mummy in the ruck. Pyke to sit next game out. I wish Pyke would kick more as he isn't a bad kick.

We need to do something completely different with the team because the Mugpies have our measure when we do the same thing over and over again.

I don't think Braddy will be right for the next game as there hasn't been enough time. What about White at FF and TDL and LJ in each pocket.

We will need midfield delivery though and with McGlynn and Kennedy there now it hhas made significant differences to the team from previous years.

Just watching mugpies out muscle the young demons.

[BSA5]

Oh Dear!
SWANS Reserves coach Daniel McPherson is confident in-form forwards Lewis Johnston and Trent Dennis-Lane are ready for AFL football after the pair led Sydney to a comfortable win over Eastlake yesterday.
Johnston booted five majors and Dennis-Lane four in the 14.12 (96) to 8.13 (61) triumph, with both players exuding plenty of class as Sydney extended its lead atop the AFL Canberra ladder.


Obviously Mac Pherson A COACH (bow, scrape, you unworthy!) didn't read your post . Now a COACH has endorsed these two a full 7 days after this thread maybe we can start to look for sensible reasons why they can play,not why they can't . Please no more rubbish about too skinny,injured all last year etc.
The COACH says he is ready to go! Get behind the lad!!!!

Where did I say he wasn't capable of playing senior footy? All I said is that he wouldn't be played as a genuine KPF, he'd play on a HFF, so calling him a direct replacement for Playfair is somewhat off-track, and that he's not first in line for that sort of position.

I have little doubt Johnston could come into the side, get a few touches, do a few good things, maybe even kick a goal or two. But we already have players who can do that and more. It's great hearing he's ready to play senior footy, but he still has to force his way in, ahead of blokes like Moore, Meredith, Heath (who is also ready for senior footy remember, and even got some games when injuries struck and acquitted himself reasonably), O'Dwyer, Richards, etc, all of whom could line up/push somebody else to the HFF. Not to mention Shaw and Bradshaw, who are nowhere near like-for-like but again create pressure around the ground and could move other players to the HFF.

Even though he might be ready to play senior footy, there are plenty of people who are more ready.

[aardvark]

Where did I say he wasn't capable of playing senior footy? All I said is that he wouldn't be played as a genuine KPF, he'd play on a HFF, so calling him a direct replacement for Playfair is somewhat off-track, and that he's not first in line for that sort of position.

I have little doubt Johnston could come into the side, get a few touches, do a few good things, maybe even kick a goal or two. But we already have players who can do that and more. It's great hearing he's ready to play senior footy, but he still has to force his way in, ahead of blokes like Moore, Meredith, Heath (who is also ready for senior footy remember, and even got some games when injuries struck and acquitted himself reasonably), O'Dwyer, Richards, etc, all of whom could line up/push somebody else to the HFF. Not to mention Shaw and Bradshaw, who are nowhere near like-for-like but again create pressure around the ground and could move other players to the HFF.
Even though he might be ready to play senior footy, there are plenty of people who are more ready.

LJ is the only legitimate KP forward pushing for selection. We already have too many part timers in the forward line. We need legitimate forwards and none of the players you mentioned fit the bill.

[aardvark]

I would still like Jesse to play as it might be asking abit too much for LJ to play CHF at this stage. I'd have White with Mummy in the ruck. Pyke to sit next game out. I wish Pyke would kick more as he isn't a bad kick.

We need to do something completely different with the team because the Mugpies have our measure when we do the same thing over and over again.

I don't think Braddy will be right for the next game as there hasn't been enough time. What about White at FF and TDL and LJ in each pocket.

We will need midfield delivery though and with McGlynn and Kennedy there now it hhas made significant differences to the team from previous years.

Just watching mugpies out muscle the young demons.

Yep I'm still not convinced about white but i'm always gunna lose that one. We just need some specialist forwards.

Dees are doin ok now.

[DST]

Yep I'm still not convinced about white but i'm always gunna lose that one. We just need some specialist forwards.

Dees are doin ok now.

Magpies struggling with the Dees pace and their preference to use the corridor.

It's a dangerous ploy as you need to have very good decision making and foot skills, but a key to taking on the Pies will be to get them to turn over the ball and then go back through the corridor as the Pies tend to play wide and set-up that way.

One thing is for sure, when we play the Dees I would be playing 18 blokes in the centre square and just get them to aggressively guard the space down the corridor.

DST

[Hartijon]

Yep I'm still not convinced about white but i'm always gunna lose that one. We just need some specialist forwards.

Dees are doin ok now.

One has only to look at the destruction to Frematle caused by one skilled forward in Milne to realise how right you are. I also agree that LJ at his size and weight is the only one pushing for KPP forward. Its a hard one how to fit him in but injuries might help. If it came down to Jesse or LJ I guess Jesse would keep getting the nod unless he played consistently bad.

[BSA5]

LJ is the only legitimate KP forward pushing for selection. We already have too many part timers in the forward line. We need legitimate forwards and none of the players you mentioned fit the bill.

But with his current physique and experience, he's not going to be a legitimate KP forward. He'll contribute, sure, but as a flanker, not a CHF or FF. He will develop into that role eventually, but he's not there yet.

Yep I'm still not convinced about white but i'm always gunna lose that one. We just need some specialist forwards.

Dees are doin ok now.

White is a legitimate forward. His marking is a bit off at the moment, and it has never been a major strength, but he's providing an option and crumbs from which we are scoring, and he's attracting and negating a key defender.

Personally, I wouldn't be totally opposed to developing White as a key defender eventually, as his hands might just not be quite good enough for key forward, but his kicking, bodywork, ability to read the ball and pace are fantastic. At the moment, though, he's doing a great job playing second fiddle to Goodesy, third fiddle to GoodeShaw. LJ certainly couldn't come in and do what White is doing, he just wouldn't have the physical presence and strength. He'd play a Robert Murphy role for the time being, but a far less experienced version.

[Hartijon]

But with his current physique and experience, he's not going to be a legitimate KP forward. He'll contribute, sure, but as a flanker, not a CHF or FF. He will develop into that role eventually, but he's not there yet.



White is a legitimate forward. His marking is a bit off at the moment, and it has never been a major strength, but he's providing an option and crumbs from which we are scoring, and he's attracting and negating a key defender.

Personally, I wouldn't be totally opposed to developing White as a key defender eventually, as his hands might just not be quite good enough for key forward, but his kicking, bodywork, ability to read the ball and pace are fantastic. At the moment, though, he's doing a great job playing second fiddle to Goodesy, third fiddle to GoodeShaw. LJ certainly couldn't come in and do what White is doing, he just wouldn't have the physical presence and strength. He'd play a Robert Murphy role for the time being, but a far less experienced version.

I feel Whites hands ,particularly below his knees are not safe enough yet for the defender role.So much of the defenders role is picking up the ball from low positions and handballing or clearing. Fumbling in the backline can cost you. He is a work in progress in the forwards ( the jury is still out on him as a forward) and therefore as stated earlier,he should not be moved unless he needs a spell in the reserves. Have you checked LJ's stats? He is a pretty big item and a fast one too who can kick goals. To me,he shows great potential to be a KPP in the forward zone.

[BSA5]

I feel Whites hands ,particularly below his knees are not safe enough yet for the defender role.So much of the defenders role is picking up the ball from low positions and handballing or clearing. Fumbling in the backline can cost you. He is a work in progress in the forwards ( the jury is still out on him as a forward) and therefore as stated earlier,he should not be moved unless he needs a spell in the reserves. Have you checked LJ's stats? He is a pretty big item and a fast one too who can kick goals. To me,he shows great potential to be a KPP in the forward zone.

I agree, I wouldn't be moving White any time soon, he's certainly shown enough to persist with up forward, but it's an option down the track if things don't quite go to plan.

LJ has heaps of potential to be a KPF, I'm not saying he'd play the Murphy role indefinitely, he's a future CHF. He just doesn't have the physical presence yet to play that role at senior level. It will come with another preseason, he showed tremendous ability to stack on muscle last year, but he's had to shed it all to take the load off his limbs. He WILL develop into a genuine power forward, but he isn't that player yet, so if he's selected, it will not be as a power forward.

[Jesse Richards]

Having watched the Reserves in Canberra for the past 4 weeks in a row I am happy to relate that our nicknames for Lewis Johnston - initially Matchstick then Chicken Legs - may now no longer be appropriate. It appeared last Saturday that his legs and body are starting to fill out. Can't wait to see his debut in the firsts - a very exciting player, but he is still relatively light on.

TDL continues to impress as physically tough despite his leanness - he's taken some rough knocks lately and keeps on playing.

Jetta may find it hard to get back into the firsts - thrilled to see him up close - blistering speed - but those woeful disposals.... and still no goals.

Thornton's bigger body, mental toughness and ability may surprise quite a few when you next see him.