Where is our improvement going to come from.

[Bas]

Can we bring Spriggs back???

[BSA5]

There are quite a lot of areas we could see improvement in. This are, of course, a "realistic" best case scenario; we'd be lucky to see half of them happen:

Rohan puts on bulk, stay uninjured. Starts making regular, and occasionally match-winning, contributions as a small forward, ends up kicking 25 goals and averaging 14 very good touches.

Reid puts on bulk, starts to impose himself more on contests, maybe even fixes up his kicking. Averages 1.5 goals, 3 inside 50s and 6 marks per game playing as a CHF, finishing with around 30 goals.

Walsh plays every game, or thereabouts. Best we can probably hope for in his first AFL season is probably 1.5 goals per game, but will ideally provide some much needed structure.

Pyke gets an uninterrupted preseason and takes over the reigns as our second ruck. He's probably the best tap ruckman on our list (his hitouts-to-advantage percentage is actually quite remarkable), and he can impose himself up forward and take some genuine contested marks. Either that, or things click with White, or Seaby rediscovers his forward game (was quite a good forward at WC). All three will bring about a vast improvement to both our midfield and our forward structure. 25 goals and 15 hitouts per game would be the best we could reasonably hope for, and would be a lot better than what we got out of the position this year.

Parker and AJ avoid the second-year blues.

Grundy recovers properly from his glandular fever. Little wonder his form was down this year, it's a horrible thing to have. Get him back, fit and firing, and our defence looks a million bucks.

Hanners builds up his core strength and gets some confidence back in his game. Averages 25 touches, 4 clearances and 0.7 goals per game.

One of TDL or Gordon cements himself in the side.

Morton plays to something approaching his potential.

Armstrong plays 22 games. Even if he's not objectively better than whoever he replaces in the best 22, just having him will be brilliant for team balance. He has a skillset that is exactly what we need, and we'll look much more dangerous coming off half back or going inside 50 with Armstrong delivering the ball.

Kennedy builds his tank and takes the same step from elite clearance winner to borderline-elite midfielder overall that his black and red twin Jobe Watson took at the same age.

Mumford plays 22 games at peak fitness, rather than about 10.

Bird's talon stops giving him trouble, and he becomes the player we've seen brief flashes of.

Malceski gets some confidence back in his body, and his knee holds up. He's a top 5 player at the Swans when at his best.

Jetta comes good.


We could also fall in a lot of areas, mainly due to ageing. However, I don't see these as being too problematic:

Goodes - Career best form at the end of last season. He's showing no signs of slowing down, but you never know, he might.

Bolton - Career best form early in the season. Faded badly towards the end, but this coincided in part with some of our best form, so I think that as good as he's been, we can survive without him at his best.

ROK - If he slows down, just move him forward. It's probably his best position now anyway, given his field kicking has gone to @@@@ (probably groin related). Rediscovered his goal-kicking form late in the season as well, which if it continues could be really handy.

Shaw - Shown no signs of slowing down.

All in all, I think we're poised for a net improvement. Enough to get into the top 4? If everything goes according to plan, then yes, but that won't necessarily be the case.

[top40]

Add to BSA5's comprehensive assessment:

White finally shows his potential
Jack returns to his injury free 2010 form
McVeigh emerges as a real leader almost in the Brett Kirk mold
Moore improves his speed and general form knowing his career is at stake
Mitchell lives up to his potential

[magic.merkin]

Nice, one and the same manchild?

[magic.merkin]

I think that if you watch / read the post season reviews of the players, particularly the younger players, on the Swans website it is evident where plenty of improvement might come from.

I quite liked TDL's, he was honest and brutal in his assessment . He seems to have taken it on the chin and is going to throw himself at it.

I'm glad as alot of people on here were hyperventilating about him wanting a trade if he didn't get played etc. I think they didn't give him enough credit for his character and personality. Seems to be a team player and wants to earn it on his own merit and make amends for a poor start to preseason last year.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I think having really fierce competition for spots is going to create real improvement. The really good teams this year had very handy players who would be in the 2's barring injury or a form lapse from a 1's player. When they got a chance, they took it with both hands. It makes the guys who get oppurtunities through injury etc. know they have to make the most of them, and it makes those in the starting line up know they have to perform well consistently if they want to hold their spot.

Consider that Malceski, Jets, TDL, , Pyke, Walsh, Armstrong and Morton were all not playing in our last game this year. You would think most of them ( with the exeption of perhaps Mitchell) wouldn't be planning on running around in the NEAFL for too long in 2012.

[Swanner]

I agree with most of what has been said. For me it's Goodes maintaining form, Jack back to 2010 form, Rohan playing 22 games to the level he has already played at, Jetta becoming more consistent, reid improving again to be a 35 goal player, Shaw & Bolton holding form, Parker and hannerbury improving and a new running half back cementing tagh spot (everitt, Armstrong or the old mal) then we need a consistent small/med forward who kicks 30 goals - Morton, tdl, lamb or Moore and btw mcglynn back to 2010 form -everything else being equal with a good draw and we could slip into fourth and a preliminary final.

[DLBIA14]

Apart from the improvement of individual players, the team itself has huge potential. By that I mean that our goal-kicking, inside 50s and inside 50 efficiency all has the capacity to improve. If we are able to establish a cohesive forward structure and give it some stability, then surely we will be able to lift our scoring potential.

That's the number one thing I'll be looking forward to seeing develop over the pre-season.

[SPC]

Would love to see improvement of our Midfields ability to spread quickly, score goals themselves and deliver to the forward line acurately, by getting the young guys who we think are going to be the future of the club (Lamb, Rohan, Morton, Jetta??, Parker, Mitchell, McGlynn) rotated thru the outside midfield position for the entire season so they get confidence in these roles. Still have the hard inside ballwinners rotation (Mumford, Goodes, Kennedy, Jack, Hannebery) working in tight to get first use and provide to the outside guys.

The reason I didnt mention Bolton, ROK, McVeigh in the Midfield is that I think they should now be permanently in the forward line to add experience and toughness to the younger guys up front Reid, Walsh, White/Pyke, TDL. They would all give the required defensive pressure, Bolton is an accurate shot on goal, ROK is best when he is looking at the goals, McVeigh is so much better up front and should never be behind the ball.

It will be then up to the younger guys to improve the kicking & passing skills so that we can hit targets. That would be a major improvement.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Kennedy, Hannes, Jack, Rohan, Goodes, Shaw, McGlynn, Parker, Jetta, Mitch, Lamb etc will be rolling thru the midfield more then Bolts, ROK and Macca - I agree !

We have all the potential in the world for next season - I honestly believe our depth is as good as any team and we will be a serious threat in the top4 - there was 3 or 4 games that we lost that amazed me in 2011 ! ..........and Kennelly was playing on one leg from the backs but was covered by the Teddy Factor owning the backline...........Reid had the biggest job in the comp in yr one and our targets and delivery were not great at all compared to top5 teams !..........

For me we it is 2012 and 2013 that you be aiming to peak our team if you had that as a mission - given our experienced players and youth coming through - with 2012 the real shot given Shaw, ROK, Bolts, Goodes, Marty's age etc and then 2013 you may have still a strong go at it given the youth with experience

Ted - a break out yr and he will dominate in 2012
Grundy - I suspect he will get the 2nd tall job before LRT but not 100%
AJ - Safe as houses for a rookie and I think he will be a 10yr player at either end of the field
Armstrong - Whether it is him or Shaw - it is a key role to have a more attacking HBF - think of all the top 4 teams and they have two players in the backs that dominate attack
Smithy - Mr Shutdown will even be better in 2013
Marty - great year and really adapted to extra time being the 2nd or 3rd man in

Mummy - need I say any comment except he is integral
Kennedy - killed it
Goodes - I have put him here because 80% of his game time needs to be as an open midfielder
Jack - 2012 will be dominant as 2010
Hannes - like Goodes will play 80% game time as a wing and more open
Shaw - with his tagging speed and general intensity will start in the centre as along as Armstrong can do what we hope he can do. Shaw will start to counter more also

Reid - great first season and ready to roll and be double teamed in 2012 !
ROK - good to get him upfield where he can stop kicking blind from rucks...will be under pressure with Mitch, Rohan, Jetts, Parker, Bird, TDL, Spangher biting at his heels
Macca - will control our forward structures and cause a headache - the game against the Pies at Homebush will be his role more and more in 2012
McGlynn - will move in and out of midfield and forwards
White - not 100% sure but he could be on the edge of something special.........10,000 hr rule may pay off in 2012 !
Rohan - a tough match up for any defender and the right mix with ROK, Macca and McGlynn starting in the forwards - if they start Goodes up in the forwards Rohan to the bench

BENCH:

LRT/Walsh - one tall on the bench unless we are resting Goodes in forward line and White is playing second ruckman?
Jude - replacing ROKs role i guess and maybe some time in the midfield? Jude really looked close to retirement in the second half of the season - off pace / niggling injury?
Parker - I still rate this kid and he will enjoy the forward line more then the midfield still for 2012 as he is genuinely dangerous up there
Morton/Lamb/TDL/Jetts/Gordon/Mitchell - wide open as a dunny door blowing in a southerly but my guess is if MM is good pre season then he will get first shot with Lamby right on his hammer !

[Jesse Richards]

All the above plus if Spangher can remain injury free he may also surprise us and if Pyke continues to improve his general play... I suspect that Jetta and TDL will have their best form in 2012 but still find it almost impossible to get back into the 22 on a regular basis. It will click for White this year, says my crystal ball.

The other major improvements will come via the coaching team and much improved goal kicking accuracy.

[aardvark]

It will click for White this year, says my crystal ball.

That click might be the door closing on his career if he doesn't pull his finger out !!