First game of the season - Swans v GWS

[R-1]

I think the crowd will be good after all both here and Big Footy are talking about it and the upshot is most are going. I don't think giving tickets at Auskick only is a good idea. I think free tickets to all the schools in their Sydney zone to get some support happening for GWS would be great. I was looking through their list and I don't think they are as far behind GC as people think. They have picked up some impressive mature age recruits and a few spoilers. They are very tall and one of their players at 6'4" is apparently ultra quick. Don't be surprised if they put up a decent fight.

I've got at least one mate who knows his stuff who thinks the Giants list is actually stronger than the Gold Coast one was. Will be interesting to see.

[wolftone57]

So was Barlow.

Yes but this young bloke has talent unlike Ed!

[707]

I've got at least one mate who knows his stuff who thinks the Giants list is actually stronger than the Gold Coast one was. Will be interesting to see.

Not sure of your mates credentials but he needs to actually line up the two sides player for player and there's no way GWS are even close to Gold Coast of last year. GC recruited players in their prime, not players who were about to or who had been delisted.

Give me your GWS match ups in ability for this half dozen GC frst year players

G Ablett
M Rischitelli
N Bock
J Brennan
J Harbrow
C Brown

I rest my case!

[jono2707]

Not sure of your mates credentials but he needs to actually line up the two sides player for player and there's no way GWS are even close to Gold Coast of last year. GC recruited players in their prime, not players who were about to or who had been delisted.

Give me your GWS match ups in ability for this half dozen GC frst year players

G Ablett
M Rischitelli
N Bock
J Brennan
J Harbrow
C Brown

I rest my case!

x2 - it's no use judging some of GWS' 'old-aged' recruits on their past - the majority of these were let go by their clubs due to their age. Whilst some of them were once great players, they're now past it and really only there to offer some sort of guidance to the young recruits.

Of course GWS will put up a 'decent fight' in their first game - will it be good enough? Nowhere near it... They will do really well to win 1 game this year.

[wolftone57]

I would be a bit sus on Brennan as he is erratic and Harbrow in a competent footballer no more. Unfortunately Campbell Brown has a habit of fronting the tribunal and getting rubbed out for long stretches. Four weeks last stint and that was lucky not to be more. He also gets injured a bit because of the way he plays the game. He is a great player if he can control his 'White Line Fever' and stay injury free. That leaves Ablett, Rischitelli and Bock all great pick ups. But not enough experience in their line up for mine and it will take another twoo seasons at least to blood all the talent.

Some of the experienced players at GWS do look a bit past it but they could be good for bringing the young blokes along faster.
1. Dean Brogan, Chad Cornes and James McDonald all look a bit over the hill but might just be the experience needed to bond this young side.

2. I like Sentanta O'Hailpin, Rhys Palmer, Luke Power, Tom Scully and Callam Ward and they are all very highly rated players. I believe O'Hailpin was underrated by Carlton and it was difficult due to his ongoing difficulties with Waite.

3. I also like their recruiting of mature age players like;

Steve Clifton - Three times Liston Trophy Winner playing in the midfield for North Ballarat. They know how to win a
premiership.

Jonathon Giles - Delisted by Port and went back to the SANFL. He changed from Central to Sturt and was named first
ruck in the Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

Tim Mohr - Tall Defender and Casey Scorpions Best and Fairest

Sam Reid - A Mid who played only 10 games in three years at the Bulldogs due to injury. He is pretty highly rated if he can stay on the park.

That makes eleven mature bodies on the park as far as I can see. Five of them are rated or highly rated AFL footballers in their prime. Three highly rated AFL Players in decline and four rated players at a lower level. I think they could cause some damage this year. By the way I don't see Power as a player in decline as he was pretty good last year for Brissie.

By the way I think their midfield will be sensational and very dangerous.

[R-1]

Not sure of your mates credentials but he needs to actually line up the two sides player for player and there's no way GWS are even close to Gold Coast of last year. GC recruited players in their prime, not players who were about to or who had been delisted.

Give me your GWS match ups in ability for this half dozen GC frst year players

G Ablett
M Rischitelli
N Bock
J Brennan
J Harbrow
C Brown

I rest my case!

I think he's looking more at the wider group than just the former AFL players. He reckons they're, on the whole, a bit older and less raw. Like 19 and 20 instead of 17 and 18. I haven't checked this out though.

[707]

I think he's looking more at the wider group than just the former AFL players. He reckons they're, on the whole, a bit older and less raw. Like 19 and 20 instead of 17 and 18. I haven't checked this out though.

Nope, he's not correct. The stats show GWS has a very similar age profile as GC had last year except their mature players are more mid 20s rather than GWS who are early 20s.

I stick by the fact that there was a lot more talent in the core of GC last year than GWS have this ear.

[Peace]

Should we run a cheeky little RWO comp on how many players will kick 5+ goals on the night? Or is that a bit too arrogant...

[liz]

Nope, he's not correct. The stats show GWS has a very similar age profile as GC had last year except their mature players are more mid 20s rather than GWS who are early 20s.

I stick by the fact that there was a lot more talent in the core of GC last year than GWS have this ear.

I suspect that if you look at average age of the mature recruits, GWS are older. But an average is a meaningless measure at times, and certainly in this instance, because it will be lifted by the handful of golden oldies they have recruited. I think their competitiveness will be determined by whether they manage to eke enough out of Power, Brogan, Cornes and McDonald. Power and Brogan might have it in them to have one last decent season. Brogan, in particular, will at least bring a little mongrel into the centre square set-up if he can stay reasonably injury free.

I have my doubts over Cornes and McDonald contributing very much. I was surprised when Melbourne cut McDonald at the end of 2010 but he is now mid-30s and has been out of the game at the highest level for a year and a half. Cornes was a fantastic player in his prime but hasn't contributed very much to Port over the last couple of years, so it would take a massive form turnaround for him to lead the young GWS defence in the way that Bock was able to for GC.

I really like Ward as a player and would love him at the Swans. I think he might become a very good player when he has developed a bit more, but I reckon it's more likely to be at the "ROK" level of very good player, rather than the Ablett or Judd level. Davis, Palmer and Scully have all had injury curtailed seasons thus far so it is expecting a lot of them to be able to step right in and perform even at a Rischitelli level within the next year or two, let alone bring anything of what Ablett brings to the Suns.

Some of their midfield draftees sound very exciting, and with Cameron, Patton and maybe Bruce, they have some very promising tall forwards for the future. But "future" is the key word there. Depending on whether they manage to nab a top notch out of contract player or two at the end of this season, they may well be on their way to developing a better squad than GC. But I think they're going to find 2012 very very tough indeed.

[Wazza]

[QUOTE=liz;559452I have my doubts over Cornes and McDonald contributing very much. I was surprised when Melbourne cut McDonald at the end of 2010 but he is now mid-30s and has been out of the game at the highest level for a year and a half. Cornes was a fantastic player in his prime but hasn't contributed very much to Port over the last couple of years, so it would take a massive form turnaround for him to lead the young GWS defence in the way that Bock was able to for GC..[/QUOTE]

I would like them to play Cornes along side the little fella up fwd (the convert er) Cornes could be dangerous up front. Mates in Adelaide tell me Cornes has not been happy for last couple of seasons and could have a couple of seasons in him. McDonald is definately the baffling one given they also took power, but I think power will spend most time fwd, I think he could be very damaging for them. All in all I think GWS have done very well with the experienced recruits which could have an impact on their kids for years to come. IMHO they have recruited better than GC in this area. GWS to win 3 -4 games. lock it in Eddie

Cheers

waz

[707]

All in all I think GWS have done very well with the experienced recruits which could have an impact on their kids for years to come. IMHO they have recruited better than GC in this area. GWS to win 3 -4 games. lock it in Eddie

Cheers waz

What are you smoking Waz? Refer to my earlier post and match up those six GC mature recruits with six from GWS. They are worlds behind. Just do the comparison.

3-4 wins? I'll give you 10-1, how much do you want on?? I'll let you hav 10-1 on 3 wins :-)

[Wazza]

What are you smoking Waz? Refer to my earlier post and match up those six GC mature recruits with six from GWS. They are worlds behind. Just do the comparison.

3-4 wins? I'll give you 10-1, how much do you want on?? I'll let you hav 10-1 on 3 wins :-)

Im high on the smell of the up coming season, its like a drug I cant wait for it to get started.
Ok you are on $10, does RWO have a holding bank account
GWS to win 3 games.

Cheers

waz

[Big Al]

I think 3-4 wins is a stretch but no one can know for sure. No one with any certainty will know how many of their talented youngsters will make the grade in their first year or know how the mature age recruits will perform. Like most sides there are just too many variables that will affect performance either way.

I earlier predicted 2 wins and I'll stick with that.

[jono2707]

I think 3-4 is more likely to be closer to GWS' average crowd for 2012 rather than the number of wins they'll get.....

[707]

I think 3-4 is more likely to be closer to GWS' average crowd for 2012 rather than the number of wins they'll get.....

LOL!

Wazza, you're on for that $10 :-)