Best XX11 for 2012

[wolftone57]

I have just been having a really good look through our player profiles on Swans site. I didn't realise that the Hawks that the Hawks picked up Ben Stratton at 46 and Matt Suckling at 70 in that draft. Amazing to get two such good players out of such late picks. I know we have done very well out of late picks with Goodsie being a third round 43 and AJ 57. The other funny thing was Marty being traded for pick 28 which Adelaide spent on Marlin Motlop. Another shock was Ryano was taken as a 4th round 56. We do well out of late picks and Parker is another doing well after being taken 2nd round 40. Obviously the Hawks do too! Never give them another draft pick I say!

[Bloody Hell]

Best 22:

B: Smith LRT Johnson
HB: Mattner Grundy McVeigh
C: Shaw Goodes Hannebery
HF: Rohan Reid O'Keefe
F: Pyke Walsh Lamb

R: Mumford Kennedy Jack

Int: Bolton McGlynn Gordon Parker

I think all positions are pretty set, except the forward line which is an absolute raffle.

Good depth in defense, but the midfield thins out pretty quickly and the forward line, well, we'll see round 1.

[S120]

Ted Richards?

[Bloody Hell]

Ted Richards?

It'll be 3 of Richards, LRT, Johnson or Grundy.

Take your pick.

[liz]

It'll be 3 of Richards, LRT, Johnson or Grundy.

Take your pick.

I'm inclined to agree, though it could be 4 out of Richards, LRT, Grundy, Johnson and Mattner.

Mattner's main value to the team is his versatility. He can play reasonably well on smaller, quickish forwards, at a pinch can play as a tallish defender (especially on a "3rd tall" type). He can play as a pure HBFer or as a spare man in defence. He can even play a run-with role in the midfield if needs be. He's not particularly brilliant at any of those roles but he is at least adequate in all of them, and that is a great asset. I think he is the player AJ might need to displace in the short term. Down the track he might become a true tall defender but in the interim his pace and endurance (but lack of size and hence strength) mean he is probably best suited to the variety of roles that Marty delivers. At this stage I'd have Mattner ahead of him, purely because he has delivered since he arrived at the club. But he is one of those players approaching an age where he will need to be replaced relatively soon and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that AJ will do that sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, I'd be going with LRT, Grundy, Richards and Mattner in the "best 22", with Johnson able to come in as back-up in the case of injury.

[S120]

Richards has to be in the 22. And he will be. Too good a season in 2011 to be jettisoned. He became our best defender over the season and is our best option to play on the best tall forwards. I'd be inclined to pick Richards, LRT, Johnson as our 3 talls (I'd also have Mattner in the side). Richards is a lock at FB as far as I'm concerned and I don't understand how there can be anyone questioning his spot in the side after his form in 2011.

But I just can't see Grundy not being in the side. So I think it will be Richards, Grundy, Johnson as the talls in defence and LRT will be primarily competing for the 2nd ruck/forward role with Pyke, White etc.

[Primmy]

LRT is not a good ruck. He is a pinch hitter at best, and he knows it but has the intestinals to take it on when there is a problem with the cattle. Noone would have him in by choice (especially at his current age) as a 2nd ruck/forward as he is an extremely good backman who can kick the occasional goal.

[Nico]

I am surprised anyone is even questioning whether Johnson is in the the starting 18 let alone 22. Was he not the revelation of 2011?

I think he played a fairly handy finals game against St Kilda for someone so inexperienced.

[wolftone57]

I agree Nico I just find it astounding people are saying he should go out for LRT. LRT will be vying for posies with Reg and Teddy with the other two just ahead at this time. Because AJ is so versatile, being able to play a tall or small, due to his pace he would be a motza to be included. The other three have limitations in that they would only play on talls or mid/tall players. The other thing is AJ is a pretty good kick and generally makes good decisions. Teddy would be a first up pick I should think after last year.

[mcs]

I also third the astonishment that anyone could think of leaving Johnson out. He was superb last season for a first year player, and will only get better. I can see him as a long term, quality defender - being one that never gets the plaudits from the media he deserves, but just does his job well. Would be in the first dozen names on my team sheet I'd think, no way I'd even consider leaving him out.

[Bloody Hell]

I agree Nico I just find it astounding people are saying he should go out for LRT. LRT will be vying for posies with Reg and Teddy with the other two just ahead at this time. Because AJ is so versatile, being able to play a tall or small, due to his pace he would be a motza to be included. The other three have limitations in that they would only play on talls or mid/tall players. The other thing is AJ is a pretty good kick and generally makes good decisions. Teddy would be a first up pick I should think after last year.

I actually agree with this and am prepared to revise my previous statement from choosing 3 of 4 (LRT, Richards, Grundy, AJ); to choosing 2 of 3 (LRT, Richards, Grundy).

But I still think LRT is ahead of Richards, primarily due to the way footy is going with the 2nd ruckman resting forward. LRT can easily cover them. Richards cannot.

LRT and Grundy for me.

[wolftone57]

Teddy played so well last season and the last few games of 2010. He was at the crossroads in 2010 and needed to step up. He did so and is admired by everyone for it. Whatever the psych did with him it worked. Now all we have to do is get the psych to work on Reg's kicking, Sam's kicking for goal and TDL's will to tackle & it will be xmas all season.

[ShockOfHair]

The problem with LRT and Ted is neither is much good outside defence. .Most likely it will be Ted at full-back and LRT will be one of the gang of ruck/forwards.

Wouldn't surprise to see the club experiment with player rotations, especially for rucks and talls. St Kilda are the latest to join the craze.

[wolftone57]

Longmire is touting Walsh for either a Key Forward or Back position. That is most interesting as there was speculation he would play forward due to his VFL position I presume.

[ernie koala]

I'm just waking from my off season siesta, happy new year to all!
I've laid my annual bet..... at the handsome odds of 34's...now for the team:

B : Smith, Richards, Shaw

HB : Johnson, Grundy, McVeigh

C : Mattner, Goodes ,Hannebery

HF : OKeefe, Reid, Rohan

F : McGlynn, White, Bolton

Ruck : Mumford, Kennedy, Jack

Inter : Pyke, Parker, Lamb
Sub : Gordon

Emg : LRT, Jetta, Armstrong

Should be pressing hard : Morton, Walsh, Bird, Mitchell, Spangher, Seaby, TDL....etc etc... Depth always looks amazing in the off season.