Best XX11 for 2012

[wolftone57]

Couldn't agree more, I think LRT is important to our defence, but as to his versatility. . . . .
He's not a great forward and I think his re-appearance there this year had more to do with our selectors mistaken adherance to last seasons unpoven yet faddish "you can't play 2 ruckmen" theory.
I really hope that with a dual-ruckman-team yet again winning the grand final we may have seen the end of that nonsense.

Totally agree with this comment. But I am a bit confused. Not many of you seem to rate Luke Parker. I rate him highly and think he is going to be the next Jude but with a little more skill.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I think Luke is an in and under that can certainly on the run a long kick at goal and takes a great mark for his height......he is tough and in and under aswell as breaks well in the forward line.........the kid has talent and vision with his passing and he reminds me a lot of a Paul Chapman....... Chapman and Voss at similar age were the players i though of straight away the first time I saw Parker play.

To be fair Jude ran around chasing everything with a lack of vision i felt in his early years........the coaches simplified his role and he has been all the better..........not just better.........he has been the guts of then team the last 5yrs !

[wolftone57]

Thank you Auntie Gerald. I think it is difficult to let go of our cult players or favorites but sooner or later they are going to retire or be retired. I was sad to see Tadgh go the way he did but his time was up. The next generation of Swans senior players are coming through and soon there will be very few that were in the side 5 years ago.

[Nico]

My best 22 are:

Armstrong, Bird, Bolton, Goodes, Grundy, Hannebery, Jack, Johnson, Kennedy, McGlynn, Mattner, McVeigh, Mumford, O'Keefe, Parker, Reid, Richards, LRT, Rohan, Shaw, Smith, Spangher. Armstrong being the only new player.

Those I think will struggle to get a game are:

TDL - Soft
Everitt - disappointing and will have to improve a heck of a lot to get a game
Jetta - soft and just doesn't find enough of the footy.
Meredith - needs a pace infusion. has the skills but....
Moore - not good enough
White - had a million chances. doesn't read the game. Doubt he has a big enough tank.

Possibles:

This is where players must jump out of the pack to take us to the next level.

Gordon - An unknown but may find it tough with the wealth of midfielders.
Lamb - ressies watchers say he is a chance
Malceski - In my opinion is now a top up player bound to get games because of injuries.
Morton - fingers crossed
Pyke - ruck back up but you never know. He may be ready to peak
Seaby - Another ruck backup who will play games.
Walsh - Is he the saviour.

Newbies:

Brown - Unikely to play
Briggs - ditto, but a bloke I know who played with him reckons he can play. My informant is a sporting nut who thinks he could surprise. (left off the list on AFL site)
Lockyer - Wait and see. Has a pedigree
Mitchell - Probably could add to the top 22 if he is fit.

As I see it we need to have a couple of players emerge as real "finds" for us to go to top 4. No doubt there is plenty of improvement in Johnson, Parker and Reid and I have a feeling about Armstrong, but there will be injuries. So if the likes of Walsh, Mitchell and Lamb produce the goods we are a real chance.

[wolftone57]

from the posts I have read from the Resies Watchers, Lamb is pretty versatile in that he can play forward or mid. This gives him an advantage. Rohan is a player who is extremely versatile and he will play more in the Seniors this year. I think you have nicely summed it up Nico. But I would add Cunningham to the Newbies list he looks a prospect and none other than Kells has been training him.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

My best 22 are:

short 1 ruckman!?

[wolftone57]

This same thread is running in Big footy and it is really vicious compared to here. There are a couple of people who obviously hate Pykie as a player and are really vicious about him. He plays for us for ****'s sake he is not the enemy why can't people leave their viciousness for the opposition. Even then I have a problem in them being violent toward players. Let us have some unity as I think this season all of our fav and not so fav players will get their chance.

[707]

This same thread is running in Big footy and it is really vicious compared to here. There are a couple of people who obviously hate Pykie as a player and are really vicious about him. He plays for us for ****'s sake he is not the enemy why can't people leave their viciousness for the opposition. Even then I have a problem in them being violent toward players. Let us have some unity as I think this season all of our fav and not so fav players will get their chance.

Great to be back on line.

I rate Pyke, a very good tap ruckman and vastly improved sklls anmd game sense. Just a pity he missed so much development through injury last year.

Those viscious types on BF may be made to at their words this year.

[Velour&Ruffles]

This same thread is running in Big footy and it is really vicious compared to here. There are a couple of people who obviously hate Pykie as a player and are really vicious about him. He plays for us for ****'s sake he is not the enemy why can't people leave their viciousness for the opposition. Even then I have a problem in them being violent toward players. Let us have some unity as I think this season all of our fav and not so fav players will get their chance.

who cares what they think.
I bet they don't recall how critical he was in the last 30 mins of the 2010 final against the Blues.
I hope he keeps getting underestimated. That way he will keep getting under a few guards.

[wolftone57]

who cares what they think.
I bet they don't recall how critical he was in the last 30 mins of the 2010 final against the Blues.
I hope he keeps getting underestimated. That way he will keep getting under a few guards.

Me too I think the boy has talent for one who only took up the game two years ago. I love his kicking and marking. He pulls down the big ones and normally slots a goal from them. He can also kick a long way. I would love to see Nathan Gordon play a bit this year, if he can get it together in the 'A's he will be exciting. I have been told Cunningham is one to look out for and is very exciting.

[ShockOfHair]

My best 22 are:

Armstrong, Bird, Bolton, Goodes, Grundy, Hannebery, Jack, Johnson, Kennedy, McGlynn, Mattner, McVeigh, Mumford, O'Keefe, Parker, Reid, Richards, LRT, Rohan, Shaw, Smith, Spangher. Armstrong being the only new player.

Those I think will struggle to get a game are:

TDL - Soft
Everitt - disappointing and will have to improve a heck of a lot to get a game
Jetta - soft and just doesn't find enough of the footy.
Meredith - needs a pace infusion. has the skills but....
Moore - not good enough
White - had a million chances. doesn't read the game. Doubt he has a big enough tank.

Possibles:

This is where players must jump out of the pack to take us to the next level.

Gordon - An unknown but may find it tough with the wealth of midfielders.
Lamb - ressies watchers say he is a chance
Malceski - In my opinion is now a top up player bound to get games because of injuries.
Morton - fingers crossed
Pyke - ruck back up but you never know. He may be ready to peak
Seaby - Another ruck backup who will play games.
Walsh - Is he the saviour.

Newbies:

Brown - Unikely to play
Briggs - ditto, but a bloke I know who played with him reckons he can play. My informant is a sporting nut who thinks he could surprise. (left off the list on AFL site)
Lockyer - Wait and see. Has a pedigree
Mitchell - Probably could add to the top 22 if he is fit.

As I see it we need to have a couple of players emerge as real "finds" for us to go to top 4. No doubt there is plenty of improvement in Johnson, Parker and Reid and I have a feeling about Armstrong, but there will be injuries. So if the likes of Walsh, Mitchell and Lamb produce the goods we are a real chance.

Pretty spot on.

The only player I'd rate higher is Malceski. He's due to return to form. Plus we really need his delivery out of defence.

[AnsweredPrayers]

I agree with Nico's observations.
Parker will play if fit. I thought he stepped up in the finals last year when Hannebery hurt his shoulder. I think Mitchell will play early. He's been training at the club for a while. By all reports cost quite a bit. Expect coaches to push him for round 1 selection.

[Wazza]

My best 22 are:

Armstrong, Bird, Bolton, Goodes, Grundy, Hannebery, Jack, Johnson, Kennedy, McGlynn, Mattner, McVeigh, Mumford, O'Keefe, Parker, Reid, Richards, LRT, Rohan, Shaw, Smith, Spangher. Armstrong being the only new player.

Those I think will struggle to get a game are:

TDL - Soft
Everitt - disappointing and will have to improve a heck of a lot to get a game
Jetta - soft and just doesn't find enough of the footy.
Meredith - needs a pace infusion. has the skills but....
Moore - not good enough
White - had a million chances. doesn't read the game. Doubt he has a big enough tank.

Possibles:

This is where players must jump out of the pack to take us to the next level.

Gordon - An unknown but may find it tough with the wealth of midfielders.
Lamb - ressies watchers say he is a chance
Malceski - In my opinion is now a top up player bound to get games because of injuries.
Morton - fingers crossed
Pyke - ruck back up but you never know. He may be ready to peak
Seaby - Another ruck backup who will play games.
Walsh - Is he the saviour.

Newbies:

Brown - Unikely to play
Briggs - ditto, but a bloke I know who played with him reckons he can play. My informant is a sporting nut who thinks he could surprise. (left off the list on AFL site)
Lockyer - Wait and see. Has a pedigree
Mitchell - Probably could add to the top 22 if he is fit.

As I see it we need to have a couple of players emerge as real "finds" for us to go to top 4. No doubt there is plenty of improvement in Johnson, Parker and Reid and I have a feeling about Armstrong, but there will be injuries. So if the likes of Walsh, Mitchell and Lamb produce the goods we are a real chance.

Hey Nico just a couple of questions on your top 22,
who in your top 22 would play at FF?? my thoughts are it would have to be either White, Pyke or Seaby and none of these are in your 22.
How would you play LRT Richards Grundy and Johnson at the same time, Richards or LRT on the bench?
Was your intention just to name a top 22 without regard to positions?
I think Walsh would have to be considered in the starting 22 but I understand if he isnt in your top 22.
I liked your post which started me thinking how they would actually line up.

Cheers

waz

[Auntie.Gerald]

yep Harry "Ritchie" Cunningham for me also - the kid has talent and we need I feel another winger or flanker

for me Harry joining has put Jetts back in the ressies massively and I would still prefer to see Rohan as our next HBF that busts thru the midfield.............maybe Shaw and Rohan will alternate some game time on the HBF and WING ???

[wolftone57]

yep Harry "Ritchie" Cunningham for me also - the kid has talent and we need I feel another winger or flanker

for me Harry joining has put Jetts back in the ressies massively and I would still prefer to see Rohan as our next HBF that busts thru the midfield.............maybe Shaw and Rohan will alternate some game time on the HBF and WING ???

I have been saying this about Rohan for a while as I think he can become a hard dasher from the back flank who kicks goals. I think Armstrong fills another role altogether as a half back who is a wonderful deliverer of the ball both kicking and handball. I think he will probably play the role Mal did for a long time of setting the play from the backline. I would also have a problem with the four tall backs unless playing a side like Essendon, Carlton, Pies or Geelong.