Dylan McNeil

[Auntie.Gerald]

just wondering if anyone has seen more then a few ressie games this season and thought to themself that Dyl wouldnt look out of place in Seniors in the future?

when I watched him I thought he always looked like he does it pretty easy and if he had a little more pace may be goer in the future when ROK, BOLTS etc retire

[DamY]

There's a piece on him on the Swans website. It's tough to say, on his rookie profile it says he needs to be pushing for seniors selection to get a new contract going forward.. he hasn't done that yet but hardly anyone has been able to push into the seniors side just from the reserves, let alone the rookie list. Hopefully they'll push on with him, he looked pretty good from the video they have up.

[Bloody Hell]

That piece on the website is very strange.

As a "highlights reel" there's nothing that really jumps out at you, and I haven't seen anything like that for other players...trying to get/make some trade value???

[jono2707]

I can't really see him being on our list next year - its always a shame when guys get cut, especially guys like Dyl who seems to have worked hard to get where he is. He'll likely be a victim of having a strong firsts team and also having talent like Tom Mitchell in the wings.

The only thing that might save him and a few of our other squad members is the fact that Horse's new gameplan is only now really coming to fruition, so it seems like its taken some time for it to be implemented properly. Depending of course who is available come trade and draft time, it might be deemed preferable to keep a few more 'depth players' on this list for another year as they know our style and may be able to earn the call-up if required.

[wolftone57]

I have seen quite a bit of him this year.He certainly gets the ball a lot. Sometimes his decision making is a bit suspect and delivery can sometimes be a problem. I found him better at the long kick pass than the short kick. Needs to work a bit more on his goal kicking too. What jumps out at me is that I feel all his little problems are concentration based. Get the psyche under control and everything would fall into place. At the moment there are quite a few ahead of him on the list. Mitchell, Lamb, Harry & Nipper are just a few. Although the last time I saw him play he was really good and had his game in full flight. He looked the real deal.

[jono2707]

Wolfie I really appreciate your analysis of the Ressies boys as you seem to get to a lot of their games. I agree with your analysis of Dyl from the limited times I've seen him. Do you think he'll stay on the list next year? Who do you think they'll cut, bearing in mind a few must be regardless of whether we like it or not? Cheers.

[Big Al]

Wolfie I really appreciate your analysis of the Ressies boys as you seem to get to a lot of their games. I agree with your analysis of Dyl from the limited times I've seen him. Do you think he'll stay on the list next year? Who do you think they'll cut, bearing in mind a few must be regardless of whether we like it or not? Cheers.

II wouldn't imagine they'll make too many changes to the list apart from the ones mandated by the AFL. I think Jesse will be shot from a cannon at seasons end, Meredith will go and I think Bulldog will be delisted. Those 3 will go before Dyl
in my opinion.

[Lucky Knickers]

Thought Dyl might be urged the way of Kane Lucas and advised to go SANFL or WAFL.

[Roscoe]

Thought Dyl might be urged the way of Kane Lucas and advised to go SANFL or WAFL.

Don't you mean Kane Murphy

Kane was on a St Kilda rookie program, played Swans ressies and is now in SA

Son of a gun and a good bloke (both father and son)

[wolftone57]

Wolfie I really appreciate your analysis of the Ressies boys as you seem to get to a lot of their games. I agree with your analysis of Dyl from the limited times I've seen him. Do you think he'll stay on the list next year? Who do you think they'll cut, bearing in mind a few must be regardless of whether we like it or not? Cheers.

I think it would do Dyl a lot of good to go to Adelaide and try out there for a season or two. He is going to be alright but if he is AFL standard I'm not sure and in Adelaide that could be found out.

I think Campbell Heath has earned a reprieve as he has been a younger version of Teddy. The only thing that worries me is that he may just be slightly too short for Key AFL positions.

Seabs will be on the market as I'm sure they are looking for a young ruckman as they are trying out a few local lads.

I think Doggy will be delisted but encouraged to stay and mentor the younger blokes and possibly coach at junior level.

Here is my assessment of the Newbies and how they fared;

Biggs; I really rate him as he is a very slippery customer with heaps of skill. In the best in nearly every game he played. Unfortunately injured early and then late in the season.

Brown Injured for much of the season but I really like him. He has almost perfect foot skills. He sometimes is let down by his decision making in the handball situation but other than that he is pretty classy. He also has some height.

Lockyer In the games I saw of him I found him to be a very cool customer with brilliant delivery skills. He always seems to have plenty of time. Very skilled and a great mark.

Spang We still need the big bloke and when he gets on the park and is fully fit he is really a top player. He hasn't reproduced the form of last year but that I feel is due to injury. Really needs to have an injury free year next year or that will be curtains for him.

Mitchell He isn't the Saviour that everyone was expecting but he is a very talented young bloke. He and Lukie are going to be very hard to stop in and under in years to come. His handball skills are just as good if not better than Lukie. His running to position and setting up play reminds me of Sam Mitchell.

Lamb He didn't have a great season. I have a feeling that was because of injury. I think he carried niggles all season and then finally went down. since he returned we are starting to see just how good he can be as he is now fit. Very talented and clever.

Walsh He is a bit frustrating. Just when you think he is going to break the world apart he disappears completely. He played some really good games then got into the Seniors. Played a few ordinary games, got injured. Came back and then seems to be playing very well. He needs to be consistent. Can be a very good pack mark.

Morton He has been really good and the defensive part of his game is coming along very well. I think he will be very much retained and will play Seniors either later this year or next year. Very clever and gets great position to get the pill.

Everitt I think Drey has done enough to retain his position on our list. He works his butt off in the Two's and if he is ever lazy he gets shifted into the mids so he has to work. I like him in the mids he has a bit more grunt there. He is a great kick and we need to look at ways to use that.

Now the others;

Nipper Gordon He will be retained and is so close to selection it must be heartbreaking for the lad. He gets the pill more than anyone at Two's level and I think will be a top mid one day. He has had the problem of having sloppy delivery and has been working on that. Great kick for goal and for his size a fabulous mark.

Jesse White Jesse has worked very hard at Two's level and has done quite well. He has taken some very good pack marks which was a problem with him in the past. But there are still times he gets lost or turns his back on the play or doesn't give a second effort. I am not sure if he will be in the long term plan unfortunately.

Brett Meredith He has played quite well but I still think there is just something missing. His last couple of games have been really good but he doesn't seem to me to be a player that is going to make it at AFL level. Has some good skill but again seems to lose interest at times. This has improved since he went to the backline. Probably a victim of a very good list

Tony Armstrong Real talent this kid. He sets the play up and he knows when Jetstar is going to run unlike Mal! He is going to be around for a long time.

TDL Talent personified but just needs to be confident in using it. I think the coaches need to get a balance with this bloke. The problem is that in working on the defensive side of his game and making him so conscious of this at AFL level I believe the sensational part of his game is suffering. It is suffering because he is too scared to use it. He has so much flair and needs to be confident that he can use it at AFL level. If not we may as well delist him now!

Jack Lynch Big boy Jack. He is developing into a pretty good defender but needs to really step up next year to get a guernsey. I like him but needs to lift to that extra level, he has lifted one level now for two Jack!! You can do it!!!

We need to be extra careful with the mids as we get near the end of the career of some of our great mids. Bolts and ROK won't play forever. That reminds me LRT and Shawey have about two years at most and the same could be said for Goodsie. So by 2014 we are looking to replace 5 possibly 6 players. The talent to replace them is there or in the wings but we still have to develop it while they are here.

[Lucky Knickers]

Don't you mean Kane Murphy

Kane was on a St Kilda rookie program, played Swans ressies and is now in SA

Son of a gun and a good bloke (both father and son)

Woops my bad!

[wolftone57]

Don't you mean Kane Murphy

Kane was on a St Kilda rookie program, played Swans ressies and is now in SA

Son of a gun and a good bloke (both father and son)

I would suggest this is a good option for Dyl. I think this is the only way he is going to prove himself and with the mid talent we have it will be hard for him to be retained.

I think we will be looking for a Rookie Ruckman, another fast outside mid and some really tall Key Posie players in the next two drafts. I know we have Rohan coming back but another fast pair of legs will not go astray.

[jono2707]

Thanks Wolfie - much appreciated.... A really great rundown of our second tier players. You have described their strengths really well, highlighted their areas for improvement, and all the while doing it in a positive and encouraging light. Quality work!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

TDL Talent personified but just needs to be confident in using it. I think the coaches need to get a balance with this bloke. The problem is that in working on the defensive side of his game and making him so conscious of this at AFL level I believe the sensational part of his game is suffering. It is suffering because he is too scared to use it. He has so much flair and needs to be confident that he can use it at AFL level. If not we may as well delist him now!

Not sure about this, when he was kicking bags in the 2's, he tended to function in lead/mark/setshot/goal mode. Roving the packs wasn't a big part of his game, nor were defensive acts. The coaches have had him working hard to improve the latter, but can they improve the former, or is that more instinctive?
It's academic anyway, he's contracted next year (unlike Dyl). So unless he wants out . . .

[giant]

Dylan always struck me as a Kirk clone, so if being sacked from our rookie list is what he needs to walk in Kirky's footsteps so be it!!