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I know it's only June, but I can't see making room for the required draftees at the end of the season is going to be easy. From what I am hearing, several of our rookies are performing well and if not elevated by us at the end of the season are open to be poached by other teams. On the senior list, there is not a lot of easy wood to trim. Jude will no doubt retire and perhaps Jesse will be moved on, but no-one else obviously stands out unless any of the older guys give it away. Be interested to know whether reserves watchers believe Lockyer is a keeper.
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Those who have the greatest power to hurt us are those we love. -
Another factor worth considering is whether it will make a difference to some players' plans if we go back to back. Rhyce and Marty have both been struggling with injuries, and might choose to go out on a high if the chance arises. As for our other oldest citizen (Adam, born 1980) who knows - I think he would (and should) be allowed to choose his time, but it is sobering to think that at least two stars of the 2005 team went one season too long in my opinion.He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball) -
Jude will probably retire. White will likely be gone. Wouldn't be surprised to see Lamb seek more opportunities elsewhere, especially with Mitchell's debut probably elevating him above Lamb in the pecking order. Not sure of contract status, but I think Everitt and Morton still have to earn their spots for next year. Mattner's future may depend on how quickly he can return to the senior side - and perform. I think he may still be a way off - he was on the ground with the reserves team during the breaks and seemed to be walking with discomfort.
Of the rookies, Rampe has probably already done enough to secure his spot for next year. Jack and Richards are both improving with each match and have attributes that are valuable (ie pace and height/pace respectively). Lloyd and Robinson have both been very consistent all year and I think Lloyd could possibly step up to senior football this year if we need him (we probably won't). But as small/medium sized midfielders, life as a rookie is tough.
Lockyer is a tough one to call. He missed so much of last year and started this year playing without much confidence. He is gradually getting a little better, but does seem to be at the back of the pack of those in their second or third years.Comment
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A champion side needs a champion reserves squad and unless there are 22 blokes in the reserves knocking on the door of the senior team I bet the list management people have some ideas up their sleeves. I wish they could be more transparent, it would be great to know what they are thinking, not having to second guess them like this.Comment
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here are some players i reckon we should consider:
jude bolton - 90% likely to retire
jesse white - will almost certainly be traded or delisted seeing as they let him leave last year only for the whole kurt tippett thing to ruin those plans
shane biggs - was the only rookie from last year to be kept and unfortunately wont be kept around unless they really want him
andrejs everitt - probably not in the best 22, been around for a few years now, and might look elsewhere if he doesnt get a lot of games in the second half of the season
tommy walsh - if his current injury keeps him out of the seniors for the rest of the year, then he's likely to be moved on (hopefully not)
as for the rest, i'm pretty sure goodes is on contract until the end of next year, so he'll stay. dunno about mattner and shaw retiring, but we know we can cope without em if they do (just look at the last 2 games). i hope morton and armstrong stay, but they might be considered if they dont get any games in the second half. the rest of the rookies are looking pretty good from what i hear, so it'll be a bummer if any of them go.Comment
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here are some players i reckon we should consider:
jude bolton - 90% likely to retire
jesse white - will almost certainly be traded or delisted seeing as they let him leave last year only for the whole kurt tippett thing to ruin those plans
shane biggs - was the only rookie from last year to be kept and unfortunately wont be kept around unless they really want him
andrejs everitt - probably not in the best 22, been around for a few years now, and might look elsewhere if he doesnt get a lot of games in the second half of the season
tommy walsh - if his current injury keeps him out of the seniors for the rest of the year, then he's likely to be moved on (hopefully not)
as for the rest, i'm pretty sure goodes is on contract until the end of next year, so he'll stay. dunno about mattner and shaw retiring, but we know we can cope without em if they do (just look at the last 2 games). i hope morton and armstrong stay, but they might be considered if they dont get any games in the second half. the rest of the rookies are looking pretty good from what i hear, so it'll be a bummer if any of them go.Comment
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Not sure about Walsh's contract status, and even before his unfortunate injury yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls the plug on his AFL career and heads back to Kerry. I know you have to give him extra concession for being a latecomer to the game, but in his 4th year in the system I'm sure he was hoping he would be a regular player by now.
We also need to remember we cleared out a lot of fringe-type players last year, under the excuse of making cap room for Tippett. We don't want to clear another big bunch players for the sake of it, and prematurely make the wrong call on players who may benefit from more time under our development system. The fact that players like Currie, Terlich, Simpkin, Phillips, Faulks and Rowe have all gone back to state leagues and been re-drafted tells me that our recruiters have had a pretty good eye for talent but probably due to the strength of our senior team in that time, the opportunities weren't afforded these players as they would be at weaker clubs.Comment
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Not sure about Walsh's contract status, and even before his unfortunate injury yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls the plug on his AFL career and heads back to Kerry. I know you have to give him extra concession for being a latecomer to the game, but in his 4th year in the system I'm sure he was hoping he would be a regular player by now.
We also need to remember we cleared out a lot of fringe-type players last year, under the excuse of making cap room for Tippett. We don't want to clear another big bunch players for the sake of it, and prematurely make the wrong call on players who may benefit from more time under our development system. The fact that players like Currie, Terlich, Simpkin, Phillips, Faulks and Rowe have all gone back to state leagues and been re-drafted tells me that our recruiters have had a pretty good eye for talent but probably due to the strength of our senior team in that time, the opportunities weren't afforded these players as they would be at weaker clubs.Comment
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As I've posted before we have a very good solid core of younger players coming through to oversee the transition of our older veterans who will pull the pin when the times right for them.
Apart from White I don't think there will be too many list changes made come season's end. Knowing that Tippett will come into the side when he's available and already struggling to break into the first 22, its hard to see him staying, but good luck to him if he moves on.
IMO we won't have much trouble in keeping alot of our rookies and draftees. All of the draftees drafted, are on 2 year contracts from when there drafted into the club and it's impossible to see them leaving given the successful culture and list were having ATM. From the 19-22 year old bracket of players we have serious potential ahead.
Membrey, Jack, Cunningham, Mitchell, Parker, Johnson, Reid, Rohan, Hannebery, Rampe are all in that bracket. That is a very good up and coming core of players, some having already tasted success at their early age. I can see Membrey replacing Goodes (very big feat I know), but I can see Membrey being a serious FF/Midfielder in the coming years. Cunningham, from what i've seen of him looks a very likely type. Would put him in the mould of Rhyce Shaw as a replacement when he moves on. Quick, reads the play well and has very good pace. Looks right at home as a small backman.
Towers is an interesting one as well. From what i've seen from the highlights in the reserves I can see him as a key defender, perhaps filling the Teddy void. Strong, quick off the mark and willing to hit the contest hard, again, could be moulded to take over the reigns of our key defenders.
The good thing i love about our club is our ability to develop and mould players from the seconds into key senior AFL footballers. Ready made footballers for when the older troops move on. That's why we don't stall as a club. We keep turning over and replacing with quality from the second tier.
Good things ahead for us swannies supporters.LRT. Lord Roberts-Thompson. He may look like the Munster, but looks can be deceiving.
2012 Bloods Premiers.Comment
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Im going to put it the other way round ie what key players will we loose over time due to age and who will most likely fill a similar role.
I dont think these are tricky decisions primarily because most of the players below are 1 to 3 seasons away from retiring depending on form an injuries etc !
Mattner = Rampe all the way (same height and both hard at it....Rampe has a better left foot driving kick off the HBF and he is very quick off the mark too)
Shaw = Cunningham or Matthew Dick
Mal = Harrison Marsh, Towers or Alex Brown (Marsh impressed me immediately.....his driving low kicks are the closest to Mal I have seen but Marsh could go into the middle also)
Bolton = Lambie (Lambie is at a better stage of development to Jude at the same age I feel)
ROK = Mitchell (Tommy is the emerging rolls royce of the Swans for the next decade if he can remain injury free - I have never seen a debut like that one where he just owned positioning, assists and winning of the ball)
Goodes = Membrey, Gary Rohan or Mitch Morton........now that Tippett has come along and we have Tippett, Goodes and Pyke up in the forward line at anyone time we have a very tall forward line and a more agile leading forward could work very well also.
Ted = We made need to trade for this role but this could be two years away still? if Xavier or Incy Spida dont make the grade by then.......I have to say that Incy is seriously on the rise and is 6 years younger then Ted right now......(this is a massive call but Incy and Ted were similar weight and height at the same age as Incy is now and both were outside flankers........not one of us saw Ted at the same age as Incy being an AA KP defender and Incy is actually just taller then Ted)
In the future Brandon Jack could seriously push Mcglynn for that forward pocket spot. Mcglynn in awesome form now is 28yrs of age and Brandon in the next two seasons whos all the hallmarks of an emerging forward pocket or wing."be tough, only when it gets tough"
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Marty started the ball rolling.Those who have the greatest power to hurt us are those we love.Comment
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Yep, so too is Lockyer "Big Cat." The RWO wiki is excellent at keeping up to date with contracts. http://www.redandwhiteonline.com/wiki/index.php/2013
You can even sort it by when their contracts expire (All praise the wiki)Comment
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