the young ones !!!

[ScottH]

Remember when Spida was just about the most tattooed player in the league? Doubt he'd even make the top ten nowadays.

He was about the only tattooed player in the League. (Outwardly showing, anyway)

[magic.merkin]

Hannas is a true believer. He was so stoked to be drafted by the Swans. I love the way he pulled his jumper up to show the crowd after kicking a goal. I think a Brownlow is not out of the question this year but he will have to match Kizza all the way.

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do you realise that the average age of the team we put on the park last week was only 22.5. It is interesting people talking about some of our players as though they are seasoned veterans. just look at a few players we seem to expect to be in the mature class;

Dre is only 24 and has taken a while to hit his straps. Some lads keep growing after teens I think he may be one. I think this lad is developing very well.

Mitch is only 26 he still has plenty of time to give this club. He is going to be better than people think. Just let him get over the little niggle and then he will show us.

Lukie is only 21 still learning the caper but what a learner

Smithy is only 25 and at the top of his game

Rampe is 23 and a late developer but boy has he developed

Tommy is only just turned 20 and will probably win a brownlow someday

Lambie is only 21 and I think is just starting to show the skills that have him compared to Daicos.

Joey is only 25 & you'd think he was a veteran of the mids.

Kizza is a young Captain at 26 but what an example

Brandy is 19 & 1 month and a few days and boy is he going to be good.

Birdie is only 24 and I think sometimes we expect a bit too much of the kid. He always seems older and sort of mature so I think we think he is older than he actually is.

Tippett is still only 26. Think about it.

Jesse is only 25 and starting to show what he can do. I think he just took a bit longer as big guys especiallt KPP do.

Jetts is 24 and what a player

Tony A is 23 and a good list player

Xav is only 20 and will be a star Full Back.

Tommy W is 25 and I think will play in the backline eventually

AJ is a star and only 21.

We have some old buggers too;

Bolton 33, Grundy 28, Macca 28, Mal 29, Benny 28, Mummy 29, ROK 33, Pykie 29, Goodsie 33, Rhyce 32, LRT 30.

Next year could see a lot of retirements I think as Jude joins Marty. But I think Rhyce, LRT & Goodsie might just think about it as well.

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By the way it is not Incy Wincy spider it is Eensy Weensy Spider or Itsy Bitsy spider.

this is the link to the song;

Eensy Weensy Spider (Itsy Bitsy Spider) song and lyrics from KIDiddles

Thanks RoosY

[Ludwig]

Your enthusiasm is commendable Wolfie, but if it were all true we would never lose another game for the next 10 years.

BTW, according to Footywire, the average age of our team last week was 25 years and 7 months, not 22.5. And Reg and Mummy both just turned 27, a bit younger than what you show.

I'm also quite positive about our list, but feel we need a couple of good KPPs, mostly in defence, to carry us through the next period. I hope you are right Wolfie on your stardom call about Xav, because that would would solve half the KPP problem. Those 8 minutes on the ground against Carlton must have really impressed you.

[southsideswan]

I wonder why Jake Lloyd is never mentioned. I do understand that he is slight of build but this seems to be coming along, takes time. He had very good NAB cup appearances (ok does not mean that much), he is by fair the most consistent in the ressies and also leading the tally by 11 pts. He is one of the fittest athletes in the Club and working to being one of the fittest footballers. At 19 he seems to be setting the ground work for a long and successful career and yet no mention. Just wondering!!

[The Big Cat]

I wonder why Jake Lloyd is never mentioned. I do understand that he is slight of build but this seems to be coming along, takes time. He had very good NAB cup appearances (ok does not mean that much), he is by fair the most consistent in the ressies and also leading the tally by 11 pts. He is one of the fittest athletes in the Club and working to being one of the fittest footballers. At 19 he seems to be setting the ground work for a long and successful career and yet no mention. Just wondering!!

Once he's off the rookie list he'll get mentioned more. I think we will need to elevate him at the end of the year or he may get snatched from our grasp.

[WolfGang]

Unsure how many you can elevate from the Rookie list (to the full list in 2014) - but the first 2 that will be elevated will be Rampe & B. Jack - these 2 are no brainers.

Any more than that, will be interesting......

[wolftone57]

Your enthusiasm is commendable Wolfie, but if it were all true we would never lose another game for the next 10 years.

BTW, according to Footywire, the average age of our team last week was 25 years and 7 months, not 22.5. And Reg and Mummy both just turned 27, a bit younger than what you show.

I'm also quite positive about our list, but feel we need a couple of good KPPs, mostly in defence, to carry us through the next period. I hope you are right Wolfie on your stardom call about Xav, because that would would solve half the KPP problem. Those 8 minutes on the ground against Carlton must have really impressed you.

Don't know about you Ludwig but I do watch the Twos. He has impressed me in the Twos with his one grab marks and his abilty to read the play and make good decisions. He reminds me of a young Stephen Silvagni. footy Wire were wrong I added it up on the calculator and it came to 22.5 exactly. You are right about Reg and Mummy I put them down wrong I have added them as 27.

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Unsure how many you can elevate from the Rookie list (to the full list in 2014) - but the first 2 that will be elevated will be Rampe & B. Jack - these 2 are no brainers.

Any more than that, will be interesting......

Rampe is already on the full list as Marty Retired. He was elevated when we lost AJ but because Marty retired we can nominate a player to replace him. We have BJ & Xav taking the place of LRT and AJ on the long term injury list. We will have retirements this year so Lloydie has got to be close.

[Ludwig]

Don't know about you Ludwig but I do watch the Twos. He has impressed me in the Twos with his one grab marks and his abilty to read the play and make good decisions. He reminds me of a young Stephen Silvagni

I don't get to watch the Twos Wolfie, so much appreciate those that do and can give first hand reports on their observations. I'm thrilled that you are feeling so positive about Xav, because I was quite serious about concerns of who replaces Ted and LRT once they retire, especially with Reg's patchy form. The coaches must feel he has a future too, as evidenced by his elevation to the senior list. I hope his good form in the Reserves translates to the seniors.

[wolftone57]

I don't get to watch the Twos Wolfie, so much appreciate those that do and can give first hand reports on their observations. I'm thrilled that you are feeling so positive about Xav, because I was quite serious about concerns of who replaces Ted and LRT once they retire, especially with Reg's patchy form. The coaches must feel he has a future too, as evidenced by his elevation to the senior list. I hope his good form in the Reserves translates to the seniors.

I am also concerned for the KPP Backs positions and I have been for 3 seasons. Teddy is 30 now and we need to move on a replacement for Reg ASAP. I think Tommy Walsh could play on the huge forwards quite well. He performs this role in the NEAFL some times and does a great job. I always reckoned he was a backman. But we need two more KPP youngsters to add to the list. I have been worried about Reg's lapses for some time and three matches straight are pretty bad but he did the same thing last year then came good. I really worry more about his inability to release the ball effectively when tackled though.

No I am not painting a picture of health for the next 10 years as about 10 of the players now playing will have retired.
If you look at the list you will see a list down the bottom. Within 3 years all these players will probably retire:

Bolton, Macca. Mal, McGlinn, O'keefe, Pyke, Richards, Goodes, Shaw, Roberts-Thompson. Now Macca might fight on past 31 but most retire about that age. Some like Goodsie and jude might fight on to 33 they might not too. But we have looked to the future of the mids and they are shored up. We have now set the forward line and it is time for the backline to be strengthened. The rucks are going to be fine too as I think we might just tak another NSW Rookie Ruck next year.

[Ludwig]

I think Tommy Walsh could play on the huge forwards quite well. He performs this role in the NEAFL some times and does a great job. I always reckoned he was a backman.

I wouldn't put too much hope in Tommy Walsh. Aside from the facts that he has been playing mostly forward and has failed to make an impact in his few senior appearances, we should not underestimate the seriousness of his injury. A full recovery from that severe of a hamstring tear is questionable. He will be entering his 5th year on an AFL list next year, coming off a serious injury; you have to wonder.

[wolftone57]

I wouldn't put too much hope in Tommy Walsh. Aside from the facts that he has been playing mostly forward and has failed to make an impact in his few senior appearances, we should not underestimate the seriousness of his injury. A full recovery from that severe of a hamstring tear is questionable. He will be entering his 5th year on an AFL list next year, coming off a serious injury; you have to wonder.

I liked him when he went back in the Twos he was tough and unrelenting. He made them work for every possession. Pity about his injury, tearing the hamstring completely off the bone is a big injury.

[jono2707]

I liked him when he went back in the Twos he was tough and unrelenting. He made them work for every possession. Pity about his injury, tearing the hamstring completely off the bone is a big injury.

Yes I feel sorry for poor Tommy as its probably touch and go whether we keep him on the list next year. I think he's got more improvement in him, and I like his size and aggression, but I just don't know. Lockyer and Biggs would also be very nervous about their places in the long term plans of the team going forward - unfortunately I can't see either getting another year at this stage.

[Auntie.Gerald]

SwansTV: Kieren Jack speaks at the Swans Squad Clinic - SYDNEYSWANS.com.au

good video interview with KJ and him chatting about Brandon

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i have to say that Tommy Walsh still has upside and if Grundy and Ted with LRT were out for extended periods you would guess that Tommy would have had a role to play and I think he has upside still

i never forget that Ted only came in around 25/26ish as a Key defender......

[liz]

Yes I feel sorry for poor Tommy as its probably touch and go whether we keep him on the list next year. I think he's got more improvement in him, and I like his size and aggression, but I just don't know. Lockyer and Biggs would also be very nervous about their places in the long term plans of the team going forward - unfortunately I can't see either getting another year at this stage.

I believe Walsh is contracted for next year. Not sure about Lockyer.

As a rookie listed player, Biggs will almost certainly be on a one year contract. I think he'll be hard pushed to get another year too. Rampe is a certainty to be promoted to the senior list and Jack is higher likely. X is a keeper (whether on the senior or rookie list) and you'd think they'd give Naismith another year unless there are long term question marks over his physical condition. You don't draft a young, very raw ruckman without knowing you need to be patient. Biggs, Lloyd and Robinson have all played good football for the reserves this year but I reckon the scarcity of list spots means only one is likely to get another year.

[penga]

Speaking of nicknames for the young ones. I was watching the game on Sunday with a mate, and when BJ hit the pack at full tilt and kicked a goal, my mate yelled out, PIGEON!! (picks up the crumbs)

I thought it was gold.