2013 not yet re-signed....

[Go Swannies]

Can any of those happy to see Mumford leave and rely on Pyke as our "Tap Ruckman" let me know when they have seen Pyke give off a pass by foot like Mumford did to Cunningham or Pyke make a second and third effort when the ball is on the ground and then give a knock on or hand pass to advantage - it is why Mumford is so much better than Pyke when the going is tough in tight or around the ground - Pyke is a better mark and and a good set shot - Mumford is a better "footballer" and does the 1% much better than Pyke - he will be a huge loss if he goes

Pyke's kick off the ground to Jetta in the dying minutes of the 2012 Grand Final was helpful. Every time I view it I marvel at his composure.

[MightyBloods]

Can any of those happy to see Mumford leave and rely on Pyke as our "Tap Ruckman" let me know when they have seen Pyke give off a pass by foot like Mumford did to Cunningham or Pyke make a second and third effort when the ball is on the ground and then give a knock on or hand pass to advantage - it is why Mumford is so much better than Pyke when the going is tough in tight or around the ground - Pyke is a better mark and and a good set shot - Mumford is a better "footballer" and does the 1% much better than Pyke - he will be a huge loss if he goes

Agree with this.
I don't like the vibes with Mummy flagging early this year his intention not to look at an extension until season end. The Swans have always had a great recent record of locking away their stars. Dale Thomas and Buddy have made similar statements. History tells me that these guys already have made a decision to move on but won't say anything until they've played their last game (unlike the NRL).

If Mummy chooses to move on:

GWS - I have a gut feeling that this is his destination and GWS could take him first in the pre-season draft. They hold the aces and we would not get anything in compensation. About the only option that we would have is to try and do a trade with not just Mumford involved (ie Mumford and another Swan) for an earlier GWS draft pick/s.

Haw - No doubt the Hawks have got itchy feet on waiting for Franklin's decision. It has put 'on ice' some possible gains such as Mumford or Dale Thomas until he makes his decision. If it is Mummy's destination then a trade is likely. I just don't see it being for draft pick/s and the Swans playing hard to trade for a player or players. Hawthorn would be nervous to try and make it happen with their late pick in the pre-season draft. Players that the Swans may show interest: Breust, Suckling, Schoenmakers, Isaac Smith. For the record I'd love Isaac Smith or Luke Breust to be part of any deal. The Swans admitted after draft day that they were disappointed missing out on Smith in the 2010 draft (Haw got him 2 picks before our pick which happened to be Jed Lamb). Both Breust and Smith are NSW boys.

Coll -Similar to the Hawthorn situation.
I think Coll would be happy to make it a straight swap, Heath Shaw for Mumford. I have a feeling that the Swans may be tempted. Our best scenario is for Mummy not to want GWS and to choose either Haw/Coll which would allow us to be harder with both clubs in our dealings (ie both Haw /Coll being afraid that Mumford could agree to go to either club...both powerful Melb based). My preference, if it is Coll, is to play hard ball and dig in for Ben Reid. I'd even go as far as wanting both Shaw and Reid and giving them Mumford, our 1st Rd pick and maybe someone like White/Lamb. I have a gut feeling that there will be some pressure from our player group to particularly get Heath Shaw. If we were to lose Mumford and White in trade deals then we could go for ruck cover in other deals/picks (ie Currie returning...more mature, impressed early at North this year and cheaper by both draft pick and salary.

[liz]

No Cookies | thetelegraph.com.au

No idea on how good the sources are, but this article indicates that the Swans want to keep both White and Mumford, and also that their interest in Heath Shaw is waning (if, in fact, it was ever there).

[Matt80]

The thing that always impresses me about Pyke is that he always steps up with something when the chips are down! Think about his effort in the 2012 GF when Mumford was struggling. This year his performance against Geelong in Geelong was great and his performance in the Qualifying Final against the Hawks was also strong. When things are tough big Mike always steps up!

[Auntie.Gerald]

i know that Dane has been below his 2013 best in some of the last 5 games but honestly believe that this kid could go onto to be a very high level player for us hence i dont see a need for Heath Shaw as I see Mal and Rampe being play makers out of our HBF with Shaw for another season at least and we have Biggs coming along with Cunningham who could take on a role in the future as a small back

Rampe in in my opinion will do it fairly easy in the backs by next season and by all accounts has done very very well in his 1st season in the AFL this year.

Dane could over time move into the midfield like Kennedy as a project especially if Biggs keeps developing and AJ comes back. I also think why on earth couldnt Rampe do a role like Birdy??? Birdy is slower, not as fit and has a short kick........Rampe could in my opinion push for a tagging role.

Kennedy prior to coming to the Swans had some of the worst kicking skills I have ever seen on an AFL midfielder........Josh's role was dumbed down and he put 110% effort into his inside midfield work and fitness

I look at Dane Rampe and I dont think he will be in our backs much beyond 2014 unless our midfield is so stacked with talent we dont need him

Dane is top 3 in all the running events at the club and came out on top of the pre season timed drills overall amongst all players.

The guy has a thumping left foot kick, he is now 23 and strong as an oxe and he given another year in seniors he could easily start to impose himself rotating thru the middle and HBF a little like Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge or Jimmy Bartel type role

now I know some of you may think that is way over the top and right now you are right, right and right !

Im just saying the first time I saw Luke Parker I said here is a 10 yr player

The first time I saw Mitchell I thought here is a 10 yr player

Equally first time I saw KJ or Bolton i didnt think they were 10yr players at all - so I have been equally wrong with KJ and Jude and lets see with Tom and Luke as there is a long way to go in their careers.......but following this argument it is a 50/50 that we could be right or wrong on a Dane Rampe !

so back to the story ..........The first game I watched of Rampe i couldnt help but think of a young Luke Hodge.........I also thought that Rampe exudes a real Bloods style player and Dane has the build, tank, left foot kick and above all attitude to compete, compete, compete and compete !

So in summary i dont want any more small to mid size defenders !!!

Another outside running player i think is in need and maybe another tall defender

[111431]

No Cookies | thetelegraph.com.au

No idea on how good the sources are, but this article indicates that the Swans want to keep both White and Mumford, and also that their interest in Heath Shaw is waning (if, in fact, it was ever there).

Hallelujah !!

[Ajn]

My hope is that all re-sign, although the cap may not allow it.
I think that we should be able to move Goodes to an outside vet, plus O'Keefe to get the other spot vacated by Bolts and go to outside vet.
That gives us half of ROK's salary off cap, plus two more spots on the list, along with 3 retirements.
Making space to upgrade those who deserve it and keeping all of our list. (even Shaw if they deem him necessary, but prefer as a backup to youth)

The 3 spots minimum in the draft can be for rookie promotions.
May not even have a "live" pick. Rookie draft will be busy with Perris and maybe others from reserves as possible options.

My main worry is the itchy feet of the youth who get left out of the side...

[Swansongster]

If Mummy wants a long term deal, maybe it can be back-ended so that he gets more money in year three and four. Which of course could raise its own issues further down the track. I suspect some of our signed young guns are also on back-ended, incentive-claused deals.

[liz]

My hope is that all re-sign, although the cap may not allow it.
I think that we should be able to move Goodes to an outside vet, plus O'Keefe to get the other spot vacated by Bolts and go to outside vet.
That gives us half of ROK's salary off cap, plus two more spots on the list, along with 3 retirements.
Making space to upgrade those who deserve it and keeping all of our list. (even Shaw if they deem him necessary, but prefer as a backup to youth)

The 3 spots minimum in the draft can be for rookie promotions.
May not even have a "live" pick. Rookie draft will be busy with Perris and maybe others from reserves as possible options.

My main worry is the itchy feet of the youth who get left out of the side...

Goodes has been on the vets list for salary cap purposes for a while, and I think ROK might have been too. There are different provisions in place now, whereby you can have as many as you like but only $100k each counts outside the cap. But there were also transition arrangements whereby the old method could apply for a while (beneficial if you had a single vet on a large salary). No idea which method the Swans have elected to use in the short term.

'Inside' / 'outside' distinction was abolished last year too. All senior lists are now 38-40 (regardless of number of vets), and rookie list is 4-6, up to a total of 44. We still have some capacity for additional NSW rookies, and all international rookies are outside the main list for at least their first year.

I also think that only one rookie upgrade can be counted towards the minimum ND quota of 3. But Perris could be counted as another if he is put straight onto the senior list.

[DK_]

I think if we could foresee what a great contested mark and kick for goal that Pyke would become this year and how much Jesse White would improve, we may have not chased after Tippett.

What does my head in is the question that, if we hadn't chased Tippett so hard, tried to trade Jesse to Adelaide and then have them opt to dob themselves in rather than take him, would Jesse have been given the boot which he apparently needed to lift from being a promising also-ran to a gun forward? So if we hadn't got Tippett, maybe Jesse might still be languishing in the magoos?

[Mug Punter]

What does my head in is the question that, if we hadn't chased Tippett so hard, tried to trade Jesse to Adelaide and then have them opt to dob themselves in rather than take him, would Jesse have been given the boot which he apparently needed to lift from being a promising also-ran to a gun forward? So if we hadn't got Tippett, maybe Jesse might still be languishing in the magoos?

It makes me laugh the way Jesse is trumpeted on here. The only reason he is getting any reviews is that he has gone from realising 2% of his potential to about 50%. I agree he is improved but I still reckon he goes missing when the heat is on...

Those suggesting he is more important than Mumford are totally deluded.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the guy personally but I won't be too worried if he leaves for greener pastures - Reid and KT as our long term forwards will do for me any day. I'd be happy for us to resign him (which I wouldn't have said last year) but not at any cost.....

[aardvark]

It makes me laugh the way Jesse is trumpeted on here. The only reason he is getting any reviews is that he has gone from realising 2% of his potential to about 50%. I agree he is improved but I still reckon he goes missing when the heat is on...

Those suggesting he is more important than Mumford are totally deluded.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the guy personally but I won't be too worried if he leaves for greener pastures - Reid and KT as our long term forwards will do for me any day. I'd be happy for us to resign him (which I wouldn't have said last year) but not at any cost.....

Totally agree!

[chalbilto]

It makes me laugh the way Jesse is trumpeted on here. The only reason he is getting any reviews is that he has gone from realising 2% of his potential to about 50%. I agree he is improved but I still reckon he goes missing when the heat is on...

Those suggesting he is more important than Mumford are totally deluded.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the guy personally but I won't be too worried if he leaves for greener pastures - Reid and KT as our long term forwards will do for me any day. I'd be happy for us to resign him (which I wouldn't have said last year) but not at any cost.....

Spot on. It is imperative that we keep Mumford as he is I believe only 27.

[Mug Punter]

I have no issue with us keeping bith Jesse and Mumford and stretching the budget to do it - I believe this squad should be kept together and let to grow organically if we can.

Having said that, as Roosy says, most players can get overs at other clubs if they are at a successful club. Given we tried to trade Jesse last year and he is in a purple patch value wise at the moment, I cannot see loyalty being high on his list (nor should it really) so I expect him to go to the doggies or demons for significantly more than what we offer him. That means we need to do as much as we can to keep Mumford - if we can get within $75-100K per season of GWS I reckon loyalty and playing finals footy will keep him and we will probably need to offer him a four year deal.

[Swansongster]

I have no issue with us keeping bith Jesse and Mumford and stretching the budget to do it - I believe this squad should be kept together and let to grow organically if we can.

Having said that, as Roosy says, most players can get overs at other clubs if they are at a successful club. Given we tried to trade Jesse last year and he is in a purple patch value wise at the moment, I cannot see loyalty being high on his list (nor should it really) so I expect him to go to the doggies or demons for significantly more than what we offer him. That means we need to do as much as we can to keep Mumford - if we can get within $75-100K per season of GWS I reckon loyalty and playing finals footy will keep him and we will probably need to offer him a four year deal.

I don't think Roos will chase him too hard. Doggies could well do with such a player.