pre season updates

[MightyBloods]

I heard the rumour too. Hanners loves to cook. KT has moved into his house and taken over the kitchen. This could be a HUGE story for those courageous enough to put it in the papers. They invited Lance to dinner and had the paparazzi outside the windows hearing the argument between Hanners and KT...."No, I want to mash the potatoes!!"
Lance was heard saying "where's there's smoke, there's fire"! He was right......KT burnt the sausages!

[MightyBloods]

and on a separate note:
I'll put my hand up and say that Harry Marsh will be the surprise packet from a good crop of kids. Don't be fooled by the half-back talk. This kid is being groomed for a midfield role and was challenged post 2013 to improve his tank. He wants to play midfield and has returned to pre-season a different kid. The talk from WA a few years prior to him being drafted was that he was a much better player in midfield but that the WA colts needed him back to shore up an undersized backline. I know it will be tough to break into a strong senior swans side in 2014 but if this kid buckles down I think I'm going to enjoy the ride.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Yep Swampy has the opportunity to takeover Roks role in the team........but for me i think he is still not ready to dis lodge a midfielder in our 2014 squad but he will be applying massive pressure along with so many others as the coaches have been impressed by his return form, weight, attitude etc

The midfield rotation has never had as much depth in my opinion and even Josh Francou said already that Zak Jones has massively impressed him and has been a standout amongst the young guys............Zak thinks of himself as an inside midfielder and I think he can BE every bit as good as his brother - with a little more versatility in positions and matchups due to him being a little taller already

McVeigh
Jack
Kennedy
Hannes
ROK
Mitchell
Parker
McGlynn
Jetta
Bird
Perris
Swampy
Jones
Hewett
Lloyd
Robinson


Then you even have the small to med forwards who can rotate along the midfeld wings for small periods / matchups

Cunningham
BJ
Rohan
Towers

-----------------------

When ROK, McGlynn, Macca retire over the new few seasons we are certainly in good hands for our midfield rotation

[liz]

and on a separate note:
I'll put my hand up and say that Harry Marsh will be the surprise packet from a good crop of kids. Don't be fooled by the half-back talk. This kid is being groomed for a midfield role and was challenged post 2013 to improve his tank. He wants to play midfield and has returned to pre-season a different kid. The talk from WA a few years prior to him being drafted was that he was a much better player in midfield but that the WA colts needed him back to shore up an undersized backline. I know it will be tough to break into a strong senior swans side in 2014 but if this kid buckles down I think I'm going to enjoy the ride.

He was played almost exclusively in the midfield in the NEAFL side last year, before injury prematurely ended his season. So it seems as if that is always where the Swans have seen him. He was given a lot of defensive / tagging roles so the club might see him gradually replacing ROK as a big bodied onballer who can shut a player down. He's got pace, which ROK has never had, though of course his other skills (especially his ball winning ability and overhead marking) can't be compared to ROK's, at least not yet.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i agree liz .........but I must say that his overhead marking defensively, in the Draft high lights package, when playing HBF, was very impressive and showed hat he is right up there in his starting point to continue improving in overhead marking, man on man ball winning vs other kids his age

plus Swampy also was no 1 in the Draft repeat sprints which is a great effort for his build

I think above all his kicking is Malceski like...........i have watched a couple of training sessions and he can nail a 50 to 60m pass right on the chest with a Nick Mal low fast trajectory which is superior to a lot of other emerging players

overall Harrison does appear to have that physical competitiveness which is such a key part of becoming a strong inside mid

it will be fascinating to watch his midfield development in the midfield in 2014 as he had several injuries thru out his first season at the swans last year and really didnt stand out much with his limited base and limited games in ressies

[Auntie.Gerald]

BTW our young inside midfield group compared to the likes of a say a dominant Cats inside mid rotation is looking formidable indeed.....ie body type we have recruited very very well to ensure we we can be dominant on the inside contested footy for many years to come


obviously we made a terrific judgement call with Josh Kennedy - 26yrs of age and 189cm / 96kg

Parker - 21yrs of age and 183cm / 86kg

Mitchell - 20yrs of age and 181cm / 83kg

Bird - 24yrs of age and 180cm / 85kg

...............

Z.Jones - 18yrs of age and 183cm and 74kg (will end up like his brother closer to 85kg and just as promising)

Swampy - 19yrs of age 189cm / 84kg (will end up closer to 88kg)

Perris 18yrs of age and 179cm / 74kg (he will be very similar to Tom Mitchell in my opinion in weight/height)


vs the successful prototypes of the Cats standout inside mids ie


Bartel 187cm and 89kg (this year played a swing man role but prior to 2012/13 he played 9 seasons inside mid averaging 28 disposals a game)

Selwood 182cm and 87 kg (the master ball winner and one of the best midfielders I have watched)

Kelly 183cm and 86kg ( a stalwart)

Johnson 189cm and 92kg (has played alot more inside mid rotation the last few years and you wonder if potentially Gary Rohan could make a similar transition as he becomes older)

[wolftone57]

Anyone else hearing the rumours about Hanners discontent. Heard it from a mate of mine who is a recruiter at the Saints.
Not sure if it's buddy related but he might be on lookout to head back to Melbourne.
Hoping that isn't true

I think it might just be wishful thinking by your Saints friend. After all they could do with a Hannas at the Saints. In fact they could do with a Hannas, Reid, Tippitt, Buddy, the whole team really. There isn't a lot to work with down there and the best have either retired, on the cusp of retirement or gone to other clubs. Richardson is going to have to have a good wizard down there to produce a footy team capable of being competitive.

[wolftone57]

and on a separate note:
I'll put my hand up and say that Harry Marsh will be the surprise packet from a good crop of kids. Don't be fooled by the half-back talk. This kid is being groomed for a midfield role and was challenged post 2013 to improve his tank. He wants to play midfield and has returned to pre-season a different kid. The talk from WA a few years prior to him being drafted was that he was a much better player in midfield but that the WA colts needed him back to shore up an undersized backline. I know it will be tough to break into a strong senior swans side in 2014 but if this kid buckles down I think I'm going to enjoy the ride.

He was playing in the mids in our Twos before he got injured. I thought he was really getting there, he is very strong in the Joey sort of way and is good overhead just like Joey. I also love his quick thinking and delivery. He weighs up the options very quickly and delivers. He also seems to be able to create space. i agree he could be a bolter and from all reports he is burning it up in the preseason.

[wolftone57]

i agree liz .........but I must say that his overhead marking defensively, in the Draft high lights package, when playing HBF, was very impressive and showed hat he is right up there in his starting point to continue improving in overhead marking, man on man ball winning vs other kids his age

plus Swampy also was no 1 in the Draft repeat sprints which is a great effort for his build

I think above all his kicking is Malceski like...........i have watched a couple of training sessions and he can nail a 50 to 60m pass right on the chest with a Nick Mal low fast trajectory which is superior to a lot of other emerging players

overall Harrison does appear to have that physical competitiveness which is such a key part of becoming a strong inside mid

it will be fascinating to watch his midfield development in the midfield in 2014 as he had several injuries thru out his first season at the swans last year and really didnt stand out much with his limited base and limited games in ressies

I think he is an inside/outside mid as he can also get into space and provide the running option.

[aardvark]

Todays pics......

Pre-Season Training - Jan 6, 2014 - sydneyswans.com.au


What's with the mohawk Mal?

[troyjones2525]

where's buddy? Didn't see any pics of him out there

[Nico]

where's buddy? Didn't see any pics of him out there

He steers clear of the paparazzi.

Good to see Goodesy and Reid on the track.

[ScottH]

He steers clear of the paparazzi.

Not very well.

[sharp9]

Isn't it called a bro?

It's not too "ethnic" to say that if you're a Kiwi....did you hear Corey Anderson after he and Jesse Ryder put on 191 off 71 balls? The interviewer asked "What did you say during the over breaks?" .... Anderson replied "Shot, Bro....that was about it."

They hit a six every 5.6 balls :-)

[ScottH]

Maybe take the article to another sub forum.

Why wasnt Lance at training? Anyone?

He was in the gym this morning.
Twitter / sydneyswans: .@cird77 and @Buddy_Franklin ...