Best 22 according to afl.com.au

[Ludwig]

On SEN this afternoon Glen Luff from Champion Data was commenting on the teams and what he thought of their chances in 2014. Of us he said we are the second oldest list after Freo and that the only question mark is our depth. He said our top 23 were very good but he questioned the the rest of the list that had played not a lot of games between them. He said the loss of Mumford, Lamb etc left us a bit thin on depth if we had another run of injuries we would be in strife. Now here is a man that lives and breathes footy and stats, So do we believe what he says given that us supporters have faith in our depth or is it another person under rating our list once again. By the way he thinks Freo will win the flag. He believes we will finish top 4 and once again will be a contender. Very interesting what he said about other clubs. Believes North will be the big improver, has doubts on Geelongs depth and says Collingwood are rebuilding and wont make the 4. Dismisses Carlton as only maybe 8th at best.

No doubt the Swans' success will depend on a healthy return to form of several key players. I came up with a list of 27 players that I would feel comfortable with being in the side, with Cunningham and BJ being the last 2. From a statistical point of view, we did lose a lot of depth. Players like Everitt and Armstrong are going to look statistically better than Laidler and Cunningham. Rohan doesn't have much in the stats column either, given his absence for nearly 2 years.

I counted 19 changes from the 2012 premiership year list, so that's quite a big turnover with a lot of unknowns, particularly when looking from the outside. My own optimism stems from the belief that many of these younger players have what it takes to be good senior footballers. But it's a fair criticism that we after the top rung of senior players the list drops off to unknown quantities. You only know the answer to these questions after the year is over.

A good part of the future may well depend on how our 4 ND picks from 2012, Towers, Marsh, Membrey and Dick, play this season. I think all showed something encouraging last year, but need to step up another level to show they are AFL ready.

[liz]

It is impossible to know at this stage. Every player starts out at some point as having no games under their belts - including players like Mitchell and Rampe this time last year (plus someone like Jack who didn't look entirely out of place in the side). If every player we have on our list outside our best 25 or so turns out to be a dud, we're in trouble, not just for this year but into the near and medium future too. And if we have to introduce 5 or 6 newbies all at the same time, we'll struggle a tad in 2014 (just as we did late in the season against the better sides in 2013).

[ShockOfHair]

On SEN this afternoon Glen Luff from Champion Data was commenting on the teams and what he thought of their chances in 2014. Of us he said we are the second oldest list after Freo and that the only question mark is our depth. He said our top 23 were very good but he questioned the the rest of the list that had played not a lot of games between them. He said the loss of Mumford, Lamb etc left us a bit thin on depth if we had another run of injuries we would be in strife. Now here is a man that lives and breathes footy and stats, So do we believe what he says given that us supporters have faith in our depth or is it another person under rating our list once again. By the way he thinks Freo will win the flag. He believes we will finish top 4 and once again will be a contender. Very interesting what he said about other clubs. Believes North will be the big improver, has doubts on Geelongs depth and says Collingwood are rebuilding and wont make the 4. Dismisses Carlton as only maybe 8th at best.

I'd agree with most of forecasts especially about North and Collingwood, and while we've lost depth in the trade period we showed during the season we had one of the most capable lists in the league. If we have ten of our top 22 on the sidelines again in 2014 then sure, the quality of the bottom half of the list will be tested.

As it is we will start the year without Shaw and AJ in the back line, but LRT and Laidler will be there to step up.

Even in the ruck, we have Derrickx, Tippett, LRT in support. So barring another shocker of a season in injuries depth shouldn't really be an issue. 2014 should be a chance to get games into guys like BJ, Harry, Membrey, etc. Plus there's always that one player who unexpectedly establishes himself in the team, like Rampe did this year and AJ in 2011.

[Auntie.Gerald]

is it any wonder that McGlynn has already been asked to train with the midfield.........when players like Cunningham, Brandon, Rohan and maybe even Towers could set the forward line a light with some serious speed and execution in the forward line

I am so delighted with the balance of our squad........the pressure to get in the top 22 in 2014 season and stay there is crazy !

[tasmania60]

Future

Watched for 30 years i have never seen the club so organised ,profits when we where chasing handouts from the AFL, drafting so meticulous now and with so much depth. Membership climbing where the club was fragmented , a coach who is so astute and likable. And the opposition haven't worked out what we are creating . A culture which players , people will support for life , if you look at Collingwood with its numbers i honestly think Sydney are chasing the last link in the puzzle numbers . My view hope i not wrong is multiple premierships realling think this period in the swans history will be written about for years .CHEER CHEER RED AND WHITE .