who is under pressure in 2014 ?

[Auntie.Gerald]

back from hols and i thought i would share the players I am concerned for in season 2014........this does not mean they are out on the ear as most will start in Snrs if fit and ready ....... but I am truly concerned that some of them may have trouble stopping the talent, tenacity and fitness pushing thru........if it is not season 2014 then it maybe the one after.

I am not basing this on their past glories and some of them hero like contributions.......I am just trying to be practical with where they are at now, what their best looked like, how they are cooping with constant or debilitating injuries.......and can they go to new heights vs our talent coming thru...............


Jetta
Rohan
Birdy
McGlynn
LRT
Shaw
ROK
Goodes

[swansrob]

Neither of Goodes, O'Keefe or LRT are under pressure. No matter what, if fit, they'll be for into the side. Bird has been pretty consistent and McGlynn is being groomed for a midfield role. Jetta needs to pull some solid games together, but if he recaptures 2012 form, he's not going anywhere. Rohan is similar - after so long out of the game, he just needs to play some solid footy. Shaw could go either way. He won't be there Round 1 and is likely to make his come back via the NEAFL and will be in direct competition with a couple of young guns.

[liz]

The guys under most pressure are probably those entering their 2nd and 3rd years on the list (excluding Jack and Rampe, who've earned themselves contracts beyond the end of this season, and Mitchell, for obvious reasons). It might seem harsh to suggest these 2nd and 3rd year players need to prove themselves, but the reality of the AFL system is that several of them will almost certainly be churned out at the end of this year. It's up to each of them to prove why they should be retained over the rest of their cohort. They don't necessarily need to play senior football this year to secure their spots beyond this year, but most of them will need to be seriously pushing for selection and/or demonstrating a strong trend of development.

[ernie koala]

I agree with Liz. Can't see any pressure on the old boys union, they all have plenty of credits in the bank.

It's players like.... Membrey, Towers, Lockyer, Marsh, Dick, Cunningham, Biggs.... who need to show plenty to stay on the list...

Good luck to them all.

[jono2707]

Shaw is likely in his last season, also perhaps LRT and Goodsey. The only pressure they're under is whether injuries will keep them off the park.

I don't know why you would think Jetta, Bird or Rohan would be under pressure - these guys are best 22 when fit. McGlynn may feel the pressure from some of the younger guys but I'm confident Benny has the fight and will to succeed.

As Liz said, the real pressure is on the 2-3 year players who have not yet played seniors. Some of these guys need to get some games under their belts to stay on, and the reality is that a few probably won't get the chance. Biggs was very lucky in 2013 to get a few games in which he impressed, so he had the fortune to stay on the list - many others in similar situations don't have the luck to get a few games like he did and miss their chances all together. He'll need to develop further in 2014 too.

I don't know why Bird is not seen by some here as a top 22 player - he is quality and absolutely vital to our structures and is the sort of player many teams would kill for.

[royboy42]

Bird has always had doubters, or , at least people who don't see his value.
I reckon it's because he is not a showy player, doesn't do a lot of spectacular things. But his worth to the team is always recognised by the powers that matter. Didn't he finish top ten again in the club best in '13?
I remember arguing his case here this time last year. He's in my 'always plays if fit' group.

[Ludwig]

I agree with Liz and others about 2nd and 3rd year players being under pressure. This is always the case, unless you're like a Hanners, and show you are heading for stardom from the get go.

Auntie has a point about some of the others being under pressure as well.

Those on the list that are over 30 will play until they cannot, a la Jude.

But even high quality players like Jetta and Bird will have to play at top level to keep their spots, and perhaps more so, to stay off the trade table, as the number of quality midfielders at the Swans grows. A player like Laidler could push Rampe into the competition for midfield spots. Good words about Marsh, Towers, Lloyd, Robinson and Cunningham add to the pressure for spots. They are under pressure as 2nd and 3rd year players, but they are putting pressure on those regulars to keep their spots as well. Newcomers Perris and Jones are looking like winners too. The reality is that there cannot be spots for all of them, so something has to give.

It's a good exercise trying to pick a team that includes players that you are 'nearly certain' will make it as quality senior players, just to see how difficult it can be. I think we may have to trade one or 2 'regular' midfielders at the end of the season if most of the ones on my 'near certainty' list come through.

[Jewels]

He's in my 'always plays if fit' group.

Mine too Royboy, and more importantly, I think Longmire and co agree also.

[ShockOfHair]

The obvious one would be Rampe. AJ is still injured, but LRT will step in for him. After AJ recovers, Rampe seems the one most likely to give way. Will be interesting to see how our backline sets up after Shaw comes back as well.

[Ludwig]

The obvious one would be Rampe. AJ is still injured, but LRT will step in for him. After AJ recovers, Rampe seems the one most likely to give way. Will be interesting to see how our backline sets up after Shaw comes back as well.

To some Rampe may seem the most 'obvious' to be one most likely based on the last one in, first out, policy, but based on performance, I think he will be a permanent fixture in the side, ahead of many more accomplished players, Shaw and LRT included. Rampe is really the total package: Speed, endurance, strength, long kicking and kicking accuracy, hardness and a good size as well. I think we are all still a bit in shock about how good an overlooked player can be. But I'm putting Rampe in the Michael Barlow category as an overlooked gem. I'm expecting even bigger things from Dane this year.

[Mountain Man]

To me McGlynn is the one to worry. With all the talls in our forward line (Tippet, Franklin, Reid, Goodes), plus the speedy Rohan and Jetta running forward, it seems to me we are missing the small fast crumbing forward who is always trying to get to the drop of the ball.

B Jack in that specialist role could be an absolute winner.

McGlynn seeking/being groomed for more time in the midfield seems like a coals to Newcastle option given the talent in abundance there. He could then miss out totally.

[ernie koala]

To me McGlynn is the one to worry.

McGlynn seeking/being groomed for more time in the midfield seems like a coals to Newcastle option given the talent in abundance there. He could then miss out totally.

He may be training for a permanent tagging role. To compliment Bird.

[Captain]

Bird would easily be the one under most pressure.

[Mr Magoo]

Why Bird.

In my opinion , player most under pressure to perform - Franklin.

Player most under pressure to stay in the first 22 - depends if you base it on the 22 that ran out against Freo or whether you consider it against the usual suspects. If you look at the Freo 22 then Cunningham most under pressure to lose his spot. If you consider the core group then really no one is specifically under pressure , its just whoever comes out and is not performing.

The reality is that we traded most of our players that were in this category - Everitt, White, Lamb and Armstrong fell heavily into this category.

[Plugger46]

Franklin. In terms of scrutiny on performance anyway.

Walsh, Lockyer, Towers spring to mind.

I think the club rates Bird a lot higher than some people on here. He's important to us in my opinion.