who is under pressure in 2014 ?

[Auntie.Gerald]

The reason i popped Bird in the mix was because there are other players emerging that have a much stronger offensive part of their game emerging but are a little behind a Birdy in their in and under defensive tagging...........so obviously if they can get the defensive part of their game right ......well they are already ahead in speed and attack

i did preface by saying that serious pressure maybe the season after but i am very impressed with our list below our best 22

[Reggi]

Probably more than you think. Longmire has turned over 20 - 25% every year. Cannot see that changing. Currently our rookies look more promising than our last 2-3 years of draftees. With the exception of Mitchell would think most would have a lot to prove

[Captain]

Bird is a good player no doubt. Plenty of others coming through that will be putting pressure on him though.

Jack, ROK, Kennedy, McVeigh, Jetta, Parker and maybe Mitchell are all ahead of him.

McGlynn offers more as a forward.

Who else is left that Bird will replace?

[Ludwig]

I think there is pressure on the entire midfield group due to the depth of the group and the quality of young players coming through. Bird is in my best 22, but perhaps realises the pressure from below, which is why he seems to be putting in such a good preseason with his running times.

Shaw, McGlynn, Cunningham and BJ can't make my best 22 at the moment. I would be happy to see any of them in the team. It only shows how difficult it is to fit everyone in. Those younger players that are impressing in the preseason like Marsh, Perris, Jones and Towers have to join a queue that is already quite long. It will be interesting to see how they do in the NAB cup (if that's what it's still called).

[Simo]

I think Reg will be the first looked at, if Reid goes back and LRT comes back....his lack of pace could be an issue. His height may save him but X and I hope Walsh can really step up.

- - - Updated - - -

interchange will also put pressure on the less than super fit

[Mountain Man]

Shaw, McGlynn, Cunningham and BJ can't make my best 22 at the moment.

Ludwig,

You must have a very tall 22 with none of the above in your "best selection".

[ShockOfHair]

Bird was the Swans' best tagger and the 10th best in the league last last year, according to Champion Data. Beat his opponent five times out of eight.

Blues' Ed Curnow emerges as AFL's No. 2 tagger

[Cheer_Cheer]

Horse.. If he doesn't win us a flag with this lot of cattle then questions will be asked :-)

[wolftone57]

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.

I don't see Shaw in our best 22 anymore. I see Rampe there. I think it is getting to the stage that players like BJ & Harry will also be pushing for top 22.

[DK_]

I think the bigger question is whether Horse will stick with the stability strategy (in which being in the top 22 is important) or go with something more like Geelong's top 30 policy (in which best 22 is only of academic interest until you hit the big games & finals). Given the exchange cap, the age of some of our stars and our team running out of fuel late last year, I'd be surprised if we don't see some rotating.

I think the McGlynn to the midfield is just part of a strategy to rest midfielders without using up the exchange cap. Wouldn't be surprised to see Smith swapping with midfielders for parts of the game either.

[wolftone57]

I think the bigger question is whether Horse will stick with the stability strategy (in which being in the top 22 is important) or go with something more like Geelong's top 30 policy (in which best 22 is only of academic interest until you hit the big games & finals). Given the exchange cap, the age of some of our stars and our team running out of fuel late last year, I'd be surprised if we don't see some rotating.

I think the McGlynn to the midfield is just part of a strategy to rest midfielders without using up the exchange cap. Wouldn't be surprised to see Smith swapping with midfielders for parts of the game either.

I agree and I think the top 30 strategy is going to be the go. I think it will be horses for courses this season and rest the players who need it. The mids may get a rest rotation this season as may our old blokes. We might even see some of the defense getting rested at times in easier games.

[Auntie.Gerald]

hhhmmmm not sure re the top 30

but I am really starting to struggle with our best 22........i thought i was getting my head around it but if Shaw and AJ come back fit and firing in the early rounds and knowing our policy at the Swans is to ensure that our snr players go out with a full season in SNRS where ever possible before retirement ......maybe then Shaw will play in the backline

I wonder with the squad stacked as it is if we may see Mal play more minutes then ever up on the wing so that Shaw can play majority of minutes, Macca maybe moves back into the midfield with Shaw spending most of his minutes in the backline and go out with a bang in season 2014 !

A little like ROK playing up front in Judes role of 2013 and or rotating thru the middle ROK will be given every chance to shine in 2014 and potentially go out a winner at 33yrs of age in season 2014

So where does that leave LRT ? in my mind i find it difficult to have ROK, SHAW and LRT in the 22 - i know that sounds crazy in years gone past but we have some serious players to leave out also !



Maybe this is not the round 1 team due to injured players recovering but maybe by rd 6.......either way our backline looks rock solid

Shaw, Ted, AJ
Smithy, Grundy, Rampe

Hannes
Mal
Kennedy
Jack
Macca
Pyke

ROK, Reid, Goodes
Rohan, Tip, Buddy


Bench:

Bird
Mcglynn
Mitchell
Parker

LRT
Jetta
BJ
Cunningham
Laidler
Marsh
Towers

[Melbourne_Blood]

It's drawing a long bow to have Rohan starting and Jetta on an extended bench. Jetta has a few more points on the board than the rooster, as good as he will probably be, he isn't there just yet ( he may have been if not for that injury though ). Jetta may have been the most important player structurally to our flag year, he starts until fitness or form dictates otherwise IMO.

[Nico]

Auntie, you can't be serious to have Jetta out of the best 22.

[ernie koala]

I am a huge fan of AJ....but with 2 reco's and 12 months out, he'll most likely be playing Autumn in the 2's.

I suspect he'll have to wait for a spot to open up, through injury or poor form, before he gets back in the 1's.