who is under pressure in 2014 ?

[Cheer_Cheer]

I can't wait to find out who this years whipping boy(s) is going to be..

[ScottH]

I can't wait to find out who this years whipping boy(s) is going to be..

LF?

[wolftone57]

I can't wait to find out who this years whipping boy(s) is going to be..

It'll be Birdie or Reg as they are the last of the whipping boys left. Jesse & Dre & TDL a year gone already there only remains those two. Poor guys.

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I can't wait to find out who this years whipping boy(s) is going to be..

It'll be Birdie or Reg as they are the last of the whipping boys left. Jesse & Dre & TDL a year gone already there only remains those two. Poor guys.

[jono2707]

It'll be Birdie or Reg as they are the last of the whipping boys left. Jesse & Dre & TDL a year gone already there only remains those two. Poor guys.

If Bird and Reg are the best we can come up with for whipping boys then we are in for a fantastic season....

[Swansongster]

I can't wait to find out who this years whipping boy(s) is going to be..

Maybe Benny? And, of course, LRT is still around to cop a bit of unjust Cat-o'-nine_tails.

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I can't wait to find out who this years whipping boy(s) is going to be..

Maybe Benny? And, of course, LRT is still around to cop a bit of unjust Cat-o'-nine_tails.

[Ludwig]

I can't wait to find out who this years whipping boy(s) is going to be..

Agree with Scott that LF will be a big target. He'll either be a hero or a whipping boy, there's no in between for Buds.

Looks as though Bird is heading for a very good season. He's a solid player and can't imagine him being a whipping boy.

Benny also has been mentioned among those having excellent pre-seasons. I think he has a challenge to hold his spot, but he's certainly giving it go.

Reg was my whipping boy last year. He's a bit like Bird: Not spectacular, but a solid reliable player. I thought last year he had too many error-ridden lacklustre games and would like to see him return to his more consistent performances of 2012.

LRT has graduated from whipping boy contender to R&W legend.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Can you have Reid and LRT playing a swing role ?

I cant say I remember a team moving two key talls from the backs to the forwards in season games?

has worked well for players like Bradshaw and Taylor etc over the years

Many strings to flexible Reid's bow - sydneyswans.com.au

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Can you have Reid and LRT playing a swing role ?

I cant say I remember a team moving two key talls from the backs to the forwards in season games?

has worked well for players like Bradshaw and Taylor etc over the years

http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2014-01-29/flexible-reid-likely-to-float

[Ludwig]

Can you have Reid and LRT playing a swing role ?

I cant say I remember a team moving two key talls from the backs to the forwards in season games?

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One that comes to mind is the Dons use of Carlise and Hurley, although I don't remember the specifics of times they might have switched roles during games.

I have often thought about a strategy of using LRT and Reid in planned tactical role switching during the course of play. For example, LRT starts in defence and Reid at forward, when we move the ball forward on the rebound, LRT moves with the play and Reid moves up ground and may partake in the play in the midfield. But then Reid continues back to cover LRT's man and LRT continues forward filling Reid's role. This can be done on a regular basis throughout the game. I think it could be very confusing for the opposition matchups and could easily result in having a free man in the forward line, much like Harry Taylor gets free when he wanders forward unexpectedly.

[Matt80]

One that comes to mind is the Dons use of Carlise and Hurley, although I don't remember the specifics of times they might have switched roles during games.

I have often thought about a strategy of using LRT and Reid in planned tactical role switching during the course of play. For example, LRT starts in defence and Reid at forward, when we move the ball forward on the rebound, LRT moves with the play and Reid moves up ground and may partake in the play in the midfield. But then Reid continues back to cover LRT's man and LRT continues forward filling Reid's role. This can be done on a regular basis throughout the game. I think it could be very confusing for the opposition matchups and could easily result in having a free man in the forward line, much like Harry Taylor gets free when he wanders forward unexpectedly.

I think positions will run out!

In the forward line the three starting talls are Tippett, Reid, Goodes (if he gets up). Rohan is 4th running tall

The two best tall defenders are Richards and Grundy. There is room for one more tall which will either be LRT or Reid. Alex Johnson will put pressure on for that tall 3rd defender spot during the 2nd half of the season. Rampe is comfortably the 4th tall.

Only one of LRT, Reid and Johnson can play presuming no body is injured.

Having said that our depth of talls may be handy with injuries.

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I think positions will run out!

In the forward line the three starting talls are Tippett, Reid, Goodes (if he gets up). Rohan is 4th running tall

The two best tall defenders are Richards and Grundy. There is room for one more tall which will either be LRT or Reid. Alex Johnson will put pressure on for that tall 3rd defender spot during the 2nd half of the season. Rampe is comfortably the 4th tall.

Only one of LRT, Reid and Johnson can play presuming no body is injured.

Having said that our depth of talls may be handy with injuries.

Sorry I meant the three starting talls are Tippett, Buddy and Goodes!

[Ludwig]

I think positions will run out!
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Sorry I meant the three starting talls are Tippett, Buddy and Goodes!

Remember that Tippett will be rotating through the ruck this year. You can have Tippett, Buddy, Goodes, Pyke and Reid playing roughly 80% game time each, so you always have 4 of the 5 on the field throughout the game. And you have the option of Reid dropping back if need be, when extra tall coverage is required, because we really don't have a tall defence.

Richards is the only certainty for tall defenders, but I would think Reg and AJ would be the likely 2 others. LRT, as great as he is, may be the man in reserve, but I have no qualms about him playing ahead of Reg. I can't see Reid being left out if fit. Horse loves him.

But you are right that the depth is looking pretty good. Some good words mentioned about Xav and Allir has me thinking that we have the defence covered longer term as well.

Buddy, Goodes and Reid are all super-athletic talls and can (and have) had runs through the midfield as well. I can't remember a side having 3 tall forwards with such speed and agility. Awesome!

[wolftone57]

ive always thought of a faster Stevie J when I watch Gary

the ability to do something mercurial out of nothing and both have great kicks that bring crowds to their feet

Gary has the tough job at the height he is and it could be said even harder is the job for the third tall KPDefender on a player like Gazza

I think bit by bit we may see Gaz see some time in the midfield in years to come and lets be honest with Tip, Buddy, Goodes, Reid, Rohan sharing the leads then Gazza has to evolve as do all players in a role like garys

If he takes Stevie J's lead he will become very much a fast crumbing forward who can also get on the lead. Two string bow.

[wolftone57]

Cherry would be fine ... but his success will be enough. Just at this stage he has not shown (as for example) Mitchell did very quickly ... anything like sustained performance in any game he has played. I hope we are all happy as this year proceeds.

Gary I don't think you can compare him to Mitchell. Mitchell is a mid and of course has much more chance to accumulate. Rohan is a forward and if you look at stats of forwards not many of them are pushing 20 possies, except Lukie Parker when he played forward in the Final against Carlton. The average possies for our forwards are thus; Benny 13.29, Jesse 12.67, Reid 10.80, Tippett 10.75, Lamb 9.83, BJ 7.56 & Rohan 5.00. so all in all at this time forwards at the Swans do not rate highly in possies but with Rohan coming off his horrific injury and being not match conditioned I think he did all right. The problem was he probably should have been getting his match conditioning for a bit longer in the Twos. I was one for getting him back as quick as possible and after seeing him play at seniors level realised just how far off match conditioning and ball handling he was.

[Captain]

Richards is the only certainty for tall defenders, but I would think Reg and AJ would be the likely 2 others. LRT, as great as he is, may be the man in reserve, but I have no qualms about him playing ahead of Reg.

Richards and Reg are our 2 key defenders. They are easily the best and this won't change.

LRT is ahead of AJ.

Also, it is going to take AJ time to come back from his knee, so wouldn't be placing much reliance on him this year.

Rampe would be 4th key defender. Can only see him playing if one of the above is injured (based on AJ and LRT's record, a scenario quite likely).

[Ludwig]

Richards and Reg are our 2 key defenders. They are easily the best and this won't change.

LRT is ahead of AJ.

Also, it is going to take AJ time to come back from his knee, so wouldn't be placing much reliance on him this year.

Rampe would be 4th key defender. Can only see him playing if one of the above is injured (based on AJ and LRT's record, a scenario quite likely).

Our structure was thrown off last year due to injuries, but we are likely to go back to the our more traditional look (2012) when we had Ted, Reg, AJ and Mattner as the defensive backbone. I think AJ will play ahead of LRT when fit, as he brings attack and athleticism to the tall brigade, and is also a future mainstay of the defence.

Laidler hasn't been talked about much, but I think he will by vying for that 'Mattner' slot held by Rampe last year. Laidler is probably more solid defensively, but Rampe has speed, and will be hard to leave out of the team if he improves from his impressive 2013.

Reid, LRT, Rampe, Shaw and Benny all seem to be best 22, but somehow it's hard to see who goes out when they go in. I've got 25 in our best 22, which of course doesn't fit, and another half dozen that should be pushing hard for selection.

[liz]

Reid, LRT, Rampe, Shaw and Benny all seem to be best 22, but somehow it's hard to see who goes out when they go in. I've got 25 in our best 22, which of course doesn't fit, and another half dozen that should be pushing hard for selection.

With our 9.8% advantage we have over everyone else, don't we get to field an extra two players each game?