Round 18: Sydney Swans Reserves v Brisbane Lions Reserves

[Auntie.Gerald]

agree re Hewett

plays like a Macca or a Sam Mitchell are very good comparisons re Hewett's skill set and they way he moves

ie not the quickest in leg speed but he does have the time and space with the ball

Diesel, Pendles, Macca, SamMitchell they all have that time and space where defensive players simply hang off them and more importantly attacking players are always prepared to move into space as they know a player with vision will hit their mark

[wolftone57]

Thanks Ludwig. So with AJ, Jones and Aliir also in the wings we don't really need to stress about replacing our backline oldies. What about training Derickx up for the back line!!!

I don't agree with Ludwig. Lockyer is gone in my opinion. He hasn't given any reason to keep him. He gets caught out too often and seems to stargaze. Too many times he allows his opponent to get loose. Dick might be quick and when in the mids has obviously produced some very good footy. But against Brisbane he proved he is still a double edged sword. Some very good work mixed with some of the worst disposal. He also missed a few tackles he should have made and was too soft. I think he is gone too.

Hewett is the stand out. A real star in the making. I think he will be far better than Macca and he is pretty good. He has the hallmark of another player who was famous at North Adelaide, Barry Robran. While not as tall as Robran he has the same poise and beautiful balance.

Biggs; I don't know where you get the idea Biggs just blazes the ball into the 50 without looking Liz? I think his delivery is one of the best parts of his game. One of his passes into the 50 was a sensational 50 metre pass to a forward and we kicked a goal from it. The problem with our forwards in the Brisbane game is they were too static and we had no focal point. I think Biggs is a cut above most players in the NEAFL and in our side only Hewett, Tom Mitchell & BJ are his match.

Big Toby didn't lead up much this week and it is painfully obvious that Pat Mitchell is still learning the game. I thought some of the toppies were good, number 50 Mitch Wright was lively & Bottin-Noonan (53) plays it hard.

Xav Richards was very good as was Tommy Walsh. The backs seem to get forgotten a lot in discussion but these two controlled the game when it was in their area and the Lions tall forwards and resting rucks didn't have a great impact on the game.

LRT is definitely past it and I think he can't wait for the season to finish.

ROK was ok but not spectacular.

Big Sammy Naismith is a very good ruckman and controlled the rucks. He also gets the ball around the ground. For a guy his size he is very mobile, much like Shaun Rehn.

Robbo got a bit of it but seemed to be a bit sloppier than usual.

Marsh flashed in and out of the play and seemed to be playing on the HBF.

BJ was lively but some of his decision making was a bit flawed. There was a situation where he was on the run, clear and should have kept running and kicked a goal but decided to give it off and the kick wasn't to the forwards advantage. He still needs to learn when to go and when not to, he is still young it will come.

Tom Mitchell was good when he was out there but just a bit rusty. He will be better for the run.

[wolftone57]

THanks Liz.

What 's the outlook for Hewett? Is he a midfielder which means he'll be competing against Heeney, Lloyd and Mitchell, or is he being groomed for some other role?

Hewett is a mid. But I would think they are grooming him to replace Macca. He is highly talented and composed. His delivery by hand or foot is sweet. That is the only word for it SWEET! Moves so beautifully it seems he is gliding over the ground. Remember, this kid is only just 18. Heeney & Mills will be drafted, whether by us or someone else but if us then then Heeney would be an inside/outside player who is versatile. George Hewett is probably more an inside player who controls play. Think Mark Murphy, daniel Kerr, Simon Black, Shaun Higgins.

Why do we have so many mids on our list? The reason is that mids are at most risk of injury and good mids are hard to find. If a club can draft talented mids and mould them then that club wins premierships. For the forwards to be effective you have to have a great midfield. For backs to be competitive you needs a great defensive mid group. Although our main injuries recently have been to forwards & backs if you look at other clubs most have mids out injured.

[wolftone57]

Can't wait to see him in action, and it's a nice problem to have! :-D

He doesn't even look as though he is trying and the next thing you know he has racked up 30 disposals. It all seems so effortless. That is the sign of a really good player. you know the wonderful thing? He is just going to get better. This kid could be bigger than Ablett.

[ernie koala]

He doesn't even look as though he is trying and the next thing you know he has racked up 30 disposals. It all seems so effortless. That is the sign of a really good player. you know the wonderful thing? He is just going to get better. This kid could be bigger than Ablett.

That's a big, early call Wolfie. Hope you're right.

[aguy]

That's a big, early call Wolfie. Hope you're right.

A b$&@dy big call. Ablett may be the best player ever to have played the game.

[wolftone57]

That's a big, early call Wolfie. Hope you're right.

Ernie the kid has such wonderful balance. He is a footballer all the way, not an athlete but is athletic if you know what I mean. He has already built up since coming here. If you have a look at his draft pics and then look at him today he is so much different. His draft pics are of a skinny kid and now he is a really well built young man. He is a natural footballer, all talent, skill and the ability to put it all into action. He is also lucky as his North Adelaide coach Josh Francou is at the Swans now as Development Manager. Francou thinks George is going to be pretty special and is helping to mentor him. I'd trust Josh's judgement if I hadn't seen the kid play but I have seen him and he is very special. He will slot in very nicely one day.

[jono2707]

How about he aims to be better than Luke Ablett first and then upwards from there???

I liked Tommy Walsh's game on Friday too from what I saw. He moved well and took some good intercept marks down back. Dunno if he's off at the end of this year but I still think he'd have some value next year if retained.

And LRT phoned it in on Friday - he can see the end.

[Dosser]

Why do we have so many mids on our list? The reason is that mids are at most risk of injury and good mids are hard to find. If a club can draft talented mids and mould them then that club wins premierships. For the forwards to be effective you have to have a great midfield. For backs to be competitive you needs a great defensive mid group. Although our main injuries recently have been to forwards & backs if you look at other clubs most have mids out injured.

The reason is that the game is played now with a ruck, 3 forwards, 2 backs and the rest midfielders.

[Ludwig]

He doesn't even look as though he is trying and the next thing you know he has racked up 30 disposals. It all seems so effortless. That is the sign of a really good player. you know the wonderful thing? He is just going to get better. This kid could be bigger than Ablett.

And I thought that I might be a bit effusive in praise of Hewett. But good to see everyone is really positive about him.

Probably you and Liz are right on Lockyer. I haven't been impressed either, but thought he improved enough from last year to feel that given enough time could make the grade. He definitely seems to be getting more involved in general play than last year and his closing speed is good. He was a highly rated junior and expected to go somewhere in the 20s in the draft, not to say that bears on how well he is doing now, only that others have seen something promising in the kid.

The one that worries me is Xav. You were downright effervescent about him last year, but I haven't seen any improvement this year, and if anything, seems to have gone backwards. You said he played well on Friday, but watching the replay on the NT Thunder game left me wondering. He was soundly beaten by a slower and shorter opponent and his disposal was dreadful at times.

[Auntie.Gerald]

luv your enthusiasm wolfie

the kid is good but time will tell re comparisons to Jnr ......Gary Jnr is the best player i have ever seen week in week out.....year n year out..........

but i would stick my head out and say he could easily match McVeighs football achievement and ability.......which is still a very very big call !!!!

[ShockOfHair]

Hewett is the stand out. A real star in the making. I think he will be far better than Macca and he is pretty good. He has the hallmark of another player who was famous at North Adelaide, Barry Robran. While not as tall as Robran he has the same poise and beautiful balance.

As long he brings more Barry Robran than Grenville Dietrich, and doesn't suffer the same career-ending injury on the SCG as Robran, sounds good.

[liz]

Despite my positive comments on Hewett, I think there is some serious hyperbole in this thread about a young, still skinny kid who thus far has played some handy games at NEAFL level. Suggestions that he shapes as being better than two time Swans B&F and premiership captain McVeigh are hugely premature. As for GAJ...

Of course, he "might" become a good player. He "might" even become a very good player. But projecting that far forward for a kid yet to play a senior game verges on the ridiculous, IMHO. Just let the kid play!

[Matt80]

Despite my positive comments on Hewett, I think there is some serious hyperbole in this thread about a young, still skinny kid who thus far has played some handy games at NEAFL level. Suggestions that he shapes as being better than two time Swans B&F and premiership captain McVeigh are hugely premature. As for GAJ...

Of course, he "might" become a good player. He "might" even become a very good player. But projecting that far forward for a kid yet to play a senior game verges on the ridiculous, IMHO. Just let the kid play!

I wanted to ask Liz, Ludwig, MCS, Ugg and some other experienced regular reserves spectators the following questions.

My view is that Lockyear won?t be resigned. Is that how you see it?

There are some other interesting list management dilemmas.

Walsh V Richards - I believe that the club will keep one of these players as a back-up key defender. Who will survive? I don?t see both surviving.

Marsh V Robinson ? I see that both of those guys are competing for the one senior spot. They will both be 3rd year players next year. Who has the greatest long term potential?

Dick V Biggs ? I believe they are competing for the same spot as a back-up small defender. Who will survive?

I think Naismith will get the 3rd year Rookie spot.

I think Shaw, LRT and ROK will retire.

Bird and Malceski may seek more financial opportunity at other clubs.

I think Mitchell is more likely to stay if Bird leaves.

[mcs]

I haven't seen so much of the reserves this year, but I do agree (hard to believe matt80 that we agree) that lockyer is looking unlikely to avoid the chop next year.

I have little doubt naismith will be kept on next year in some description, be it as a rookie or if space allows, on the main list. He has a lot of potential, and im sure the club see one of him or nankevis (or both) as the hopeful successor to pyke.

I think walsh has looked ok the last couple of games he has played, but I think he will probably go as well.

I would put robinson in front of marsh as well.