Craig Bird and Laidler re-sign

[crackedactor]

Birdy did not get given the number 14 for nothing. Alway been well regarded by Swans

Sorry to change the theme, but they were saying on SEN radio that Adam Goodes staging on Friday was disgusting and he should be reported for it. Does any one know what they are talking about???? Is it the free kick in front of goal were he got dragged down?

[Melbourne_Blood]

I watched the game I can't recall the Goodes incident, although he does have form. It couldn't have been worse than Lindsay Thomas' one, that was pathetic

[Meg]

Yes would be that free. Adam made sure ump knew but ridiculous to say it was 'disgusting' or that he should be reported for it. Sadly there are a lot of Goodes haters out there.

[ScottH]

Still a lot to re-sign according to this list
Sydney Swans RWO Wiki,2014 AFL Season List
Which may not be 100% accurate.

[Ludwig]

Sorry to change the theme, but they were saying on SEN radio that Adam Goodes staging on Friday was disgusting and he should be reported for it. Does any one know what they are talking about???? Is it the free kick in front of goal were he got dragged down?

I took another look at the replay. He was definitely held on to, so it was a free. It looked as if he could have been pulled down, but seemed to regain his balance, then (unless he just slipped) seems to have taken a dive. It's a shame that he does this sometimes. It's not a defence, but he wasn't given the call on a mark earlier in the game, and there was also the non-mark call from the previous game, and I suppose you get it in your mind that you need to make sure the ump sees this one.

He's had a few kinks in his game over the years. He gets called out on them because there is an expectation that a Brownlow medalist should perform to a higher level of sportsmanship than other players. Juddy took plenty of heat over the eye gouging as well. Fair enough.

[The Big Cat]

Still a lot to re-sign according to this list
Sydney Swans RWO Wiki,2014 AFL Season List
Which may not be 100% accurate.

Its not. Tom Mitchell is at least signed for next year and Perris was a 2 year deal.

[Matt80]

Excellent news - especially Craig.

Now I just want to hear that Mal will be a Swan for life. After all those years waiting for his knees to come right I want all the spoils.

I'll understand if he doesn't but I don't want to hear it.

I think that now that Bird has resigned that Tom Mitchills Swans future is uncertain despite being contracted.

I think Longmire has worked out that the ideal midfield balance is:

3 slower, inside ball extracting midfielders (Kennedy, Parker, Bird)

2 medium paced inside / outside endurance runners (McVeigh and Hanners)

The rest are speedy and multifaceted (McGlynn, K. Jack, Jetta, Lloyd, Cunningham)

Mitchell can only fit into the slow paced, inside midfield brigade. There are 3 spots that are filled by Kennedy, Parker and Bird. I don't think Longmire will open this section up to include four players to accommodate Mitchill. Mitchill does not have the flexibility of the others. If there is an injury then he can break into one of the three spots.

If Bird, Kennedy, and Parker are fit and in great form next season, then Mitchill may face more reserve time. Added to Mitchills challenges is that Hewitt and Heeney will be pushing as well if they have good pre seasons.

Mitchill will no doubt want to play 20 plus senior games in 2015 if fit and I don't know how they will do that I Kennedy, Parker and Bird are fit and firing in 2015.

[Flying South]

Matt, 2 questions;
1. Have you spoken to horse and he told you his midfield balance?
2. Have you seen all our midfielders in a race to know who is faster than others?

Just curious how you know these things. Or are they your opinions?

[jono2707]

Tom Mitchell's not going anywhere next year, according to a pretty good source:

O'Keefe no given to leave Swans, says Longmire - sydneyswans.com.au

[Bloods05]

Bird hasn't resigned. Hyphens still matter.

[Ampersand]

Gee, somehow Horse managed to fit Parker, Bird, Kennedy and Mitchell/Mitchill in the best 22 at the start of the year.

[Matt80]

Matt, 2 questions;
1. Have you spoken to horse and he told you his midfield balance?
2. Have you seen all our midfielders in a race to know who is faster than others?

Just curious how you know these things. Or are they your opinions?

Just opinions. A couple of points that leads me to this thinking:

- Late last season we played a midfield of Kennedy, Bird, Parker, Mitchill and ROK. That's five slower paced midfielders, inside contested midfiders. It worked against poor and middle rank teams, but did not work against Geelong, Fremantle and the -Hawks. Longmire since that time has talked more about pace.

- Early this season we played Kennedy, Bird, Parker, ROK and Mitchell. We lost 3 out of the first 4. Longmire took Mitchill and ROK out and since that point has played Kennedy, Parker and Bird as his three slower paced inside midfielders. It's worked with all the subsequent wins. ROK and Mitchill have not got another opportunity as Longmire has played the pace of Lloyd, B.Jack and Towers in the fringe player positions.

If not exactly certain about the pace of all those guys, but I would think that Parker is quicker than Bird and Kennedy. Hanners may be quicker than medium pace.

[Ampersand]

Longmire didn't take Mitchell out in Round 5. He had an ankle injury. Can you please stop posting things that are untrue?

[Matt80]

Longmire didn't take Mitchell out in Round 5. He had an ankle injury. Can you please stop posting things that are untrue?

He did have an ankle injury, but I thought he was rested after the North Melbourne game. Sorry if I got that detail incorrect.

In any event, he probably on form deserved to come back in after the 64 possession game in Canberra. Longmire elected to go with the balance of Kennedy, Bird and Parker and has not altered that balance since the North Melbourne game. Only quicker players have come in since then.

[goswannies]

He did have an ankle injury, but I thought he was rested after the North Melbourne game. Sorry if I got that detail incorrect.

In any event, he probably on form deserved to come back in after the 64 possession game in Canberra. Longmire elected to go with the balance of Kennedy, Bird and Parker and has not altered that balance since the North Melbourne game. Only quicker players have come in since then.

Beg to differ, but when a player is returning from a recurring injury, it is common practice at many elite football clubs, to play a number of ressies games to ensure both form AND that there isn't a chance of re-injury. Especially when it isn't essential that the player return to the seniors. Mitchell certainly had form, but re-injured soon after (justifying such a cautious approach). There were others that could cover his role until he's fit to safely return, not necessarily that Tom isn't part of Horse's seniors plans. Unless, of course John personally told you his plans for Tom, Joey, Craig & Luke, in which case I withdraw my objection.