Jake Lloyd Rising Star Nomination

[Matt80]

I looked back on my first Jake Lloyd post back on 15 Dec. 2012:



I never heard of him before, but after doing some checking on his background, I couldn't understand why he wasn't rated. I've been of the bandwagon ever since. I even suggested a few months ago that he might even turn out better than Tom Mitchell. Of course, most disagreed, but probably a few minds are changing with the passage of time.

I was always impressed by his ability to read to play. He never looked like a raw 19 y.o. ; It's probably that he is not physically imposing that makes some think he's not much of player, but he's proving otherwise.

I was with you Ludwig on Lloyd potentially turning out better than Mitchell. This view started the Mitchell V Lloyd thread which put me in hot water with some factions on Red and White.

If Mitchell is not selected for the seniors this week there is a serious problem, which is deeper than injuries, pace and match fitness!

[liz]

If Mitchell is not selected for the seniors this week there is a serious problem, which is deeper than injuries, pace and match fitness!

Not sure how you reach that conclusion as there is no compelling evidence that he is match fit at the moment. Not match fit enough to play seniors.

[The_Jam]

While I think Mitchell V Lloyd is an interesting question, what I am excited about is Mitchell + Lloyd; a young top-shelf extractor and a young top-shelf user is a great sign for our future. It is awesome list management to have young talent, let alone young talent that compliments each other. And it?s not like Mitchell and Lloyd are the only young guns?.

[Conor_Dillon]

Yeh I don't think it's a relevant debate...apples and oranges!

You could compare a Mitchell and a Bird or a Lloyd with a Cunningham for instance.

But as The_Jam said...lets all just be excited about the young players on our list.

[Matt80]

Not sure how you reach that conclusion as there is no compelling evidence that he is match fit at the moment. Not match fit enough to play seniors.

Mitchell has had some nagging injuries this year but none have kept him out for more than 4 weeks. He has had some impressive reserve games in between the short layoffs. You can?t gain the amount of possessions that he does without moving constantly. He would have maintained decent match fitness levels to keep doing this.

He has had two games back from his recent spell. Liz, you also gave him your BOG in the recent Reserves game and you were impressed with his work rate.

The Swans are playing at Docklands and not Subiaco. He will be able to run the game out if asked.

I can?t see any obvious reasons why Mitchell should not be selected when we are two inside midfielders down. There has to be more to this Mitchell story that is not appearing on the Swans website.

[Reggi]

Rubbish. Clearly his fitness is the determining factor

[liz]

Mitchell has had some nagging injuries this year but none have kept him out for more than 4 weeks. He has had some impressive reserve games in between the short layoffs. You can?t gain the amount of possessions that he does without moving constantly. He would have maintained decent match fitness levels to keep doing this.

He has had two games back from his recent spell. Liz, you also gave him your BOG in the recent Reserves game and you were impressed with his work rate.

The Swans are playing at Docklands and not Subiaco. He will be able to run the game out if asked.

I can?t see any obvious reasons why Mitchell should not be selected when we are two inside midfielders down. There has to be more to this Mitchell story that is not appearing on the Swans website.

How many NEAFL games have you watched?

[Matt80]

How many NEAFL games have you watched?

I'm going of your judgement Liz. If Liz, Ugg or Ludwig give him their reserves BOG then that?s good enough for me. You guys watch the reserves every week and I respect your calls.

You can?t be the reserves BOG against the Giants (best young players in the land) without having a good fitness base. Imagine the energy that Mitchell would have had to find to propel the team from a half time deficit of 30 points to a victory.

He has been in the best players on the Reserves match reports for most of the games he plays.

Does Mitchell look like he lacks intensity, match fitness or two way running at reserves level? If this is the case then it?s incredible that he still gets so many stats.

[southsideswan]

Lloyd has had the advantage of being an elite athletic and the training he did under his father and others. He made the comment that doing pre season training was a lightening of his usual load. Its just not the training but the type of training done. Some players have bad luck and others create their own good injury free luck (I bet JK does it and I know ROC does it). Jake missed only one game last year and that was due to a precaution after being knocked out the week before. It is a tough tough game.

My prediction in the Mitchell v Lloyd career was Mitchell will be the "star" and Lloyd will play more games. Time will tell.

[Ampersand]

Mitchell may play seniors, he may not. But to me it comes down to his match fitness in a clearly injury-interrupted season and preseason. I don't understand why you need to conjure up conspiracy theories out of thin air when those facts are obvious. Everyone is suddenly concerned about resting players. Can I suggest that the last thing we need is two weeks in a row where we have to activate our sub in the first quarter because Mitchell goes down with a recurring ankle problem.

[Ampersand]

Every reserves player that moves to the seniors comments on the greatly elevated work rate, two way running, speed and physicality of games. Just because Mitchell can handle the intensity of reserves football doesn't mean he is automatically ready to move to seniors.

[dimelb]

After reading Coach Crouch's report I'm confident that if Tom is needed, he's ready:

NEAFL Player of the Week ? Tom Mitchell

Tom was very good on the weekend. He has been progressively playing more game time in recent weeks after a layoff with a knee injury and he was back to his best with 11 clearances and six inside 50?s. As we have come to expect, his inside work was good, and he was able to get more outside ball this week and have a big influence on the game.

Key Stats: 15 kicks, 12 handballs, four marks, 11 clearances, six inside 50s

- See more at: NEAFL Wrap - Round 20 - sydneyswans.com.au

[Matt80]

After reading Coach Crouch's report I'm confident that if Tom is needed, he's ready:

NEAFL Player of the Week ? Tom Mitchell

Tom was very good on the weekend. He has been progressively playing more game time in recent weeks after a layoff with a knee injury and he was back to his best with 11 clearances and six inside 50?s. As we have come to expect, his inside work was good, and he was able to get more outside ball this week and have a big influence on the game.

Key Stats: 15 kicks, 12 handballs, four marks, 11 clearances, six inside 50s

- See more at: NEAFL Wrap - Round 20 - sydneyswans.com.au

He is ready to go based on the above assessment. We are two inside midfilders down. He must play. Its as simple as that.

[ShockOfHair]

Crouch's choice of words suggests Mitchell's recovery is still a work in progress.

Back to Lloyd: Moves well in traffic, has a huge tank and lots of time, makes good decisions, kicks straight as an arrow. Star.

[Meg]

Some additional nice points made about Jake in this article, including the following:

"While Melbourne clubs whinge about the Swans being able to buy in big name forwards Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett, Lloyd and Cunningham continue to highlight that most of the club?s players are rookies and rejects who could have been chosen by any club.

Lloyd, 20, was overlooked in successive national drafts and Cunningham was originally a Riverina boy zoned to GWS but was ignored by the Giants and the remainder of the competition."

Also, I laughed at the following:

'Lloyd, has sung the team song 15 times since (being selected in the seniors) and described the loss to reigning premier Hawthorn as ?a bit of a shock.?

Yes, I know the song pretty well,? he said.'

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/jake-lloyd-handed-the-round-21-rising-star-honour-the-second-sydney-swans-nominee/story-fndv8ujy-1227029322552