Pre-season News

[Matt80]

Swan Mitchell primed for a big year - AFL.com.au

I stand corrected.

Do people think that Mitchell's expectant big year will force Craig Bird into the reserves?

I believe you can only play three of Kennedy, Parker, Bird and Mitchell in the one team. If you play all four of them in the one team you slow the team down too much.

I think the combination of extractors may be Kennedy, Parker and Mitchell. They are then supported by the medium pace endurance athletes of Hannas and McVeigh, the fast medium paced Heeney, K.Jack, McGlynn and Lloyd and then the electric pace of Jetta and Cunningham.

It's quite a midfield combination and will have the team very competitive through 2015.

[S.S. Bleeder]

I stand corrected.

Do people think that Mitchell's expectant big year will force Craig Bird into the reserves?

I believe you can only play three of Kennedy, Parker, Bird and Mitchell in the one team. If you play all four of them in the one team you slow the team down too much.

I think the combination of extractors may be Kennedy, Parker and Mitchell. They are then supported by the medium pace endurance athletes of Hannas and McVeigh, the fast medium paced Heeney, K.Jack, McGlynn and Lloyd and then the electric pace of Jetta and Cunningham.

It's quite a midfield combination and will have the team very competitive through 2015.

I think we can play all four. Pace isn't all about leg speed. You also need fast ball movement (ie. Hawkes in the GF), in particular a balance of both.

[RogueSwan]

I think we can play all four. Pace isn't all about leg speed. You also need fast ball movement (ie. Hawkes in the GF), in particular a balance of both.

Agreed.

[Nico]

I stand corrected.

Do people think that Mitchell's expectant big year will force Craig Bird into the reserves?

I believe you can only play three of Kennedy, Parker, Bird and Mitchell in the one team. If you play all four of them in the one team you slow the team down too much.

I think the combination of extractors may be Kennedy, Parker and Mitchell. They are then supported by the medium pace endurance athletes of Hannas and McVeigh, the fast medium paced Heeney, K.Jack, McGlynn and Lloyd and then the electric pace of Jetta and Cunningham.

It's quite a midfield combination and will have the team very competitive through 2015.

Bird as a run with player is far superior to Cunningham, regardless of pace. Bird wins his own ball.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i think we can carry a heavier slower midfield against just about all teams except the Hawks

[Nico]

I think we can play all four. Pace isn't all about leg speed. You also need fast ball movement (ie. Hawkes in the GF), in particular a balance of both.

And anticipation and a willingness to win the hard ball.

[Conor_Dillon]

More bad news about AJ, but I don't really think it's much of a surprise,

Luckless Swan Johnson to miss another season - AFL.com.au

[cartman48]

More bad news about AJ, but I don't really think it's much of a surprise,

Luckless Swan Johnson to miss another season - AFL.com.au

As a non Swans fan I feel sorry for this kid - ripper talent and having just terrible luck.

As someone that enjoys watching the best players run around I hope we haven't seen the last of AJ.

[mcs]

More bad news about AJ, but I don't really think it's much of a surprise,

Luckless Swan Johnson to miss another season - AFL.com.au

No suprise here really - I don't think anyone ever expected him back on the park in 2015. I'd expect the aim is to see him back on the park at some stage late next year, with an aim of him being fully fit and (all things going amazing) set for Pre-season 2016-17.

Oh how I miss him though - whenever I watch the GF from 2012, I get so sad thinking about how much we've missed AJ and just what a beast of a player he would be now with 2 more seasons under his belt. I hope more than anything we get to see him play again - wherever that game is, I'll be making sure I'm there to give him a massive cheer onto the field.

[Mel_C]

Not surprised about AJ either. I spoke to Longmire just after it was announced that he would need surgery again and Longmire said he would be out for 12 months.

A real shame not to see him out there .

[JPK12]

No suprise here really - I don't think anyone ever expected him back on the park in 2015. I'd expect the aim is to see him back on the park at some stage late next year, with an aim of him being fully fit and (all things going amazing) set for Pre-season 2016-17.

Oh how I miss him though - whenever I watch the GF from 2012, I get so sad thinking about how much we've missed AJ and just what a beast of a player he would be now with 2 more seasons under his belt. I hope more than anything we get to see him play again - wherever that game is, I'll be making sure I'm there to give him a massive cheer onto the field.

Do we really miss him or did he just have a ripper game that happened to be the GF? He had a few shockers in 2012 and i think the legend of AJ is being stretched a bit here. He could have had a poor 2013 and been dropped?

I think he wont play again. At least he got to play in a GF and win it. So really if he doesnt play again its not like he missed out.

[Doctor]

No surprise as it was widely reported that they hadn't cleared up the infection yet and that he was yet to have the reconstruction. His case is so unusual because of this unresolved infection that's causing the problems. I hope to God he plays again, but this year was never on the cards.

[dimelb]

Do we really miss him or did he just have a ripper game that happened to be the GF? He had a few shockers in 2012 and i think the legend of AJ is being stretched a bit here. He could have had a poor 2013 and been dropped?

I think he wont play again. At least he got to play in a GF and win it. So really if he doesnt play again its not like he missed out.

I don't recall him having shockers, but I might be mistaken.

What I do remember is what a classy player he could be, the combination of good skills and controlled, focussed aggression, as well as the leadership qualities he showed as a youngster and the potential to grow in all those areas. Hang in there AJ.

I too look forward to the day he runs on for the seconds and gets the same kind of rousing around the ground cheer we gave Gary Rohan.

[mcs]

Do we really miss him or did he just have a ripper game that happened to be the GF? He had a few shockers in 2012 and i think the legend of AJ is being stretched a bit here. He could have had a poor 2013 and been dropped?

I think he wont play again. At least he got to play in a GF and win it. So really if he doesnt play again its not like he missed out.

A player of his ilk (i.e. able to play tall and short if need be) is what our backline is really missing at the moment - it gave great balance to our back 6 in 2012. I can't remember any more shockers than any other young kid has had in his first couple of seasons. You don't play 45 games of AFL in less than 2 seasons before the age of 20 unless you are doing a hell of a lot right in the coaches books. My memory of 2012 was that it was very good year for a player of his age and playing a critical cog within defence as well with such relative inexperience - he played every game in a Premiership season. A player that looked far beyond his years in terms of the role he played for the team, in particular in relation to leadership, composure and a bit of aggression. You may be right, he might have had a bad year in 2013 - but I'd think it more likely that, had injuries not cruelled him, he would be rapidly closing in on 100 games for the club by now.

As you say, he hasn't missed out if he never plays again - but what a shame that will be if that is the case.

[jono2707]

Whilst AJ has been missed, and the trajectory of his career was certainly heading upwards after 2012, Rampe has pretty much stepped in and filled the void he's left.

That said, it'd be really really good to see them both out there in 2016...