Out with the Old - In with the New

[Conor_Dillon]

Yes, we were certainly missing a few big names from the past as well. Malceski is the one we really missed, the 2014 version that is.

Anyway, just pointing out that 6 of their biggest names from last year were not in the their team and they managed to replace them with younger players that got the job done against the second best team in the league. It can be surprising what can happen when you're forced to replace some of your best players.

I'm a bit torn on this. Part of me says throw some kids in and see how they go e.g Jones, Hewett, Robinson etc. but the other part says we really should be making them earn their games the hard way.

Lloyd is a great example, his form at NEAFL level was solid from all reports but without setting the world on fire leading up to his debut and he has already developed into a player that nobody here can honestly say they expected him to (with plenty of development left in him). There's no reason any of the above mentioned kids couldn't do the same or similar things.

[RogueSwan]

...Anyway, just pointing out that 6 of their biggest names from last year were not in the their team and they managed to replace them with younger players that got the job done against the second best team in the league. ...

Who, the Magpies? The Dogs don't play them until rnd17.
ladder-rnd5.jpg

[Beerman]

Forgive me I must be misreading the Swans' win/loss. I was sure we had won three out of five games and smashed Port at home and lost the two games by a kick or so. I guess now that we've bottomed out it is time to get rid of a quarter of the team. Having so many tall defenders knocking on the door in the ressies makes Grundy's departure a monty.

You're being very generous there, Big Cat. A complete clean-out is what is required.

We need to focus on guys like Heeney, Lloyd and Mills who are going to be the cornerstone of our next tilt at the premiership. Trade guys like Franklin, McVeigh, Kennedy for some decent draft picks while they still have some value. Keep Hannebery and Parker to provide some leadership for the kids. The rest of the plodders clogging our list will have to go. Hopefully EK* will turn out to ok and we can pick him up in time to further boost our chances of a flag.

I know it's hard to say goodbye to some stalwarts of the club who are at the peak of their careers and playing well, but we have to be realistic about where the club is at.

*Emelio Kennedy

[sprite]

You're being very generous there, Big Cat. A complete clean-out is what is required.

We need to focus on guys like Heeney, Lloyd and Mills who are going to be the cornerstone of our next tilt at the premiership. Trade guys like Franklin, McVeigh, Kennedy for some decent draft picks while they still have some value.

Is that you Matt?

[The Big Cat]

On a positive note, with absolutely no evidence whatsoever, I have this gut feeling that Nic Newman might be the new Malceski with his beautiful kicking. I have an Isaac Smith feel about him, but that being said I also had the same feeling about Dean Towers. Maybe we will finish with two Isaac Smiths plus an Isaac Heeney.

[Ludwig]

I'm a bit torn on this. Part of me says throw some kids in and see how they go e.g Jones, Hewett, Robinson etc. but the other part says we really should be making them earn their games the hard way.

Lloyd is a great example, his form at NEAFL level was solid from all reports but without setting the world on fire leading up to his debut and he has already developed into a player that nobody here can honestly say they expected him to (with plenty of development left in him). There's no reason any of the above mentioned kids couldn't do the same or similar things.

I hope it comes across that I'm torn on this as well. It's not about discarding experienced players as it is about whether these players (Shaw, Grundy) are playing well enough that trying something different against some opposition (meaning weaker) would be worth a go. How much are we risking if we play Jones instead of Shaw one week? We've already tried Heeney instead of Goodes and most think it was a positive development.

I don't always get these right, but I picked Lloyd for big things from the day he was drafted (I also backed Jordon Lockyer ). To the derision of many on RWO I dared to suggest that Lloyd might develop into a better player than Tom Mitchell. I think Robinson, Jones and Hewett (preferably in that order) are all worth a shot and will play senior footy on a regular basis at some club, hopefully ours.

We clearly had a Malceski replacement in mind when we picked up Newman and along with Big Cat, have a good feeling about it. I think there's a very good chance he with make it at senior level and given that he's a mature aged player, it could be sooner than later.

[barry]

Dumbest OP ever.

Shaw has always made mistakes. Ditto grundy. But they win flags. Neither is any worse than they were in 2012.
Pike is our only Ruckman FFS!.

Mcglynn our only pure small forward.

goodes is probably finished though

[Beerman]

You're being very generous there, Big Cat. A complete clean-out is what is required.

We need to focus on guys like Heeney, Lloyd and Mills who are going to be the cornerstone of our next tilt at the premiership.

Is that you Matt?

Everyone knows that Longmire will never play more than three inside extractors so most of our mids are not needed. Looking at the depth chart we need more backs. In the meantime the Swans should be maximising the marketing potential of the players by auctioning them to fans.

[Ludwig]

Dumbest OP ever.

[Meg]

We've all looked like that ever since Saturday afternoon!

[Meg]

And .have others had the e-survey from the AFL asking about our match day experience on Saturday?? WHAT ON EARTH do they think Swans supporters are going to say??

[mcs]

I'm a bit torn on this. Part of me says throw some kids in and see how they go e.g Jones, Hewett, Robinson etc. but the other part says we really should be making them earn their games the hard way.

Lloyd is a great example, his form at NEAFL level was solid from all reports but without setting the world on fire leading up to his debut and he has already developed into a player that nobody here can honestly say they expected him to (with plenty of development left in him). There's no reason any of the above mentioned kids couldn't do the same or similar things.

I think we have to try and expose them to senior footy where we can - and that in recent years, the club hasn't been as proactive on this part as we could be. Of course you want them to earn their games, but on the flip side, you don't want to get to a point like we have, where in several positions on the field, we have nothing but rookies as back up. As I mentioned in another thread, look at the Hawks and their very good depth across the park. I know we weren't helped because we couldn't trade last year - but our depth is almost non existent, if you think of it in terms of AFL games played.

[jono2707]

I think we have to try and expose them to senior footy where we can - and that in recent years, the club hasn't been as proactive on this part as we could be. Of course you want them to earn their games, but on the flip side, you don't want to get to a point like we have, where in several positions on the field, we have nothing but rookies as back up. As I mentioned in another thread, look at the Hawks and their very good depth across the park. I know we weren't helped because we couldn't trade last year - but our depth is almost non existent, if you think of it in terms of AFL games played.

The club made the conscious decision to offload a goodly amount of our depth when we got Buddy, and it will probably continue to happen for a few years if we want to retain our younger stars. We have to live with that.

[Conor_Dillon]

I hope it comes across that I'm torn on this as well. It's not about discarding experienced players as it is about whether these players (Shaw, Grundy) are playing well enough that trying something different against some opposition (meaning weaker) would be worth a go. How much are we risking if we play Jones instead of Shaw one week? We've already tried Heeney instead of Goodes and most think it was a positive development.

I don't always get these right, but I picked Lloyd for big things from the day he was drafted (I also backed Jordon Lockyer ). To the derision of many on RWO I dared to suggest that Lloyd might develop into a better player than Tom Mitchell. I think Robinson, Jones and Hewett (preferably in that order) are all worth a shot and will play senior footy on a regular basis at some club, hopefully ours.

We clearly had a Malceski replacement in mind when we picked up Newman and along with Big Cat, have a good feeling about it. I think there's a very good chance he with make it at senior level and given that he's a mature aged player, it could be sooner than later.

I remember reading somewhere that we were really close to drafting him after his final year in the TAC Cup so we've obviously been keeping a keen eye on Nic! And most draft 'experts' had expected him to be selected in the regular draft but I'd say age played a part in him still being there in the rookie draft.

I also noticed Tom Harley mentioned that Melican should be right to come back into the reserves this week...the Geelong Falcons coach had great things to say about him pre-draft, mainly that he used to beat Hugh Goddard and Paddy McCartin pretty regularly at training, as well as doing a number on Tom Lamb in one of the final round of the TAC cup.

- - - Updated - - -

I think we have to try and expose them to senior footy where we can - and that in recent years, the club hasn't been as proactive on this part as we could be. Of course you want them to earn their games, but on the flip side, you don't want to get to a point like we have, where in several positions on the field, we have nothing but rookies as back up. As I mentioned in another thread, look at the Hawks and their very good depth across the park. I know we weren't helped because we couldn't trade last year - but our depth is almost non existent, if you think of it in terms of AFL games played.

As well as the exposure, playing kids also generates excitement both for fans and older players alike. They bring a real sense of enthusiasm to the group, seeing the whole team get around a kid who has just kicked his first goal and then seeing them in the middle of the circle getting the customary gatorade shower after the game are two of the great sights of our sport!

[S.S. Bleeder]

Hawthorn has shown over the last 2 seasons that you can still be blooding a lot of young players but not necessarily being at a point where they can't win the premiership.

I think we overstate Hawthorns management ability and culture. They have found themselves in this fortunate position largely because of the priority and high draft picks they obtained in the early to mid 00's. Think about it. Where would they be if they hadn't recruited; Hodge, Franklin, Roughead, Lewis, etc.