Round 21: Aspley Hornets v Sydney Swans Reserves @ Graham Road

[dimelb]

I saw your previous post and it said Hebron 59. But 59 is Behagg and 54 Hebron. So which one were you impressed with

My mistake - I had the number right but the name wrong. Behagg is the one I meant. But I do remember checking Hebron's number after being impressed with something he'd done.

And thanks for the detail you attend to here ugg - much appreciated as always.

[ugg]

Our @NEAFLofficial semi final against @AspleyFC has been scheduled for 12pm Saturday 5th September at Graham Road Aspley #goswans#NEAFL

[Mug Punter]

Personally, Hebron (54). Composed, reads the play well, not afraid to take a contested mark in defence. Is he an academy player?

Yes he is, a St Ives Junior

Wouldn't imagine he'd go early in the draft

[troyjones2525]

Did Mills play?

Yes he did. I only saw the end of the 3rd qtr and the whole 4th qtr and it appeared he was playing a half back type role. Got a bit of the ball in link up plays and seemed fairly clean as usual. Don't know how much he played before that or how well but from what I saw he will certainly improve for the run and will be a good player in finals if his body holds up! Interesting to note that he also took quite a few of the kick ins from full back.

What was worrying and something that I haven't seen anyone else mention is that Newman could be seen running off the ground in the 4th qtr with what looked like a dislocated shoulder (or worse) and did not return. That could hurt our finals chances this year in the NEAFL.

[ugg]

I'm only up to half time in watching the replay and Mills hasn't appeared yet

[wolftone57]

I see Bird and McGlynn made the bests, but it was hard to tell they were such experienced AFL players. They looked to fit in with the NEAFL players quite well.

Rose and Aliir were the standouts for me.

I thought Davis was very solid. He always seems at ease on the field wherever he plays. I like the fact he he's been played mostly through the midfield. Perhaps we have a role for him in the future similar to a Jarrad Roughead or Goodes, where he can play forward but spend plenty of time in the midfield as well.

A bit like Davis, Hewett also seems comfortable wherever he finds himself on the field. He has a very solid all around game. I think his disposal is quite good, especially by foot. Despite being only 19, it's hard to find a weakness in his game.

Jack Hiscox has a lot of work to do on his disposal before he can reach a level of playing seniors. There's more to the game than just running well.

I also thought Tom Derickx played one of his best games of the year. Was often proactive. Took some good marks and kicked a good 4th qtr goal from a tight angle. Bounced up quickly the times he fell over. Some good ruckwork as well.

I would like to see us try Aliir in the ruck sometime. He has played there as a junior, so he does have some of the basics. I don't know if his game is disciplined enough to play as a defender. Although he's a bit on the short side for a ruckman, he's got a good leap and would be dangerous around the ground. I can see him as a Paddy Ryder type ruckman.

Jake Brown made a few mistakes, but did plenty to suggest that he will be drafted from our academy next year.

Aliir rucked against Suns. He was pretty good too. I agree on Davis and thought he should have been in the best players. Couldn't see why Marsh got in the best yet again. Confused. Thought there were far better out there yesterday. he made some ball handling errors, one that was costly and several that easily could have been costly. did some good things once he got it but definitely not a one touch player. I thought birdie made a lot of mistakes for a senior player playing at this level. He got caught taking the second option instead of dishing off first time. Some of his disposal was really scrappy too.

While I like Rose I thought young Behag was really good. He gave us a very good option up forward. McLaren leads well and gets to the contest but I have seldom seen him take a mark. He simply drops the pill when he should clunk them, even the easy ones. I thought Foote was good and hard but needs to find a way to dish off when he gets caught. Keep the arms free Jordan. Tough bugger though.

Aliir is very good and he is developing his body well. He is very agile and flexible as he can play anywhere. Davis and Aliir are probably our two most flexible players. X did pretty well on a very good forward.

Aspley are a very good side. This footy club have recruited very well, either ex AFL players, players who have been on AFL lists or top juniors in the Queensland comp. Smart footy club. Same as Sydney Uni did this season Aspley did last season.

[ugg]

Marsh and Hewett named in the NEAFL Team of the Year

[bloodspirit]

The Swans players and coaches always talk about playing your role when you get a chance at senior level, so we should rephrase the question to what kind of role could Marsh fill in the senior team.

Whilst he has played as a key defender in the reservesin some matches, I sincerely do not think he would be able to replicate this role in the seniors. So he would have to become either a 3rd/medium defender in the mould of Malceski, Mattner or Laidler or a small defender (Smith) or running halfback (Shaw). Despite his pace I don't think he provides enough run to become Shaw's successor and his forays as a small defender have had mixed results. Where he has really excelled this year is as that 3rd defender who knows when to peel off his man to help his key defenders.

Hence I think being a medium defender is his best chance but will he ever get an opportunity ahead of the current setup, and possibly have Newman to contend with for that spot in the coming years. Also don't forget the list management side of things and with most of our draft picks possibly tied up with Mills and Dunkley, they may prefer having Marsh on the list as a ready-made depth (physically speaking) than an 18 year straight out of the Under 18 system.

Thanks, Ugg, for your thoughtful, incisive comments. I agree about Marsh's role as a third/medium defender. Would you say then that Rampe and Laidler are his main competition? I can't see him overtaking Rampe in the short-medium term but his game is not dissimilar to Laids and so possibly with more development he could challenge for that spot given another year? I also agree we may spend our high picks on Mills/Dunkley and draft less in a shallow draft and perhaps upgrade Naismith and Newman which perhaps bodes better for Marsh. That said, what we really need in our back 6 is better rebound and ball distribution and I think Newman is more promising in that regard so perhaps it could be the end for Marsh and the Swans but hopefully not for Marsh.

I wonder if we would be able to trade him. I can envisage him being picked up if he were delisted. Could West Coast be a destination for him given he is from WA? On the one hand they are running short of defenders on the other that is only due to injury and the replacements have done well so perhaps they have plenty of depth. So far as I'm aware Freo seem ok in this department. Alternatively maybe someone desperate like Brisbane or Carlton might be interested?

Incidentally, do your comments imply you reckon we are likely to pursue Dunkley and maybe land both him and Mills? I've taken it as a given we will spend what we have to to get Mills but been doubtful whether we'd be able to afford the picks to get Dunkley too although it would be wonderful if we could.

[ugg]

[0918330512]

Am I reading it wrong? Aliir was our best player?? With 8 disposals?? Were they all pin point goal assists? He rucked didn't he? Must've had all 55 hitouts and all to advantage.

[liz]

Am I reading it wrong? Aliir was our best player?? With 8 disposals?? Were they all pin point goal assists? He rucked didn't he? Must've had all 55 hitouts and all to advantage.

He's a defender. If he did a good defensive job on a dangerous opponent, it's certainly possible for him to be assessed as the Swans' best. Also bear in mind that the Swans coaching staff seem to hand out game ratings based on expectations / roles than on an absolute basis. It's not uncommon for players who have looked to be dominant to observers not to mention in the coaches' lists of best players.

[ugg]

Aliir spent the first 3 quarters in defence, mostly on Nelis, then moved forward in the first part of the last quarter and was one of the reasons the side kicked ahead in the last quarter. Despite not scoring a goal himself, he hit the packs hard, brought the ball to ground and created opportunities for his teammates to capitalise upon. He then moved back to the defence and made some telling plays as the Swans hung on to their lead. And no he didn't ruck

I certainly have no qualms with the coaches giving him our best player on the ground honours.

[0918330512]

Ahhh fair points, well made by Liz & Ugg

& I know AA is a defender, but I thought I read somewhere here on RWO that he had rucked at some time?

[ugg]

I think he rucked at junior level but at NEAFL level he has only rucked in a handful of games and even then not for particularly long periods. He's almost been exclusively used as a key defender, and Saturday was the first time (that I can recall anyway) that he's played forward for us.

[Ludwig]

I think he rucked at junior level but at NEAFL level he has only rucked in a handful of games and even then not for particularly long periods. He's almost been exclusively used as a key defender, and Saturday was the first time (that I can recall anyway) that he's played forward for us.

I think I read that he was transformed into a defender when he moved to WA. Aliir certainly has some ability. He's still young and it's hard to know how much upside he has. He could be another Alex Rance or a total flop. It took Rance quite a while to get his game right. If we get lucky with our other developing key defenders, I could see Aliir as a possible ruck option. I like a ruckman who can be dangerous around the ground.