2016 Expectations & Predictions

[Ludwig]

I also agree with Liz and others and my expectations as to ladder position are modest. I also find it to be a particularly hard to predict how most teams will go this year. What I would like to see is the development of our younger and fringe players. I think we should give Talia a decent go as he is the most likely to succeed Ted at this stage.

One thing I would like to add is the destiny of our 4th year players, or more precisely our 2012 draft. All 12 players from that draft, including Harry Cunningham who was upgraded to the senior list, are still playing AFL footy at some club. Not one has dropped out of AFL footy.

• Membrey and Dick have gone to other clubs.
• Marsh had dropped back to the rookie list.
• It's a big year for our 1st pick Dean Towers who we will look to as a link man, especially if Reid is out for any extended period of time.
• It's time for Tippett to become the complete player in handling the both his ruck role and a key target when forward.
• As for our 6 rookie selections in 2012, Lloyd, XR, Rampe, Robinson, BJ and Naismith, we got a hell of a lot more than you would expect from a rookie draft. They will all be looking for big years, as well as upgraded rookie Cunningham, to show they've improved. A few will be fighting to stay on our list. Our longer term prospects may well rest on how well this group does.
• A thumbs up to Kinnear Beatson, especially given that our 1st pick was #22.

[dimelb]

I predict that we will regret the loss of Doc Nathan Gibbs during this season.

Already concerned about Rohan and McVeigh continuing injuries...zip re Melican..Reid shadowing the team somewhere, but who knows? Little said re Ted...

Word is that the new doctor is a good'un, with a family pedigree in the job - father is a top surgeon.

[Scottee]

This is an exciting time to be a Swans supporter.

I have a feeling that the class of 2016 is going to be fondly remembered. The three H's; Heeney, Hewett and Hannebery, are going to be a really interesting combination along with Rose, Papley and Newman. Sinclair is a clear plus. Towers I think will be really good.I will be hoping to see Talia hit the magical 50 game milestone and suddenly improve vastly. This is also the year for Davis and Aliir come of age too. For the first time in a while we will have 22 players who can twist and turn and chase.

The big issue is going to be the collective impact of so many talented but young players coming up against hardened experienced teams. A plus though, is that Hewett is in his third year at the club and is well drilled in our ways. Similarly for Heeney and Mills. But there is nothing like the big time to find out the weaknesses.It will be really interesting to see.

I don't feel I have the right to expect great things from the club this year. Unfairly targetted by the AFL we have recruited as well as one could hope for and much better than the AFL would have hoped for, but the inability to trade in experienced players is likely to tell.

[Meg]

Does anyone know the name of the new doctor? I'm not aware that he/she has been 'introduced' but I may have missed it.

[Mug Punter]

I enjoyed the round table tonight, a shame that their other panels aren't all so professional. I was surprised by their rating of our list as still being the 4th best in the league and also our draw as 9th hardest was interesting.

I always like Cam Mooney's analysis and I think he hit the nail on the head and basically said we need significantly more our of Reid, Rohan and Tippett.

Forward structure was discussed which seems to align with a lot of our discussions - more flexibility, Buddy up the ground a bit more and Tippett on too much coin and too good to be wasted as a ruckman. I believe we need Buddy and KT to deliver at least 80 goals combined this year. Happy to see him play a bit of ruck but would hope it is closer to 60/40 for Sinclair and him in the ruck.

Defence also given special comment as was our terrible foot skills. I like the idea of McVeigh back on the half back line as a permanent fixture and even the idea of Hanners providing some stability though to be honest I think Mills will do just fine their as his disposal and decision making is just superb for someone that young.

They all seemed pretty bullish about Buddy and I reckon they'd be in the know so that was good to hear. Also like their wraps on our two super kids (Heeney and Mills) who will be something for us to really enjoy over the next few years as they become champions.

Their overall analysis aligned with mine in that I really don't know how we'll go this year but to be top 4 again we'll need a lot of things to go right.

[Plugger46]

Did people miss Tippo's back half of last year? Mooney (and I've heard others say similar things) said he's pretty much done nothing since leaving Adelaide. Yes he's on good money but that's complete crap. He couldn't have done much more in 2015. He was disappointing in 2014 and sensational in 2013.

[Mountain Man]

I think the 90 rotation limit will help our game plan and bring Tippett/Sinclair as a significant weapon.

50 or 60 goals between them working as stay-at-home (resting) full forwards and sharing the hard yards of ruck duties would be a good result. Buddy doing his thing for another 50 goals and you have the basis for some good scores

Then some contribution from a small forward (Heeney Rose or even Papasley?), and the rotating mid field (Parker/Kennedy/Jack/etc).

IMHO, the key is the combination of Tippett and Sinclair with a continuing presence near goal.

[Crusty]

David King pulled up an interesting stat last night: we are 2nd in the league for speed of rebounding, if I remember correctly. When the others expressed surprise he then said we see what we want to see.
Does the speed of rebounding reflect a penchant to bomb it into the forwards?
Is it a good thing, giving the opposition defence no time to organise?
Would it be better to lose some of that speed in return for more considered targeting?
I'm interested to hear your views.

Also, Mooney put Norf at top two and the flag - I just can't see that and reckon they will drop out of the eight.

[barry]

Even a mid table non vic side should expect to win all home games. Then pick up a few weeks on the road against dons, blues, lions...

15 or so wins. In and around 4th spot. Much like last year.

[swansrob]

David King pulled up an interesting stat last night: we are 2nd in the league for speed of rebounding, if I remember correctly. When the others expressed surprise he then said we see what we want to see.
Does the speed of rebounding reflect a penchant to bomb it into the forwards?
Is it a good thing, giving the opposition defence no time to organise?
Would it be better to lose some of that speed in return for more considered targeting?
I'm interested to hear your views.

Also, Mooney put Norf at top two and the flag - I just can't see that and reckon they will drop out of the eight.

I'd much rather we didn't bomb long in hope - it rarely comes off for us. Without any stats in front of me, I'd guess that our numbers for opposition marks in our forward 50 (and they're often uncontested) are pretty damning.

[chuckie]

I went to the game on Friday night and if that is our best side we can field with the current injury list we will be lucky to win a game before we play Essendon in round 7.
Our foot skills are terrible, our accuracy and Carlton's inaccuracy for goal was the different's on Friday, in general play they were the better team.

[waswan]

Im a bit more bullish.
We lost Pyke, Shaw, Goodes, Jetta.
Pyke is more than replaced, i think the same can be said with Shaw with the emergence of some younger guys. Lloyd/Mills/Cunningham/Heeney etc
Jetta goes the same as Shaw, he was a great player but totally coached out of significance, fwd/back/wing etc etc Did nothing without the ball at least Rohan chases
McVeigh when healthy will be out of the Mids and steady us down back and help us up forward with Jack who i think will be alot more fwd
Reid can play the 3rd/4th option as a fwd, would love to see him and buddy rotate up the ground
The 90 Cap will help us as we are grinders not full blown runners.
I like Longmire more than most but hopefully someone like Kirk can shake up our structure a bit so we arent so predictable.
Teddy is a big key for us hopefully Talia can play a bit but this day an age a key back can be covered with Team Defense.
Would love to see Mcglynn back he is our Barometer, his Midfield jolly is finished and will hopefully play 14-16 games as a fwd pocket.
I think Buddy will be fine and i hope will spend more time at HFF due to our new ruck combo having to rest forward.
He is a better field kick than goal kick and the SCG should see him further up the ground as 10m inside the wing he is a shot on goal
Its alot like 2012, we had 2 yrs of getting games into some young players, now is there chance to shine.
So i think we can do what we did last year and the real gains will need to be made in the coaches box, we have the personnel

[royboy42]

Ted not in 'permitted to play' list for reserves this weekend????

[Scottee]

Ted not in 'permitted to play' list for reserves this weekend????

What is this requirement for?

Does it mean all the other ressies players need permission too and are not playing?

[aguy]

Yes I wonder what it means too.