AJ Watch

[S.S. Bleeder]

If we were selecting strictly on form in the Reserves, which we won't but still: Allir was the dominant player and would be an ideal replacement for Newman. He rucked for most of the game and roamed through the arcs, timing for marks was a little off but looked the best he has this year. Like for like Marsh better than AJ.

But that was one good game. He's had plenty of poor to average game before that. I don't see how he could be elevated based on just one good game.

[Mug Punter]

Re AJ, I think next year is make or break for him in terms of whether he makes it back as a senior player. But I don't think that it is make or break for his career at the Swans. If he doesn't make it back as a senior player I am sure there will be a role somewhere in the organisation for him.

[crackedactor]

Re AJ, I think next year is make or break for him in terms of whether he makes it back as a senior player. But I don't think that it is make or break for his career at the Swans. If he doesn't make it back as a senior player I am sure there will be a role somewhere in the organisation for him.

He needs a good pre season behind him before he can move to the next level. If everything went perfect, he could may an good impression at NEAFL level in 2018 and maybe a senior game mid way . He was very good at his best!

[Markwebbos]

It was a joke comment, but the more I think about it....

Just track the trajectory. From first tentative game to 21 touches. Continue on this and he'll be ready before the season is out.
His recovery is mostly mental. One day it will just click.

If we are going to out-fairytale every other team this year then AJ is an automatic selection.

Makes sense to play him FWD in the NEAFL to give him some practice for kicking the winning goal after the siren.

Give him a run v Carlton next week

[MattW]

We arguably have a bye in week 23 as well.

This season really has been a cracker, across the league, hasn't it. No need for 17-5 when the draft has been fair again for a few years, excepting a few outliers.

I heard someone (Jake Niall, I think) mention that 17-5 is on the backburner given the closeness of the season/equalisation working etc, which in my view is a bloody good thing.

[neilfws]

Could be the rookie draft for 2018...at best...

Swans to discuss future with AJ - sydneyswans.com.au

[Industrial Fan]

Might end up on the coaching panel, but hard to fathom keeping him on the list for so long and then chop him once he's fit again; unless he's somehow conceded that he wont get back to full capacity.

[barry]

Might end up on the coaching panel, but hard to fathom keeping him on the list for so long and then chop him once he's fit again; unless he's somehow conceded that he wont get back to full capacity.

That's what i was thinking.

[stevoswan]

While it was great to see AJ back on the park and in the end playing full games, by the sounds of it he wasn't setting the world on fire. Maybe he knows something deep down but I really hope that isn't the case and they give him the chance of a full pre-season on the rookie list and see where it goes. He can easily retire at any time if it doesn't work out.....good luck to him!

[liz]

If he'd conceded he can't make it back, he would have already announced his retirement. If the club has its doubts but AJ is still determined, I think they'd give him another year. You don't support someone on the journey he's been on to cut them off at this point. With a weak draft and ample list spots, the spot he'll occupy for a year really isn't that great a cost for the club.

Initially I thought it a bit odd that they'd think about moving him to the rookie list now, with him back playing, while they've stuck with him on the senior list for the last few years. But it does make sense. A couple of things have changed.

I commented previously that I didn't think the club keeping him on the senior list was entirely a show of support for AJ. Indeed, for the last couple of years, I don't think he'd have cared which list he was on. But it made perfect sense from a list management perspective. By going into the season with a senior listed player who they knew was going to be on the LTIL, the club had a chance to look at all the rookies over the pre-season and promote whichever they wanted, whenever they wanted. If AJ had been on the rookie list, someone else (presumably one of the rookies) would have been on the senior list and the club wouldn't have had the same flexibility to pick and choose.

2018 is different though. A-List rookies can play without the need for an opening via the LTIL.

Even if the list rules hadn't changed, AJ wouldn't have provided the same list management flexibility since he's now playing and hence not an automatic occupant of the LTIL.

So whether he stays on the senior list or they put him on the rookie list will depend, I presume, on how many spots there are on the senior list once trading is over (ie will Robinson find a different home), whether there's a delisted FA they have their eye on, and balancing up the benefit of picking the player to fill the final spot on the combined list (ie senior plus Cat A rookies) late in the ND vs in the rookie draft, offset by the requirement to give new senior listed players a two year contract vs the one year contract they can give to a rookie. If AJ is retained on the senior list, he'll presumably do so on a one year contract.

[CureTheSane]

He has to have a comeback game.
Just for the press...

[bloodspirit]

Nice analysis, liz.

[RogueSwan]

He has to have a comeback game.
Just for the p?r?e?s?s?...

Fans!

[Swansongster]

Nice analysis, liz.

That's a tautological statement.

[Thunder Shaker]

Swans make further list changes

The Sydney Swans have made a further two changes to their playing list for season 2018.

Premiership player Alex Johnson has been told he will not be offered a place on the Club?s primary list next season, however the Swans will strongly consider redrafting Johnson as a rookie subsequent to a medical and conditioning assessment prior to the rookie draft.

The Swans recruited Johnson with pick 57 in the 2010 AFL Draft. It didn?t take the defender long to get a call up to the senior team, making his debut in Round 3 the following year.

Johnson quickly emerged as a reliable rebounding defender, playing 45 games in two years including the Club?s 2012 premiership, before injury struck.

After five successive knee reconstructions and 1736 days on the sidelines, the 25-year-old made a remarkable return to football in Sydney?s NEAFL side this season, however he was unable to break into the senior team.

Sydney Swans Head of Football Tom Harley says it was a difficult decision based on team balance.

?Alex is an extremely popular and respected member of the playing group, and he has worked incredibly hard to get back to where he is,? Harley said.

?While we know Alex is disappointed, he understands the decision and remains driven to play AFL football.

?We will reassess Alex and our list after the AFL National Draft, however in the interim Alex will continue to train with the team.?

Meanwhile first-year rookie Sam Fisher has also been advised he?s no guarantee of retaining his place on the rookie list next season, however he will also continue to train with the team until the upcoming drafts.

The Canberra product joined the Swans as a category b rookie last year and has been developing his craft in the NEAFL.

Bummer.