Changes for round 1 - Syd vs Port

[ugg]

I don't think there's space for Melican and Aliir in the same team, let alone Talia.

Swans usually play with a back 7, 6 on the field and one on the bench for rotation. Let's assume Aliir is declared fit and ready to play, then our back 7 would be Grundy, Aliir, Rampe, Smith, Mills, Lloyd and Marsh. Unless there's plans to move Mills up the field (which hasn't happened in the preseason), I don't see how we can fit another backman in there.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Agree
Mobility from our backs is absolutely key to beat the likes of GWS and the Dogs and just about any team

The tall forwards will struggle to get the ball if a mob backline gets there first

[bloodspirit]

I agree with you all, Ludwig, 707 and ernie except I am not putting Sinclair in the 22 - probably take Towers ahead of him. 4 talls in our front half as well as a ruck is too much. Conversely, I am now persuaded there is room to play three talls (Reg, AA & Melican) in our back half. Although it does mean we have a tall backline since both Swampy and Rampe aren't small. Might not work against a mosquito fleet. In that case we could go with the backline ugg is touting.

[Ludwig]

I don't think there's space for Melican and Aliir in the same team, let alone Talia.

Swans usually play with a back 7, 6 on the field and one on the bench for rotation. Let's assume Aliir is declared fit and ready to play, then our back 7 would be Grundy, Aliir, Rampe, Smith, Mills, Lloyd and Marsh. Unless there's plans to move Mills up the field (which hasn't happened in the preseason), I don't see how we can fit another backman in there.

For the sake of argument, let's say we were talking about a fit and firing Alex Johnson instead of Melican. I definitely think we would be playing all of Grundy, Aliir and AJ in the same side. Adjustments would be made and some players would either find themselves out of the side or moved up the ground. I think you just adjust to suit the talent at the club. It seems that we now have the talent to go with 3 tall defenders and expect we will evolve in that direction.

[Doctor]

For the sake of argument, let's say we were talking about a fit and firing Alex Johnson instead of Melican. I definitely think we would be playing all of Grundy, Aliir and AJ in the same side. Adjustments would be made and some players would either find themselves out of the side or moved up the ground. I think you just adjust to suit the talent at the club. It seems that we now have the talent to go with 3 tall defenders and expect we will evolve in that direction.

I know you're being hypothetical here, but it's unlikely that we'll see anything like the best of AJ until next year, if his comeback continues apace. If a club can afford to be patient with an ACL recovery, and we can, then you wait 12 months, even if the player feels he's good to go. He can still do the training, the endurance, the strengthening etc, but you go easy on the contact and gradually build it up.

[MattW]

Me too...Going on pre season form, they would seem to be to most likely.

So with those 2 in, my guess for the R1 squad would be...

FB :Smith Grundy Marsh

HB : Mills Aliir Rampe

C : Hannebery Jones Lloyd

HF : Franklin Reid Hewett

FF : Jack Tippett Florent

FOL : Naismith Kennedy Parker

INT : Sinclair, Robinson, Cunningham, Melican

EMG : Towers Laidler Foote

From the interviews this week, there will be at least one first-gamer, probably multiple. It's a given Florent plays. Surprisingly, it seems possible, if not likely, Hayward will also play. Reckon they like the hard chase in the forward 50 he'll give in Rohan's absence. He'll be in for Sinclair in your team, and either Towers or Foote for Melican.

[MattW]

Ah, Florent plays: Florent set to shine - sydneyswans.com.au.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Here's my wish list for the first few rounds (rounds 1-6):
Smith - Grundy - Rampe
Mills - Aliir - Jones
Rohan - Hannebery - Lloyd
Heeney - Reid - Franklin
Hewitt - Tippett - Jack
Naismith - Kennedy - Parker
I/C from McVeigh - Hewett - Melican - Florent - Marsh - Papley - Robinson - Foote.
* Mills, Jones & Heeney rotating through midfield.
* Don't waste any time on Towers. Too old and won't improve. I also don't see Cunningham as a long term player but he'll get a game or two regardless.

[Joel Ridge]

Ah, Florent plays: Florent set to shine - sydneyswans.com.au.

Florent at pick 11 is a high draft pick
so there should be every expectation that he will be a good AFL player. Our last two 1st round picks (Mills and Heeney) are on a trajectory to AFL superstardom. Our 2014 first round Zak Jones is now showing great return at pick 15 and is primed for a break out year in the midfield.

Our recent success in the first round shows that high draft picks matter.

We should expect a good return on Florent based on his high draft status.

[Mug Punter]

Every commentator, including Dermie whose opinions I value but whose person I despise, seems to make the comment that Florent is first and foremost an absolutely outstanding young man.

He lost his father last year to cancer last year, apparently he was one of the best blokes you could ever meet.

I'm sure it will be a very emotional time for young Ollie, achieving his dream but not having his father there to see it. I never met him or his family but for some reason this kid seems to strike a chord with me, and I feel we have a real responsibility as a club and community to his family to look after him.

I think it will be a powerful moment when he debuts. And if he kicks a goal it could be hard to keep it all together.

[graemed]

Every commentator, including Dermie whose opinions I value but whose person I despise,
.

Opinions like declaring that the booing of Adam Goodes was justified because he staged for free kicks, thereby providing a vehicle for racist behaviour.

[bloodspirit]

* Don't waste any time on Towers. Too old and won't improve. I also don't see Cunningham as a long term player but he'll get a game or two regardless.

I turned my back on Towers mid-last year after being patient for a long time and I haven't changed my mind yet. But while we're missing 5 of our best 22 and some of the new blood still needs a bit more development he can squeeze into the team for a couple of rounds for mine. I look forward to Dawson, Hayward and others going past him, as I expect they will. But, as best I can tell, they're not quite there yet. That might change during this H&A season.

[liz]

Players like Towers, Cunningham, Laidler and Sinclair aren't in the "best 22" and, at this stage in their careers, probably aren't going to improve enough to push their way into the "best 22". But none is out of their depth at senior level and they can all come in and play a role at various stages during the season. I suggest that, as injuries inevitably hit, all these players will be valuable members of the squad if the team is to emulate last season's H&A achievements.

[Mug Punter]

Opinions like declaring that the booing of Adam Goodes was justified because he staged for free kicks, thereby providing a vehicle for racist behaviour.

Fair call, I do hate to say this but I usually find his opinions in football related matters pretty spot on.

So go shoot me

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Players like Towers, Cunningham, Laidler and Sinclair aren't in the "best 22" and, at this stage in their careers, probably aren't going to improve enough to push their way into the "best 22". But none is out of their depth at senior level and they can all come in and play a role at various stages during the season. I suggest that, as injuries inevitably hit, all these players will be valuable members of the squad if the team is to emulate last season's H&A achievements.

Same here, I was driving the Dean Towers bandwagon after the 2015 Finals series and I had high hopes for him really becoming a crucial player for us last year but he just didn't deliver and I think it is all between the ears.

I think he only just scraped a contract but he'd be on cheap terms and he can fill a spot for injuries. Classic squad player now but I guess the chance is still there for him to be a late bloomer

[liz]

Fair call, I do hate to say this but I usually find his opinions in football related matters pretty spot on.

So go shoot me

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Dermie is a weird mix of the truly insightful (far more so than David King, with his array of bland statistical indicators and weird squiggles on ground maps that rarely demonstrate what he is trying to demonstrate) thrown in with a fair share of the bizarre, banal and - occasionally - bigoted remarks.