Changes for round 1 - Syd vs Port

[crackedactor]

Agree Big Cat. My 2016 (GF) still hurts and it will be a long slow recovery period for me.

[chalbilto]

With McVeigh's calf injury should the club be looking at doing the same as they did with Ryan O'Keefe's last year by playing him in the reserves in a mentor/coaching capacity? Should the club let him get to his 300 games? Is he still a valuable member to the firsts?

[liz]

Grundy and Naismith are two Swans who suffered from Glandular Fever in recent times and they've recovered well from it.

KJ is another who suffered a bout. The good news is that the following season he came second in the B&F and won AA selection (2013). The bad news is that it laid him low for two months. His occurred early in the pre-season, so he still had time to recover. Heeney doesn't have that luxury, with the season almost upon us. But hopefully his bout will be milder.

Kieren?s pre-season battle - sydneyswans.com.au

[liz]

With McVeigh's calf injury should the club be looking at doing the same as they did with Ryan O'Keefe's last year by playing him in the reserves in a mentor/coaching capacity? Should the club let him get to his 300 games? Is he still a valuable member to the firsts?

An answer to your final question from the Horse's mouth.

'Horse' looks to history on McVeigh recovery - AFL.com.au

[Joel Ridge]

With McVeigh's calf injury should the club be looking at doing the same as they did with Ryan O'Keefe's last year by playing him in the reserves in a mentor/coaching capacity? Should the club let him get to his 300 games? Is he still a valuable member to the firsts?

Is 2017 McVeigh's last contracted season?

I've always found it hard to love McVeigh. Can people who love McVeigh set me straight?

[ernie koala]

It takes 2-4 weeks for the symptoms of glandular fever to surface....

Let's hope the (EBV) virus hasn't already been spread to others on the list.

From what I remember, the spleen becomes enlarged and vulnerable, and there is an increased risk of rupturing it, due to physical contact, for many weeks after being diagnosed.

So my guess is, we won't see Heeney in action for at least 2-3 months, possibly longer.

[Mel_C]

There are photos on the swans site showing Heeney at training (watching) so that is good news that he has the energy ????.

[Ludwig]

Firstly, what is the point of worrying? The list (and the injury situation) is what the list is. That's what the club has to work with in 2017. For me, it's exciting to see what might unfold. Isn't that a huge part of the fun of following the sport? That we don't - and can't - know what is about to unfold?

Secondly, our top handful of players are remarkably consistent when uninjured. There's a bit of a cloud over Parker at the moment but he's got the runs on the board to suggest he'll get into the swing of things soon enough. Kennedy, Franklin, Hannebery, Rampe, plus the next group - Grundy, Smith, Lloyd - rarely play much below their capability. They all had very consistent seasons last year and, sure, we'll need them to this year but it's more than likely they'll pick up where they left off.

Mills and Jones show signs of improvement over last year, and Heeney will deliver, too, when he returns. He may not quite hit the heights this year that we'd been hoping for, but he'll be a solid contributor at least.

Our ruck stocks seem healthy enough. Tippo's actually pretty consistent himself when he's not injured, and while he probably will get injured at some point (partly because he's a ruckman and partly because he's just Tippo), I think the other three look like they can play a role. The competition between them should push them on.

Sure, we need players to stand up and fill the last half dozen or so spots in the team but we did this time last year, and the likes of Hewett and Papley delivered in spades, with OK contributions also from the likes of Allir, Robinson, Marsh and some others. I reckon there's a big enough group of players who've been in the system long enough and have developed solidly, to be confident that, as a group, they can contribute as the season unfolds.

And if they don't? Well, we won't win the premiership but we'll have fun watching, and then the squad will regather, regroup and plan for 2018. I'm just looking forward to the ride, as I am on the eve of every season. Bring it on.

I wholeheartedly agree with both the sentiments and analysis of this post.

We have 5 players from a roster of 46 who will be out of consideration for round 1 due to injury or illness. There are perhaps 5 or six others that are not quite ready for senior footy and few more that I wouldn't expect to make a solid contribution at this stage. That still leaves over 30 players that I would feel confident are ready to play at AFL level. Included in this list would be players like Rose, Melican and Florent that look capable enough of coming into the side and fill a role. And as Liz said, we just may be surprised will a few who perform above expectations, as we were last year.

No one likes to see injured players on the list, but that's the only way that some of our exciting youngsters will get an opportunity to develop with senior level games, so there is a benefit of sorts when injuries occur, so long as the players can recover quickly and play a part in the success of the season.

[Mark26]

I'd be happy to share why I rate McVeigh. If I remember correctly, McVeigh and Malceski sat out on a GF early in their careers. That seemed to be the turning point for them both as they took their game to another level, determined not to miss out on the next GF opportunity (if it ever presented itself). I rate McVeigh as a captain. He's led our boys into battle on numerous occasions, is hard in contests, has plugged holes in defense, played through the mids and also up forward. The attribute which I love the most though is his resilience. I have two kids and can't imagine what it must be like to lose one. For that to happen and to be in the spotlight (as all footy players are) and to mourn and still be a leader of the club says a lot about his character. I nearly forgot ... he'll finish up as a one club player. I have respect for the man and always will.

[RogueSwan]

I'd be happy to share why I rate McVeigh. ...

Even as he has slowed across the ground, in and around the contest he seems to have just as much time and space as he always has. In a way he has followed on with what Kirk set up with not being the flashest footballer but always doing what needed to be done to get his/our team across the line.

[Aprilbr]

I agree that McVeigh has been a club great for us over a long period. Classy, composed and so professional. Sadly his body seems to be now letting him down.


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[Auntie.Gerald]

I still rate him in our 22 until another player owns a spot

McVeigh is a good decision maker and leader

[707]

FWIW - Longmire said Florent's GPS running numbers had gone "though the roof" and he had shown himself capable of playing against fully grown men.

KJ is suffering a hip complaint, still hopefully in the R1 mix according to Longmire.

[graemed]

Not talked about but I would not discount Brandon getting a spot upfront...

He could easily play the pressure forward role for a few rounds in snrs

Brandon Jack - sydneyswans.com.au

From the work done during pre-season this seems contrary to the strategic planning where he was playing mainly in defence.
I would think with his pace and tenacity, he might fit the role as a defensive forward, that said he has been used in this role before without success. He did kick goals in his debut against Melbourne but that was in a different role.
If successful he could a great asset and finally cement a position in the team.This could especially useful against teams like GWS, Adelaide and Bulldogs that have genuine speed off HB line and initiate many attacks from this area.
It's conceivable that he and his brother may both spend much of their time there because although Hewitt was used in that vein last year, I doubt he has the pace and was exposed in some vital games.

[Joel Ridge]

With Aliir looking unlikely for round one, how do people feel about Melican being the other key back against Port? It would mean that he wound have to play significant time against Dixon or Ryder, who are both very talented 200cm players.

I would be inclined to play Sam Reid back against Ryder and use Melican at the 3rd back tall. Even as the 3rd back he may have to stand a very talanted player in Westoff.