JLT Game 1: Sydney Swans v North Melbourne Kangaroos @ Coffs Harbour

[caj23]

I agree with the first part of that sentence, but not the second. When did the Swans last lose a top player they didn't want to lose? Jones is just coming into his own, has spoken glowingly of the club recently, and I bet his brother (a one club player) is advising him to stay. He's a priority signing and we'll get it done.

Whilst we obviously didn't want to pay him as much as what was on offer from the Hawks, I think we can pretty safely call Tom Mitchell a top player

[bloodspirit]

MattW (and Ludwig), I completely agree. Jones won't go and we won't let him. Now that we've done Heeney and JPK, Jones and Reid are our two other key signings. We'll get them done but Reid may be the trickier one.

I agree with you Ludwig, that our list is in awesome shape. Sure, it doesn't compare with GWS's list, but whose does? GWS has a list like no other and they will not be able to hold on to all their talent even with the prospect of endless consecutive premierships dangling in front of them. While we don't yet know which of our fringe players and those outside the 22 will be the ones that blossom and take hold, there are enough with promise for me to feel confident it's going to work out well. I only hope we can be among those to profit from the GWS surplus but perhaps we won't because we won't have salary cap space to lure anyone big outside our list.

MP, think you are on the right track nominating Fox and COR as LTIL upgrades but I think it is too soon to decide on them ahead of Edwards. Let's see out the rest of the JLT series first. It will also depend on which type of player we may have a need for. We may well hold off upgrading anyone unless a need arises.

I'll be surprised but not staggered if Maibaum becomes best 22 this year. He's got a lot of competition, is young and looks to be a long term potential replacement for Reg so his chances will be better when Reg is gone.

[longmile]

MattW (and Ludwig), I completely agree. Jones won't go and we won't let him. Now that we've done Heeney and JPK, Jones and Reid are our two other key signings. We'll get them done but Reid may be the trickier one.

Just thinking aloud here and would be interested in hearing others thoughts.

But currently I believe Reid is the biggest money sink on our list. Reportedly on 500K p.a. Buddys worth the money and Tippett you could argue both ways, depending on his early 2016 form against his late 2016 form. However Reid has only shown glimpses of potential and occasional stand out quarters. How important is he to resign? Is it such a big deal if we let him go? Who would we replace him with?

I know Horse highly rates him and that everyone is probably waiting to see how he performs in the early half of this year before any kind of contract talks.

[56-14]

I think we'd be crazy to re-sign Reid until he actually confirms his value to us.

I also think he owes us, not - we owe him.

[MattW]

Whilst we obviously didn't want to pay him as much as what was on offer from the Hawks, I think we can pretty safely call Tom Mitchell a top player

He didn't leave against our wishes. We prioritised other players (I suspect, including Jones).

[MattW]

Just thinking aloud here and would be interested in hearing others thoughts.

But currently I believe Reid is the biggest money sink on our list. Reportedly on 500K p.a. Buddys worth the money and Tippett you could argue both ways, depending on his early 2016 form against his late 2016 form. However Reid has only shown glimpses of potential and occasional stand out quarters. How important is he to resign? Is it such a big deal if we let him go? Who would we replace him with?

I know Horse highly rates him and that everyone is probably waiting to see how he performs in the early half of this year before any kind of contract talks.

I agree that we should sit on Reid's contract and see how the season develops. It seems like we've been perpetually waiting for his game to mature, particularly his goal-kicking, but he still feels like a player who should do more with his physical attributes and apparent skills. I think we've been a little indecisive in the role given to him, which probably hasn't helped. To be fair, he was excellent in the last (albeit truncated) senior game he played for us.

[Mug Punter]

When I saw Fox I was thinking 70s porn star! With that kind of look it's good that he seems to have footy ability.

Liking the well thought through discussions on here but I still think our depth is very shaky with most comments relying on several fringe players rising to the challenge.

Just no comparison between our last 5-6 chosen and the last 5-6 for GWS. Using the universally accepted Champion Data ratings, GWS last 5-6 players in their 22 are Kelly, Hopper, Tomlinson, Whitfield, Buntine & Patton PLUS six first rounders after that - scary what the AFL has created!

I think he will be a real find.

He has an interesting background, quite similar to Rampe. Played other sports and was a rep basketballer. Went to Melbourne in 2013 to study to be a teacher and have a crack at footy. Got roped into the EDFL where he played in two losing Grand Finals and then played for Coburg under Wayne Brittan for 2015 and 2016 where from all reports he has improved every year.

He has elite endurance and also topped the 20 metre sprint at the Victorian combine. Plus he surely has plenty of upside. Certainly he is ready physically, his background is as a defender cum midfielder but I liked him on the half forward flank against Norf. The other thing is he seems, and I know it is early days, to have plenty of time out there too which I think is a great indicator.

There will always be a place for elite juniors coming into the system but I really do see players like Fox, who have maybe taken the road less travelled and gained some life experience, as becoming increasingly successful in the AFL.

I guess the only problem will be if him and Dane start stealing each other's product....

[Mug Punter]

I agree that we should sit on Reid's contract and see how the season develops. It seems like we've been perpetually waiting for his game to mature, particularly his goal-kicking, but he still feels like a player who should do more with his physical attributes and apparent skills. I think we've been a little indecisive in the role given to him, which probably hasn't helped. To be fair, he was excellent in the last (albeit truncated) senior game he played for us.

I think the Reid situation will be interesting to see and it may well be decided by external factors.

I know we all start on zero points, and I'm not doom-mongering, but if GWS fulfil their potential the flags for 2017-19 could well be close a no contest. Extreme language I know but I just fear they could be that good. But I think they need to have early success and I also think that from 2020, when their first batch become free agents, that they will start to come back to the pack quite quickly. It's the price the comp needs to pay to get the game entrenched with two teams in NSW IMO.

Anyway, my point is, that even though we will not say it publicly we could well recalibrate our list management strategy at the end of this year to focus on 2020 if we feel GWS are way way in front of us. It won't be a rebuild as such but if we see Blakey as a gun CHF recruit in the 2018 draft we may well decide to let Reid go, bank some big cap money and get another 3-4 really good youngsters like we did this year including 2 first rounders.

And we could even be in the money to look at a Jeremy Cameron or someone like that in 2020 with Buddy coming into year given that 2020 will be year 7 of his 9 year deal.

[giant]

Well, one thing hasn't changed from 2016 - we still can't buy a free kick. It's actually starting to get a little concerning...

Loved Jones in the midfield - the most excited I've got about high draft pick for the Swans for ever and he's starting to fulfil on that. Hope he stays fit. Mills just about best on ground for me - he's a wonderful talent.

Loved Heeney's endeavour but to be frank I think he lowered his colours to Cunnington at various times - no shame, Cunnington can play, but we'd be best to have subdued expectations about Heeney's ability to go into the midfield and dominate from round 1. Thought Hewett got better as the game went on too.

[Mug Punter]

Well, one thing hasn't changed from 2016 - we still can't buy a free kick. It's actually starting to get a little concerning...

Loved Jones in the midfield - the most excited I've got about high draft pick for the Swans for ever and he's starting to fulfil on that. Hope he stays fit. Mills just about best on ground for me - he's a wonderful talent.

Loved Heeney's endeavour but to be frank I think he lowered his colours to Cunnington at various times - no shame, Cunnington can play, but we'd be best to have subdued expectations about Heeney's ability to go into the midfield and dominate from round 1. Thought Hewett got better as the game went on too.

I think our list is probably in the best shape it has ever been in, just a really good bunch of young kids with such upside - Jones, Heeney, Mills, Aliir and Hewett all have the opportunity to carve out 200 game careers and they've kind of come through as a pack. Whilst it is too early to call on the others I really think all four of our recruits this year will be good footballers plus there's COR.

Then you've got that middle block of players that may never be superstars but will do their role, the likes of Marsh, Papley, Naismith, Newman (possibly), Towers (maybe) and Lloyd (possibly selling him short including him in this bracket).

Top it up with the genuine elite players of Buddy, JPK, Hanners and Parker able supported by the "very good but not quite elite" such as Tippo, Smith, Jack and Grundy.

The thing that will determine our season I believe, is whether we get the bolters out of nowhere like we did last year with Aliir, Papley and to a lesser degree Hewett. I think we need at least three debutants to do really well, not just play a few games. I think Florent will be one, the others could come out of Newman, COR, Maibaum or Fox from what I have seen to date.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Interestingly Blakey mentioning robinsonthruthe midfield this year.......yet omitting a few other fringe players

[Nico]

Naismith is genuine key to out success this year. His meteoric improvement in 2016 cannot be under estimated.

[mattybloods]

I think we've been a little indecisive in the role given to him, which probably hasn't helped.

Both Reid and Rohan have suffered in a way because of their versatility. Both have been used in attack and defence at various times, Jack of all trades master of none

[Ludwig]

Both Reid and Rohan have suffered in a way because of their versatility.

They both have mastered every machine in the rehab facility. Champion Data has them both rated a Rehab-Elite.

They are both in my Hamstring Fantasy team as well.

[graemed]

Top it up with the genuine elite players of Buddy, JPK, Hanners and Parker able supported by the "very good but not quite elite" such as Tippo, Smith, Jack and Grundy.

I was wondering where our other AA fits in this list?