2019 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Isn't a "tryst" - a private romantic rendezvous between lovers Wolfie?
For a moment there I thought poor old Horse was going to get James Faulkner'd

[Cosmic Wizard]

"Tryst" Wolfie?

Hey Ruck'n'Roll, just a quick question from your signature.

How do you get the 150 anniversary for the swans is 2017??

Thought the club was founded in 1874; therefore 1874 + 150 = 2024.

Happy to be corrected, thanks mate!

[Ludwig]

From time to time I have drawn analogies from basketball in respect to footy. Not many see the relationship between these 2 seemingly very different games. Paul Roos was one who also took guidance from basketball.

• One part of the Swans' development strategy has already been in progress in the AFL for a number of years, which is speed. This corresponds to the fast break in basketball. The NBA champion Golden State Warriors are a big proponent of this. Move the ball quickly down court before the defence has a chance to set up. Precision passing is a necessity, something that we need to get fixed (but we have some better disposal coming through the ranks).
• Effective scoring analytics have increased the amount of scoring coming from 3 point shots. This relates to the amount of scoring per shot taken. We all know that goal kicking accuracy often determines the outcome of games. But accuracy can be lower if more shots are taken. This would mean taking more shots from longer range; the shots will less often lead to goals, but it should be easier to get opportunities to take set shots. It's easier to get a mark 40 to 50 mtrs out than 20 mtrs from goal. I don't feel that we utilise our long range goal kicking enough. Of course we have Buddy. But we also have other good shots for goal, some from 50 mtr range: Parker, Dawson and Hayward being a few. We also have accurate kicks from 40 out, like Heeney, Lloyd and Cunningham. Rose and Fox are also good long range kicks. Amartey easily makes the distance from 50, but hasn't nailed the accuracy yet; he can be a real threat in due course, as he's a good lead up mark. Menzel would be a big plus, but who can count on such an injury prone player? Blakey is another good kick for goal. Darcy Cameron is both a long and generally accurate kick for goal.
• We don't utilise the kick to a player leading (or entering) space 40 out from goal often enough. It seems to be far more utilised with many other teams. A common complaint is that we seem to kick long and deep to a contest, just to get the ball intercepted. We should try to structure the side to fit a fast play high inside 50 game. Take a lot of shots, even if it means taking them from longer range. Get the ball in the hands of players who kick with good results from distance.
• We need to work our game plan so the right players are not only selected, but also find themselves in positions where their respective skills are most useful.

We might have the players to accomplish this on our list already. I say 'might', because many haven't really been tested at AFL level, or are still in early development. Despite the poor season, there are reasons to be positive. It's up to the coaches to get this right. When I listen to Longmire, I feel he understands this, but I haven't seen it in our team selection yet. Maybe we are just experimenting, but we seem to be picking the less obvious rather than the more obvious.

None of what was said above obviates the need to win the contested ball and apply pressure across the ground. That's a given. We are trying to build a new team with a new playing style. Let's get it right.

[707]

I'll fix up this sentence for you Ludwig - Get the ball in the hands of Buddy and Dawson who kick with good results from distance. Best not to be playing Dawson in defence limiting opposition scoring eh Horse, just kick more ourselves. I'd like to see that!

[Markwebbos]

[*]We don't utilise the kick to a player leading (or entering) space 40 out from goal often enough. It seems to be far more utilised with many other teams. A common complaint is that we seem to kick long and deep to a contest, just to get the ball intercepted. We should try to structure the side to fit a fast play high inside 50 game. Take a lot of shots, even if it means taking them from longer range. Get the ball in the hands of players who kick with good results from distance.

That's an interesting point. I think that instruction is coming from Horse who has said in two recent press conferences that our entries inside 50 (or in our forward third) have been too shallow (he specifically referenced 30m or more from goal) and that's why the ball was rebounding so quickly.

I don't know if he's only talking about when we don't have field position and our defence is not camped on our 50m line, or if he's talking about even then, which is when those kicks are most effective. I was listening to an AFL podcast (called "Trends") where they said that some teams (West Coast in particular) make great use of the kick inboard across their forward 50 to a leading forward. They said that some coaches instruct their players NOT to do this as this can leave them exposed on the turnover. My gut tells me that Longmire could well be one of "those coaches"

[Ruck'n'Roll]

How do you get the 150 anniversary for the swans is 2017??

To answer your question (as quickly as possible), half the club was founded in 1874, the other half in 1867 - therefore 1867 + 150 = 2017. See brief chronology below


1867 May 21st – “South Melbourne Football Club" formed

1869 April 30th – South Melbourne changes it’s name to Albert Park

1874 June 19th – “Cecil” football club formed

1874 July 15th – Cecil changes it’s name to South Melbourne

1877 – Both clubs play in the inaugural VFA season.
Albert Park as a Senior member of the association. It plays in red and white. The team won 10 matches, lost none and drew 3.
South was a Junior member, played in blue and white. The team won 3 matches, lost 4, and drew 5.

1880 – The Fourth VFA Season sees the newly amalgamated club (South Melbourne's name/Albert Park's colours) win 13, draw 5 with 2 losses.

1881 – The club wins the first of it's VFA "Flags"

1890 – The club wins it's 5th VFA "Flag" in 10 years.

1897 – The club plays in the first VFL season

[dimelb]

That's an interesting point. I think that instruction is coming from Horse who has said in two recent press conferences that our entries inside 50 (or in our forward third) have been too shallow (he specifically referenced 30m or more from goal) and that's why the ball was rebounding so quickly.

I don't know if he's only talking about when we don't have field position and our defence is not camped on our 50m line, or if he's talking about even then, which is when those kicks are most effective. I was listening to an AFL podcast (called "Trends") where they said that some teams (West Coast in particular) make great use of the kick inboard across their forward 50 to a leading forward. They said that some coaches instruct their players NOT to do this as this can leave them exposed on the turnover. My gut tells me that Longmire could well be one of "those coaches"

I was catching up my reading when I saw this. You're absolutely right - it is the single most important thing we don't have as a standard part of our armoury.

[caj23]

That's an interesting point. I think that instruction is coming from Horse who has said in two recent press conferences that our entries inside 50 (or in our forward third) have been too shallow (he specifically referenced 30m or more from goal) and that's why the ball was rebounding so quickly.

I don't know if he's only talking about when we don't have field position and our defence is not camped on our 50m line, or if he's talking about even then, which is when those kicks are most effective. I was listening to an AFL podcast (called "Trends") where they said that some teams (West Coast in particular) make great use of the kick inboard across their forward 50 to a leading forward. They said that some coaches instruct their players NOT to do this as this can leave them exposed on the turnover. My gut tells me that Longmire could well be one of "those coaches"

It is interesting.

I'd argue that its largely a result of our move sideways in the backline/hug the boundary style of football. As the ball movement is so slow through the midfield, by the time we get to the forward 50, the opposition has flooded back and the only space available is either in the pockets or 40+ metres out from goal

[neilfws]

Don't know if this came up in another thread but I'll leave it here as it falls under personnel:

Swans still confident Longmire is the man for the long haul


Seems like the club trying to quash any perceived chatter on the issue.

[AnnieH]

There's absolutely NO reason why Horse should go... at least not until the end of his contract.
If they extend the contract, I'd be happy with that too.
It's not like he plays... he can only work with what we've got.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Our current predicament was the focus on all the Monday night footy shows yesterday, which I haven't seen in a while. They all acknowledged we've done so well to have stayed up for so long, but the equalisation measures would eventually catchup with us. Our list was analysed with the consesus we have a lot of under 24 players who have the potential to become A graders and so every chance we'll bounce back quickly. Paul Roos only criticism is that we're throwing players around too much and not allowing them to solidify in the one position. He cited McCartin, Allir, Heeney & Jones as examples. Roos thinks Lomgmire is trying to plug too many holes all over the ground at once and is better off settling one area of the ground at a time.

Roosy would be correct if you're intention is to win games. However giving our current predicament, maybe trialling players in different positions to see if a more suitable position can be found is the answer? If that doesn't work they can return to their original positions. We aren't going to win a premiership this year or next so why shouldn't we take this strategic approach?

[S.S. Bleeder]

Don't know if this came up in another thread but I'll leave it here as it falls under personnel:

Swans still confident Longmire is the man for the long haul


Seems like the club trying to quash any perceived chatter on the issue.

This was especially emailed to me (from a different source to the norm) from the club this arvo. I get the feeling that the club want to knock the changing of the coach talk on the head. Makes sense.

[Legs Akimbo]

That's an interesting point. I think that instruction is coming from Horse who has said in two recent press conferences that our entries inside 50 (or in our forward third) have been too shallow (he specifically referenced 30m or more from goal) and that's why the ball was rebounding so quickly.

I don't know if he's only talking about when we don't have field position and our defence is not camped on our 50m line, or if he's talking about even then, which is when those kicks are most effective. I was listening to an AFL podcast (called "Trends") where they said that some teams (West Coast in particular) make great use of the kick inboard across their forward 50 to a leading forward. They said that some coaches instruct their players NOT to do this as this can leave them exposed on the turnover. My gut tells me that Longmire could well be one of "those coaches"

If you kick from 45 and get a point the outcome of the forward entry is as deep as can be. I'd love to see more longer range kicks at goal instead of turnovers in congestion at 30. It's a oval space reduces as you get closer to the objective!

[caj23]

Article in the HS today hinted we may be looking at Kyle Dunkley in mid season draft, and perhaps we may have enquired about F/S priority

The article also suggested that clubs will overlook mature options and use the draft to select young players for future development

(Sorry I can't link it)

I imagine it won't be a popular decision here if we do go for another youngster who won't have any impact this season

[Markwebbos]

There's absolutely NO reason why Horse should go... at least not until the end of his contract.
If they extend the contract, I'd be happy with that too.
It's not like he plays... he can only work with what we've got.

I don't see any reason yet, why he should go. But I also don't see why they are rushing to extend him. We are in uncharted territory (or about to be in a few weeks) why not see how it plays out?