2019 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[stevoswan]

I'm still not convinced by Naismith. It seems that the game has moved passed having a big guy who's main contribution is at the stoppages and the ruckman is now expected to contribute in all facets of the game. Although Sinclair is not fantastic at the tap, he gets around the park well and is more of a competitor than Naismith. Teams like Richmond and GWS demonstrated that you don't need to win the tap to win the clearances.

Because Richmond and GWS have decent ball winning midfielders.....at the moment, we don't.....so we need a better tap ruckman....which Naismith is. Even with him in, there is still room for Sinclair IMO. The days of Reid and Allir providing ruck relief should be over!

[Markwebbos]

Because Richmond and GWS have decent ball winning midfielders.....at the moment, we don't.....so we need a better tap ruckman....which Naismith is. Even with him in, there is still room for Sinclair IMO. The days of Reid and Allir providing ruck relief should be over!

Agreed.
Hopefully 2020 will offer both Naismith and a quicker, more effective midfield group

[Ralph Dawg]

Because Richmond and GWS have decent ball winning midfielders.....at the moment, we don't.....so we need a better tap ruckman....which Naismith is. Even with him in, there is still room for Sinclair IMO. The days of Reid and Allir providing ruck relief should be over!

I agree with most of what you say, especially about the midfield. I'm backing our guys to improve in that area.
Re. The tap, I think the effect of getting first touch is over rated. How many times in a game, even with Grundy and Gawn, do you see the stoppages decided with a clear tap to advantage? I think this was shown by a stat that showed even though Grundy dominated the hit out count, the Pie's contested ball numbers were pretty average. If you look around the league, most the club's have a mobile ruckman who can get around the park. Naismith imo will be a liability. I still clearly remember him getting smashed around the park by McEvoy and Zac Smith.

[Aprilbr]

I agree the tap can be over- rated but an elite ruckman can do other things too. For example, clearing a path with their bulk (Mummy in his prime), grabbing the ball themselves and making a clearance or even a goal (Grundy does this better than anybody else in my view). Saving marks or the occasional goal are other things that a top ruckman do. Grundy is looking at a $1 million per year salary next contract because he is truly elite at many of these things. Sinclair can do the latter but I'm not so sure about Naismith.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[Ralph Dawg]

I agree the tap can be over- rated but an elite ruckman can do other things too. For example, clearing a path with their bulk (Mummy in his prime), grabbing the ball themselves and making a clearance or even a goal (Grundy does this better than anybody else in my view). Saving marks or the occasional goal are other things that a top ruckman do. Grundy is looking at a $1 million per year salary next contract because he is truly elite at many of these things. Sinclair can do the latter but I'm not so sure about Naismith.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

Let's save our cash for Grundy. He strikes me as a very thoughtful sort of guy, almost a bit introverted for a professional footy player. I would imagine he would love living in Sydney, out of the Melbourne / Adelaide fish bowls.

And he would be one guy who would change things overnight for us.

[stevoswan]

Let's save our cash for Grundy. He strikes me as a very thoughtful sort of guy, almost a bit introverted for a professional footy player. I would imagine he would love living in Sydney, out of the Melbourne / Adelaide fish bowls.

And he would be one guy who would change things overnight for us.

Agree with this....

It's interesting that the 'next Grundy' IS in this years draft. Will be interesting to see who gets him.

That would be Luke Jackson.

[Aprilbr]

Agree with this....

It's interesting that the 'next Grundy' IS in this years draft. Will be interesting to see who gets him.

That would be Luke Jackson.

Grundy went at number 18 in the draft - what a pick by the Pies! I wonder what number will Jackson go at?

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[stevoswan]

Ralph Dawg.....you had the 5000th post on this thread....well done!

It's closing in on last years 5006 posts as it stands now.

[Markwebbos]

Grundy went at number 18 in the draft - what a pick by the Pies! I wonder what number will Jackson go at?

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

He’ll go higher but won’t be as good as Grundy . And he’s not quite tall enough.

[Ralph Dawg]

Ralph Dawg.....you had the 5000th post on this thread....well done!

It's closing in on last years 5006 posts as it stands now.

Well that's an honour. I discovered RWO relatively recently and it's been fantastic.

I don't have many footy loving mates, living in a traditional league stronghold, so it's great to have robust discussion with my fellow posters.

[Ludwig]

We can't expect much in the trade and DFA period without landing a big fish, so to speak. I've been consistently against this, so I feel we really did well keeping Paps and letting JD ride another year in Melbourne.

Overall, I think both our list and draft position have improved by a small amount, but better than a negative change. We brought in players who can do a decent job at AFL level, although not exceptional. But this is better than keeping Pink and Hirst on the list who have yet to play an AFL game. We've go plenty of youth and a lot more to come.

It's way too early trying to project which non-core players will start the season in the seniors. With Gray and Taylor recruited, Papley should be able to spend substantial time in the midfield. He could become a real ball winner in side, and with the speed to break free. Also, if he still wants a trad out in 2020 maybe be can demand 2 first rounders for him as a high production midfielder.

I don't see us with a midfield problem. We just need Heeney, Mills, Florent and Paps to spend more time in the midfield. Finding more players for back and forward lines should free up these players to make more of a midfield impact. It's was in the cards for several years that this young group would have to carry the torch for us in the next run up the ladder. If they fail, so will the Swans.

I am still banking on Stoddart and Ling to be a couple of big movers in 2020, which should really make the Swans a top team if they do reach their potential.

Let's see what kind of magic we can pull off in the draft.

[Blood Fever]

We can't expect much in the trade and DFA period without landing a big fish, so to speak. I've been consistently against this, so I feel we really did well keeping Paps and letting JD ride another year in Melbourne.

Overall, I think both our list and draft position have improved by a small amount, but better than a negative change. We brought in players who can do a decent job at AFL level, although not exceptional. But this is better than keeping Pink and Hirst on the list who have yet to play an AFL game. We've go plenty of youth and a lot more to come.

It's way too early trying to project which non-core players will start the season in the seniors. With Gray and Taylor recruited, Papley should be able to spend substantial time in the midfield. He could become a real ball winner in side, and with the speed to break free. Also, if he still wants a trad out in 2020 maybe be can demand 2 first rounders for him as a high production midfielder.

I don't see us with a midfield problem. We just need Heeney, Mills, Florent and Paps to spend more time in the midfield. Finding more players for back and forward lines should free up these players to make more of a midfield impact. It's was in the cards for several years that this young group would have to carry the torch for us in the next run up the ladder. If they fail, so will the Swans.

I am still banking on Stoddart and Ling to be a couple of big movers in 2020, which should really make the Swans a top team if they do reach their potential.

Let's see what kind of magic we can pull off in the draft.

Papley kicked almost forty goals and is an elite small forward who was assessed as worth a first round graft pick. Don't reckon he has a big enough tank to spend big minutes in the midfield. Keep him pinch hitting there.

[Ludwig]

Papley kicked almost forty goals and is an elite small forward who was assessed as worth a first round graft pick. Don't reckon he has a big enough tank to spend big minutes in the midfield. Keep him pinch hitting there.

Papley seemed to do a lot of running up the ground last season and we won the most contested ball when he played on ball, so I think he can do it. What I'm saying is that Gray and Taylor are both handy goal kickers, so he might be more useful in the midfield. I'm not pushing it; just saying it might be an option. We could spread the goal kicking among a lot of players. Harder to stop that way.

[Aprilbr]

I must say I am a little skeptical whether any of Papley, Mills or Heeney will develop into players who spend big minutes in the midfield. I fhink that all will spend time there though. I hope to be proven wrong.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[troyjones2525]

He’ll go higher but won’t be as good as Grundy . And he’s not quite tall enough.

+1

Sent from my SM-G977B using Tapatalk