2019 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[bloodspirit]

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.

Are you saying that you're going to let the coaches decide this time?

[stevoswan]

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.

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.

I can see Paps, Gray and Taylor all rotating through the midfield from the forward line. With Naismith back, Allir is free to go back as an interceptig tall (or Brand), freeing Ramps to a flank and a running game and as such, Mills spending more time in the midfield.....if that is what the club actually desire.

Sometimes I doubt this though because for all this talk about Mills being a junior mid gun, I don't see enough evidence out on the ground that he's actually up to it. Sometimes, in heavy traffic, Mills seems less than composed to me....

[MattW]

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.

Well said - agreed.

I'm anticipating Stoddart's development in particular. Very fast, excellent field kick, good mark, smart. Developed well as a possession-getter in the NEAFL this year.

The only thing he's lacked is size. They pulled him out pretty quickly this year when it became clear he was still a bit too slight. He mentioned his size in his post-season interview with the official site.

I'll be watching him closely over the off-season (by which I mean squinting at the background of training photos and listening for his name being dropped as impressing on the track).

[Blood Relative]

Perhaps we are trying to imitate Richmond's fleet of mid sized running brigade? Perhaps, Reid, AA, Franklin, McCartin and a ruckmen are too many talls to compete in modern footy. Gray and Taylor both around 100 games played joining with Papley around the ground is mouth-watering thought. IMO.

[Blood Fever]

Perhaps we are trying to imitate Richmond's fleet of mid sized running brigade? Perhaps, Reid, AA, Franklin, McCartin and a ruckmen are too many talls to compete in modern footy. Gray and Taylor both around 100 games played joining with Papley around the ground is mouth-watering thought. IMO.

I'm sure there is an element of imitating the Tigers BR.

[Mountain Man]

There is a lot of talk here about "midfield minutes", but like AG, I think we are really talking about "stoppage clearances".

A proportion of those do indeed happen in the midfield, and with the 6 6 6 rule are very important. I'm hopeful that Naismith will make a difference in 2020, but I see Kennedy and Parker still dominating the 30 odd occasions they occur (4 starts of a quarter and say 26 goals).

I suspect there are more than 30 boundary throw-ins or ball-ups. The amount of congestion increases and take-aways are more difficult. They happen all over the field.

It seems to me that a ruck presence is less important in the congestion, and the big bodies are also less dominant. It is here that a good set up enables the smaller, faster bodies to anticipate and/or react to either win the ball, or negate the opposition.

The set up is critical.

[Blood Fever]

I can see Paps, Gray and Taylor all rotating through the midfield from the forward line. With Naismith back, Allir is free to go back as an interceptig tall (or Brand), freeing Ramps to a flank and a running game and as such, Mills spending more time in the midfield.....if that is what the club actually desire.

Sometimes I doubt this though because for all this talk about Mills being a junior mid gun, I don't see enough evidence out on the ground that he's actually up to it. Sometimes, in heavy traffic, Mills seems less than composed to me....

Hard to judge Mills potential as a midfielder when his mindset is totally focussed on being a defender. Let's wait until(if) it happens.

[stevoswan]

Hard to judge Mills potential as a midfielder when his mindset is totally focussed on being a defender. Let's wait until(if) it happens.

Fair point and I actually do want it to happen so we can find out whether he cuts the mustard.

[dimelb]

And if he does some of us will have egg on our faces!

[707]

Hard to judge Mills potential as a midfielder when his mindset is totally focused on being a defender. Let's wait until(if) it happens.

Trained with the mids last summer then due to injuries had to be thrown back. Let's see what happens this off season.

[Markwebbos]

I can see Paps, Gray and Taylor all rotating through the midfield from the forward line. With Naismith back, Allir is free to go back as an interceptig tall (or Brand), freeing Ramps to a flank and a running game and as such, Mills spending more time in the midfield.....if that is what the club actually desire.

Sometimes I doubt this though because for all this talk about Mills being a junior mid gun, I don't see enough evidence out on the ground that he's actually up to it. Sometimes, in heavy traffic, Mills seems less than composed to me....

We had a few issues with personnel down back last year, including AA playing in the ruck, and Melican not quite being up to scratch, that forced Mills to play as a tall defender. You'd hope that either Melican, Brand or even Maibaum would take Reg's role, but that still leaves Rampe playing second tall defender and AA third / interceptor, unless they play both Melican, Brand and AA plus Rampe in a less accountable role.

Maibaum was originally recruited as a potential Reg replacement, so you never know.

Hopefully there are enough talls that Mills could go to the midfield in 2020, but I am not quite convinced he is the Messiah. I like the idea of Ollie, Nephew Of BT and even Blakey getting a lot more midfield time next year. Plus rotating Paps, Gray and Taylor through there too.

[Blood Fever]

We had a few issues with personnel down back last year, including AA playing in the ruck, and Melican not quite being up to scratch, that forced Mills to play as a tall defender. You'd hope that either Melican, Brand or even Maibaum would take Reg's role, but that still leaves Rampe playing second tall defender and AA third / interceptor, unless they play both Melican, Brand and AA plus Rampe in a less accountable role.

Maibaum was originally recruited as a potential Reg replacement, so you never know.

Hopefully there are enough talls that Mills could go to the midfield in 2020, but I am not quite convinced he is the Messiah. I like the idea of Ollie, Nephew Of BT and even Blakey getting a lot more midfield time next year. Plus rotating Paps, Gray and Taylor through there too.

Rampe is an All-Australian elite one on one defender. Very hard to come by and invaluable. Don't diminish his influence by making him an interceptor. Leo Barry was similar and a fair bit shorter than Dane. He did wonderfully well although he never won a B&F.

[giant]

They've absolutely lost the plot. Gray will be useful enough - Clarke, Thurlow, Taylor and Brand are just list cloggers.

+1 (though don't particularly rate Gray either to be honest).

[dejavoodoo44]

Rampe is an All-Australian elite one on one defender. Very hard to come by and invaluable. Don't diminish his influence by making him an interceptor. Leo Barry was similar and a fair bit shorter than Dane. He did wonderfully well although he never won a B&F.

On Leo Barry. A while back, I was thinking that Stoddart reminded me of Leo. Mainly in the way that Stoddart would take off from defence, without really seeming to know where he was going, but the harem scarem run would usually work out okay. Much like the frenetic manner, in which Barry used to rebound out of defence. Then I thought to myself, with his slight build, I could never really see Stoddart playing on key position forwards, the way that Barry used to do. So just out of idle curiosity, I checked their sizes: Stoddart, 186cm; Barry, 184cm.

Of course, I'm not saying that we should try to convert Stoddart into a KPD. But it just emphasizes what a freak Leaping Leo was. How he was continually able to play on and give a beating to, brutes like Lynch, Gardiner, Gehrig, Brown, Neitz, etc.

[Blood Fever]

On Leo Barry. A while back, I was thinking that Stoddart reminded me of Leo. Mainly in the way that Stoddart would take off from defence, without really seeming to know where he was going, but the harem scarem run would usually work out okay. Much like the frenetic manner, in which Barry used to rebound out of defence. Then I thought to myself, with his slight build, I could never really see Stoddart playing on key position forwards, the way that Barry used to do. So just out of idle curiosity, I checked their sizes: Stoddart, 186cm; Barry, 184cm.

Of course, I'm not saying that we should try to convert Stoddart into a KPD. But it just emphasizes what a freak Leaping Leo was. How he was continually able to play on and give a beating to, brutes like Lynch, Gardiner, Gehrig, Brown, Neitz, etc.

Leo was unbelievable - brilliant in the air as well as very quick and athletic. Reckon he must have played Rugby League as a kid. When he took off from deep in defence, dodging and weaving, it reminded me of a RL full back. Heart in the mouth stuff that happily mostly ended up ok. Some of his high marking was breathtaking. What a player!