Pre-season 2020

[Foreign Legion]

Bloody hell Buddy looks fit! He looks to have dropped 7-10KG's I reckon.

Good to see Dawson won the 2K time trial. The pic of McCartin is promising too - he has added a lot of body strength by the look of it - good if he has maintained his running ability.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Bloody hell Buddy looks fit! He looks to have dropped 7-10KG's I reckon.

Good to see Dawson won the 2K time trial. The pic of McCartin is promising too - he has added a lot of body strength by the look of it - good if he has maintained his running ability.

I noticed Mccartin looking big and strong too , on his third preseason and still only 19 !( admittedly not for much longer ). He’s one to watch this year for me , can see him having a BIG year .


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[Ralph Dawg]

Was Dawson ever known for his endurance? Is this an area he has massively improved over the off season? Should we now be looking at him to play inside? He certainly fits the bill as a potential JPK heir, big body, big tank and that left foot! Imagine him winning a centre clearance at the SCG and slotting one from 60!

[bloodspirit]

Was Dawson ever known for his endurance? Is this an area he has massively improved over the off season? Should we now be looking at him to play inside? He certainly fits the bill as a potential JPK heir, big body, big tank and that left foot! Imagine him winning a centre clearance at the SCG and slotting one from 60!

Not so far as I am aware. His performances this pre-season have blown me away! I'm super impressed and excited about the season he is going to have. He's got all the tools. His ceiling is so high. Where has he been hiding all this time?? Sure, we knew he was a decent NEAFL player and had hopes, but I think he has surpassed them already and with the promise of more improvement to come.

[barracuda]

Not so far as I am aware. His performances this pre-season have blown me away! I'm super impressed and excited about the season he is going to have. He's got all the tools. His ceiling is so high. Where has he been hiding all this time?? Sure, we knew he was a decent NEAFL player and had hopes, but I think he has surpassed them already and with the promise of more improvement to come.

based on what I know he got a bit lazy in season 2018. He had the facts of life explained to him and has responded brilliantly. Having watched many of his games in the NEAFL over the last years he was always a gun, he just needed a bit of a push to start to reach his potential.

[Markwebbos]

There's an interview with him in the Hun:

Category: | Herald Sun

Jordan Dawson insists Sydney Swans’ young guns won’t shy away from filling the big shoes vacated by a host of recently retired club legends. The 22-year-old has made a flying start to pre-season, winning both of the club’s 2km time trials held so far – the second one quicker than the first and featuring almost every member of the squad. It follows his most promising player award for the 2019 season and armed with the self belief that was missing 12 months ago, he’s ready to take his game to another level in 2020.

Dawson is not only in great physical shape but the difference from 12 months ago is largely in his head. “I was fit this time last year but wasn’t really confident in whether or not I could have an impact in the senior team,” he said. “There were a few chats with a couple of the older guys. I spoke to Dane Rampe, Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy. They were confident in what I could do. It wasn’t one particular moment or one particular game (where I felt the belief), more a build up of games (Dawson missed only two matches in 2019 and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension).

[stevoswan]

Sinkers shoulder must be coming along OK.

https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/SydneySwans/Articles/Archive/20192711sinclairH.JPG

[dejavoodoo44]

Sinkers shoulder must be coming along OK.

https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%...1sinclairH.JPG

The thing that he's got hold of; did that used to be Warwick Capper's hair?

[Molly dooker]

Just noticed in the pictures taken for the UFC blokes visit with the boys on the Swans website, Hayden McLean has a large injury boot (moon boot?) on his foot/leg.

WHAT???

[bloodspirit]

Well, I swung by training again this morning to check out the new draftees. I managed to eyeball them all. Here are some assorted observations and gleanings from watching and chatting to a couple of people:

The two Mildura boys were hanging close together. I wanted to ask them whether they knew each other already but didn't want to interrupt their training to do it. There was a small moment that suggested a little bit of leadership or some good personal characteristics about Rowle. They had just finished a drill together and Rowle, who mostly looked a little bit shy and gangly (certainly less close to senior footy than the others), initiated a low five with Dewy (aka Dylan Stephens) while Dewy was just bent over refocusing for whatever was coming next (I presume). I know it's not much but it suggested some level of maturity and confidence or leadership that impressed me.

Stephens was the smallest and lightest of the new boys, and Rowle also lacking bulk. Stephens does have a slightly hunched appearance, a bit like JPK does.

Chad Warner is a ripper! I'm jumping on his bandwagon already. He's a pretty big and solid unit with an exuberant personality. He was working hard, had his tongue hanging out and smiling a bit. I reckon he's a good chance of making NEAFL team of the year in his first season. Really looking forward to see what he can do.

Will Gould was there, doing his thing. A big boy, powerful. Looks like he'll need to drop a little weight but didn't look chubby in the same way as Lewy Taylor. Gould seemed to be hanging on his own a little bit. Not shy but not clinging to anyone else either.

I didn't see as much of Elijah Taylor. Every time I saw him he was just standing or walking, sporting a sharp haircut. He was the only new face I didn't see actually see doing any exercises or drills (although I'm sure he did them, he was just relatively far from me most of the time and I was watching other things).

Rampe was sharp, really impressive. Very switched on during drills, but also spared a moment to give me a wink and a thumbs up (he doesn't know me from a bar of soap). He moved well and had great voice once they started the match simulation exercises - yep, they're into those already! Also pulled off a couple of beautiful kicks in the match simulation including one where he kicked it over 50 metres from down back to up front, to the advantage of his target who hauled in a semi-contested mark. There was another moment where Rampe was in his fullback role. His team was on the offensive and they had moved up the field, then there must have been a turnover and he started moving backwards sharply, but then one of his opponents started trying to go around him, Dane was covering him, then the opponent put on a bit of a burst... and left Ramps behind getting a good 10 m separation... and then was hit by a kick from downfield that went over Ramps' head. The opponent? Nick Blakey. Gun! Around this time I saw Stoddart and COR on the sidelines, about 30 metres from each other, kicking the ball back and forth, except they were also watching the match simul and kept stopping to watch the next bit of the action on the field. Wasn't sure if this meant they weren't doing their job properly or if they were just taking a moment to practice some ball skills casually while they were on the sidelines anyway.

Parker initially seemed to be goofing around a little bit and less switched on (wobbling in the balancing exercises and not trying to hard to sort it out when he kept overbalancing). He also had, I think it was his right knee, taped up. However, after those warm up exercises where he seemed a bit less switched on, he was doing some training away from the main group (post-op rehab, I suspect) and he was more switched on. Then he started running laps with Jack Maibaum and they were working really hard with Parker leading the way and Maibaum keeping up. I was impressed at Parker's discipline and focus then. Jack Maibaum looked really lean. He definitely hasn't let himself go, and I figured was probably doing pretty well to be just about keeping up with Parker, given he is a KPD not an onballer.

Matt Ling was also training away from the main group. He is reputed to have a bubbly personality and I was sad to see him looking slightly haunted and pained as he persevered with his running and other exercises on his own. It must be hard for him having been injured so much and so long, and still not to be training with the main group. I really hope he gets a decent run at it this year.

Aliir was running on his own away from the main group too. He looked powerful, really powerful, and a fair bit thicker around his waist than Maibaum.

McLean was in a moonboot. Don't know why. He was still training. Doing a lot of exercises throwing balls and stuff with Naismith (also training away from the main group).

I saw the forwards doing some 15 m sprints that were being timed. Papley looked the quickest of them off the mark but none of them were slouches. Sam Gray was training together with Papley. They didn't some crumbing and goal kicking exercises where they looked sharper from the right side of the field (every kick seemed to go through the goals) than they did when they were on the left. I like the look of Gray - I reckon he's a good pick up. Stevie J also had a go at running one of those sprints, which got a laugh (from me anyway - he seemed to have a chuckle about it too). And, yes, he did look a yard slower than the others and no doubt compared to his playing days.

Was also fun to see the coaches kicking a ball around among themselves at one stage while the players were otherwise engaged.

Lewis Taylor, unlike Papley, Ronke and Gray, was training with the mids. Still looks overweight. Couldn't really tell if he's any different.

The club is very happy to have Lakeside Oval up and running. Apparently having to train at Bat & Ball and Henson ovals last year was quite disruptive and contributed to some injuries, Maibaum's ACL in particular, with their uneven surfaces.

The new draftees are going to have their first medical examinations this morning.

I imagine someone from the club, probably a coach (although I didn't sight Horse), will give a presser at some stage today that will be posted on the website this afternoon or by tomorrow.

That's all I got for today. Tom Harley was there and said hello but didn't seem inclined to chat.

[Mr Magoo]

Well, I swung by training again this morning to check out the new draftees. I managed to eyeball them all. Here are some assorted observations and gleanings from watching and chatting to a couple of people:

The two Mildura boys were hanging close together. I wanted to ask them whether they knew each other already but didn't want to interrupt their training to do it. There was a small moment that suggested a little bit of leadership or some good personal characteristics about Rowle. They had just finished a drill together and Rowle, who mostly looked a little bit shy and gangly (certainly less close to senior footy than the others), initiated a low five with Dewy (aka Dylan Stephens) while Dewy was just bent over refocusing for whatever was coming next (I presume). I know it's not much but it suggested some level of maturity and confidence or leadership that impressed me.

Stephens was the smallest and lightest of the new boys, and Rowle also lacking bulk. Stephens does have a slightly hunched appearance, a bit like JPK does.

Chad Warner is a ripper! I'm jumping on his bandwagon already. He's a pretty big and solid unit with an exuberant personality. He was working hard, had his tongue hanging out and smiling a bit. I reckon he's a good chance of making NEAFL team of the year in his first season. Really looking forward to see what he can do.

Will Gould was there, doing his thing. A big boy, powerful. Looks like he'll need to drop a little weight but didn't look chubby in the same way as Lewy Taylor. Gould seemed to be hanging on his own a little bit. Not shy but not clinging to anyone else either.

I didn't see as much of Elijah Taylor. Every time I saw him he was just standing or walking, sporting a sharp haircut. He was the only new face I didn't see actually see doing any exercises or drills (although I'm sure he did them, he was just relatively far from me most of the time and I was watching other things).

Rampe was sharp, really impressive. Very switched on during drills, but also spared a moment to give me a wink and a thumbs up (he doesn't know me from a bar of soap). He moved well and had great voice once they started the match simulation exercises - yep, they're into those already! Also pulled off a couple of beautiful kicks in the match simulation including one where he kicked it over 50 metres from down back to up front, to the advantage of his target who hauled in a semi-contested mark. There was another moment where Rampe was in his fullback role. His team was on the offensive and they had moved up the field, then there must have been a turnover and he started moving backwards sharply, but then one of his opponents started trying to go around him, Dane was covering him, then the opponent put on a bit of a burst... and left Ramps behind getting a good 10 m separation... and then was hit by a kick from downfield that went over Ramps' head. The opponent? Nick Blakey. Gun! Around this time I saw Stoddart and COR on the sidelines, about 30 metres from each other, kicking the ball back and forth, except they were also watching the match simul and kept stopping to watch the next bit of the action on the field. Wasn't sure if this meant they weren't doing their job properly or if they were just taking a moment to practice some ball skills casually while they were on the sidelines anyway.

Parker initially seemed to be goofing around a little bit and less switched on (wobbling in the balancing exercises and not trying to hard to sort it out when he kept overbalancing). He also had, I think it was his right knee, taped up. However, after those warm up exercises where he seemed a bit less switched on, he was doing some training away from the main group (post-op rehab, I suspect) and he was more switched on. Then he started running laps with Jack Maibaum and they were working really hard with Parker leading the way and Maibaum keeping up. I was impressed at Parker's discipline and focus then. Jack Maibaum looked really lean. He definitely hasn't let himself go, and I figured was probably doing pretty well to be just about keeping up with Parker, given he is a KPD not an onballer.

Matt Ling was also training away from the main group. He is reputed to have a bubbly personality and I was sad to see him looking slightly haunted and pained as he persevered with his running and other exercises on his own. It must be hard for him having been injured so much and so long, and still not to be training with the main group. I really hope he gets a decent run at it this year.

Aliir was running on his own away from the main group too. He looked powerful, really powerful, and a fair bit thicker around his waist than Maibaum.

McLean was in a moonboot. Don't know why. He was still training. Doing a lot of exercises throwing balls and stuff with Naismith (also training away from the main group).

I saw the forwards doing some 15 m sprints that were being timed. Papley looked the quickest of them off the mark but none of them were slouches. Sam Gray was training together with Papley. They didn't some crumbing and goal kicking exercises where they looked sharper from the right side of the field (every kick seemed to go through the goals) than they did when they were on the left. I like the look of Gray - I reckon he's a good pick up. Stevie J also had a go at running one of those sprints, which got a laugh (from me anyway - he seemed to have a chuckle about it too). And, yes, he did look a yard slower than the others and no doubt compared to his playing days.

Was also fun to see the coaches kicking a ball around among themselves at one stage while the players were otherwise engaged.

Lewis Taylor, unlike Papley, Ronke and Gray, was training with the mids. Still looks overweight. Couldn't really tell if he's any different.

The club is very happy to have Lakeside Oval up and running. Apparently having to train at Bat & Ball and Henson ovals last year was quite disruptive and contributed to some injuries, Maibaum's ACL in particular, with their uneven surfaces.

The new draftees are going to have their first medical examinations this morning.

I imagine someone from the club, probably a coach (although I didn't sight Horse), will give a presser at some stage today that will be posted on the website this afternoon or by tomorrow.

That's all I got for today. Tom Harley was there and said hello but didn't seem inclined to chat.

And if you saw any other younger kids there today , the top end academy squad have been offerred the opportunity to help with the senior squad over the next few weeks so about five or six kids will be at each session over the next few weeks

[bloodspirit]

And if you saw any other younger kids there today , the top end academy squad have been offerred the opportunity to help with the senior squad over the next few weeks so about five or six kids will be at each session over the next few weeks

Yes, there were a whole bunch of younger kids there. At least 5-6, maybe more. I was wondering who they were. I thought they might be the U19 guys or something. I forgot to mention that.

[Mr Magoo]

Some of the 16/17/18s helping out and I think the under 19s will also start to train with the seniors in the quest for a NEAFL spot since none were drafted . I think they can keep 6 or 7 of them.

I understand that 3 were in the mix for drafting which I imagine must have been Thorne, Parks and Ellem.

[bloodspirit]

Mr Magoo, do you think that by keeping a Cat B rookie spot vacant, we are just allowing all the possible candidates to keep training so that, if we want, we can draft whichever of them we like or need, whenever it suits us? That spot can't be used on anyone else except a candidate coming from another sport and/or overseas (which is another possibility I have been wondering about - could they have their eyes on another Irish player?).

[Aaron]

"Well, I swung by training again this morning to check out the new draftees. I managed to eyeball them all. Here are some assorted observations and gleanings from watching and chatting to a couple of people:...."
Thanks Bloodspirit for the update again. Have you noticed if Dawson and Mills training with the Midfield or Backs group?