Pre-season 2020

[royboy42]

Hi guys, been a long-time observer of this forum but never bothered to comment. However with the season nigh, I thought I would offer my two cents as to the Swans who have caught my eye from the two-and-a-half match-sim games I have managed to attend. The Swans I am most looking forward to seeing in 2020

Gould - so strong and powerful but quick and smooth, glides across the turf. I see him as more of a KPD rather than the Shannon Hurn comparison that has often been thrown at him. His strength would make him a formidable opponent. That, and the 5cm extra he has on Hurn.

The Lizard - appears to have been given the license to do as he pleases. Pops up in defence, presenting on the lead inside 50, roving ground balls from the centre square, and delivering to the forwards from the wing. All I can say is THANK YOU John Longmire for recognising that his lad does not need any restraining! I am hoping this will be the case when the season begins.

Rowbottom - looks stronger than he did same time last year. Has been matched-up on Joey and Parks occasionally during match-sim and has given them a run for their money more than once, looking too quick and too strong for them. And they are two of the very best mids in the league! His main opponent in these sessions seems to be Florent though.

Dawson - I'm anticipating a full season of Dawson at half back, and it has me buzzing to see where he can go. Back to back time trial wins and now he is flying for marks and using that loping left foot to exit defence. if i was to make one complaint, it would be that I haven't witnessed one of his goals from outside 50 in the match sim exercises yet and I feel like I am missing out!

Stephens - has lived up to the hype, and then some. Has accelerated himself into packs using his speed on a few occasions with little regard for his wellbeing, to the point I heard audible clashing of skin, and would then look on in concern to see if Stephens had just ended his season before it even began, only for the kid to jump back up and throw himself at the next contest. My initial fears about him being ready for the elite level have been allayed. He is good to go, and appears totally trustworthy with ball in hand and by foot. I see more midfield minutes for Stephens this year than Rowbottom had last year, when he became the first 18 year old to feature in our midfield since Dan Hannebery in 2009/10.

Unfortunately haven't seen much beyond a glimpse of our other draftees from this year, Warner and Taylor. I believe Warner was involved in a match-sim from last week, though I didn't see him involved in many passages and didn't appear on the ground for very long at all. I will also try and keep an eye out on McInerney. I was encouraged by his NEAFL form in the tail end of last year as a hybrid HBF/wingman who went inside every now and then. However from appearance he has struggled in that role and has only made an impact when swung forward to play a role not unlike Hayward. Do not take this as gospel as it can be hard to appreciate the little things players can do when standing on the sidelines trying to catch a glimpse of play happening 100 metres away.

Welcome to RWO, mate.
Always good to see fresh ideas, esp when based on actual observations.
It's getting harder for me to get to training these days...getting a bit older plus the erratic info re times and places from the club; so am becoming more and more reliant on this sort of info.
The saccharine , soft pieces we get from club media are almost sad in their naivety. Shame.
Keep up the good work, all you RWOers.
Thanks

[stevoswan]

Hi guys, been a long-time observer of this forum but never bothered to comment. However with the season nigh, I thought I would offer my two cents as to the Swans who have caught my eye from the two-and-a-half match-sim games I have managed to attend. The Swans I am most looking forward to seeing in 2020

Gould - so strong and powerful but quick and smooth, glides across the turf. I see him as more of a KPD rather than the Shannon Hurn comparison that has often been thrown at him. His strength would make him a formidable opponent. That, and the 5cm extra he has on Hurn.

The Lizard - appears to have been given the license to do as he pleases. Pops up in defence, presenting on the lead inside 50, roving ground balls from the centre square, and delivering to the forwards from the wing. All I can say is THANK YOU John Longmire for recognising that his lad does not need any restraining! I am hoping this will be the case when the season begins.

Rowbottom - looks stronger than he did same time last year. Has been matched-up on Joey and Parks occasionally during match-sim and has given them a run for their money more than once, looking too quick and too strong for them. And they are two of the very best mids in the league! His main opponent in these sessions seems to be Florent though.

Dawson - I'm anticipating a full season of Dawson at half back, and it has me buzzing to see where he can go. Back to back time trial wins and now he is flying for marks and using that loping left foot to exit defence. if i was to make one complaint, it would be that I haven't witnessed one of his goals from outside 50 in the match sim exercises yet and I feel like I am missing out!

Stephens - has lived up to the hype, and then some. Has accelerated himself into packs using his speed on a few occasions with little regard for his wellbeing, to the point I heard audible clashing of skin, and would then look on in concern to see if Stephens had just ended his season before it even began, only for the kid to jump back up and throw himself at the next contest. My initial fears about him being ready for the elite level have been allayed. He is good to go, and appears totally trustworthy with ball in hand and by foot. I see more midfield minutes for Stephens this year than Rowbottom had last year, when he became the first 18 year old to feature in our midfield since Dan Hannebery in 2009/10.

Unfortunately haven't seen much beyond a glimpse of our other draftees from this year, Warner and Taylor. I believe Warner was involved in a match-sim from last week, though I didn't see him involved in many passages and didn't appear on the ground for very long at all. I will also try and keep an eye out on McInerney. I was encouraged by his NEAFL form in the tail end of last year as a hybrid HBF/wingman who went inside every now and then. However from appearance he has struggled in that role and has only made an impact when swung forward to play a role not unlike Hayward. Do not take this as gospel as it can be hard to appreciate the little things players can do when standing on the sidelines trying to catch a glimpse of play happening 100 metres away.

Great work TheBloods and welcome......I too am excited by Gould. He is the draftee I am most excited about actually. I think he is going to be a gun. Stephens does excite me too.....he just seems so composed and confident in his ability. He backs himself in and that is.....well, exciting!

I think all our draftees warrant the same response.....they all offer worthwhile traits that our club value.

Keep those reports coming and thanks in advance.

[Markwebbos]

All aboard the #GouldTrain

[wolftone57]

Heard Terry Wallace on radio today raising concerns that our big men of Rampe, Naismith, Reid, Sinclair and McCartin might be having some injury issues (along with Buddy & Heeney) going by his observation they all didn't participate in last Friday's internal hit out. Whilst it's not panic stations as yet, said he would start to worry if they didn't participate in the March practice matches, using Melbourne's preseason last year which he believed derailed their season having under done players in the first month.

I just read Naismith article recently on the Swans website saying how he's ready to go for the season ahead! Buddy & Heeney we already know. Not sure but about the rest on his list but I also think they could be managed given their age, injury history and past work loads in Rampe's case. Hopefully Wallace is seeing smoke where there's NO fire. Surely every club has similar list of players missing a bit of preseason for one reason or another?

Wallace can come up with some good stuff but he tends to have a block when it comes to us. He is Vic through and through

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[707]

Wallace can come up with some good stuff but he tends to have a block when it comes to us. He is Vic through and through

"good stuff" - please let us know when he next does because I reckon he is amongst the leaders in mindless dross commenting on the game

[Bloods05]

"good stuff" - please let us know when he next does because I reckon he is amongst the leaders in mindless dross commenting on the game

I'm with you. I'm still waiting to hear anything vaguely interesting.

[O'Reilly Boy]

I'm with you. I'm still waiting to hear anything vaguely interesting.

Ouch. I mean, he's no Kane Cornes, but . . .

[Bloods05]

Ouch. I mean, he's no Kane Cornes, but . . .

????????????

[bloodspirit]

ORB, can't tell if you are rating Terry Wallace ahead of or behind Kane Cornes. Your comment works either way as a good put down of Wallace and Cornes. I'd rather listen to or read Kane Cornes editorial over Plough any day. He is interesting, and often controversial. He takes a position and explains himself, whether or not you like his opinions. Whenever I've heard Terry Wallace, I just vague out. I can't recall him saying anything insightful or memorable. Whereas Cornes generates headlines and sometimes brings a smile to my face, which is his remit.

[707]

Sunny, hot and dry over here in the land of the Crows. I'm assuming Swans training has moved indoors. Sounds like a deluge of Noah proportions!

[bloodspirit]

Yesterday was a deluge. Today it hasn't been raining and in fact I'm worried I got sunburnt swimming laps this afternoon. But more rain on the way I understand. Should have been perfect weather for training this morning albeit the ground was wet and lots of debris everywhere from the wind and rain over the weekend.

[Nico]

Anyone hear John Longmire on SEN this morning. Was a good 30 minute interview with lots of positives about draftees and emerging players. Felt like pulling the boots on myself. Maybe someone can find the link.

[Aaron]

Anyone hear John Longmire on SEN this morning. Was a good 30 minute interview with lots of positives about draftees and emerging players. Felt like pulling the boots on myself. Maybe someone can find the link.

Here is the link - https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=572913

[Mark26]

Here is the link - https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=572913

Thanks for the link Aaron. There are a lot of players to get excited about on our list. I'm glad Horse had an opportunity to talk about players besides our number 23. We can be so Buddy-centric at times (myself included).

It'll be interesting to see what players turn up down the coast. I'll try and ask a few questions and report anything of note. There is a lot of communal grief in Ulladulla and its surrounds and the playing group turning up is a fine gesture by the club.

[Legs Akimbo]

I'm stoked that horse is planning on playing Heeney forward and Mills back. Build a proper midfield from our midfielders. We have two elitely talented guys at each end.

IF they keep Heeney forward he'll kick 30 + goals and set up another 30. He is a creative impact player not an accumulator. On top of bud, Reid, paps, we will surpise a few this year. We will also be entertained.