Pre-season 2020

[magic.merkin]

Papley is on Stephens' left. I don't think it's Gray or Reynolds. Reynolds appears between Hewett and Stoddart in the group shot and is clearly looking different in photo 8/10. Gray is on the floor in the group shot between Bell and COR.

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Ronke is the other missing player. It's not him though, is it.

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Thanks for the inside info, graemed. Was that Dr Cross or another doctor?

oh my lefts and rights mixed up. I think its Chad Warner with a haircut

[bloodspirit]

Grey or Papley?

oh my lefts and rights mixed up. I think its Chad Warner with a haircut

Maybe also getting Stephens' right and the viewer's right mixed up? I wasn't sure which was the best way to phrase it but decided that using Stephens as the reference point was least ambiguous (but not necessarily least confusing).

I like the Warner with a haircut theory. He's got the blonde bits. But I'm not buying it. What do others think? Can anyone identify him???

[goods78]

Went down and had a look at the swans train this morning.I managed to catch the first half of an intra club practice match.I had to leave at half time but the first intensity was good and it was quite physical. Lots of academy / top up players.

A couple of injuries / incidents:

Brand - had a left knee clash and was in a lot of discomfort. Went off and came back on, only to leave the ground a short time later.
Bell - corkie to right quad early and sat out the match
Dawson - came off after tackling Papley and both players landed awkwardly. Came back on later that quarter after being checked by the medical staff.

The players that did not play:

Thurlow on crutches with strapping around the left ankle
Rampe
Heeney with a cast / heavy strapping post surgery
Reynolds
Grey
Naismith
Ling
E Taylor
Reid
Armity
McLean
Ronke
McCarten
Maibaum
Stoddart
Rowles
Sinclair
Buddy (not at training)

[bloodspirit]

Great report! Disturbing number of non-players. And injuries! Maybe we won't have to worry too much about a so-called 'Best 22' and Gould will get his chance come round 1.

[goods78]

Interesting comment, bloodspirit. I had been intending to ask if anyone could comment on how Will Gould is going. In the 'Inside Sydney, episode 8' video he makes some comments that suggested to me that he's finding the match simulations are testing his fitness (while also suggesting that he's got a good attitude to meet the challenge). I suspect I'm not alone in having high hopes for him. So, to those who've been able to monitor his progress a bit more closely than those of us outside Sydney, is he looking a chance to be playing seniors anytime soon?

I have watched him a little bit during the pre-season. Looks much leaner since he arrived at the club, but still a real unit for his age (ie in the Mellican mould). In the club match today his top up player opponent (number 57) kicked some early goals on him. I like him for depth, but I think there are too many experiened players ahead of him. For me 2020 is a development year with the possibility of a late season debut.

[goods78]

Great report! Disturbing number of non-players. And injuries! Maybe we won't have to worry too much about a so-called 'Best 22' and Gould will get his chance come round 1.

I get the feeling that many are in cotton wool and the coaches want to really minimise the risk. Match fitness could be an issue early on in the season.

[Odysseus]

I have watched him a little bit during the pre-season. Looks much leaner since he arrived at the club, but still a real unit for his age (ie in the Mellican mould). In the club match today his top up player opponent (number 57) kicked some early goals on him. I like him for depth, but I think there are too many experiened players ahead of him. For me 2020 is a development year with the possibility of a late season debut.

Thanks for that, goods78. I'd be happy with 2020 as development for him, but I think he's a good prospect for the future and was a good get at the draft.

[stevoswan]

Just looking at the pictures posted on the Swans website from the Team Photo day, the players that I couldn't see were Warner, Harry C and Lewis Taylor. Camera shy? Also, can someone please identify the player on Stephens' right in picture 7/10?

It's definitely Warner.

.....and in response to some other suggestions;

Reynolds is up in the back row next to Stoddart.

Papley is actually behind Stephens, not on his left.

[bloodspirit]

I'm really struggling to see that it's Warner. Warner is sturdier and frecklier and normally has a totally different haircut. Plus his tongue's not sticking out!

[goods78]

oh my lefts and rights mixed up. I think its Chad Warner with a haircut

+1


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[stevoswan]

I'm really struggling to see that it's Warner. Warner is sturdier and frecklier and normally has a totally different haircut. Plus his tongue's not sticking out!

I think Warner was less freckly, more pimply when he arrived at the Swans.....but the Sydney Swans lifestyle must have cleared them up.....and he's had a haircut but still got the bleached bits at the top. I've checked other images of him online as well. Definitely Warner.

[bloodspirit]

I think Warner was less freckly, more pimply when he arrived at the Swans.....but the Sydney Swans lifestyle must have cleared them up.....and he's had a haircut but still got the bleached bits at the top. I've checked other images of him online as well. Definitely Warner.

Well, I don't have a better explanation, and nor has anyone else so far. So well done magic merkin if you're right! Glad Warner got a haircut. His last do was dismal.

[Mel_C]

I saw an ad on the ABC for the Goodes documentary The Australian Dream and it's going to be shown Sunday February 23.

(I posted this here because the Goodes Documentary thread is locked).

[KSAS]

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?

[Blood Fever]

Wallace probably has no idea but has to say something to justify his paid job. Early February not prime time for AFL!