2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Ruck'n'Roll]

We will need more than two midfielders. So I think they will still keep looking for more young midfielders to provide depth regardless.

Two players that just turned 24 shouldn't be discounted.
George Hewett brings a big body and defensive mindset to the future-swans midfield.
Isaac Heeney - who knows, his occasional midfield visitations, contain moments are as good as anything, but they are so few and far between.

But yes Sean. even if we presume Stephens will make it, and that JK isn't finished, and Parker that has years left, we do need a couple more young players to join the midfield rotation.

[Ludwig]

I'm not at all worried about our midfield. In fact, the ensuing development of our midfield over the next few years looks as promising as I've ever seen.

Our defence is looking very solid with the addition of Brand and the likelihood of Gould entering the frame in the not too distant future. That frees up some other players to move to the midfield. Maybe it is Mills who stays in defence, but then Dawson will become a regular midfielder. Lloyd could see some more midfield time, depending how the development of other players go, especially Stoddart and Ling, a couple of 'forgotten' kids who I believe will develop into very good players.

I was impressed by the progress McInerney showed in round 1. To make the side ahead of Stephens indicates that the coaches are also confident in his future.

Harry Cunningham has been effectively squeezed out of both defence and forward and should become a permanent part of our midfield. I wouldn't underestimate his ability to play on ball either. He has a strong body, can break from the packs and kicks the ball well on both sides.

We will have plenty of strength at stoppages even after the retirement of JPK, with Parker, Hewiett, Rowbottom and Dawson leading the way.

We saw a glimpse of the future in round 1 with the pace we were able to generate, even without a lot of our speedier players not in the squad.

The way the game is played now, the midfield encompasses the bulk of the team from half-back to half forward, with those we label as on-ballers being the subgroup we see most often around the ball at stoppages. I expect this trend to continue and we will see ever more positional rotations in the coming years.

What I like about our midfielders is that they are goal kickers and multi-positional players. It's hard to pigeonhole players as we did in the past, but should rather look at the list as a whole with less emphasis on traditional positional categories

[dejavoodoo44]

I'm not at all worried about our midfield. In fact, the ensuing development of our midfield over the next few years looks as promising as I've ever seen.

Our defence is looking very solid with the addition of Brand and the likelihood of Gould entering the frame in the not too distant future. That frees up some other players to move to the midfield. Maybe it is Mills who stays in defence, but then Dawson will become a regular midfielder. Lloyd could see some more midfield time, depending how the development of other players go, especially Stoddart and Ling, a couple of 'forgotten' kids who I believe will develop into very good players.

I was impressed by the progress McInerney showed in round 1. To make the side ahead of Stephens indicates that the coaches are also confident in his future.

Harry Cunningham has been effectively squeezed out of both defence and forward and should become a permanent part of our midfield. I wouldn't underestimate his ability to play on ball either. He has a strong body, can break from the packs and kicks the ball well on both sides.

We will have plenty of strength at stoppages even after the retirement of JPK, with Parker, Hewiett, Rowbottom and Dawson leading the way.

We saw a glimpse of the future in round 1 with the pace we were able to generate, even without a lot of our speedier players not in the squad.

The way the game is played now, the midfield encompasses the bulk of the team from half-back to half forward, with those we label as on-ballers being the subgroup we see most often around the ball at stoppages. I expect this trend to continue and we will see ever more positional rotations in the coming years.

What I like about our midfielders is that they are goal kickers and multi-positional players. It's hard to pigeonhole players as we did in the past, but should rather look at the list as a whole with less emphasis on traditional positional categories

Yes, I'm also pretty comfortable with our midfield. With Franklin, and possibly Reid, coming back, Heeney should spend a bit more time as an inside midfielder and Blakey a bit more time on the wing. And for the future, there were good early reports about Warner, who will probably add some more inside toughness. Plus we should also add the academy stars, Campbell and Gulden.

[TheBloods]

Yes, I'm also pretty comfortable with our midfield. With Franklin, and possibly Reid, coming back, Heeney should spend a bit more time as an inside midfielder and Blakey a bit more time on the wing. And for the future, there were good early reports about Warner, who will probably add some more inside toughness. Plus we should also add the academy stars, Campbell and Gulden.

I am quite certain that Heeney is going to be more valuable as a forward than Reid or even Franklin will be. He is about to enter the prime of his career, Franklin is 33 and now battling recurring injuries. I would bet my house that Heeney will be our main avenue to goal over the next few years until we find a young KPF to replace Franklin.

[dejavoodoo44]

I am quite certain that Heeney is going to be more valuable as a forward than Reid or even Franklin will be. He is about to enter the prime of his career, Franklin is 33 and now battling recurring injuries. I would bet my house that Heeney will be our main avenue to goal over the next few years until we find a young KPF to replace Franklin.

I see Heeney more as 50% midfielder and 50% forward. Reid, although he's due for a nonplaying season, is only 28 and was probably our main forward target in our premiership season. He should have plenty of good football left in him. I'm confident that McCartin will develop into a star. Very good football brain and only 20 years old. And while Blakey will probably never bulk up enough to be a power forward, he will become both a very dangerous forward target and a game changing outside mid. As Ludwig mentioned, having multi-positional players should be one of our future strengths.

[bloodspirit]

From the gallery posted on the Swans website today, it looks like Stevie J remains gainfully employed for the time being. If we have cut any assistant coach, it wasn't him.

[TheBloods]

I see Heeney more as 50% midfielder and 50% forward. Reid, although he's due for a nonplaying season, is only 28 and was probably our main forward target in our premiership season. He should have plenty of good football left in him. I'm confident that McCartin will develop into a star. Very good football brain and only 20 years old. And while Blakey will probably never bulk up enough to be a power forward, he will become both a very dangerous forward target and a game changing outside mid. As Ludwig mentioned, having multi-positional players should be one of our future strengths.

Heeney is more dangerous forward than any of those names you just mentioned, with the exception of Franklin, whose output it's not unrealistic to expect will diminish with each season now that he is 33. If Heeney is obviously suited to the forward, why not leave him there? Just because somebody should play in another position as well, doesn't mean they should.

[dejavoodoo44]

Heeney is more dangerous forward than any of those names you just mentioned, with the exception of Franklin, whose output it's not unrealistic to expect will diminish with each season now that he is 33. If Heeney is obviously suited to the forward, why not leave him there? Just because somebody should play in another position as well, doesn't mean they should.

A player being very talented in two roles, is no argument for him only playing in one role. For instance, the stats for Dustin Martin last year, said that he spent around 55% of time as a midfielder and 45% as a forward. I think pretty well everybody who saw Richmond play, would say that was an effective mix. Similarly, Dangerfield was spending more time as a hard to contain forward, but nobody was suggesting that he should forget about being a midfielder.

Heeney is a very talented midfielder. Having him as part of the midfield mix, takes pressure off and gives relief to our other clearance winners; Kennedy, Parker, Florent, Hewitt, etc. Also, currently opposition coaches are unlikely to put their best defenders on Heeney, as he's probably still seen as a midfielder who spends time up forward. Playing him as a permanent forward, will see him attracting the better defenders, which will probably reduce his effectiveness.

[TheBloods]

A player being very talented in two roles, is no argument for him only playing in one role. For instance, the stats for Dustin Martin last year, said that he spent around 55% of time as a midfielder and 45% as a forward. I think pretty well everybody who saw Richmond play, would say that was an effective mix. Similarly, Dangerfield was spending more time as a hard to contain forward, but nobody was suggesting that he should forget about being a midfielder.

Heeney is a very talented midfielder. Having him as part of the midfield mix, takes pressure off and gives relief to our other clearance winners; Kennedy, Parker, Florent, Hewitt, etc. Also, currently opposition coaches are unlikely to put their best defenders on Heeney, as he's probably still seen as a midfielder who spends time up forward. Playing him as a permanent forward, will see him attracting the better defenders, which will probably reduce his effectiveness.

Very talented midfielder? Are you basing this on his U17s form? He has not played one great midfielder's game in a 103-game career. Maybe he is just best suited to the fwd line..

[dejavoodoo44]

Very talented midfielder? Are you basing this on his U17s form? He has not played one great midfielder's game in a 103-game career. Maybe he is just best suited to the fwd line..

I see, so Heeney is a dud midfielder, whose reputation as a potential superstar of the competition, is based entirely on his forward output? Can't say that I'm convinced.

[Ludwig]

I think Heeney was rated the best 1 on 1 forward line contested mark in the comp last year, so it's more that he's such a good option up forward that belies his ability to play midfield. Let's not forget that Heeney tends to make a key appearance in defence when the pressure is on.

Parker is also a great forward line contested mark and accurate goal kicker. We have a lot of options in this regard, as noted earlier. Maybe not quite in the class of Heeney and Parker, but still very good. JPK, Hewett, Dawson, Lloyd and Harry C all present a danger in the forward line for the opposition.

We should be able to turn the number of multi-positional players we have to our advantage.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Very talented midfielder? Are you basing this on his U17s form? He has not played one great midfielder's game in a 103-game career. Maybe he is just best suited to the fwd line..

I’d have to agree, I don’t think any of Henry’s best performances have come when he’s spent the majority of the game on ball. I’ve seen some serviceable play from him on ball but nothing that makes me think he should spend more time there than he does forward. He doesn’t do anything Dusty or Danger like on ball, not that I’ve seen. But he can do some special things in the forward line, and his aerial ability is ridiculous.

He does get moved around an awful lot though, so I’m not writing off that he could turn out to be a very good mid, but I wouldn’t class him as one currently.


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[bloodspirit]

A player being very talented in two roles, is no argument for him only playing in one role. For instance, the stats for Dustin Martin last year, said that he spent around 55% of time as a midfielder and 45% as a forward. I think pretty well everybody who saw Richmond play, would say that was an effective mix. Similarly, Dangerfield was spending more time as a hard to contain forward, but nobody was suggesting that he should forget about being a midfielder.

Heeney is a very talented midfielder. Having him as part of the midfield mix, takes pressure off and gives relief to our other clearance winners; Kennedy, Parker, Florent, Hewitt, etc. Also, currently opposition coaches are unlikely to put their best defenders on Heeney, as he's probably still seen as a midfielder who spends time up forward. Playing him as a permanent forward, will see him attracting the better defenders, which will probably reduce his effectiveness.

I'm with you all the way, deja. Noting that "very talented" does not mean "superstar" and noting also that Heeney's best lies in front of him (I trust) and that he has spent a fair part of his career so far dealing with injury. Just because Heeney stands out in the forward line is no reason to say he is "wasted" in the midfield (nobody seems to be suggesting this about Mills incidentally and he likewise has not yet demonstrated any star midfield quality at AFL level). Also, it is great if Heeney can relieve someone like Parker, or JPK, or Hewett, and allow them a spell forward.

[AB Swannie]

I wonder if the uncertainty around this year's draft will work in our favour slightly. Most clubs will be flying pretty blind in regards to the draft pool except for the really pointy end. The second - fourth rounds will be more of a lottery than ever before and so us using our picks/points on the relatively known quantities of Gulden/Campbell means we don't have to worry about entering that lottery.

[mcs]

I wonder if the uncertainty around this year's draft will work in our favour slightly. Most clubs will be flying pretty blind in regards to the draft pool except for the really pointy end. The second - fourth rounds will be more of a lottery than ever before and so us using our picks/points on the relatively known quantities of Gulden/Campbell means we don't have to worry about entering that lottery.

A lot of clubs have NGA/Academy picks in play this year - hence a lot of horse trading last year in the trade with that in mind. But we must know our pair very well, and know where they will fit into the scheme of things. Will be interesting to see the overall impact.