Great expectations

[stevoswan]

It will be interesting to see what happens with last year bargain basement buys, Clarke and Thurlow. Do either get another crack at the firsts (if performance warrants) or have their cards been marked - and if so why are they still on the list?

Because obviously their cards have not been marked, as opposed to our other bargain basement buy, Menzel......his was and he's now gone. It's a matter of deduction.....

[stevoswan]

Not all basketballers need to jump: Boban Marjanovic Dunks It Without Jump -06.10.2018- |2018-19 Preseason| - YouTube.

I can't get over the size of his sneakers! Fu**ing huge!

[SeanM]

It will be interesting to see what happens with last year bargain basement buys, Clarke and Thurlow. Do either get another crack at the firsts (if performance warrants) or have their cards been marked - and if so why are they still on the list?

I think we still need some experienced depth outside our best 22.

I had Kennedy, Parker, Hewett, Florent and Rowbottom as our inside midfielders in our best 22 (with Gray playing forward). There is not much beyond that. Next I would probably have Clarke, Fox and Bell. Or then you start thinking about moving someone from another position like Gray, Heeney or Mills.

Also I think Clarke offers something different as a tagger or a defensive running midfielder. He can play a role against midfields like GWS that have a lot of run. Instead of having Parker and Kennedy chasing them all day.

Likewise we don't have much experience depth in defense. It is good to give youngsters an opportunity when there is injuries. But sometimes it is nice to have the option of being able to select a senior player who has played a few seasons.

[MattW]

Wow. Apparently Boban is 224 cm!! I like the bemused look of the small tall guy next to him just after he 'dunks' it.

- - - Updated - - -

Is Boban available? I reckon he'd be worth a Cat B rookie spot and could potentially solve our ruck problems.

Yes, he's thirteen centimetres taller than Sandilands.

Funnily enough, he was in a fight scene in John Wick 3 (warning, it gets particularly violent in the last ten sec): John Wick 3 Fight Scene with Boban Marjanovic - YouTube

[Markwebbos]

Could we not just start breeding a player now to stand in the goal square in 2040.

Let’s call it the 240 by 2040 plan.

If he/she is able to walk perhaps they could contest centre square bounces before parking themselves in the goal square.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Because obviously their cards have not been marked, as opposed to our other bargain basement buy, Menzel......his was and he's now gone. It's a matter of deduction.....

Confusingly Clarke and Thurlow are both listed as Contract Status: Out of contract at the end of 2019 on footywire.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Buddy is sending a warning......
'I'm as hungry as ever': Look out, League. Buddy is back

On the one hand I hear opinions that Kennedy is done, on the other there's the expectation that Buddy's season 2020 performances will match his 2020 pay packet.
I for one don't agree with either.

During the season just completed both players missed games, with very different effects on the team.

Joey:
The Swans averaged 370 possessions per game overall, but in Joeys absence they averaged 340 possessions per game. 30 possessions per game less.
So Joey's presence basically covers the loss of the player he replaces, and then adds another 30 possessions on top.
But Joey averaged 26 disposals per game. This is equally as significant.
The figures suggest that not only was the team unable to cover for Joey's absence at all (possession wise), but his absence may also have reduced the output of others.

Buddy:
The Swans averaged 76 points overall, 81 points when he played and 73 points when he didn't - we were what seems to me to be a modest 8 points better off with him in the team. Which is odd because he averaged 18 points per game.
So the team collectively covered for more than half his output when he was absent. Buddy adds far less to the aggregate of the team than JPK does.

Of course statistics never tell the full story (btw these came from footywire) but to paraphrase Chris Keane they should at least raise questions.

[bloodspirit]

On the one hand I hear opinions that Kennedy is done, on the other there's the expectation that Buddy's season 2020 performances will match his 2020 pay packet.
I for one don't agree with either.

During the season just completed both players missed games, with very different effects on the team.

Buddy:
The Swans averaged 76 points overall, 81 points when he played and 73 points when he didn't - we were what seems to me to be a modest 8 points better off with him in the team. Which is odd because he averaged 18 points per game.
So the team collectively covered for more than half his output when he was absent.

Joey:
The Swans averaged 370 possessions per game overall, but in Joeys absence they averaged 340 possessions per game. 30 possessions per game less. But Joey averaged 26 disposals per game. This is equally as significant.
The figures suggest that not only was the team unable to cover for Joey's absence, but his absence may also have reduced the output of others.

Of course statistics never tell the full story (btw these came from footywire) but to paraphrase Chris Keane they should at least raise questions.

I agree with you, particularly about JPK, RnR. I have never much looked at footywire until I was inspired to do so this morning by the other recent posts. What I noticed is that JPK was still performing at a very high level and winning an awful lot of ball for us, as well as tackling and contributing in many other ways. I'm not convinced he's as close to the end or on the downhill slide anywhere near as much as the vibe around him has been, even though I agree he is past his very best.

The other thing I took from 15 minutes on footywire this morning was what a significant contributor Zak Jones had become and how losing him really was a blow. His stats were top 5-10 or better in a number of key areas (not just one) from disposals, to metres gained, tackles etc (don't quote me on the specifics but that was my impression after looking over the numbers earlier today). Taylor and even Gray are not going to adequately replace him. We'll have to wait for other talent to emerge and develop.

The stats also suggest to me that Harry C is a very solid contributor and his place is not in danger for the time being. Not that I thought it was but I feel more confident about that now.

[bloodspirit]

I'm curious to see what becomes of Harry Reynolds this year. I just re-read his afldraftcentral bio: Harrison Reynolds - Aussie Rules Draft Central. It doesn't describe the player I imagined him to be. I had vaguely categorised him as a prospective 3rd defender down back. But the bio describes him as being very quick and a contested ball winner at junior level with ordinary kicking efficiency. Interesting. Clearly we are developing him as a defender but perhaps he will wind up somewhere else in the long run, if he makes it . Could even be more of a project for our midfield. Does anyone else know anything about him? I just had a look through last year's draft thread and didn't find much. Also found a video of him on Swans website after his contract was extended for this season and he came across as having a really good attitude. I'm not really expecting him to play seniors this year but I am really interested to see what he produces.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I agree with you, particularly about JPK, RnR. I have never much looked at footywire until I was inspired to do so this morning by the other recent posts. What I noticed is that JPK was still performing at a very high level and winning an awful lot of ball for us, as well as tackling and contributing in many other ways. I'm not convinced he's as close to the end or on the downhill slide anywhere near as much as the vibe around him has been, even though I agree he is past his very best.

The other thing I took from 15 minutes on footywire this morning was what a significant contributor Zak Jones had become and how losing him really was a blow. His stats were top 5-10 or better in a number of key areas (not just one) from disposals, to metres gained, tackles etc (don't quote me on the specifics but that was my impression after looking over the numbers earlier today). Taylor and even Gray are not going to adequately replace him. We'll have to wait for other talent to emerge and develop.

The stats also suggest to me that Harry C is a very solid contributor and his place is not in danger for the time being. Not that I thought it was but I feel more confident about that now.

We got shafted on Jones big time , he’s a good player who makes a couple of blues a game, in amongst several really good things . Realistically worth a late first round pick at worst and if the saints had one to offer we should’ve got it but alas, they didn’t.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SeanM]

I'm curious to see what becomes of Harry Reynolds this year. I just re-read his afldraftcentral bio: Harrison Reynolds - Aussie Rules Draft Central. It doesn't describe the player I imagined him to be. I had vaguely categorised him as a prospective 3rd defender down back. But the bio describes him as being very quick and a contested ball winner at junior level with ordinary kicking efficiency. Interesting. Clearly we are developing him as a defender but perhaps he will wind up somewhere else in the long run, if he makes it . Could even be more of a project for our midfield. Does anyone else know anything about him? I just had a look through last year's draft thread and didn't find much. Also found a video of him on Swans website after his contract was extended for this season and he came across as having a really good attitude. I'm not really expecting him to play seniors this year but I am really interested to see what he produces.

The only time I saw Reynolds play was at the reserves trial vs Sydney Uni at the start of the year. My brief impressions:

* Appeared to be playing in defence or at half back. He was outmuscled at times by the bigger Sydney Uni forward in the goal square
* Seemed to read the game well. Took a few intercept marks on his chest along half back
* Had clean hands in picking up ground balls
* I was most impressed with his composure with the ball. When he got the ball he would not panic and blaze away under pressure. He would look up and try to hand ball to an open player.

I was guessing they were developing him as a half back flanker who could read the play and was calm in possession. But then longer term might move into inside midfield. He seemed quite raw and unlikely to play seniors for a while. Which I don't mind. We have got a list of 47 players so we can afford to be patient if coaches believe a player has a high potential.

Reading his draft_central profile, he is a good height 189cm, pacy, rated highly for clearances and poorly for kicking. I don't remember much about his kicking or pace. But I might check out one of the NEAFL replays from earlier in the year. I think he got renewed pretty early in the season so he must have impressed the coaches.

[Markwebbos]

On the one hand I hear opinions that Kennedy is done, on the other there's the expectation that Buddy's season 2020 performances will match his 2020 pay packet.
I for one don't agree with either.

During the season just completed both players missed games, with very different effects on the team.

Buddy:
The Swans averaged 76 points overall, 81 points when he played and 73 points when he didn't - we were what seems to me to be a modest 8 points better off with him in the team. Which is odd because he averaged 18 points per game.
So the team collectively covered for more than half his output when he was absent.

Joey:
The Swans averaged 370 possessions per game overall, but in Joeys absence they averaged 340 possessions per game. 30 possessions per game less. But Joey averaged 26 disposals per game. This is equally as significant.
The figures suggest that not only was the team unable to cover for Joey's absence at all (possession wise), but his absence may also have reduced the output of others.

Of course statistics never tell the full story (btw these came from footywire) but to paraphrase Chris Keane they should at least raise questions.

Interesting analysis

[Mountain Man]

I have great hopes for McCartin as a forward.
Hopefully one of Brandt Maibaum or Melican will prove to be the long term successor to Reg. It might take most of the season to lock up this defensive pillar position but I hope McCartin does not get allocated there - a Reid like stint in an emergency/ end of quarter excepted.
McCartin is somewhat shorter and lighter than Franklin and Reid but he is much younger and needs a solid grounding as our key forward into the future.

[Nico]

On the one hand I hear opinions that Kennedy is done, on the other there's the expectation that Buddy's season 2020 performances will match his 2020 pay packet.
I for one don't agree with either.

During the season just completed both players missed games, with very different effects on the team.

Buddy:
The Swans averaged 76 points overall, 81 points when he played and 73 points when he didn't - we were what seems to me to be a modest 8 points better off with him in the team. Which is odd because he averaged 18 points per game.
So the team collectively covered for more than half his output when he was absent.

Joey:
The Swans averaged 370 possessions per game overall, but in Joeys absence they averaged 340 possessions per game. 30 possessions per game less. But Joey averaged 26 disposals per game. This is equally as significant.
The figures suggest that not only was the team unable to cover for Joey's absence at all (possession wise), but his absence may also have reduced the output of others.

Of course statistics never tell the full story (btw these came from footywire) but to paraphrase Chris Keane they should at least raise questions.

All the more praise for our "inexperienced" backline as we had a % of 97. And our average losing margin was 22 points. How much improvement do we need to bridge that gap?

[111431]

The only time I saw Reynolds play was at the reserves trial vs Sydney Uni at the start of the year. My brief impressions:

* Appeared to be playing in defence or at half back. He was outmuscled at times by the bigger Sydney Uni forward in the goal square
* Seemed to read the game well. Took a few intercept marks on his chest along half back
* Had clean hands in picking up ground balls
* I was most impressed with his composure with the ball. When he got the ball he would not panic and blaze away under pressure. He would look up and try to hand ball to an open player.

I was guessing they were developing him as a half back flanker who could read the play and was calm in possession. But then longer term might move into inside midfield. He seemed quite raw and unlikely to play seniors for a while. Which I don't mind. We have got a list of 47 players so we can afford to be patient if coaches believe a player has a high potential.

Reading his draft_central profile, he is a good height 189cm, pacy, rated highly for clearances and poorly for kicking. I don't remember much about his kicking or pace. But I might check out one of the NEAFL replays from earlier in the year. I think he got renewed pretty early in the season so he must have impressed the coaches.

I caught up with a friend recently whose son played junior footy with Harry. He really thinks he will make it as he was a very good junior footballer (I guess they all are) so it will be interesting to see how he develops this year. The last half of the season was ruined with a stress fracture in his back. He is good to go now