Best 22 2021

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Jake Lloyd is our #1 leaving-the-defensive-50-player - He does this with elite running. The problem is that while pretty accurate, he's not a particularly long kick and they tend to float a little bit (too much elevation) which gives the opposition a bit more time to either get to, or coral his target.

Would it not be possible to free up and channel more play through Jordan Dawson?

Certainly I'd prefer to see him doing that rather than defending against an opposition tall forward (or acting as relief ruckman FFS) but would be interested to hear your thoughts.

[111431]

Jake Lloyd is our #1 leaving-the-defensive-50-player - He does this with elite running. The problem is that while pretty accurate, he's not a particularly long kick and they tend to float a little bit (too much elevation) which gives the opposition a bit more time to either get to, or coral his target.

Would it not be possible to free up and channel more play through Jordan Dawson?

Certainly I'd prefer to see him doing that rather than defending against an opposition tall forward (or acting as relief ruckman FFS) but would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Agreed - he can clear traffic and has great vision with his disposal

[wolftone57]

Jake Lloyd is our #1 leaving-the-defensive-50-player - He does this with elite running. The problem is that while pretty accurate, he's not a particularly long kick and they tend to float a little bit (too much elevation) which gives the opposition a bit more time to either get to, or coral his target.

Would it not be possible to free up and channel more play through Jordan Dawson?

Certainly I'd prefer to see him doing that rather than defending against an opposition tall forward (or acting as relief ruckman FFS) but would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Jake Lloyd is actually a beautiful long raking kick. But his role has been that of short passing and providing second and third options out of defence. He is instructed to kick short. It has been a part of our game plan for a long, long time. We did the same thing with Macca and Mal even though both were very good long kicks. In AFL it is hard to get players free on the long lead from a kickout too. That is because of defensive zones being set up.

I think Dawson has to play HB or onball. He can't be that third tall in defence that takes a Gunston. That defeats the purpose of him being there. But a few times last season the coaches got it wrong by leaving him as a lock down back. This can't be allowed to happen. He is far too valuable as an attacking option.

I think we need to rethink the midfield and have big bodies going through there. Players like Dawson, Amartey, Mills etc as well as the Florent, Parker, Rowbottom, Campbell, Gulden, Ronke smalls. More options means we will be less predictable. Joey is getting to the end and we have to work on a post Joey set up. We have such good options now.

The forward line will have a new look I think. Gulden can score. So can Campbell if he is resting. Wicks is another who provides opportunities via good pressure. We have many options now. We have a top 30 players, possibly more. That is real depth. I am excited. Strong backs, especially with McCartin going back full time, who look amazing and so fit this time around.

I am very excited about this group

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[Ruck'n'Roll]

Your post makes several excellent points, but having watched him since his first ressies game I am unable to concur with your assertion that "Jake Lloyd is actually a beautiful long raking kick"

[Thunder Shaker]

Our best 22 is not settled. We have a lot of young players who have played no games or just a few.

I expect the 2021 season will be similar to 2020 - a lot of inexperienced players being rotated through the side, given a few games and then dropped for what some would say are mysterious reasons. The reason why they're being dropped isn't really a mystery: we can only pick 22 players, and when it's someone else's turn to get a game another player needs to make way.

We have maybe 30 players who would be considered the "best 22" but as yet we don't know exactly who they are. The only way to find out is to give them games against quality opposition.

Furthermore, best 22 in 2021 and best 22 that will contend for our next premiership are not the same group of players because we're not likely to be top four in 2021. It may take a couple of years and by then a few of our best-22 veterans will have retired: Kennedy, Franklin, likely Parker. And when Franklin's salary is off our books we would be in a position to poach free agents from other clubs.

[SwanSand]

Our best 22 is not settled. We have a lot of young players who have played no games or just a few.

I expect the 2021 season will be similar to 2020 - a lot of inexperienced players being rotated through the side, given a few games and then dropped for what some would say are mysterious reasons. The reason why they're being dropped isn't really a mystery: we can only pick 22 players, and when it's someone else's turn to get a game another player needs to make way.

We have maybe 30 players who would be considered the "best 22" but as yet we don't know exactly who they are. The only way to find out is to give them games against quality opposition.

Furthermore, best 22 in 2021 and best 22 that will contend for our next premiership are not the same group of players because we're not likely to be top four in 2021. It may take a couple of years and by then a few of our best-22 veterans will have retired: Kennedy, Franklin, likely Parker. And when Franklin's salary is off our books we would be in a position to poach free agents from other clubs.

Yep. It’s all potential for now. I am sure the recruitment goes with future retirements, injury concerns for existent players etc in mind. But there is heaps of potentially very good players. A few have to take the next step to be graded excellent. And the opportunity for that next step starts soon.

[stevoswan]

Oops....wrong thread.

[wolftone57]

Yep. It’s all potential for now. I am sure the recruitment goes with future retirements, injury concerns for existent players etc in mind. But there is heaps of potentially very good players. A few have to take the next step to be graded excellent. And the opportunity for that next step starts soon.

I don't think we are as far away as you think. Several ex premiership players have picked us to make the eight. That is because they rate our list very highly. Get a bit of experience back in the side and it will be a far different team. Remember that last year we had no Buddy, Heeney, Rampe, Big Sammy and Hewett and Kennedy spent 3 or 4 out too. Just those players alone would make a heck if a difference

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[Ruck'n'Roll]

Several ex premiership players have picked us to make the eight.

Which ex players? Could you supply links?

[Auntie.Gerald]

For me the competition at training will be much more competitive which is a significant change in skill development and hunger to train your best

Our bottom group of players 18-21ish yrs of agewill be applying the blow torch as they are a stronger more talented bunch than this time 2020.....especially the likes of Logan, Errol, Braeden added to the emerging talent pool.

McDonald, Gulden, Gould, McLean, Blakey, Warner, Stephens, Campbell Ling, McInerney, Bell, Sheather, Wicks will be pushing the likes of Dawson, McCartin, Oriordan, Melican, Ronke, Gray, Squizzy, Brand, Clarke etc

Where we are vs the serious young talent at other clubs I have no idea........

[Auntie.Gerald]

PS Bud turns 34 yrs of age at the end of this month.

With a year off, I am excited to see how he returns and what role/s he plays with our forward line up.

Buddy Franklin, Reid, Heeney, McDonald make for a tough combo to take one on one.................and I suspect this combo could force the hand of a few teams to over compensate their defence which is nice for us.

Three forwards who can take the ball at the top of the pack and one champion who may still have some speed in the legs?

Blakey, McCartin and Dawson no doubt floating in for some minutes in the forwards also is not a bad back up when injuries strike

[goswannies]

PS Bud turns 34 yrs of age at the end of this month.

With a year off, I am excited to see how he returns and what role/s he plays with our forward line up.

Buddy Franklin, Reid, Heeney, McDonald make for a tough combo to take one on one.................and I suspect this combo could force the hand of a few teams to over compensate their defence which is nice for us.

Three forwards who can take the ball at the top of the pack and one champion who may still have some speed in the legs?

Blakey, McCartin and Dawson no doubt floating in for some minutes in the forwards also is not a bad back up when injuries strike

I used to think that about the Buddy, Tippett, Reid combination ... and their bodies were younger then. Come to think of it, Lockett and BBBH had a similar appeal. Not since Pratt & Nash has our forward line fired with multiple genuine key position stars ... and even that side probably failed to deliver on its potential

[Nico]

PS Bud turns 34 yrs of age at the end of this month.

With a year off, I am excited to see how he returns and what role/s he plays with our forward line up.

Buddy Franklin, Reid, Heeney, McDonald make for a tough combo to take one on one.................and I suspect this combo could force the hand of a few teams to over compensate their defence which is nice for us.

Three forwards who can take the ball at the top of the pack and one champion who may still have some speed in the legs?

Blakey, McCartin and Dawson no doubt floating in for some minutes in the forwards also is not a bad back up when injuries strike

Remember Papley?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I used to think that about the Buddy, Tippett, Reid combination ... and their bodies were younger then. Come to think of it, Lockett and BBBH had a similar appeal. Not since Pratt & Nash has our forward line fired with multiple genuine key position stars ... and even that side probably failed to deliver on its potential

I can't think of a single pair of Swans key forwards other than those two - actually for most of my supporting life the Swans have lacked a single key forward star.
And whenever there's been a good double act it's always been one key forward and a great support act, ie:
Hall and O'Loughlan
Lockett and O'Loughlan
Capper and Morwood
Roberts and Morwood
On at least one occasion in that period the clubs not given out a goalkicking medal at all, because so few goals were kicked.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Remember Papley?

absolutely - a gun

Was looking at players that can help our exits and control field position via marks at the top of a one on one contest etc..........which we have nice mix if Heeney can sustain week in week out with that Ankle recon etc and Logan has the tank to keep up