2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[mcs]

If Reid is so good, why did they refuse to play him in the latter half of the year? Or were they avoiding a trigger clause?

I don't think anyone is suggesting he will be an 'automatic in' to the team next year. And his form this year was ordinary, that's why he didn't play I suspect. But a good pre-season and an injury free run and he might be able to make a good contribution to our fortunes in 2022. The upside with him if he does get fit and firing is worth the risk.

Not sure about trigger clauses but I doubt it - his omission towards the end was form based surely.

[Nico]

Most likely they'd be into making cartoons. Family tradition.

As long as we don't fall for the Daniher family Essendon disaster.

[barry]

Gardner hinted at him playing in defence when discussing Reid’s future at the end of trade week-ish

So we are going to have a key position defender who is 32, and hardly ever played defense, and is injury prone..

He can only be a backup to McCartin in case he gets injured.

[caj23]

After Buddy and presumably Ladhams, Reid is comfortably our 3rd best tall forward by a margin

His talent isn't in doubt, it's the ongoing injuries that have hurt his career

[The Big Cat]

So we are going to have a key position defender who is 32, and hardly ever played defense, and is injury prone..

He can only be a backup to McCartin in case he gets injured.

He's 29.

[bloodspirit]

After Buddy and presumably Ladhams, Reid is comfortably our 3rd best tall forward by a margin

His talent isn't in doubt, it's the ongoing injuries that have hurt his career

I have more faith in McDonald and less in Ladhams (at this stage) than you - and probably about the same amount of faith in Reid.

I think when Reid is fit and in form he is a good and super versatile player. His versatility is a great asset and helps the coaches make changes in games. Plus Reid is experienced and must have a good working relationship with the coaches and so knows how to implement the changes they ask the team to make. I am much happier about extending Reid by a year than Sinclair. Sinclair is handy depth but I don't think we need him. Re-signing him, and re-signing Naismith, were both mistakes (with the benefit of hindsight). The call to re-sign Naismith so early was a really dumb mistake even at the time as far as I can tell. Whereas when they signed Sinclair they didn't know about Ladhams. I think we would be better off filling both of their list spots with different players. I'd rather have Brander and Paddy Mac for those base wage options.

I think Ladhams, McLean, Amartey, McDonald and Reid are going to be fighting for just two spots when Buddy and Hickey are playing. (Sinclair doesn't even enter the conversation.) It is remarkable how the the tall forward position has gone from a lack to an oversupply in the blink of an eye. Although most of them are hybrid players with unclear futures.

[Steve]

I think McLean will feel hard done by. St Kilda offered him a role that would have had him closer to playing regular senior football. He stayed with the Swans

McLean may not have factored in Reid playing on and Ladhams joining the club.

He must feel annoyed at what’s transpired.

Maybe, but I’m not sure it would have been much better for him at St Kilda. Marshall and Ryder are their ruck/forward combo with King the main permanent key forward. McLean wouldn’t have played in a side with those 3.

And in any case I think the Saints were looking at a Plan B if Ryder didn’t play on - once he signed I think their interest in McLean dropped off anyway.

Buddy and Hickey are realistically year-by -year prospects at this point, and so too Reid. So there is a long-term role there with us if he can show enough over the next 2 years.

At least there should be a full year of VFL next year so if/when McLean and Armartey find themselves out of the team they will still be improving.

I guess it’s a good thing but we now have a number of forward and ruck combinations to juggle that we’ll mix-and-match depending on form and availability.

You’d think it would be 2 of Franklin, Reid and McDonald, plus 2 of Hickey, Ladhams, McLean and Armartey at any one time.

Personally I think Heeney is more of a game breaker up forward, but I can see why we’d look at the overall picture and use him more in the midfield, with all those talks as well as Haywood up forward.

[TheBloods]

Heeney will shift into the mids to make the midfield more explosive and to make room in the fwd line for Mcdonald

[Kumarangk]

Biggest knock on Reid is that he's regularly injured. But when fit, he's our second best key forward behind Buddy and is definitely a threat. Maybe he can remain relatively injury free and make a significant contribution in 2022. Here's hoping ????

He is abysmal in set kicking for goal. Play at the back or mentor in VFL.

[Aprilbr]

Heeney will shift into the mids to make the midfield more explosive and to make room in the fwd line for Mcdonald

I think he will still spend plenty of time up forward. I doubt that he will be a full-time midfielder. Maybe 50/50 but time will tell. Maybe what Essendon do with Stringer will be the model?

[Ludwig]

I don't think we will play Franklin and Reid in the same forward line. It doesn't provide for a smooth transition once Franklin retires. So, if Reid is to play seniors on a regular basis, it would seem it should be in defence. I think he's a good defender. Good size, good contested mark and reads the flight of the ball well.

[TheBloods]

I think he will still spend plenty of time up forward. I doubt that he will be a full-time midfielder. Maybe 50/50 but time will tell. Maybe what Essendon do with Stringer will be the model?

50 is better than nothing

[AB Swannie]

Heeney will shift into the mids to make the midfield more explosive and to make room in the fwd line for Mcdonald

It wasn’t that long ago that you were completely against this idea. Glad to see you have changed.

[Aaron]

So we are going to have a key position defender who is 32, and hardly ever played defense, and is injury prone..

He can only be a backup to McCartin in case he gets injured.

Sam Reid was drafted as a defender and spent his under 18’s year as a key defender and probably the first three quarters of his first season at the Swans in Reserves as a defender. He also enjoyed the challenge of playing in defence after making the switch during the 2015 pre-season. For more details read this report at the Swans Site.

[TheBloods]

It wasn’t that long ago that you were completely against this idea. Glad to see you have changed.

Better Heeney than some kid 3-4 yrs away , we need to strike while the irons hot . as long as he doesnt take the spot of chad and doesnt stop campbell going into mids ill be happy , and gives Mcdonald more opportunity inside 50