Swans vs Giants Solitary Pre-season Match

[barry]

We need to review our expectations of Reid. For his whole career he has been judged on his potential, or brief glimpses of good play.

But he's getting on now, and his best footy is behind him. He should only be judged as the 2nd or 3rd tall marking target, and if he's asked to be no.1 forward we arent really fielding a competitive team.

[MattW]

We need to review our expectations of Reid. For his whole career he has been judged on his potential, or brief glimpses of good play.

But he's getting on now, and his best footy is behind him. He should only be judged as the 2nd or 3rd tall marking target, and if he's asked to be no.1 forward we arent really fielding a competitive team.

Yes. He's competing with Sinclair, Amartey and McLean as the backup ruck, secondary tall marking target. Logan should lead the line in Round 1.

[Mr Magoo]

Very enjoyable match. The results in these AAMI Community games don't matter as much as the processes. You want to see everyone putting their best foot forward and making it a challenge for the match selection committee to whittle this talented squad down to just 22 players. They did that today, and to think there was no Lance, no Jmac, no Dylan, no Lloyd, no Gould, no McClean. That is some real talent on the sidelines.

I gave 5 votes for Luke Parker. Just a bull in the centre, and going forward to impact the scoreboard. It's a rare thing you only see in the very best - Dusty, Fyfe, Danger, the Bont. He has played a selfless role the past few seasons but with some kids stepping up he might be able to get on the receiving end of that hard work!!

4 votes for JPK. Started slow but had worked his way into the game sublimely after half time. Got us back into it, brought the kids into the game. The consummate captains performance.

3 votes for Jimmy Rowbottom. All class. Rarely makes a mistake, tireless worker, gets into the right places. It seems he hits the scoreboard every week I watch him over the past year or so. Moves so well. He is a pure talent.

2 votes for Tom McCarthin. BEAST until he went off about midway thru the third. Marked and spoilt everything that came his way. Looked scratchy when he came back on but I'd already seen enough to know we are looking at our next great full back.

1 vote for Sam Wicks. What a ferocious tackler! I pity the fool who dares to possess the ball in his path. Did anyone see that moment he sent a Giants player into the turf with his bump? Great stuff!! Taking the game by the horns!!

Honourable mentions must go to Warner, who was dynamic with his burst out of stoppages, delighted with his progress this year; Braeden and Errol who both used the ball so incredibly well, neither looked out of place; Logan!! That mark! That goal! I quite liked Florent's game but still would like to see a bit more consistency in how he approaches each quarter.

Thrilled with what I saw today! We might have lost but i am brimming with optimism about our chances this year, though some may say that is a naive attitude to have to a preseason game! But if having faith is wrong, then i dont wanna be right!!

I thought it was exciting seeing all the new young talent and I am really enthused with how much academy talent is now in the side BUT and this for me is the big but , we were easily beaten in the end by a team that many predicted to slide down the ladder this year. GWS have lost a fair amount of talent from their ranks but the biggest difference for me is that their top end guys are probably at a better stage in their careers than ours. Kelly , Haynes , Greene , Coniglio etc are for me a better top end group than kennedy, parker, rampe, reid etc. I think GWS would have taken just as much excitement from the likes of Bruhn as we did from our younger guys. We seem to be forming a pretty good group but its probably at least a year or two before we see any big rise up the ladder.

[dejavoodoo44]

Yes. He's competing with Sinclair, Amartey and McLean as the backup ruck, secondary tall marking target. Logan should lead the line in Round 1.

Yes, it would be nice if we had some info on how Amartey and McLean went in the reserves, but so far, those two practice games are an information free zone.

I remember that last year, one of us prodded management into giving us some better reporting about the scratch matches that we were playing. Who was that again?

[MattW]

Yes, it would be nice if we had some info on how Amartey and McLean went in the reserves, but so far, those two practice games are an information free zone.

I remember that last year, one of us prodded management into giving us some better reporting about the scratch matches that we were playing. Who was that again?

It might have been me! It might be time for some more polite feedback

In the press conference, John mentioned the forwards kicked a few in the reserves. It would be interesting to know who is performing well. They offer slightly different things - McLean is a big guy and huge competitor, who'll bring the ball to ground in F50 and maybe free up Logan a bit. Amartey offers more mobility and probably more as the second ruck, which might allow Reid to play exclusively as a second forward.

[dejavoodoo44]

It might have been me! It might be time for some more polite feedback

In the press conference, John mentioned the forwards kicked a few in the reserves. It would be interesting to know who is performing well. They offer slightly different things - McLean is a big guy and huge competitor, who'll bring the ball to ground in F50 and maybe free up Logan a bit. Amartey offers more mobility and probably more as the second ruck, which might allow Reid to play exclusively as a second forward.

Yes, the total silence on what our lesser players are doing, is almost starting to push me into the murky realms of conspiracy theory.

And I'm also keen to see if Amartey and McLean have progressed, as they both apparently came into the preseason in good shape. Oh well, we'll probably get to see them in the VFL coverage. Assuming that the AFL gets around to organising the fixture. It was due at the end of last month, and as far as I know, it still hasn't been released.

[graemed]

Yes. He's competing with Sinclair, Amartey and McLean as the backup ruck, secondary tall marking target. Logan should lead the line in Round 1.

Whoa!!!
I seem to remember another High draft pick selected at Melbourne that was greeted as a star recruit and the answer to their woes.
Lets wind back on the expectations a little and give the coaching staff and the team leaders time to work into the system, the pace and the potential. I have enormous faith in this club's ability to care for the talent on our list and develop them into the best player possible.
I would hate to see someone with his latent talent unable to develop fully or worse, hate being here and wanting to go home after 2 years.
Having Reid, Sinclair, McLean or perhaps Franklin as the main attacking option will allow this outstanding prospect to enjoy his footy and this club.

[barracuda]

It might have been me! It might be time for some more polite feedback

In the press conference, John mentioned the forwards kicked a few in the reserves. It would be interesting to know who is performing well. They offer slightly different things - McLean is a big guy and huge competitor, who'll bring the ball to ground in F50 and maybe free up Logan a bit. Amartey offers more mobility and probably more as the second ruck, which might allow Reid to play exclusively as a second forward.

McLean kicked 4 goals and Joel kicked 5 points!

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Also I heard Gould had a good game. I don't know much more than that.

[MattW]

McLean kicked 4 goals and Joel kicked 5 points!

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Also I heard Gould had a good game. I don't know much more than that.

Great, thanks mate!

[bloodspirit]

McLean kicked 4 goals and Joel kicked 5 points!

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Also I heard Gould had a good game. I don't know much more than that.

Thanks so much. That's better than nothing.

[Blood Fever]

Yes, it would be nice if we had some info on how Amartey and McLean went in the reserves, but so far, those two practice games are an information free zone.

I remember that last year, one of us prodded management into giving us some better reporting about the scratch matches that we were playing. Who was that again?

Actually thought McLean looked better than Reid up forward towards the end of last year. Sam a little bit of a protected species re selection.

[MattW]

Actually thought McLean looked better than Reid up forward towards the end of last year. Sam a little bit of a protected species re selection.

I have a feeling Sam's protected status is under review, but he's better in the ruck relief role than McLean.

[Swanny40519]

I have a feeling Sam's protected status is under review, but he's better in the ruck relief role than McLean.

I agree re Sam. He looked slow and out of sorts yesterday (along with Rampe, Heeney, Hewitt, Bell)..

We just need to find a taller forward line setup as we were mauled by the taller Giants defence. Hope we don't put too much pressure on McDonald, but he did look good when he came on in the second half.

[Ralph Dawg]

Whoa!!!
I seem to remember another High draft pick selected at Melbourne that was greeted as a star recruit and the answer to their woes.
Lets wind back on the expectations a little and give the coaching staff and the team leaders time to work into the system, the pace and the potential. I have enormous faith in this club's ability to care for the talent on our list and develop them into the best player possible.
I would hate to see someone with his latent talent unable to develop fully or worse, hate being here and wanting to go home after 2 years.
Having Reid, Sinclair, McLean or perhaps Franklin as the main attacking option will allow this outstanding prospect to enjoy his footy and this club.

Graeme, you are 100% correct. If we expect Logan to be our number 1 KPF for R1, he will be on Harris Andrews. As good a prospect Logan is, it's pretty clear who will win that contest.

That's why I think he should be viewed more as the 3rd KPF / medium and displace Hayward. Poor Will has not had a good run of games as a forward for a long time now. Neither big, nor small, just seems lost and can't get into the game.

[bloodspirit]

At the game, I thought Reid did alright, especially at ground level.

Surely the mismatch in height between attackers and defenders advantages the attacking team, provided you use it to your advantage i.e. you don't rely on winning the aerial contests if you're shorter, whereas you do use the aerial route if you're taller.

I would caution against putting too much pressure on McDonald too soon. He is clearly talented but he may not be ready to take the #1 defender week after week and for full length AFL matches (and seasons) yet. I think the club are going to give him that chance and he is a long shot to be picked for R1.