Best 22 Round 1 2022

[Bangalore Swans]

No brainer its Campbell and Rowbottom .

Chad is fantastic , Wicks our only defensive fwd , Stephens best performer on the track . They all have to be in . Campbell next in line if a mid or HB spot opens up , good pace and kick but needs to add size

My best mate watched training the other day and said that Paddy McCartins kicking was superb. In for Melican.

He also said that Ladhams was not looking convincing in training compared to the other big players such as Amartey and McDonald. Said Ladhams looks a little off the pace.

Have a hard time understanding Wicks v Campbell. Campbell is a better footballer and can contribute in the forward line.

[O'Reilly Boy]

My best mate watched training the other day and said that Paddy McCartins kicking was superb. In for Melican.

He also said that Ladhams was not looking convincing in training compared to the other big players such as Amartey and McDonald. Said Ladhams looks a little off the pace.

Have a hard time understanding Wicks v Campbell. Campbell is a better footballer and can contribute in the forward line.

yeah nah. Very different players. Wicks stays in for forward pressure. Campbell is competing for a place with Florent, McInerney and even Blakey on a HBF or on a wing.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I wonder who will play George Hewett's lock-down role? Cunningham? The Chad?

Rowbottom. Harry takes the elite small forward. Based on the GWS final, no way to Chad. He’s an offensive weapon without a defensive bone in his body.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i dont quite agree to Campbell

If he has more likely hood to kick 25 goals for the season then Wicks if both playing a forward role.............he is hard to deny

The kid didnt get picked in the top10 draftees for nothing

he can play HBF, Wing and also HFF just as well...........he will be very hard to keep out of the team due to his elite kicking and elite decision making anywhere on the wing

[mcs]

i dont quite agree to Campbell

If he has more likely hood to kick 25 goals for the season then Wicks if both playing a forward role.............he is hard to deny

The kid didnt get picked in the top10 draftees for nothing

he can play HBF, Wing and also HFF just as well...........he will be very hard to keep out of the team due to his elite kicking and elite decision making anywhere on the wing

I agree AG - I reckon he will be in there somewhere if fit and has a good pre-season.

And while it will probably be seen as heresy from some, I actually don't think Warner is an automatic in at this exact point in time. Not until he shows in pre-season he is back close to where he was pre-injury last year.

None of that should be taken to, in any way shape or form, say that I don't think at best he isn't in the 22 - but I think there is a logjam of players battling for a few spots, and if (playing the hypothetical here) he has only a relatively average pre-season where it shows he may take some time to build back to his best, then he may be under pressure.

If last's seasons warm up games is anything to go by, I doubt very much that will be a problem - but young players do see form come and go, and every pre-season sees some players you expect to go well struggle and take time to get going again, and others jump up saying ready to go and push for a spot when maybe they weren't expected to. Not saying it is going to happen at all - but while his talent is undoubted, he still has to do the hard yards and prove his value for his spot, like everyone has to.

I don't doubt he will - but will be interested to see what he shows over the next couple of weeks - like all young players in that regard.

As for the foxsports team - while I posted that link on the basis of its broader positive outlook, I certainly didn't post it because I necessarily agreed with their team -> as usual, people that are not fans aren't that close to comings and goings at each club, so are always guesstimating around the edges. They've probably all forgotten how good Warner was earlier in last season - recency bias is always strong in their selections.

[mcs]

No brainer its Campbell and Rowbottom .

Chad is fantastic , Wicks our only defensive fwd , Stephens best performer on the track . They all have to be in . Campbell next in line if a mid or HB spot opens up , good pace and kick but needs to add size

I think Stephens needs to turn best performer on the track into a strong pre-season as well to be a definite in.

Chad will be in if his pre-season shows he is anywhere near where he was pre-injury last year. But if Stephens doesn't perform in the warm up games then I could certainly see him missing out. I suspect he will perform and take the next steps - but only time will tell.

[Nico]

No brainer its Campbell and Rowbottom .

Chad is fantastic , Wicks our only defensive fwd , Stephens best performer on the track . They all have to be in . Campbell next in line if a mid or HB spot opens up , good pace and kick but needs to add size

Why have people dropped off Campbell. What little we saw of him last year was all class. Also has been training with the mids so forget about him being a defender.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i suspect we are all having trouble fitting in 26 plus players into 22

I am a campbell fan.........injury free i suspect he will bring more than a few other as the season rolls on and he finds his groove and displays his immense talent

[Bexl]

On a side note I played golf the other day with a person that is in the Melbourne coaching box and this person said that Melbourne were concerned at the start of the finals of coming up against Sydney as our style of play and personal did not suit them. Unfortunately we all know what we did in the first final.

[bloodspirit]

Why have people dropped off Campbell. What little we saw of him last year was all class. Also has been training with the mids so forget about him being a defender.

When I last went to training, Braeden WAS training as a defender.

[bloodspirit]

On a side note I played golf the other day with a person that is in the Melbourne coaching box and this person said that Melbourne were concerned at the start of the finals of coming up against Sydney as our style of play and personal did not suit them. Unfortunately we all know what we did in the first final.

Wow! Well that's flattering.

We certainly ran Melbourne hard in the H&A game but they were too good then. That was a fantastic game. I haven't re-watched it yet but I remember feeling much happier after that game than after, say, beating the Saints. I was so proud of our effort and talent.

[mcs]

When I last went to training, Braeden WAS training as a defender.

I still think a Mills like pathway (maybe not eventually into the guts - but into midfield) involving an apprenticeship off the half back line/in defence is the approach they will follow with Braeden as well.

[Bangalore Swans]

My best mate went to training during the week and was concerned about Ladhams training form. He said that Ladhans looked off the pace compared to similar size players like Amartey and McDonald.

Can other people who watch training confirm this account?

I may need to switch Amartey for Ladhams if this feedback is confirmed by multiple training spectators.

[Aprilbr]

What we can clearly see in the naming of "best" teams that vary from poster to poster is that our depth has improved a lot. This is clearly a good thing as it means competition for spots is hot and we can better cover injuries. Interesting that none of our new draftees are likely to get a senior game early on. This contrasts with last season when Campbell, Errol and MacDonald came straight into the team in Round One.

I expect Melican and Ladhams to get a game in Round One but should either not perform, then they will be quickly out for alternatives. Huge competition for midfield/half forward/half back positions. It will be interesting to see who misses out.

[Bangalore Swans]

What we can clearly see in the naming of "best" teams that vary from poster to poster is that our depth has improved a lot. This is clearly a good thing as it means competition for spots is hot and we can better cover injuries. Interesting that none of our new draftees are likely to get a senior game early on. This contrasts with last season when Campbell, Errol and MacDonald came straight into the team in Round One.

I expect Melican and Ladhams to get a game in Round One but should either not perform, then they will be quickly out for alternatives. Huge competition for midfield/half forward/half back positions. It will be interesting to see who misses out.

Most posters on here are favouring Paddy McCartin over Melican for round 1. Makes sense to go with McCartin as his brilliant kicking ads another weapon to the Swans counter attacking, switch, corridor and overlap run game.

McCartins play will be more attacking and entertaining than Melican as a fan I want more attacking and entertaining play like 2021.

Nobody can argue conclusively about Melican’s defensive game after Jesse Hogan of all players destroyed him.