Best 22 Round 1 2022

[AB Swannie]

AB I suspect that your suggestion re Stephens and Campbell over say Wicks makes sense from a perspective that as juniors they showed much more upside than say Wicks and they bring versatility re being able to play wing from defence and or mid.

But I also suspect that the role that Wicks plays is a critical role also ee shutting down an opposition key small forward. Are u saying this is Warner's role ? Is this the best use of Chad in our 22?

Firstly, I think that it is highly unlikely that I've been able to pick the team that we will see round 1. The real point to my initial post was to point out how difficult it is to fit everyone in. For every change to the team I have proposed, a very gifted player needs to come out of that team. For example, you may prefer to have Wicks playing. In that case, a player like Campbell, Stephens, Rowbottom, or Warner needs to be removed. That is an awesome situation for our club. If a team is judged on it's bottom six players, then we have a great chance to do well this year.

In regards to Wicks, he plays a specific role that he plays very well. If he isn't in the team, I wouldn't expect any particular person to try to play the same role. The collective would need to apply pressure. In regards to shutting down a small forward - that would be Cunningham's responsibility. Just like I don't think we need to replace Dawson with someone who does the exact thing. Each player has their own strengths. Chad has the ability to play a mix between midfield and high half forward. Gulden has that same ability and so does Campbell.

[barracuda]

Firstly, I think that it is highly unlikely that I've been able to pick the team that we will see round 1. The real point to my initial post was to point out how difficult it is to fit everyone in. For every change to the team I have proposed, a very gifted player needs to come out of that team. For example, you may prefer to have Wicks playing. In that case, a player like Campbell, Stephens, Rowbottom, or Warner needs to be removed. That is an awesome situation for our club. If a team is judged on it's bottom six players, then we have a great chance to do well this year.

In regards to Wicks, he plays a specific role that he plays very well. If he isn't in the team, I wouldn't expect any particular person to try to play the same role. The collective would need to apply pressure. In regards to shutting down a small forward - that would be Cunningham's responsibility. Just like I don't think we need to replace Dawson with someone who does the exact thing. Each player has their own strengths. Chad has the ability to play a mix between midfield and high half forward. Gulden has that same ability and so does Campbell.

Wicks does a bit more than just apply pressure. he kicked 17 goals last year, and would have kicked 25 if he didn't get the ipps. Prior to Wicks' arrival the swans had been rotating a number of players through the small forward defensive role. Even guys like Dan Robinson and James Rose were rotated through without much success. Players like Chad Warner and Dylan Stephens were also rotated through without much luck early on. The reality is that the role requires a two way player who can understand and follow the strict defensive patterns, whilst also taking every attacking opportunity possible. Achieving this is not easy for most players, nor is gut running to cut off the opposition half backs from rebounding very glamorous.

Whilst Wicks suffers from being a Cat B rookie, and is always attractive to look for the higher draft picks it should be remembered he has nearly 30 games under his belt, and was never dropped during a year they made finals. Whilst Stephens etc are getting bigger and stronger, of course so is Wicks. Unless he gets injured or has some major drop off in form or attitude, I don't see why the swans would start the year by ditching a forward formula that made them potent last year. I think they will want to keep building on their structures with each player delivering his part.

I don't think they will want ask other forwards to apply team pressure. I think they believe having a player dedicated to defensive pressure enables the other forwards to concentrate on attack, and to be far more unpredictable.

[Mark26]

Wicks does a bit more than just apply pressure. he kicked 17 goals last year, and would have kicked 25 if he didn't get the ipps. Prior to Wicks' arrival the swans had been rotating a number of players through the small forward defensive role. Even guys like Dan Robinson and James Rose were rotated through without much success. Players like Chad Warner and Dylan Stephens were also rotated through without much luck early on. The reality is that the role requires a two way player who can understand and follow the strict defensive patterns, whilst also taking every attacking opportunity possible. Achieving this is not easy for most players, nor is gut running to cut off the opposition half backs from rebounding very glamorous.

Whilst Wicks suffers from being a Cat B rookie, and is always attractive to look for the higher draft picks it should be remembered he has nearly 30 games under his belt, and was never dropped during a year they made finals. Whilst Stephens etc are getting bigger and stronger, of course so is Wicks. Unless he gets injured or has some major drop off in form or attitude, I don't see why the swans would start the year by ditching a forward formula that made them potent last year. I think they will want to keep building on their structures with each player delivering his part.

I don't think they will want ask other forwards to apply team pressure. I think they believe having a player dedicated to defensive pressure enables the other forwards to concentrate on attack, and to be far more unpredictable.

+1

One of the most enlightening things about BJ's book was the emphasis he said the Swans' coaches place on the one-percenters (tackles, chases, spoils, smothers, blocks, intercepts etc). Coaches keep their own tally of them and display them for all to see after a match. The embodiment of Swans culture is an attitude, not a talent and every player is expected to have a certain amount per game so that we have relentless pressure.

If that's what it means to be part of the Bloods' culture then Wicks is a Blood and he stays in the top 22. He's a great competitor and we often hear Horse and co. talk esteem competitiveness when talking about players.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Hey AB

No criticism from me.

I love the team u picked and totally get the reasons.

It was more Warner coming into that spot that Wicks played and if u saw him as a more important player in our HFF rotation and offers more than Wicks in flexibility to play a few roles in the mids and forwards.

I suppose an area I am super curious on is how the swans playing group and coaches value the role that Wicks currently plays. Ie does his role help us minimise faster rebound from the opposition defence , which then enables us to be better in creating opportunities via turnovers

Two-thirds of all points usually come from turnovers in AFL so they are a massively important opportunity to create and non better then turnovers created in our front half.

Prior to 2021, Richmond was so ruthlessly efficient once they picked up a turnover and we at the Swans were the opposite in 2020. We were 3rd last on the table so terribly in-efficient?

[Ralph Dawg]

F50 pressure extremely important, especially for us as I feel our defence struggles (like most) from the quick rebound. One on one, our defenders can struggle as they are generally undersized compared with their direct opponents. But given time to work as a unit, in conjunction with the ruck and mids flooding back, our defence is great.

I say this not to necessarily advocate directly for Wicks to be a lock every week, but he certainly does add a bit with regards to applying defensive pressure in F50.

What the forwards really need to do though is to hunt as a pack, along with the midfielders and each contribute towards providing a relentless defensive screen to protect the last line.

[barracuda]

Hey AB

No criticism from me.

I love the team u picked and totally get the reasons.

It was more Warner coming into that spot that Wicks played and if u saw him as a more important player in our HFF rotation and offers more than Wicks in flexibility to play a few roles in the mids and forwards.

I suppose an area I am super curious on is how the swans playing group and coaches value the role that Wicks currently plays. Ie does his role help us minimise faster rebound from the opposition defence , which then enables us to be better in creating opportunities via turnovers

Two-thirds of all points usually come from turnovers in AFL so they are a massively important opportunity to create and non better then turnovers created in our front half.

Prior to 2021, Richmond was so ruthlessly efficient once they picked up a turnover and we at the Swans were the opposite in 2020. We were 3rd last on the table so terribly in-efficient?

Last year Wicks had the highest number of points scored from turnovers he forced across the competition

[707]

Last year Wicks had the highest number of points scored from turnovers he forced across the competition

Wicks is an unglamourous Cat B rookie who has exceeded everyone's expectations to this point, a vital part of our success last year.

In my eyes the position is his until someone displaces him with form, not displaces him by dint of having a high draft pick number!

[Auntie.Gerald]

Barra
Would it be fair to say that Wicks was the last option most of the time to kick to vs buddy, Paps, heeney, Hayward therefore he would have been more on the ground sniffing truffles and hence being the highest for scoring on turnovers vs the above players.

Secondly Wicks may have only got 7 or 8 of his goals in 2021 via turnovers which is a very small impact each week ie maybe a couple points per game?

For me it is more about controlling exits from the opposition and Wicks role is an important part of making that happen as he negates the key attacking defender from having a impact

[barracuda]

Barra
Would it be fair to say that Wicks was the last option most of the time to kick to vs buddy, Paps, heeney, Hayward therefore he would have been more on the ground sniffing truffles and hence being the highest for scoring on turnovers vs the above players.

Secondly Wicks may have only got 7 or 8 of his goals in 2021 via turnovers which is a very small impact each week ie maybe a couple points per game?

For me it is more about controlling exits from the opposition and Wicks role is an important part of making that happen as he negates the key attacking defender from having a impact

I think the stat was points scored by anyone in the team as a result of a turnover forced by the player. So Wicks might hit an opponent hard dislodging the ball then heeney might grab it and score.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Gotcha
Thanks mate

[TheBloods]

Why would we want Chad , Gulden Papley etc to be doing defensive stuff off the ball , makes no sense . Put the most talented guys where they can get the ball and give em support with the ones who will work hard , be selfless and make life easy for the stars . Like WICKS

[Bangalore Swans]

When talking about small pressure forwards Barracuda is a master of the position. Barracuda’s wonderful knowledge has immensely helped my understanding of the small forward position.

Barracuda were you a small pressure forward yourself or have you done a lot of coaching of the forwards?

[Roadrunner]

Why would we want Chad , Gulden Papley etc to be doing defensive stuff off the ball , makes no sense . Put the most talented guys where they can get the ball and give em support with the ones who will work hard , be selfless and make life easy for the stars . Like WICKS

A bit simplistic maybe, but the forwards first job is to get the ball and score- or pass it to someone who can. Their second job is to regain possession if an opposing defender has the ball. Ideally, ALL our forwards should do this and exert pressure accordingly, not just Wicks. I think he had a fair season last year but this year I would like to see him do more, and certainly improve kicking for goal. But I do appreciate that his pressure game is good, however there will be intense competition for places so he may have to rise a level to keep his spot.

[AB Swannie]

Holy Dooley. I probably should’ve just put Wicks in my team and left Campbell out. I thought I made it clear that I am actually a fan of his. I’m happy to see others 22s. You are going to have to leave someone out and I’ll be interested to see who that is.

[AB Swannie]

Wicks is an unglamourous Cat B rookie who has exceeded everyone's expectations to this point, a vital part of our success last year.

In my eyes the position is his until someone displaces him with form, not displaces him by dint of having a high draft pick number!

I can’t remember referring to draft position anywhere. I’m confident no one else has either. Wicks is a fantastic player and I’m happy to have him playing for us. Who would you remove from my team to include Wicks?