Best 22 Round 1 2022

[TheBloods]

I would have Wicks as medical sub. Still gets a game to the tally sheet and gets paid.

Disagree strongly on turnstile observation. Literally all Swans Academy kids are better equipped at tackling than young kids drafted in AFL football states.

They have all been exposed to some Rugby League or Rugby Union in their junior sporting development. They learn how to tackle through that exposure. Look at Heeney’s tackles for instance. Even James Bell can execute a great tackle.

Campbell’s no turnstile. He’s a Sydney boy and they’re bred to tackle.

The Swans need Campbell in the side. I’ll become opinionated if Bell gets games ahead of Campbell.

You 'll become opinionated ?

Campbell might be a good tackler one day but he is not YET . Rewatch games from last yr , struggled physically , hes only a teenager and not a big one at that ! If your giving Wicks the boot i 'd even prefer RB as small fwd than Campbell and it is well known i dont want him within a Quinlan drop punt of the afl side . Campbell is a wing / mid . He needs to play that position and if he cant in the seniors let him do it in the magoos to learn .

[bloodspirit]

You 'll become opinionated ?

[i'm-uninformed2]

Club has posted a JMac interview on a couple of socials.

I'd forgotten he had no pre-season last year, which really made what he did all the more remarkable. Said he'd been training a mix of wing, halfback and midfield. He's very articulate about things and fits someone else's observation on here that he's got potential to be in the leadership group.

I've said a few times he's the club house leader of our young crew and let's hope he goes from strength to strength this year. He really is a special talent.

[NeonBible]

Club has posted a JMac interview on a couple of socials.

I'd forgotten he had no pre-season last year, which really made what he did all the more remarkable. Said he'd been training a mix of wing, halfback and midfield. He's very articulate about things and fits someone else's observation on here that he's got potential to be in the leadership group.

I've said a few times he's the club house leader of our young crew and let's hope he goes from strength to strength this year. He really is a special talent.

I completely agree with you about Juzzy. He is a fantastic young player. & i concur he is the leader of the young brigade at this stage. I expect that will change pretty quickly.. i can't quite see our best player over the next decade being a wingman/HB flanker with a light build!! More likely to be a star inside mid like Chad or Gulden.. or a key fwd.. Logan?? Or maybe even Blakey.. with his height and his incredible speed.. he could be anything!! Such exciting times!

[wolftone57]

unless the team mate has more score involvements and equal elsewhere ?

Gulden did that in his first year at 18yrs of age vs 21yrs of age

and with a royal flush !

it is just so tricky to predict some our emerging juniors right now

But Gulden is a rare talent let's face it.

[wolftone57]

Easy to criticise others making predictions, but this year it is seriously difficult.
Returning to the final games from 2021 and comparing our team lists is the way I believe our selectors may go. Obviously we had some injuries at the time and others have left and others have become available. Enough said:

FB. Cunningham Rampe Fox/Melican

HB. Blakey McCartin T. Lloyd

C. Florent Mills Heeney

HF. Hayward McLean Gulden

F. Wicks Franklin Papley

Foll. Hickey Parker Kennedy

Interchange: Bell Reid Warner Rowbottom/Stephens/Campbell/O’Riordan

I know that makes 26 players and that’s a lot more than 22 but I want to have some slack to allow for match-ups and pre-season form.

I realise there is some unpopular selections like Bell and Reid but I believe that Bell like Wicks was in the team for some very good reasons. I also believe he deserved his spot last year and it will be up to others to win it off him. As for Reid I have stated elsewhere that he is still more valuable than many give him credit for and like Bell will need to lose his place to someone performing better before I’m prepared to let him go.

I am looking forward to watching the reserves go around nearly as much as I am to the seniors as I see such much to be excited by in this squad. The likelihood that there will be severe disruptions to lists as a result of COVID protocols means that depth in a squad will be of paramount importance going forward towards finals.

Justin McInerney?

[wolftone57]

ok I will have a go

FB CUNNINGHAM P MCCARTIN RAMPE

HB BLAKEY T MCCARTIN LLOYD

C J MAC MILLS HEENEY

HF HAYWARD LADHAMS GULDEN

FF WICKS FRANKLIN PAPLEY

R HICKEY PARKER CH WARNER

INT KENNEDY FLORENT FOX STEPHENS

EMERG MCDONALD CAMPBELL ROWBOTTOM

of course this is dependent on a few things. MILLS being ok and reports that Stephens has had a great pre-season. also that ROWBOTTOM has recovered. of course P MCCARTIN at full back is a bit of a unusual call at this stage of his come back but I'm going with it anyway.

Mills and Rowbottom very doubtful for round 1

[Ralph Dawg]

Instead of R1 I'm going for the best team for the first trial, usually 8 on the bench for community series:

B Cunningham Rampe Lloyd
HB JMac TMac Blakey
C Heeney Mills Florent
HF Wilbur Buddy Papley
F Wicks Ladhams LMac
Foll Hickey Chad Parker
Int Gulden Stephens Campbell Melican Gould Reid McLean Amartey

If I was coach, like to guage who is in front for the third taller defender out of Melican, Gould and Reid. PMac and BOC to play VFL first.

I see the ruck / forward role as a contest between McLean, Ladhams and Amartey

I've left Mills and RB out due to injury.

JPK out as we well and truly know what we get from him and would rather view some of our fringe players.

[Bangalore Swans]

Mills and Rowbottom very doubtful for round 1

If your injury prognosis is correct then Mills goes out of my team and Wicks comes in.

Chad off the bench and into the middle. Use Wicks up toward and move Campbell to half back with J-Mac shifting to the middle.

[Aprilbr]

A few people seem to have Heeney on the wing. I doubt that he will play there. I think we need his marking power up forward so he mainly will play there with bursts in the midfield like Stringer. Looking at the Middle we really need one or two of the youngsters to really step us this year with Mills doubtful early and Kennedy in decline. Best bets seem to be Chad and Stephens.

[Ralph Dawg]

A few people seem to have Heeney on the wing. I doubt that he will play there. I think we need his marking power up forward so he mainly will play there with bursts in the midfield like Stringer. Looking at the Middle we really need one or two of the youngsters to really step us this year with Mills doubtful early and Kennedy in decline. Best bets seem to be Chad and Stephens.

My thinking is that Heeney could provide the marking power that Dawson did, which was particularly invaluable coming out of defence. I guess he could do this too playing half forward.

[TheBloods]

A few people seem to have Heeney on the wing. I doubt that he will play there. I think we need his marking power up forward so he mainly will play there with bursts in the midfield like Stringer. Looking at the Middle we really need one or two of the youngsters to really step us this year with Mills doubtful early and Kennedy in decline. Best bets seem to be Chad and Stephens.

They will , put your money on it . Stephens is perfect for this team , massive endurance athlete , hard runner , slicing left foot kick , burst out of congestion . Everything this team is building towards . & Chad is Chad , he is a jet and will be a star by years end . Still reckon we will be in trouble without Mills early on , but him being out will be a blessing in disguise once we see what chad and Dylan will be by years end

[Ludwig]

We already have a good rotation of players between half forward and midfield, and only expect this to increase this year.

It may get to the point where it hardly pays to differentiate between half forward and midfield wingers.

Papley, Hayward, Wicks, Heeney, Stephens, Gulden and Campbell might be part of this broad rotation. JMac and Florent might also join the group,depending on whether they get more defensive roles to play.

I like the idea of increasing rotations in order to strip away man on man coverage on some of these players, promoting the possibilities of players finding themselves open without opposition players contesting the ball and space.

Implementing a mobile and flexible offense will be more important than the specific players we might assign to traditional roles. Our ability to successfully execute the game plan will be key to our performance this season. I'm less focused on individual players this year. I think the list as a whole is pretty good and should take us far if we work well as a team.

[Bangalore Swans]

They will , put your money on it . Stephens is perfect for this team , massive endurance athlete , hard runner , slicing left foot kick , burst out of congestion . Everything this team is building towards . & Chad is Chad , he is a jet and will be a star by years end . Still reckon we will be in trouble without Mills early on , but him being out will be a blessing in disguise once we see what chad and Dylan will be by years end

Love your prediction for Chad. It’s fair to say that your showing symptoms of Chadmania.

[Bloody Hell]

Who I would like to see as the best 22 for 2022 based on their current ability + considering their potential and talent:

B: Cunningham T McCartin Rampe
HB: Lloyd Reid Blakey
C: Stephens JPK T McInerney
HF: Gulden MacDonald Heeney
F: Wicks Franklin Papley

R: Hickey Parker Mills

INT: Ladhams Warner Rowbottom Campbell

People I wanted to include at the start, but their isn't enough spots: Gould, Hayward, O'Riordan, P McCartin.

Stephens just wasn't big enough to have a physical presence last year, but seems to have bulked up. Hopefully he can stick some tackles, otherwise he's first gone.

The interesting thing is if Naismith is fit (same as every year). Sinclair has gone from No.1 Ruck 2 years ago to 4th in line. Who goes in from Hickey, Naismith or Ladhams. Was Ladhams promised anything to get him here?