Pre-season begins

[dejavoodoo44]

At the beginning of the video there is a tall slim looking kid wearing the number 61. Does anyone know who he is?

Max Geddes, I think. Academy kid who played some VFL last year. Probably a bit like Riley Stoddardt: a half back flanker with pace and ball skills, but may not fill out enough, to be considered a top AFL prospect.

[dejavoodoo44]

And I did enjoy reading the extended post by Wolftone, above. Generally agree with it all, but I'll just add a few things.

With the tall forwards, I'll be interested to see who out of group of Ladhams, McLean and Amartey, firmly establishes themselves in the team. While I see the point in signing Ladhams as a long term replacement for Hickey, I'm not entirely convinced of the need to play two rucks at once. I think our major strength last year, was running sides off their feet, with fast and skilful ball movement. So perhaps Amartey might be a better option? Especially if we're playing McDonald next to Buddy, which I would like to see.

In regards to mids, I think we've now got such a deep rotation of speed, skill and toughness, that I'm very confident that we'll give a beating to most opposition midfields.

Key position defenders may be a little problematic, but I'm still pretty confident. All I think really needs to happen, is for the group of McCartin, McCartin, Melican, Gould, O'Connor and Reid, to provide two reliable KPDs each match. Unless we get shafted by injuries, that seems perfectly achievable. That would also free up Rampe, to take medium sized forwards, and perhaps become the ideal replacement for the guy who went to Adelaide (Jeremy? Joshua? Something like that), perhaps he's not as good as kicking long, but he has an excellent short pass, is faster and plays on more instinctively. So, that could be fun to watch.

[Scottee]

Max Geddes, I think. Academy kid who played some VFL last year. Probably a bit like Riley Stoddardt: a half back flanker with pace and ball skills, but may not fill out enough, to be considered a top AFL prospect.

Thanks dejavoodoo44 [emoji3]

Sent from my SM-T865 using Tapatalk

[giant]

Logan McDonald: I've got unfinished business - YouTube

Macca has really slimmed down.

Logan's face looks like all the puppy fat of teenage years has fallen off.

Can wait to watch his opportunities this year. To have Bud running around taking on of the key defenders tends to allow an emerging player like Logan to find some one on one's and sneaky goals.

Looked great didn't he? And last year's uncertainty seems to have been replaced with a real air of confidence.

[wolftone57]

Looked great didn't he? And last year's uncertainty seems to have been replaced with a real air of confidence.

Hang around Errol long enough and the confidence rubs off lol

Sent from my JAT-L29 using Tapatalk

[Roadrunner]

And I did enjoy reading the extended post by Wolftone, above. Generally agree with it all, but I'll just add a few things.

With the tall forwards, I'll be interested to see who out of group of Ladhams, McLean and Amartey, firmly establishes themselves in the team. While I see the point in signing Ladhams as a long term replacement for Hickey, I'm not entirely convinced of the need to play two rucks at once. I think our major strength last year, was running sides off their feet, with fast and skilful ball movement. So perhaps Amartey might be a better option? Especially if we're playing McDonald next to Buddy, which I would like to see.

In regards to mids, I think we've now got such a deep rotation of speed, skill and toughness, that I'm very confident that we'll give a beating to most opposition midfields.

Key position defenders may be a little problematic, but I'm still pretty confident. All I think really needs to happen, is for the group of McCartin, McCartin, Melican, Gould, O'Connor and Reid, to provide two reliable KPDs each match. Unless we get shafted by injuries, that seems perfectly achievable. That would also free up Rampe, to take medium sized forwards, and perhaps become the ideal replacement for the guy who went to Adelaide (Jeremy? Joshua? Something like that), perhaps he's not as good as kicking long, but he has an excellent short pass, is faster and plays on more instinctively. So, that could be fun to watch.

Great posts Deja and Wolf.
McLean has shown a bit up front, but I’ve been thinking he may be worth trying down back, like we have with Tom. Not sure what’s happening with Paddy- why haven’t we had an announcement yet?

[Auntie.Gerald]

Giant

totally agree

mate to be honest I really didnt think we would change our game in attack as much as we did in 2021........ which suited our very sharp kickers ie Gulden, Campbell, Dawso, JMac etc

we have changed our style of attack to really suiting our squad and it just looks like a perfect adjustment to helping our squad be much more dangerous week in week out.

We have some lethal players by foot and the rapid development of Warner, JMac, Errol, BJ, Wicks has been absolutely above my expectation

Under pressure this attack also worked against the best teams in the comp

The utility of McLean and Amartey was such a bonus in the absence of reid not firing and McDonald only 1st year as a KPP

The addition of Hickey was such a game changer

Mills into the midfield

The rise and rise of Tommy Mac

Yes..........there is a lot to get excited about for 2022......and teh depth of our squad looks like we may be able to negate the impacts of covid19 better than most teams

[bloodspirit]

Ladhams is the unknown here. He had a tendency to take some big grabs at Port but was seen as a bit of a disadvantage to the team when the ball hit the turf. I think with agility training at the Swans he can improve agility 10 fold. Hickey sure did.

Melican has had a horror couple of years. He was not drafted to be a KPP. He was drafted as a tall flanker, 3rd tall defender. But he has had to alter his game to play on the likes of Hawkins. This is definitely not natural for Lewis. His game is third tall, get loose, intercept, run the ball out of defence.

And I did enjoy reading the extended post by Wolftone, above. Generally agree with it all, but I'll just add a few things.

With the tall forwards, I'll be interested to see who out of group of Ladhams, McLean and Amartey, firmly establishes themselves in the team. While I see the point in signing Ladhams as a long term replacement for Hickey, I'm not entirely convinced of the need to play two rucks at once. I think our major strength last year, was running sides off their feet, with fast and skilful ball movement. So perhaps Amartey might be a better option? Especially if we're playing McDonald next to Buddy, which I would like to see.

In regards to mids, I think we've now got such a deep rotation of speed, skill and toughness, that I'm very confident that we'll give a beating to most opposition midfields.

Key position defenders may be a little problematic, but I'm still pretty confident. All I think really needs to happen, is for the group of McCartin, McCartin, Melican, Gould, O'Connor and Reid, to provide two reliable KPDs each match. Unless we get shafted by injuries, that seems perfectly achievable. That would also free up Rampe, to take medium sized forwards, and perhaps become the ideal replacement for the guy who went to Adelaide (Jeremy? Joshua? Something like that), perhaps he's not as good as kicking long, but he has an excellent short pass, is faster and plays on more instinctively. So, that could be fun to watch.

Great posts, wolfie and deja.

Don't quite agree with a couple of your player assessments though wolf:

* From the reports I have read from Port Adelaide fans Ladhams' greatest weakness is his marking ability. By contrast his agility is good, especially for a man of his size.

* I don't agree Melican is not a KPP and that he is instead more suited to an intercepting and rebounding role.

Deja, I like your comments about forwards and backs - except that you can lock in T. McCartin and then we just need one of the others to fill the second KPP role. I don't know whether Gould could be this guy or not - quite apart from the question of whether he'll make it at all there is the question of whether he is best suited to locking down on a KPF. Clearly his rebound is one of his great strengths - more often seen in the 3rd tall defender but not sure whether he is a strong enough interceptor to do that role. Interesting to see how that unfolds.

As regards the mids I agree we have the speed and skill are improving but the coaches have identified the need to improve our contested ball winning as the key to improvement. Obviously the football department is looking to do this through both recruiting (Sheldrick, Roberts) and coaching. Hopefully the coaching and the maturation of the young mids (Warner, Stephens, Campbell etc) will help in this regard because I would expect there to be a bit of a time lag with the new recruits being ready to strengthen our ball winning as promising as they may be.

[707]

Ladhams was known to have concrete hands at Port, has untapped ruck potential (like Hickey did), and has good agility for a bloke his size.

Whilst there's no guarantees in this game, I doubt we recruited him to play in the Two's. Think we'll use both Hickey and Ladhams in the ruck with Ladhams also doing a bit forward.

Under the tutoring of Cox, Hickey was a revelation so fingers crossed Cox can work that magic twice :-)

[Aprilbr]

Ladhams was known to have concrete hands at Port, has untapped ruck potential (like Hickey did), and has good agility for a bloke his size.

Whilst there's no guarantees in this game, I doubt we recruited him to play in the Two's. Think we'll use both Hickey and Ladhams in the ruck with Ladhams also doing a bit forward.

Under the tutoring of Cox, Hickey was a revelation so fingers crossed Cox can work that magic twice :-)

I agree with this assessment on the likely use of Ladhams.

Someone above mentioned McLean possibly going back. I don't think he has the agility and speed to be a key back. The opposition woukd just try to play a more mobile player on him and he would likely be exposed.

[wolftone57]

Great posts, wolfie and deja.

Don't quite agree with a couple of your player assessments though wolf:

* From the reports I have read from Port Adelaide fans Ladhams' greatest weakness is his marking ability. By contrast his agility is good, especially for a man of his size.

* I don't agree Melican is not a KPP and that he is instead more suited to an intercepting and rebounding role.

Deja, I like your comments about forwards and backs - except that you can lock in T. McCartin and then we just need one of the others to fill the second KPP role. I don't know whether Gould could be this guy or not - quite apart from the question of whether he'll make it at all there is the question of whether he is best suited to locking down on a KPF. Clearly his rebound is one of his great strengths - more often seen in the 3rd tall defender but not sure whether he is a strong enough interceptor to do that role. Interesting to see how that unfolds.

As regards the mids I agree we have the speed and skill are improving but the coaches have identified the need to improve our contested ball winning as the key to improvement. Obviously the football department is looking to do this through both recruiting (Sheldrick, Roberts) and coaching. Hopefully the coaching and the maturation of the young mids (Warner, Stephens, Campbell etc) will help in this regard because I would expect there to be a bit of a time lag with the new recruits being ready to strengthen our ball winning as promising as they may be.

My point on Lewis was what he was recruited to do rather than what he is now. He was never recruited as CHB or Fullback. He was recruited as the third tall. But over time due to necessity he has evolved as a key back.

My brother thought Ladhams had several problems at ground level. He is a big Port fan. He took big marks but dropped the easier ones. A bit like Reid.

Sent from my JAT-L29 using Tapatalk

[Auntie.Gerald]

BS .....i agree that there will be a need to get into the top4 re contested ball as the stats dont lie for the top4 in 2021

Horse himself articulated at training recently that this was a key focus.

But I dont think we are far off.........from memory we were only just out of the top 4 for this stat and marginal?

We played a style that created a lot of one on ones or one on nones ie shorter sharp low kicks to a man open and leading.................

The positive of this style is we have the ball for a high percentage vs the opposition and the opposition doesnt. ie we have control.

The downside of this style of play is that you are one on one and will be vulnerable to turnovers and not winning the contest if it falls to the ground as you are fully committed to the mark in front of your defender and are easily pushed past the ball.

so for me it is a small percentage change but a critical one for us to be in the top4 vs say goal percentage being higher vs missing

[bloodspirit]

BS .....i agree that there will be a need to get into the top4 re contested ball as the stats dont lie for the top4 in 2021

Horse himself articulated at training recently that this was a key focus.

But I dont think we are far off.........from memory we were only just out of the top 4 for this stat and marginal?

We played a style that created a lot of one on ones or one on nones ie shorter sharp low kicks to a man open and leading.................

The positive of this style is we have the ball for a high percentage vs the opposition and the opposition doesnt. ie we have control.

The downside of this style of play is that you are one on one and will be vulnerable to turnovers and not winning the contest if it falls to the ground as you are fully committed to the mark in front of your defender and are easily pushed past the ball.

so for me it is a small percentage change but a critical one for us to be in the top4 vs say goal percentage being higher vs missing

Yes, I agree. Will be awesome if we can jump into the top 4 this year. From there... anything is possible!

[dejavoodoo44]

BS .....i agree that there will be a need to get into the top4 re contested ball as the stats dont lie for the top4 in 2021

Horse himself articulated at training recently that this was a key focus.

But I dont think we are far off.........from memory we were only just out of the top 4 for this stat and marginal?

We played a style that created a lot of one on ones or one on nones ie shorter sharp low kicks to a man open and leading.................

The positive of this style is we have the ball for a high percentage vs the opposition and the opposition doesnt. ie we have control.

The downside of this style of play is that you are one on one and will be vulnerable to turnovers and not winning the contest if it falls to the ground as you are fully committed to the mark in front of your defender and are easily pushed past the ball.

so for me it is a small percentage change but a critical one for us to be in the top4 vs say goal percentage being higher vs missing

Interesting point and I'm curious as to how the top four was measured: was it by the percentage of contests won, or was it the raw amount of contests won? I tend to think that percentage would be a more useful stat, since the raw number could be giving a positive interpretation to ineffective play. For instance, in one sequence: a kick goes to a contest; the contest is won but a scrubbed kick under pressure goes out of bounds; the team then takes possession from the ruck but handballs to the opposition, who then spot up a player in the forward 50; that player then goals. In another sequence: the kick in finds an unmarked half back; they take off and once in the clear, kicks long to a winger: the winger takes an uncontested mark; then because the opposition haven't had time to set their defence, the winger hits a leading forward; the forward then goals. Obviously the second sequence is better play, but there were no contested possessions. While the error ridden first sequence generated two contested possession wins.

[Auntie.Gerald]

AFL Daily Podcast - AFL.com.au

Swans and bombers trade review today

- - - Updated - - -

https://omny.fm/shows/afl-daily/afl-daily-20-01-22 swans