Swans season 2022 - Bring it on! (List, hopes, dreams)

[RogueSwan]

List - remain injury free
Hopes - Hayward becomes a regular 2 goal/game forward with a few of 5 goal games thrown in too.
Dreams - well, that's obvious isn't it?

[i'm-uninformed2]

Thanks Neon - a very good piece, and very insightful.

It also points to where I think we can make major gains: in 2020, as a very young side, injuries helped cook us; but in 2021, we had a reasonable run with them till the end of the season.

In 2022, we're going to have richer depth, and blokes pushing each other for spots if they step up.

Up forward, won't it be nice to see how we squeeze in Ladhams and McDonald and even McLean and Amartey at their best in besides Buddy. You want Wicks to keep getting even better, but it'll be good to Sheather on his tail perhaps. And if Hickey goes down, it's good to know we have Ladhams as a strong back up.

In the mids, you want more from Ollie and having Stephens and Rowbottom and others improve, and Heeney and JMac rolling in, is the best way to make or break him.

You want Gould and Melican putting the pressure on for spots in defence, against the likes of a Fox. And if (and still think it's only an if) Paddy and Reid can make a fist of it as a defender, that's better again.

Anyway, you can name a lot of names (where, across the field, does Campbell start the season?) but you get the point.

[bloodspirit]

As others have said: great, thoughtful post NeonBible! Thanks for making and sharing your effort.

[Roadrunner]

Thanks Neon - a very good piece, and very insightful.

It also points to where I think we can make major gains: in 2020, as a very young side, injuries helped cook us; but in 2021, we had a reasonable run with them till the end of the season.

In 2022, we're going to have richer depth, and blokes pushing each other for spots if they step up.

Up forward, won't it be nice to see how we squeeze in Ladhams and McDonald and even McLean and Amartey at their best in besides Buddy. You want Wicks to keep getting even better, but it'll be good to Sheather on his tail perhaps. And if Hickey goes down, it's good to know we have Ladhams as a strong back up.

In the mids, you want more from Ollie and having Stephens and Rowbottom and others improve, and Heeney and JMac rolling in, is the best way to make or break him.

You want Gould and Melican putting the pressure on for spots in defence, against the likes of a Fox. And if (and still think it's only an if) Paddy and Reid can make a fist of it as a defender, that's better again.

Anyway, you can name a lot of names (where, across the field, does Campbell start the season?) but you get the point.

Two excellent posts- thank you! Please keep our injuries to a minimum and never serious. I’m confident there will be improvements all round and we will be a genuine title threat in 2022.

[Scottee]

Thanks Neon, appreciate your thoughts.

[Goal Sneak]

Great dedication going back to watch 2020 NB!

Excellent analysis, I agree that Florent is primed to go to another level. If he can utilise his experience and find that extra little bit of composure, he could play a very valuable part in our plans. I'd be happy for him to see some more time on the ball, at stages, to see how he goes.

Let's hope Melican can put a full season of solid football into his repertoire. I'd like to see what he could do when putting consistent games together. Agility is definitely not his strong suit, he needs to play on the slowest opponent where possible.

Very interesting to see how James' stats hold up when accounting for the shortened quarters (even if for a short period of 6 games). My memories at the end of 2020 held him in high regard, intriguing to see how his 2022 plays out. If he's not in the best 22 then we are doing very well indeed.

Plenty to be excited about!

[Auntie.Gerald]

I have also been thinking about the weak points ie the players you cant easily function with out. The players when missing for significant parts of the season allow the opposition to break you down more easily.

Lloyd - not playing would be a serious challenge ie we would miss his massively high involvement in our exits and transitions. The guy is effortless and dependable for our players to runs lines and move into space.

Rampe - just a critical player for an assault on a top4 in 2022

Bud - what a difference when he is up and about. 2021 and donking 51 goals from 17 games...........priceless and turns games when they matter most !.....nothing like averaging 3 goals a game and stretching opposition tactics

[i'm-uninformed2]

I have also been thinking about the weak points ie the players you cant easily function with out. The players when missing for significant parts of the season allow the opposition to break you down more easily.

Lloyd - not playing would be a serious challenge ie we would miss his massively high involvement in our exits and transitions. The guy is effortless and dependable for our players to runs lines and move into space.

Rampe - just a critical player for an assault on a top4 in 2022

Bud - what a difference when he is up and about. 2021 and donking 51 goals from 17 games...........priceless and turns games when they matter most !.....nothing like averaging 3 goals a game and stretching opposition tactics

I'd definitely put Tom McCartin in the 'can't do without' as much as any player, simply because of the lack of a clearly viable alternative.

Others may be indispensable in their own way, so no knock on anyone mentioned above. But we really don't have another high class, true tall defender - full stop. Ramps has been remarkable, and may well be for another couple of seasons, but he needs a companion down back. Others 'may' step up, but right now, there is no sure bet.

[The Runner]

I have also been thinking about the weak points ie the players you cant easily function with out. The players when missing for significant parts of the season allow the opposition to break you down more easily.

Lloyd - not playing would be a serious challenge ie we would miss his massively high involvement in our exits and transitions. The guy is effortless and dependable for our players to runs lines and move into space.

Rampe - just a critical player for an assault on a top4 in 2022

Bud - what a difference when he is up and about. 2021 and donking 51 goals from 17 games...........priceless and turns games when they matter most !.....nothing like averaging 3 goals a game and stretching opposition tactics

Disagree on Lloyd. His kicking lacks penetration and is not really damaging. Isn't it weird to see a guy who averages close to 30 touches a game never tagged?

[TheBloods]

Disagree on Lloyd. His kicking lacks penetration and is not really damaging. Isn't it weird to see a guy who averages close to 30 touches a game never tagged?

He was tagged in the elim final champ

[Auntie.Gerald]

Score involvements is a fascinating area also to review because the swans had 3 "rising stars" in the "rising star" top 20 in 2021

Gulden 4th most at 89 from only 18 games

Justin McInerny 6th at 87 from 21 games

THE CHAD 15th at 64 from 13 games

Both Chad and Errol sitting at 5 score involvements per game vs say Dustin Martin 6.6 Score involvements per game from 2010 to 2016 then Dusty breaking out to 7.8 per game from 2017 to 2021

Ps the only player higher per game than Dustin is.....drum roll.....Lance Franklin at 8.4 between 2017 to 2021 which is another reason we value Bud so highly

Pss can not wait to see Errols 2022 the kid is a serious post up player. You just want to get the footy in his hands because he maximises opportunity just as the stat's show.

[Auntie.Gerald]

One last interesting fact

Harry Schoenberg at 20yrs of age (Draft pick 24 for Adelaide Crows) was no2 for score involvements in the "rising star" category.

Harry at 180cm and 78kg reminds me alot in his draft year to our young Angus 179cm and 88kg......gutsy players that battle the inside mid work..... who will lean down but have a body that can combat AFL in their first and second year very well......like Parks etc

I suspect Angus will bring also his insatiable desire to get his hands on the footy and be involved in scoring opportunities die to his quick movement out of the pack.

[i'm-uninformed2]

One last interesting fact

Harry Schoenberg at 20yrs of age (Draft pick 24 for Adelaide Crows) was no2 for score involvements in the "rising star" category.

Harry at 180cm and 78kg reminds me alot in his draft year to our young Angus 179cm and 88kg......gutsy players that battle the inside mid work..... who will lean down but have a body that can combat AFL in their first and second year very well......like Parks etc

I suspect Angus will bring also his insatiable desire to get his hands on the footy and be involved in scoring opportunities die to his quick movement out of the pack.

Yep. And made that comparison on here when we drafted him. Some people are just pure footballers and Schoenberg is one, despite looking like a short, stocky, unathletic type. If Angus tracks on the same trajectory, we’ll have a good one on our hands.

[Rod_]

While 2021 met and exceeded my expectations, a top 4 and successful finals series is my 22 hopes!

Go well Swans

Cheers

[Maltopia]

I’d like to see Reid give us a good final year with any games missed due to outstanding form of Almartey etc, instead of injury.