Round 8 pre-match thread - v Suns 1:45 PM Saturday @ SCG

[Rod_]

Yes, losing Hewett is a significant loss - but one we chose and clearly decided we could cover. Perhaps we made the decision when we thought we would retain Dawson and by the time we learned Dawson would leave, George was already committed to Carlton. Dawson's loss is significant. His experience and more seasoned body would have been invaluable to us this year. Anyway, that's the past. We have covered Dawson's kicking with so many excellent kicks in the team, and we have brought in the likes of Sheldrick, Roberts and Sheather who can hopefully play that hard-man role in the future. But it's not a solution for this season. We just have to do the best we can with JPK, RB etc.

Agree last week we missed having a serious run with player, to restrict Neale's influence. But that is not the way we have designed our future. Unless we groom another shutdown / negating type player, we are tempo and attack team for the next few years.

[Aprilbr]

I've watched George a fair bit for Carlton this season and his role is a little different there to when he was with us. He played mainly as a defensive mid with us often running with the better mids from other teams and doing a lot of bullocking work at stoppages. With Carlton he is playing a more offensive role in the mids and this helps explain his huge jump in possession numbers. He is generally considered one of the recruits of the season in Melbourne.

[Goal Sneak]

Kennedy - the best is behind him
Rowbottom - the best is in front of him
Hewett - the best is now

Interesting list management decisions that suggest that maybe the Swans see our best chance as being in 2023 or 2024? I would think that the $$$ played a decent part in the decision too. Hewett is reportedly on $450k+. Rowbottom would be half of that. The different moving parts of list management must make it so hard to time everything beautifully.

No doubt maintaining a list would be more than challenging. Even with all the stats and KPI's, you can never be certain when a young kid is going to breakthrough or when a champion is going to hit a wall. Not to mention serious injuries that occur and getting blindsided by "go home" circumstances etc. The Swans have done remarkably well for so long we (as fans) may tend to expect a consistency that is not always realistic.
I tend to agree with bloodspirit that Dawson most likely threw a cat among the pigeons to a certain extent which may have changed our plans with George. I agree we just have to make the best out of the JPK + RB

[Ludwig]

I think that I try to approach these things in terms of balance and structure, rather than individuals.

I like this approach as well, although I don't agree with all your conclusions, which is understandable, especially when selection decisions are such close calls.

I think RB is doing very well. He has a really solid game and doesn't make many mistakes. I pointed out the he is statistically doing better than Florent and Hewett at the same age. Just looking at his game, I feel that RB is a more balanced and dependable player than the other two. Part of the problem with the critique is that we have an exceptional group of young midfielders, and by comparison, RB doesn't stack up so well. When you have Warner, Gulden and JMac in a similar age group, a player of the Florent and Hewett level drops to the bottom of the heap, but it doesn't mean that player isn't good, or important for the team structure. A good team is not composed of 22 superstars. Good role players are very important as well.

As much as I would love to see us win a premiership this year, it's unrealistic to think that we are in the same class as Melbourne and Brisbane. I would like to see us do well against the next level teams, like Freo and STK. I haven't been all that happy the way we are going this year and hope we can gel better as a team as the season progresses. We have the talent, but we still need to be more consistent and better at effectuating our game plan. Not that 2023-2024 is going to be easy, but it's a more realistic time frame for us to be in a premiership window. Because of this, I tend to lean towards player development rather than playing aging stars who probably won't be around for our next premiership.

[TheBloods]

Gee there are going to be some disappointed people on here in a few yrs

[Faunac8]

Gee there are going to be some disappointed people on here in a few yrs

To quote something you posted yesterday
Why are you starting ?

[Ludwig]

Gee there are going to be some disappointed people on here in a few yrs

Disappointment is the quintessence of football.

[TheBloods]

Disappointment is the quintessence of football.

You can save yourself plenty by accepting hard truths and then moving on . Its not hard to say this player isnt the player i hoped or expected he 'd be. Shouldnt be such a big deal and shouldnt be personal, its the way sport goes , some make it, others dont.

I said it about Bell who i had belief in but ive now accepted isn 't all that . Its a shame as Micky O himself vouched for Bell and little known fact the champion himself Goodsey came into the club 1 day a week in Bell 's 1st year to mentor him . But it is what it is

[Ludwig]

You can save yourself plenty by accepting hard truths and then moving on . Its not hard to say this player isnt the player i hoped or expected he 'd be. Shouldnt be such a big deal and shouldnt be personal, its the way sport goes , some make it, others dont.

I said it about Bell who i had belief in but ive now accepted isn 't all that . Its a shame as Micky O himself vouched for Bell and little known fact the champion himself Goodsey came into the club 1 day a week in Bell 's 1st year to mentor him . But it is what it is

Thanks for your concern, but no need to worry about me. I don't need salvation. I'm not the one who has invested my identity in predictions about players. I have my playful Ludwig's Future Stars, but it doesn't bother me if I make a wrong call, like I did with Abe Davis. Now it's just a lingering joke. I know how to move on.

It's sad that you believe it really matters to me and most RWOers if we are hopeful about a player who might not come through in the end. We feel bad for the Swans, because we are all hoping for team success. We want every draft pick to be a star, be we are realistic in the knowledge that most recruits don't quite make the grade.

[Roadrunner]

You can save yourself plenty by accepting hard truths and then moving on . Its not hard to say this player isnt the player i hoped or expected he 'd be. Shouldnt be such a big deal and shouldnt be personal, its the way sport goes , some make it, others dont.

I said it about Bell who i had belief in but ive now accepted isn 't all that . Its a shame as Micky O himself vouched for Bell and little known fact the champion himself Goodsey came into the club 1 day a week in Bell 's 1st year to mentor him . But it is what it is

Ok- let’s hear your midfield for this week TB. And while you’re at it, you may as well have a go at the whole team!????

[Bangalore Swans]

You can save yourself plenty by accepting hard truths and then moving on . Its not hard to say this player isnt the player i hoped or expected he 'd be. Shouldnt be such a big deal and shouldnt be personal, its the way sport goes , some make it, others dont.

I said it about Bell who i had belief in but ive now accepted isn 't all that . Its a shame as Micky O himself vouched for Bell and little known fact the champion himself Goodsey came into the club 1 day a week in Bell 's 1st year to mentor him . But it is what it is

TB, you have some wonderful insider knowledge. You mentioned J-Mac’s new contract before the press release went out and you knew that Goodes was mentoring Bell.

I’m starting to believe that you are possibly a former Swans / South Melbourne player or that you have a relative working at the Swans.

I doubt through that you’ll give anything away.

[TheBloods]

Thanks for your concern, but no need to worry about me. I don't need salvation. I'm not the one who has invested my identity in predictions about players. I have my playful Ludwig's Future Stars, but it doesn't bother me if I make a wrong call, like I did with Abe Davis. Now it's just a lingering joke. I know how to move on.

It's sad that you believe it really matters to me and most RWOers if we are hopeful about a player who might not come through in the end. We feel bad for the Swans, because we are all hoping for team success. We want every draft pick to be a star, be we are realistic in the knowledge that most recruits don't quite make the grade.

I never said it matters to you , just that you will be disappointed in the future. But fair dinkum none of it matters in the big picture . Players come and go , the club is always there and think we all just want to find the 22 swans who will get us the flag .

[rojo]

A couple of thoughts on our backline. I would agree with a few posts that Ramps and Lloyd don't seem to be playing at their best at the moment. They are doing okay but we are accustomed to seeing them as the solid rocks or glue or whatever. Dawson is gone and players like Fox and even Melican and before that Mills have been part of their set up. Now it is Blakey, Campbell and PMac, not forgetting TMac, which creates quite a different dynamic. Adapting to each other's strengths is a work in progress and could explain some of the unfilled 'holes' and two or three going for the same ball as well as the cramping of Ramp's and Lloyd's usual 'space'?

[giant]

I’m surprised that there is no support for my idea for Rampe to have a managed week off. He is horribly out of touch and something needs to be done to assist him in finding form.

We're all waiting for TB to suggest it, then we'll jump on board.

[The Big Cat]

In Logan, Paddy
Out Sam, Harry, James B