2023 List Management

[liz]

We need a ruckman over a key defender.

Would rather we win it out of the centre than lose it and have the ball keep going over the head of our brand new key defender.

I agree but with a qualification.

Not at centre bounces, where the 6-6-6 rule has an effect, but at around the ground stoppages, part of the reason we struggle sometimes to get clean takeaways or struggle to stop the opposition get clean takeaways is that very often our opponents choose to have an extra player around the stoppages. We have ours invariably in defence.

Is that a Longmire mindset thing? Will he always be inclined to do that regardless of defensive personnel? Or does it reflect his awareness that we are often height challenged in defence? Therefore, would the recruitment of a 200cm key defender (say B. McKay) give him the confidence to not put a spare in defence so often, and instead even up numbers around the contest?

My vibe (and it's not based on an analytical watching of games) is that we have the players to get first hands on the ball. We have the players to play on the outside and do (positive) damage with the ball. We've just struggled at that transition from first touch to the true outside. Evening up the numbers might be the most effective answer, and so a really tall defender might have more of an impact than a decent ruckman. Even a good ruckman only rarely taps truly to advantage at around the ground stoppages. They do have value at centre bounces and at forward 50 (or defensive 50) stoppages where you're trying to create a goal out of nothing or prevent conceding a goal out of nothing.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I’d be happy to let Sam Reid go by the way, as much as we love our flag heroes. We now have four good, potential options down forward - with high levels of confidence around two in McDonald and McLean.

I also thought to go and see how good McLean’s season was. I go on about him and have always liked him, but his shift from depth player at start of the year to firm first 22 has been exceptional. He will walk in the Most Improved at the B&F.

But to put it in perspective, check out the comparison between what he’s done this year, and what was (until the ending we never like to mention) Sam’s outstanding season last year. Raw numbers can be deceptive, but it’s validation of his leap forward.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=A&tid1=17&playerStatus2=A&tid2=17&type=A&pid1=6612&pid2=3381&fid1=S&fid2=P&fopt2=2022

[KSAS]

Reports emerging we're now leading Port in securing Brodie Grundy (not sure how they determine that - because we're now out of the finals?).

New leader in Brodie Grundy race as selection call looms: AFL trade news - AFL News - Zero Hanger

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2023-trade-news-whispers-player-movement-contract-latest-jack-silvagni-liam-henry-jed-walter/news-story/e10eb96c287d6e2b7ed22de7b7f316ab

[KSAS]

Ooops - My apologies for being Sandra Sully with the late news, as MattW had already posted the above earlier re Grundy.

Hoping we have the cap space to accomodate both Grundy & McKay (FA) without risking retaining our young guns in future, should they both nominate us (assuming Grundy's remaining 4 year contract will still be partly paid by Pies & Dees)? One of our 2nd rounders sufficient for Grundy? (IIRC Melb traded in Grundy with their 2nd rounder)?

Think $700k is more realistic for McKay than rumoured $800k, which we can front load for the first year as some have suggested.

Plus replace Dylan (rumoured going to North) with either James Jordan (Melb) or Hollands (GC) using same pick we get from North for Dylan (late 2nd rounder)?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

It really would make things much easier to follow if the AFL just merged the rookie and senior lists. There seems absolutely no point in the distinction nowadays apart from initial contract list length.

Are you sure? What of the Cat B rookies? Our club's made a decsion to utilise this facility exclusively to provide extra pathways for academy kids.

If Cat B didn't exist, isn't there a possibility that the club would go back to making a smaller investment in academy kids?

With some criticism surfacng a year or so ago that only the super elite talents are looked after, I think it might cause problems if the club started white anting its own academy program.

[Thunder Shaker]

We need a ruckman over a key defender.

Would rather we win it out of the centre than lose it and have the ball keep going over the head of our brand new key defender.

We need both, and we can get both.

Grundy's not going to cost much in draft picks. He was traded to Melbourne for pick 27. Pick 30 could get the deal done. McKay will only cost us salary cap space.

We could facilitate a trade of Stephens to North (assuming that's what he wants), we get McKay from North and Grundy from Melbourne, Melbourne gets the pick we get for Stephens, and maybe a swap of later draft picks in some direction. We end up with McKay and Grundy, North gets Stephens who gets more game time in the seniors, and we hold on to our draft picks largely intact.

[Markwebbos]

Here we go:

'The Sydney Swans are reportedly the frontrunners for Brodie Grundy’s services.'

AFL 2023: Trade news, whispers, player movement, contract, latest, Jack Silvagni, Liam Henry, Jed Walter

Barry already called it a couple of days ago and I’m happy to jump on this particular bandwagon.

[Captain]

Absolutely getting Grundy and McKay would be amazing. I’m all in on that happening!

[waswan]

Reid is just a low cost break glass option, they wont keep him on for the 22.

Id keep him for defensive talls depth, he could play down there.

[Roadrunner]

Absolutely getting Grundy and McKay would be amazing. I’m all in on that happening!

Get it done Swans- this is what we need to complete the team for winning a flag.????

[caj23]

Absolutely getting Grundy and McKay would be amazing. I’m all in on that happening!

This

If we can pull this offf we’re right in it in 24

[crackedactor 01]

Get it done Swans- this is what we need to complete the team for winning a flag.????

I see in the paper today, that the Swans are the forerunners for getting Grundy and not Port Adelaide.

[KSAS]

I agree but with a qualification.

Not at centre bounces, where the 6-6-6 rule has an effect, but at around the ground stoppages, part of the reason we struggle sometimes to get clean takeaways or struggle to stop the opposition get clean takeaways is that very often our opponents choose to have an extra player around the stoppages. We have ours invariably in defence.

Is that a Longmire mindset thing? Will he always be inclined to do that regardless of defensive personnel? Or does it reflect his awareness that we are often height challenged in defence? Therefore, would the recruitment of a 200cm key defender (say B. McKay) give him the confidence to not put a spare in defence so often, and instead even up numbers around the contest?

My vibe (and it's not based on an analytical watching of games) is that we have the players to get first hands on the ball. We have the players to play on the outside and do (positive) damage with the ball. We've just struggled at that transition from first touch to the true outside. Evening up the numbers might be the most effective answer, and so a really tall defender might have more of an impact than a decent ruckman. Even a good ruckman only rarely taps truly to advantage at around the ground stoppages. They do have value at centre bounces and at forward 50 (or defensive 50) stoppages where you're trying to create a goal out of nothing or prevent conceding a goal out of nothing.

Very astute observation. On Friday night pre game, Gary Lyon when looking at our midfield consisting of Parker, Warner, Mills, Rowbottom & Gulden (with Papley & Heeney having stints) was somewhat flabbergasted how we could so poor with our clearances/stoppages this season. I haven't heard any of the "footy experts" even attempt to explain why this is the case.

[barry]

Well in the last few minutes against Carlton when we absolutely needed to win a clearance, mills was wrestling and standing behind Cripps at the centre bounce. No way he was going to get the ball.
Our centre square setup is too defensive

[The Big Cat]

Kane Cornes saying his sources in Adelaide are telling him Grundy has agreed to terms with Swans.