2023 List Management

[BRS328]

Agree with you on Reid and Melican with one proviso. Both would need to commit to a strenuous fitness test at the season end.
Melican surprised many in his 7 senior games, and showed he could handle the big key forwards. We may get a better indication if he can play the last few games this year.
Reid at his best is an automatic choice however we know how fragile he is.

Not sure I agree with you on switching a key forward to defender. They are simply too hard to find, and the only two with the agility and speed would be McDonald and Armartey, and we need them up forward.

It is worth noting that many good key defenders are failed forwards, eg Heath Grundy, Liam Jones etc. so there may be some at other clubs we could look at

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I dunno, I'm getting more confident that we can get 3 very good key forward + relieving ruck unit out of Logan, Amarty, McLean, Mensa and Buller.

And I cannot see how we recruit another ruck without shedding one of the four that we currently have on our books. So I don't think getting a ruckman is a priority at all - and yes, in this I am agreeing with Ludwig. Perhaps it's a leap year?

The deep need for a key defender has been with us for a long time. Even during the Paddy resurrection, it was still clear we were too short in defence. Barass will help with that, and he is a very capable intercept marker - which is what we will lose with the assumed departure of Paddy.

Skilton won his first Brownlow aged 20

Another notable contribution from you BF - I shall edit my original post and change "20" to "the year he turned 21"

[i'm-uninformed2]

I wouldn't be too confident in a plan that included a 32 yo injury prone ruckman, a key defender one head knock away from retirement and a great forward on his last legs.

It's poor planning if the plan is to recruit a specific player more than a year out. It was poor planning to let Aliir go with an injury prone defensive unit. We tried to compensate for this by the recruitment of Francis and drafting Arnold. I wouldn't call these great solutions.

My biggest concern is Tom McCartin, who I rate as an excellent defender. That he might also be one head knock away from retirement is a real worry. I hope Rampe can hang in there another 2 years, but he too is starting to rack up injuries common to players in his age group.

We will get to see a GWS team that did a great job in planning for the loss of a load of defenders to injury and recruitment by other clubs. They didn't wait until Phil Davis was on his last legs.

I tend to agree with the elements here re our KPD stocks. I think I posted in 2021 our most important player was Tom Mc - simply because we had no real alternative.

I think our forward stocks are sound, our ruck stocks ok - though I hope Caleb May has the potential suggested by his championships performances and we get him as a rookie, but we do need to restock our tall defender fleet.

We’re in an era of 200cm forwards. Tom Mc is excellent, Melican is good but injury prone, Edwards is improving but still has a way to go, and Ramps is only two years away from retirement. We probably recruited Gould as a replacement for Rampe, but he’s an unathletic slug. Francis is no more than depth. For all the debate on here re JVR re Sheldrick, I reckon our biggest deficiency is the lack of effort placed in the value of a good defender.

If I had a departure from Ludwig, it’s re Aliir. He’s best played as a third, intercepting tall and he does it fantastically. But he’s not a true KPD, and the best sides have worked him out given Port’s soft spot is down back. On balance, I’d rather still have him. But we’d still need something else.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I wonder whether we drafted Gould as a replacement for Rampe. If so it was a misapprehension.
He's been used as a key defender in the 2nd's - but while Rampe plays tall, Gould plays short.
If I was pressed for a comparison for Gould, I'm thinking Brad Seymour.

[Nico]

I don’t think key forward is an issue. Last year the McCartin brothers were a formidable duo in defence, but we all knew Paddy was walking on eggshells. I reckon one good defender is the missing piece, whilst given our current ruck situation that might just sort itself out. The club’s been very good in targeting needs in the past. I’d be very surprised if they didn’t have a plan in mind.


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Yeh, but not just going for a lesser light who MIGHT fit the bill. I have seen us over the years recruit someone with the aim of making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It goes back decades and I don't want us to go back to being a mediocre side that occasionally provides an upset and gives us false hopes.

[Markwebbos]

I really hope there’s some truth to the Barass rumours, even if it costs us a first round draft pick

[KSAS]

Sam Flanders anyone? Is out of contract this year & has produced elite numbers in the past 6 weeks, in what appears to be breakout games. Funny how common this is with players coming out of contact!

Has produced good contested ball numbers. Is he the contested ball winning type midfielder we require? We'll get close look at him when we play Gold Coast the following week. Drafted same year as Dylan Stevens, taken at pick 11. Both wear No. 3.

'It's not rocket science': Confidence, trust leads to Gold Coast Sun Sam Flanders' rise

[Markwebbos]

Sam Flanders anyone? Is out of contract this year & has produced elite numbers in the past 6 weeks, in what appears to be breakout games. Funny how common this is with players coming out of contact!

Has produced good contested ball numbers. Is he the contested ball winning type midfielder we require? We'll get close look at him when we play Gold Coast the following week. Drafted same year as Dylan Stevens, taken at pick 11. Both wear No. 3.

'It's not rocket science': Confidence, trust leads to Gold Coast Sun Sam Flanders' rise

I did float the Son Of Ned earlier. Wasn’t that well received. I think he’d be a good get at the right price

[KSAS]

Sorry I missed your earlier post on Flanders MW.

We currently have picks 9, 22, 28, 41 & 47. The following link is useful with the draft ordering on a weekly basis:
AFL Draft Order 2023 - Zero Hanger

A lot can change with these before the trade/draft period, but wondering what we can manufacture with these in getting Barass (who is a given imo), a ruckman and possibly a midfield bull, whilst maintaining a hand in the draft?

[KTigers]

What is Stephens' contractual situation? is he still contracted for next season?

[neilfws]

What is Stephens' contractual situation? is he still contracted for next season?

Not sure if this is up to date (Footywire is usually reliable) but here's a contract list:

Sydney Swans Player Contracts

[Auntie.Gerald]

15 players in our squad have their contract end in 2023

bit to work with

[i'm-uninformed2]

Cleary is one of 60 to get an invite to the main draft combine; Cabor a state based one. No look in for May.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/993132/vic-metro-leads-the-way-as-draft-combine-list-announced

[Markwebbos]

Not sure if this is up to date (Footywire is usually reliable) but here's a contract list:

Sydney Swans Player Contracts

Thank you Neil

Surely they offer Melican and McLean new deals? Don’t see the two SA boys Gould and Stephens on our list next year.

[Scottee]

Cleary is one of 60 to get an invite to the main draft combine; Cabor a state based one. No look in for May.

Vic Metro leads the way as Draft Combine list announced

I would be stunned of Max Rider was not invited to the State combine and surprised if May wasn't invited.

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