2024 Pre Season

[dejavoodoo44]

Fox show First Crack last night did two hours looking at every teams prospects for this season, left me in No Man's Land somewhat, but here's what King and Montagna said about the Swans

Montagna: “For me, the toughest team to assess to try and work out where to put is Sydney. They were 2-8 against top-eight teams last year, they’ve got some young talent, we know about that, Gulden and Chad Warner and Nick Blakey’s an absolute star … For me, it’s going to rest on their four All-Australians. (Heeney, Papley, Grundy, Rampe?)

King: “They’ve been given the best list free kick of all time with Brodie Grundy. At 29 years of age, low kilometres on the clock, he’s a dual All-Australian, dual best-and-fairest … I can see them really bouncing, really bouncing. They get three or four players that they’re going to play – Brodie’s definitely going to play and James Jordon is chronically underrated, I think he’ll play a lot of minutes in this midfield … I’m excited about where they can go.”

We of course know our 2023 season was severely hampered by injuries to talls, hopefully 2024 is kinder to us.

Somebody must have fed the wrong info to Montagna, if he's claiming that we only have four All-Australians. We actually have eight: Adams, Grundy, Gulden, Heeney, Mills, Papley, Parker and Rampe. Although, Mills and Parker are both likely to miss a fair chunk of the season. We also have three players who made the extended squad and were perhaps a bit unlucky not to have been in the final team, in Blakey, Lloyd and Warner.

Perhaps I'm excessively optimistic, but I think both Blakey and Warner are very good chances to make the cut this season. Along with Gulden of course, and perhaps two or three others.

[Maltopia]

Somebody must have fed the wrong info to Montagna, if he's claiming that we only have four All-Australians. We actually have eight: Adams, Grundy, Gulden, Heeney, Mills, Papley, Parker and Rampe…..

You missed three…

Toby Nankervis *sigh at club*
Aliir Aliir *sigh at club*
Jordan Dawson *sigh at COVID impact on his wife*

[Auntie.Gerald]

Sydney v GWS BTS | Inside Sydney Episode 5

everyone time you look up JJ is on the screen !!

[dejavoodoo44]

Sydney v GWS BTS | Inside Sydney Episode 5

everyone time you look up JJ is on the screen !!

It seems to me that Jordon has the potential to become a real value signing. Especially if in the absence of Mills and Parker, he spends a bit more time bashing and crashing as an inside mid.

And I do like the ground level footage in those highlights. It gives more of an idea of just how chaotic the game is, and how little time players have to make decisions and hit targets. It also emphasises the skills of some of our more silky movers.

[liz]

It seems to me that Jordon has the potential to become a real value signing. Especially if in the absence of Mills and Parker, he spends a bit more time bashing and crashing as an inside mid.

And I do like the ground level footage in those highlights. It gives more of an idea of just how chaotic the game is, and how little time players have to make decisions and hit targets. It also emphasises the skills of some of our more silky movers.

I reckon it also shows how much of the game is "low skilled". By which I mean it's the tackling, knock-ons, flicks, imperfect disposals, harassing. Clearly these aren't trivial things. By describing them as "low skilled" I am not suggested anyone can do them. But they are somewhat different to the sublime kicking skills of a Gulden, Campbell or Heeney that can sometimes open chaos up to create something beautiful.

If you don't have those players who can execute the high skilled moves, you probably won't be a good team regardless of how much of the other stuff everyone does. But those moments of creativity and beauty make up a pretty small fraction, timewise, of a game.

[royboy42]

For the first time in 30 years or so, I watched a game from the fence last year. Usually comfortably ensconced in the upper Brewongle.
Different game from ground level.
As you said, the speed with which they have to make decisions;the ability to pick targets in a blur of moving bodies, and the foot skills are just amazing down there.

[Scottee]

I reckon it also shows how much of the game is "low skilled". By which I mean it's the tackling, knock-ons, flicks, imperfect disposals, harassing. Clearly these aren't trivial things. By describing them as "low skilled" I am not suggested anyone can do them. But they are somewhat different to the sublime kicking skills of a Gulden, Campbell or Heeney that can sometimes open chaos up to create something beautiful.

If you don't have those players who can execute the high skilled moves, you probably won't be a good team regardless of how much of the other stuff everyone does. But those moments of creativity and beauty make up a pretty small fraction, timewise, of a game.

I thought that video was an absolute masterpiece of sports videography, especially for something that was done at club level. Obviously a huge amount of effort went into the editing and the ground level video left a visceral impression of what it's like to be out there.

Full marks to the club for producing such a professional video

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

[707]

Tomorrow night's team, Heeney on ball, Mitchell on extended bench so must be showing something, Melican second KPD, Hamling on extended bench

Resting Warner and Papley, Lloyd out hip soreness, Parker out broken arm

Backs Lewis Melican Tom McCartin Harry Cunningham
Half Backs Oliver Florent Nick Blakey Matt Roberts
Centreline Errol Gulden Taylor Adams James Jordon
Half Forwards Robbie Fox Logan McDonald Sam Wicks
Forwards Hayden McLean Joel Amartey Will Hayward
Followers Brodie Grundy Isaac Heeney James Rowbottom
Interchange Joel Hamling Braeden Campbell Justin McInerney Angus Sheldrick Peter Ladhams Corey Warner Dane Rampe Caleb Mitchell

[Meg]

It seems to me that Jordon has the potential to become a real value signing. Especially if in the absence of Mills and Parker, he spends a bit more time bashing and crashing as an inside mid.

I have a good friend in Melbourne who is a passionate Dees fan. He is very sad about losing Jordan, says we have a great recruit who has high potential for further development.


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[Auntie.Gerald]

wow Roberts HBF left side vs Campbell on the bench............?????????

Good luck to Pelican as we need some height down their vs the best forwards in the comp - whoever we choose

Good to see Caleb get a run !!

Pumped for the game

I took Friday off work and half Thurs

Thurs arvo a surf
Early dinner at the pub
Thurs night Cat Empire at the Zoo
Friday a bush walk
Friday lunch sit back and watch the Swan replay
and the crazy part is Saturday and Sunday in un planned !!!!!

JEEEEYZZZZUUUZZZZ

Let there be light !!!!!

Let it thunder!!!!!!

Im in heaven !!!!!

BTW did anyone know that Gin and Coca Cola is a thing......................in Portugal !!!!

Im trying one tonight

I suspect Ive gone early.......................AGAIN !!!

[rickmat]

Very surprised to see Fox and Wicks named on half forward. I personally don't think Fox will be in the 23 for many games as he will only be a role player in games we need his pace and close checking. And. Wicks will be under pressure to perform. Don't want to be too negative on both sides of Logan. I feel Fox's disposal is what let's him down, don't doubt his fitness or endeavour. And this season we have squad depth that we haven't had for many years. My feeling is that Parker may play more of the Wicks role.

[Auntie.Gerald]

sort of guessing the coaching staff want to give a little time to a few players .................. then give our terrible record in 2023 of leading at half time but not winning............to get our guys who will be starters to come on early and run out games ie this one !!!!!!

Roberts
Fox
Melican etc

[Maltopia]

Tomorrow night's team, Heeney on ball, Mitchell on extended bench so must be showing something, Melican second KPD, Hamling on extended bench

Resting Warner and Papley, Lloyd out hip soreness, Parker out broken arm

Backs Lewis Melican Tom McCartin Harry Cunningham
Half Backs Oliver Florent Nick Blakey Matt Roberts
Centreline Errol Gulden Taylor Adams James Jordon
Half Forwards Robbie Fox Logan McDonald Sam Wicks
Forwards Hayden McLean Joel Amartey Will Hayward
Followers Brodie Grundy Isaac Heeney James Rowbottom
Interchange Joel Hamling Braeden Campbell Justin McInerney Angus Sheldrick Peter Ladhams Corey Warner Dane Rampe Caleb Mitchell

Thanks for posting.

Interesting that Jordon is listed for midfield instead of half forward/back or interchange. He must be really doing well (and the video supports that) which is great news for us!

Fox named as a half forward, but has often not done well there. Wondering how he will go this year with Hamling also competing for a defensive role.

Biggest question for me is, where is Reid? Hope he is getting back to full fitness as he was a key part of our 2022 campaign. I have a soft spot for him, as he, and Parker are the only ones left from our 2012 premiership team.

[Nico]

Very surprised to see Fox and Wicks named on half forward. I personally don't think Fox will be in the 23 for many games as he will only be a role player in games we need his pace and close checking. And. Wicks will be under pressure to perform. Don't want to be too negative on both sides of Logan. I feel Fox's disposal is what let's him down, don't doubt his fitness or endeavour. And this season we have squad depth that we haven't had for many years. My feeling is that Parker may play more of the Wicks role.

I'm not surprised given that there has been a lot of talk about sides having rebounding defenders. I reckon they will be using Fox and Wicks to stop those HBF. Post no.11,111.

[Dow]

Thanks for posting.

Interesting that Jordon is listed for midfield instead of half forward/back or interchange. He must be really doing well (and the video supports that) which is great news for us!

Fox named as a half forward, but has often not done well there. Wondering how he will go this year with Hamling also competing for a defensive role.

Biggest question for me is, where is Reid? Hope he is getting back to full fitness as he was a key part of our 2022 campaign. I have a soft spot for him, as he, and Parker are the only ones left from our 2012 premiership team.

Don't read to much into the team sheets, Reid at his best is definitely ahead of Amarty and Hamling I don't hold much hope I watched him live a few times last year in the finals vs East Freo and he was toweled up each game and looked way off the pace.