Reid & Rohan

[Kumarangk]

With everybody competing for positions so hard do these two walk straight in as they would have last year ? I think there is a bit of pressure on both as they have been in the "potential " category for a couple of years now but if they at least play at their best it will make the side much stronger. Hope the injury hasn't dulled Rohan's pace, as we need it.

[jetts32]

Reid showed enough in the back half last year, he is a definite in. I think Rohan has to fight a bit more than Reid.

[bloodsbigot]

I personally wouldn't put them back in. Things seem to be going so well at the moment. Wait for an injury or something, then bring them back in. Was disappointed with McGlynn being returned at the expense of Towers in all honesty.

[Luke Shannon]

I see Reid as backup to Richards or Grundy. Rampe and Laidler are doing good jobs as the 3rd and 4th talls in defence. I don't see Reid forcing Rampe or Laidler out of the team.

I don't think Reid is an option forward. Buddy and Tippett / Sinclair take up nearly all the high marking air space. Heeney and Towers (when selected) are effectively the 3rd talls and offer more at ground level, have more pace and have superior kicking skills than Reid.

You could attempt to play Reid in a Justin Westoff or Mark Blicavs roving role but Westoff and Blicavs are both more superior and confident footballers than Reid. Reid could be an option to tag either Blicavs or Westoff when we play Geelong or Port.

Reid in short is back up to Grundy and Richards. When he is listed as three weeks away it always means six weeks away.

Rohan at his best is a superior version of Dene Towers. Great 3rd tall forward option with his marking, tackling, pace and long kicking. Can also be deployed in the backline to be a medium defender.

More likely to find a spot than Reid.

[707]

Neither walk up starts but both important if they can rise to the level. Don't think either will be rushed back, fitness levels will be well down after such extended time out. Currently I see both as winger types. Will of course depend on injuries, Reid has looked good as a KPD as well as that up and back winger role.

Of near returns, McVeigh should slot into a HBF where he now does his best work, maybe releasing Mills to play wing to which he is even more suited and can use his composure and delivery.

[CureTheSane]

Reid is only needed at the moment if we need a taller forward line, or are desperate to replace someone down back and have no better options.

[Triple B]

Surprised at some of the short memories here, Reid was in superlative form towards the end of last year and should be an auto-in once he proves his fitness in the two's.

Rohan much less so. Like most Swans fans I love the guy to death but the reality is, he doesn't get enough of the ball and injuries aside has been pretty underwhelming for a long time now. If he makes it back and carves them up after all his setbacks the story will be a great movie, but I'm afraid it's not going to happen and we need to make a hard call in the next year or two.

[longmile]

Surprised at some of the short memories here, Reid was in superlative form towards the end of last year and should be an auto-in once he proves his fitness in the two's.
.

Where would you play him? With Sinclair and Tippett firing at the moment and our forward line looking well structured there's not much room for him down there. I like the idea of him on the wing tho, always seemed really good at fwd50 entries to me.

[Triple B]

Where would you play him? With Sinclair and Tippett firing at the moment and our forward line looking well structured there's not much room for him down there. I like the idea of him on the wing tho, always seemed really good at fwd50 entries to me.

Not sure where he should play or who should go out, totally agree that's a hard call, but he's form in late 2015 was too good for him to sit outside our best 22 when fit so he needs to come in somewhere, imo.

[Ludwig]

Rohan and Reid are roughly scheduled to return rounds 6 and 7 when we play Brisbane and Essendon. I don't think it would be much risk to bring them directly into the senior side if they are training well, although a week or so in the reserves wouldn't hurt either.

Both are extremely talented players that at their best would definitely be in our best 22, but we've only seen them at their best for short periods of time. Both have also had their periods out injured, especially Rohan.

We already have enough options in our forward line, especially with Papley and Heaney down there and midfielders going forward. I wouldn't expect either would post big goal scoring options. Rose and Towers are also playing well enough to be considered as forward options.

I think Rohan's spot is that running halfback that we've been looking for. Our back 7 look better with Rohan and Macca in place of Jones and Mills. Where the latter 2 go, I'm not sure, but they are really midfielders anyway.

i agree with previous posters that Reid's best role is similar to that of Westoff and Blicavs, a players that shows up as a tall option anywhere on the field as needed. It's a real role in modern football and a very important one at that. Reid looked good playing through the midfield last year. I think we would have liked Towers leading up to be that marking outlet coming out of defense, but hasn't been able to nail enough contested marks. Reid is someone who competes very well in that role and helps get ball out of our defensive zone and ready to counterattack.

With a healthy we have around 28 players who justly deserve a place in the seniors. So choosing who goes out is not going to be easy.

[Pmcc2911]

A month ago we were bemoaning the lack of depth now we are arguing whether or not Reid and Rohan can fit back into the side.

[chalbilto]

Surprised at some of the short memories here, Reid was in superlative form towards the end of last year and should be an auto-in once he proves his fitness in the two's.

Rohan much less so. Like most Swans fans I love the guy to death but the reality is, he doesn't get enough of the ball and injuries aside has been pretty underwhelming for a long time now. If he makes it back and carves them up after all his setbacks the story will be a great movie, but I'm afraid it's not going to happen and we need to make a hard call in the next year or two.

I hope that he has a decent run without injuries to show his true ability and worth. I hope that the club perseveres with him and there will be no need to make that hard call in the next couple of years.

[CureTheSane]

Not sure where he should play or who should go out, totally agree that's a hard call, but he's form in late 2015 was too good for him to sit outside our best 22 when fit so he needs to come in somewhere, imo.


One minute you throw out "short memories" then when questioned you can't offer an option of where to play him....

I've been saying for ages that he ain't no back line player. That has been tried and (IMO) failed.
He's a forward, and should play there if there is a need (height, form, etc) but only play back if there is a desperate need.
I see him as filling a hole when he plays back. Up forward he adds to the team at times.

- - - Updated - - -

I wouldn't bring either player straight back in. McVeigh either.
Our side is performing well, so why risk and early return?
As I said, unless we have a need for a particular 'skill set' to match up opposition.

[RogueSwan]

... Reid looked good playing through the midfield last year. I think we would have liked Towers leading up to be that marking outlet coming out of defense, but hasn't been able to nail enough contested marks. Reid is someone who competes very well in that role and helps get ball out of our defensive zone and ready to counterattack ...

This ^
I thought his midfield work was a revelation (well and could continue to play that role, inside and out. His handballing, whilst not Mitchell-esque was pretty good and we know he can be great overhead. Just the type of player that would be a nightmare to play against because he isn't slow either. Like Rohan, he needs to stay on the field for a season and settle into a role.

[Triple B]

One minute you throw out "short memories" then when questioned you can't offer an option of where to play him....

I don't see how having an opinion that he is clearly in our best 22 based on his form at the back end of last season (which seems to have been forgotten by some) means I also need to offer an opinion on where he should play...

[CureTheSane]

What happens if we have 4 ruckmen who should also all be in our best 22?
Play them all?

[Triple B]

What happens if we have 4 ruckmen who should also all be in our best 22?
Play them all?

If they make up the 'best 22', then yes. If they just happen to be in the top 22 players on the list but if they all played the side would not be 'best 22', then no...

[Plugger46]

Assuming the players in the current 22 stay healthy, both would have to come back through the reserves. McVeigh's probably the only one who could walk straight in.

Reid is a lock when he's match-fit. Back, forward, wherever. He plays.

Not so sure about Rohan. His best is clearly good enough but we've only seen glimpses of it (2014 PF, Geelong in 2011 and Richmond last year spring to mind). Injuries have obviously played a massive part but he's still played plenty of footy.

[CureTheSane]

If they make up the 'best 22', then yes. If they just happen to be in the top 22 players on the list but if they all played the side would not be 'best 22', then no...

Yeah, we're going to disagree there....

[jono2707]

A Gary Rohan with 10-12 touches can have a greater impact than many players getting 20 touches in a game. I hope he comes back fit and firing soon.
Reid too.

[rojo]

I remember, some time before the broken leg, Gary saying that his preferred position was the wing. Coming back from the broken leg he was tried in a variety of positions, half back then half forward etc but with only glimpses of what he is capable of, partly due to interruptions from broken cheek bones and hamstring injuries etc.

I think he is yet to fully recover his confidence. He just needs, like Tom Mitchell, an uninterrupted season or so on the park, free of injury, and if possible in a set position that he is comfortable in. He, along with Isaac Heeney, also needs to know, that the whole game doesn't depend on him, he does not have to run down every opposition forward in the front half, or crash every pack in the back half as well as take speccy marks and kick 3 goals every game!

His coming back in a few weeks is going to be very important for his future, maybe. No one doubts his talent and potential, how best to nurture and release it at this stage, given his injury history and the needs of the team, is the big challenge.

[chalbilto]

Totally agree. Too much emphasis is placed on statistics and not enough on the effectiveness and quality of touches and a perfect example is Riolli from Hawthorn. He doesn't gather huge numbers but what he gets and delivers are superb. As Jono has stated "10-12 touches can have a greater impact than many players getting 20 touches in a game."

[Mug Punter]

Reid I see as definitely in our best 22 and he could well be the solution at CHB next year.

Rohan I see as having to fight for his spot and he may well be trade bait if he doesn't deliver

[Melbourne_Blood]

I really don't have anything significant to add other than, what a lovely predicament to find ourselves in [emoji3]. Whodathunkit 3 weeks ago ??

[RogueSwan]

... Whodathunkit 3 weeks ago ??

Not a lot of RWOer's if you go by the NAB preseason threads :-)

[Melbourne_Blood]

Not a lot of RWOer's if you go by the NAB preseason threads :-)

Exactly, myself included! I felt like someone had spiked my drink when I was at the pub with mates watching the swans demolish the pies with precise foot skills and a good forward structure!!

[707]

I was one of those really worried about this season. I said we needed a good run with injuries and several ressie players to really step up.

Touch wood, no game day injuries first three rounds and some kids have stepped up plus a couple more burning in the NEAFL. Looks good SO FAR!

Reid played good footy as a wingman last year, should slot back there once he's senior match fit. McVeigh straight to HBF. Rohan not sure where he fits but think he needs to be given a role and kept there, been shunted around too much for my liking, maybe another wingman/high HF.

[Ludwig]

Touch wood, no game day injuries first three rounds
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cesn_9xXEAA7yoL.jpg

[707]

Oops!

[dimelb]

I remember, some time before the broken leg, Gary saying that his preferred position was the wing. Coming back from the broken leg he was tried in a variety of positions, half back then half forward etc but with only glimpses of what he is capable of, partly due to interruptions from broken cheek bones and hamstring injuries etc.

I think he is yet to fully recover his confidence. He just needs, like Tom Mitchell, an uninterrupted season or so on the park, free of injury, and if possible in a set position that he is comfortable in. He, along with Isaac Heeney, also needs to know, that the whole game doesn't depend on him, he does not have to run down every opposition forward in the front half, or crash every pack in the back half as well as take speccy marks and kick 3 goals every game!

His coming back in a few weeks is going to be very important for his future, maybe. No one doubts his talent and potential, how best to nurture and release it at this stage, given his injury history and the needs of the team, is the big challenge.

I couldn't agree more strongly.