Sydney Swans best 22, 2015 AFL Premiership Season

[Conor_Dillon]

Thought I'd have a crack at our best team for next year, haven't included AJ because he is unlikely to play in 2015,

Here goes...

B: Nick Smith, Ted Richards, Dane Rampe

HB: Sam Reid, Heath Grundy, Jarrad McVeigh

C: Lewis Jetta, Tom Mitchell, Dan Hannebery

HF: Harry Cunningham, Lance Franklin, Kieren Jack

FF: Ben McGlynn, Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes

F: Mike Pyke, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker

I/C: Craig Bird, Gary Rohan, Rhyce Shaw, Jake Lloyd (s)

Emg: Jeremy Laidler, Zak Jones, George Hewett

Brandon Jack
Dean Towers
Tom Derrickx
Allir Allir
Toby Nankervis
Daniel Robinson
Xavier Richards
Isaac Heeney
Jack Hiscox
Abaina Davis
Draft pick #37
Harrison Marsh*
Alex Johnson*

note: * denotes currently uncontracted players

Sam Naismith
Lloyd Perris
Rookie pick
Rookie pick
Rookie pick
Rookie pick

[Jimitron5000]

No injuries please! Outside the 22 we have eight players with senior experience including Alex Johnson. Four of the eight have under 10 games between them.

[Conor_Dillon]

Not much experience in our depth but plenty of exciting talent! The future is bright

[ernie koala]

Yep pretty good team, just a few notes....IMO..

Jetta needs to win his spot back with a big pre season and some good early form.

Goodes should be used as a sub every 2nd or 3rd week. That's assuming, unlike this year, he works hard when we don't have the ball.

I agree that McGlynn should be moved back to the forward pocket. With occasional forays into the midfield when needed.

Zak Jones, if he has a good preseason, should be given as much game time as possible in the early rounds, ahead of Shaw or Jetta, depending on their form.

[Conor_Dillon]

Yeh wouldn't mind Jones in the team as much as possible...brings that real mongrel and toughness that we lack at times.

And think you're being a bit harsh on Jetta...horrible grand final but wasn't alone! He was in our top 2 or 3 players in the Prelim and I think his kicking is vital...particularly with Mal gone!

[Bloodthirsty]

If you're putting McGlynn in the forward pocket, I just want to suggest something.....people can throw stuff at me all day, but I'm going to say this anyway despite the backlash...... Swan would be a better team with Derickx in place of Goodes. If McGlynn is the crumbing forward, it is better to have two ruckmen who can both play forward and leave Tippett at FF -no ruck work for him. Need two ruckmen, especially one bullocking crazy MF like Derickx.

In my opinion, the team would be stronger with this set up.

[ernie koala]

If you're putting McGlynn in the forward pocket, I just want to suggest something.....people can throw stuff at me all day, but I'm going to say this anyway despite the backlash...... Swan would be a better team with Derickx in place of Goodes. If McGlynn is the crumbing forward, it is better to have two ruckmen who can both play forward and leave Tippett at FF -no ruck work for him. Need two ruckmen, especially one bullocking crazy MF like Derickx.

In my opinion, the team would be stronger with this set up.

Yep, when I think about it, I agree with you.

If Derrickx can get a bit more involved around the ground, it would make it a no brainer...IMO.

[Mountain Man]

I would like to see Shaw out and Jetta and Rohan both playing on wings with the brief to drop back when the ball is in the opposition hands, and then run like they can when we win the ball back. Both can then run/deliver very quickly to the forward set up.

I agree with McVeigh back in a permanent role, and his distribution to those 2 'wingmen' is the replacement tactic for Malceski.

[wolftone57]

I would like to see Shaw out and Jetta and Rohan both playing on wings with the brief to drop back when the ball is in the opposition hands, and then run like they can when we win the ball back. Both can then run/deliver very quickly to the forward set up.

I agree with McVeigh back in a permanent role, and his distribution to those 2 'wingmen' is the replacement tactic for Malceski.

I prefer Rohan on the HBF. He gave us real drive from there and his cut out work was very Mattneresque. Prefer Jones to Shaw, they are similar backmen but Jones has real mongrel, Shaw doesn't, what's more Shaw is slowing down.

I like the idea of two ruckmen. Tippett's form dived when he had to go into the ruck. I was a bit disappointed that Shaw & Goodes decided to continue playing as I think their time is up. Retire while still playing good footy.

I think the mids will be rotated a lot more this coming season to ensure they don't burn out. We have plenty of talent to run through the mids Joey, Parks, Kizza, Benny, Hewett, Heaney are all naturals. Hannas is more a winger who the coaches have tried to turn into an In/Out mid. I think his role was better when he was an outside player.

Players like BJ, Towers & Hiscox will all vie for forward spots too.

[Flying South]

Never thought I would say this at start of season, but Derickx gets my vote for ruckman. And I can't find a spot for Shaw in my starting team. He is holding up development and is now a depth player IMO. Rampe and McVeigh are my rebounding midfielders (HB) and Jack & Jetta are my attacking midfielder's (HF). They provide defensive pressure and usually good kicks. Mitchell comes into to help Kennedy out in the trenches and allows Parker to play a more roaming midfield role. I would also like to see Jones get some more game time. Cunningham is my small forward and I would like to see Rohan play more in the forward half as well. He is a good mark, kick for goal and applies defensive pressure with his speed. I didn't like him in defence. It would be nice to see Hewett, Heeney, Nankervis and XR gets some senior game time through rotations. I am still hoping Naismith gets upgraded to get some experience into him as well.

FB. Smith Richards Reid
HB. Rampe Grundy McVeigh
CTR. Hannebery Parker McGlynn
FOL. Derickx Kennedy Mitchell
HF. Jack Franklin Jetta
FF. Goodes Tippett Cunningham
INT. Lloyd, Bird, Rohan, Jones
EMG. Pyke, Hewett, Heeney, XR, Nankervis

[mcs]

Never thought I would say this at start of season, but Derickx gets my vote for ruckman. And I can't find a spot for Shaw in my starting team. He is holding up development and is now a depth player IMO. Rampe and McVeigh are my rebounding midfielders (HB) and Jack & Jetta are my attacking midfielder's (HF). They provide defensive pressure and usually good kicks. Mitchell comes into to help Kennedy out in the trenches and allows Parker to play a more roaming midfield role. I would also like to see Jones get some more game time. Cunningham is my small forward and I would like to see Rohan play more in the forward half as well. He is a good mark, kick for goal and applies defensive pressure with his speed. I didn't like him in defence. It would be nice to see Hewett, Heeney, Nankervis and XR gets some senior game time through rotations. I am still hoping Naismith gets upgraded to get some experience into him as well.

FB. Smith Richards Reid
HB. Rampe Grundy McVeigh
CTR. Hannebery Parker McGlynn
FOL. Derickx Kennedy Mitchell
HF. Jack Franklin Jetta
FF. Goodes Tippett Cunningham
INT. Lloyd, Bird, Rohan, Jones
EMG. Pyke, Hewett, Heeney, XR, Nankervis

Derickx in front of Pyke - you've got to be kidding me. Derickx with Pyke could work I think, but there is no way in hell that Derickx should be seen in front of Pyke (unless he really goes downhill next year). He was one of the very few to get close to breaking even on Grand Final day, and I'd argue he was probably in the top 3 or 4 in the Finals voting this year, he really did have a very good finals series.

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Seriously, I don't understand all the love now for Derickx? Yes he tried hard and did a job for us when we were struggling for a ruckman through the early/middle part of the year but seriously! Many of his performances were not close to AFL standard! He mostly drops marks although he managed to hold onto one or two beauties! But dropped many sitters. His kicking is below average (yes Pyke isn't much better but still...) and rarely wins the ball around the ground and creates an option. He is just depth which is what he was recruited for and I'd be staggered and extremely disappointed if Nankervis or Naismith doesn't move past him for senior games this year!

+1 to this. If he can improve his marking and disposal over the summer he might be a shot at pushing Pyke, but he really is a back up option. If we get to a point where he is the 1st choice ruckman for the team on merit, I think we will be in trouble to say the least.

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What I am picking up on with many comments is that everyone seems to be talking about options that WILL NOT HELP THE SWANS WIN A FLAG NEXT YEAR. Yes, Naismith, yes Heeney, yes X Richards - but will 'game time' result in a premiership in 2015? No it won't. I don't understand the thinking when the premiership window is open now (and just barely). Everyone is talking about options that won't come to fruition until Buddy is into his 30s and Tippett has retired. Geez. That's why the VFL decision was @@@@@@ and it will probably have the effect they desired.

Heeney and Jones may help win a flag next year but as far as KPD we are @@@@@@.

I think Jones does have all the ingredients to slot in and improve the team. As for Heeney- its tough to predict whether he will push for senior footy next year. I'd argue he probably might get a game or two, but is unlikely to burst onto the scene. Hopefully I'm wrong though.

Our KPD is terrible - any injuries in there and we are stuffed good and proper.

[Cardinal]

If Derickx and McGlynn are both having a crack at a grand final next year it will be a great story. Now if we pick up someone who's been delisted as well....