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Thread: Pre-season 2020

  1. #97
    I'm with you on this one. I think Mills is perfect in the McVeigh role as a sort of "defensive midfielder". The mistakes Mills makes are generally ones that young players make from time to time. His natural ability in play to control the game and dictate the pace of play from half back is pretty clear and I think Lloyd is a natural assistant to him.
    I think Mills played as a lock down small in 2019 to improve his defensive skills with a view to moving him into that McVeigh role so that he would get a better understanding of how the back 6 need to work as a unit. I don't think he'll be a lockdown small for the rest of his career. I think that role will be open to some of our fringe guys like Thurlow or COR who could use the opportunity to lock down a starting spot in our lineup for the next few years. COR's run off halfback might be more valuable than his defensive nous, so I think Thurlow might be the prime candidate to take over the Nick Smith role.

  2. #98
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ralph Dawg View Post
    I see Goddard rates our defence as 16th best in the league. Love to see Rampe and friends make him look like the goose he is in 2020!
    Goddard possesses that aggressive personality type that you don't want to be on the wrong side of.....he holds grudges. His grudge with us is our last kick victory over them in 2017 that was largely his fault. Accept responsibility Brendon and move on.....you're bias is obvious.

  3. #99
    I think most pundits will rate our various lines pretty low before the start of the season. We've lost a lot of big names and we don't share much with the press. On paper, most of the names don't jump out at anyone. I think by the end of the 2020 season, those ratings will have changed as I think we're shaping up for a Brisbane Lions style jump thanks to our kids, but right now, I can understand why a lot of people are rating us lower than we think we deserve.

    It will just make it all the sweeter when play Finals next year.

  4. #100
    Quote Originally Posted by dazedjosh View Post
    I think most pundits will rate our various lines pretty low before the start of the season. We've lost a lot of big names and we don't share much with the press. On paper, most of the names don't jump out at anyone. I think by the end of the 2020 season, those ratings will have changed as I think we're shaping up for a Brisbane Lions style jump thanks to our kids, but right now, I can understand why a lot of people are rating us lower than we think we deserve.

    It will just make it all the sweeter when play Finals next year.
    Brisbane's jump was also off the back of the acquisition of Lyons and Neale. I think we'll miss again in 2020

  5. #101
    I watched the video the club released yesterday which outlines the start of the preseason. Zac Foote features prominently and looks absolutely ripped. He made the comment to the dietician that he hasn't been drinking in the off season and his overall demeanour is of a young guy who wants to make an impact this year.

    Not making any wild predictions as his first year was very up and down but I hope he plays well enough to get some senior game time this year. Certainly if attitude is anything to go by, he's a chance.

  6. #102
    Yeah he seemed to put up some decent season numbers in the NEAFL, but they definitely fluctuated a fair bit. Zac FOOT | Players | Season | NEAFL

    If he could produce consistently this year it would be great to see him get his debut.

  7. #103
    Veterans List Ludwig's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dazedjosh View Post
    I'm with you on this one. I think Mills is perfect in the McVeigh role as a sort of "defensive midfielder". The mistakes Mills makes are generally ones that young players make from time to time. His natural ability in play to control the game and dictate the pace of play from half back is pretty clear and I think Lloyd is a natural assistant to him.
    I think Mills played as a lock down small in 2019 to improve his defensive skills with a view to moving him into that McVeigh role so that he would get a better understanding of how the back 6 need to work as a unit. I don't think he'll be a lockdown small for the rest of his career. I think that role will be open to some of our fringe guys like Thurlow or COR who could use the opportunity to lock down a starting spot in our lineup for the next few years. COR's run off halfback might be more valuable than his defensive nous, so I think Thurlow might be the prime candidate to take over the Nick Smith role.
    Early in his career there was talk about Nick Smith moving into the midfield. He came to be a great lock down defender simply by the passage of time and the sacrifice of his natural game, until he became too good to replace in that lock down role.

    It's not clear if we have anyone on our list who fits that Nick Smith role. We may not even use that lock down specialist in the current generation of the team. Fox played quite will through the final weeks of the season as small defender and although most of us think of him as a fringe player, he could find a spot in defence. Right now, it seems like O'Riordan might be given that role. We have a lot of outside speedy players coming through, like Stoddart and Ling, who might be good matchups for opposition small forwards, yet also have the pace and kicking power to provide rebound out of defence.

    Thurlow was my big disappointment from last year and I've lost a lot of hope that he could come in a play an important part as a 3rd tall defender. He has the height, pace and skill to play that role, but his form was quite poor last year. I don't know what to expect from him in 2020.

    I think Mills is a good footballer and would be a good player anywhere he plays. I've been a big proponent of moving him to the midfield for the past 2 years and have been disappointed that this move has yet to materialize. If it came down to who should play defence between Dawson and Mills, I would prefer Dawson as a defender and Mills as a midfielder.

    As with any young team, there's a lot of uncertainty for a lot of spots in the side. In defence, I think we have Rampe, Aliir and COR as the foundation and probably Lloyd. We will need another key defender, with Melican and Brand likely to vie for a spot. The last spot could go to anyone, with McCartin, Thurlow, Dawson and Mills all in contention. With the addition of Gray and Taylor, Cunningham will be back in the frame for a small defender, along with both Stoddart and Ling, who I believe we will need in a side that hopes to compete for a premiership.

  8. #104
    Quote Originally Posted by Ludwig View Post
    He came to be a great lock down defender simply by the passage of time and the sacrifice of his natural game, until he became too good to replace in that lock down role.
    That's a really good summary of the sort of player that is required for that lockdown role. Somebody who is willing to sacrifice and be anonymous for the good of the team. Now that you mention Fox and Cunningham, I think they would be great fits as they strike me as those sorts of players.

  9. #105
    An update on who's injured and who's' flying in preseason

    Category: | Herald Sun

    The Swans’ senior players will hit the club’s Lakeside Oval training track on November 18, joining the youngsters who have already got a fortnight’s work under their belts.

    Superstar forward LANCE FRANKLIN also reported for training two weeks early. Tomorrow will also be the official start of their Sydney journey for new boys LEWIS TAYLOR, SAM GRAY and KAIDEN BRAND, although all three have already been spotted getting some work under their belts with their new teammates...

    On the injury front, CALLUM SINCLAIR twice dislocated his shoulder during a July clash which ended his season. He has had a shoulder reconstruction. The off-season also saw SAM REID scheduled for a knee arthroscope and LUKE PARKER had a knee clean-up. All are expected back on Monday although it is expected they will be eased into training.

  10. #106
    Well, I swung by training this morning. I don't have a lot to report (I didn't run into Tom Harley again) but here it is:

    The good news first

    * It seemed that pretty much everyone was there. I didn't notice anyone missing, except I don't think I saw McCartin (but I think he was there two weeks ago). Maybe someone else saw him?

    * Dawson AGAIN crossed the line first in the time trial - this time ahead of Fox, Heeney, Rampe and Mills. I think they were the first five across the line. He even finished ahead of Lloyd Perris who is used as a pacesetter. He is setting himself for a super season - I'm so excited to see what he'll deliver. It's incredible how much he is stepping up.

    * Knoll ran well again. Rampe seemed to approach it like a Melbourne Cup, he seemed to take it pretty easy for the first half of the time trial and then flew home, overtaking plenty. I don't think they all started together and for all I know he had the best time.

    * The 'rehab group' seemed fairly small maybe half a dozen or so. I think they included: Buddy, Reid, COR, Ling, Naismith.


    The bad news:

    * Ling is still (again?) in the rehab group. When is he ever going to come good? He was the last player I recognised, that's how little I've seen of him.

    * Squizzy Taylor doesn't just look "heavy", he IS out of shape. He and Amartey were the last to finish the time trial. I can't see him playing round 1 in the midfield at this stage. Not an auspicious beginning.

    * Papley was towards the end of the players to cross the line in the time trial.

    Random extra:

    * I saw Horse go over to Papley and engage in a bit of banter, they were both smiling and laughing. But I thought it was a touch awkward also.

    * I didn't see Tom Harley but Charlie Gardiner was there. He was with another guy, maybe Brian Tyson from the Board? That's just a guess but whoever it was was dressed in executive gear unlike all the coaches and trainers and I think he was there two weeks ago also.

    * There were some extras training, I'm not sure who they were. I saw Hebron. Not sure if Bartholomaeus was there. Ditto Johnson. And there were others including small kid with dark hair that a couple of players got around at the end of the time trial. I wondered if he might be Errol Gulden.

    - - - Updated - - -

    I don't think Parker ran the time trial either.

    Fox, Reynolds, BOC, Dawson were all training with the backs.

  11. #107
    Thanks Bloodspirit, your Monday training reports are essential reading.

  12. #108
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    Quote Originally Posted by Markwebbos View Post
    Thanks Bloodspirit, your Monday training reports are essential reading.
    +1 Much appreciated news.

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