I think we'd be crazy to re-sign Reid until he actually confirms his value to us.
I also think he owes us, not - we owe him.
I think we'd be crazy to re-sign Reid until he actually confirms his value to us.
I also think he owes us, not - we owe him.
I agree that we should sit on Reid's contract and see how the season develops. It seems like we've been perpetually waiting for his game to mature, particularly his goal-kicking, but he still feels like a player who should do more with his physical attributes and apparent skills. I think we've been a little indecisive in the role given to him, which probably hasn't helped. To be fair, he was excellent in the last (albeit truncated) senior game he played for us.
I think he will be a real find.
He has an interesting background, quite similar to Rampe. Played other sports and was a rep basketballer. Went to Melbourne in 2013 to study to be a teacher and have a crack at footy. Got roped into the EDFL where he played in two losing Grand Finals and then played for Coburg under Wayne Brittan for 2015 and 2016 where from all reports he has improved every year.
He has elite endurance and also topped the 20 metre sprint at the Victorian combine. Plus he surely has plenty of upside. Certainly he is ready physically, his background is as a defender cum midfielder but I liked him on the half forward flank against Norf. The other thing is he seems, and I know it is early days, to have plenty of time out there too which I think is a great indicator.
There will always be a place for elite juniors coming into the system but I really do see players like Fox, who have maybe taken the road less travelled and gained some life experience, as becoming increasingly successful in the AFL.
I guess the only problem will be if him and Dane start stealing each other's product....
I think the Reid situation will be interesting to see and it may well be decided by external factors.
I know we all start on zero points, and I'm not doom-mongering, but if GWS fulfil their potential the flags for 2017-19 could well be close a no contest. Extreme language I know but I just fear they could be that good. But I think they need to have early success and I also think that from 2020, when their first batch become free agents, that they will start to come back to the pack quite quickly. It's the price the comp needs to pay to get the game entrenched with two teams in NSW IMO.
Anyway, my point is, that even though we will not say it publicly we could well recalibrate our list management strategy at the end of this year to focus on 2020 if we feel GWS are way way in front of us. It won't be a rebuild as such but if we see Blakey as a gun CHF recruit in the 2018 draft we may well decide to let Reid go, bank some big cap money and get another 3-4 really good youngsters like we did this year including 2 first rounders.
And we could even be in the money to look at a Jeremy Cameron or someone like that in 2020 with Buddy coming into year given that 2020 will be year 7 of his 9 year deal.
Well, one thing hasn't changed from 2016 - we still can't buy a free kick. It's actually starting to get a little concerning...
Loved Jones in the midfield - the most excited I've got about high draft pick for the Swans for ever and he's starting to fulfil on that. Hope he stays fit. Mills just about best on ground for me - he's a wonderful talent.
Loved Heeney's endeavour but to be frank I think he lowered his colours to Cunnington at various times - no shame, Cunnington can play, but we'd be best to have subdued expectations about Heeney's ability to go into the midfield and dominate from round 1. Thought Hewett got better as the game went on too.
I think our list is probably in the best shape it has ever been in, just a really good bunch of young kids with such upside - Jones, Heeney, Mills, Aliir and Hewett all have the opportunity to carve out 200 game careers and they've kind of come through as a pack. Whilst it is too early to call on the others I really think all four of our recruits this year will be good footballers plus there's COR.
Then you've got that middle block of players that may never be superstars but will do their role, the likes of Marsh, Papley, Naismith, Newman (possibly), Towers (maybe) and Lloyd (possibly selling him short including him in this bracket).
Top it up with the genuine elite players of Buddy, JPK, Hanners and Parker able supported by the "very good but not quite elite" such as Tippo, Smith, Jack and Grundy.
The thing that will determine our season I believe, is whether we get the bolters out of nowhere like we did last year with Aliir, Papley and to a lesser degree Hewett. I think we need at least three debutants to do really well, not just play a few games. I think Florent will be one, the others could come out of Newman, COR, Maibaum or Fox from what I have seen to date.
Interestingly Blakey mentioning robinsonthruthe midfield this year.......yet omitting a few other fringe players
Naismith is genuine key to out success this year. His meteoric improvement in 2016 cannot be under estimated.
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