If the two New South Wales teams, the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants, merged into one line-up, it would be a fascinating football squad.
There are few shocks in the 22 individuals I have chosen for this challenging experience.
Swans, Giants
Coach: John Longmire (Swans)
Co-captains: Luke Parker (Swans), Josh Kelly (Giants)B: Nick Smith (Swans), Adam Tomlinson (Giants), Nick Newman (Swans)
HB: Callum Mills (Swans), Heath Grundy (Swans), Dayne Rampe (Swans)
C: Tom Scully (Giants), Dylan Shiel (Giants), Dan Hannebery (Swans)
HF: Will Hayward (Swans), Lance Franklin (Swans), Isaac Heeney (Swans)
F: Toby Greene (Giants), Jeremy Cameron (Giants), George Hewett (Swans)Foll: Rory Lobb (Giants), Josh Kelly (Giants), Luke Parker (Swans)
Int: Josh Kennedy (Swans), Callum Ward (Giants), Zak Jones (Swans), Lachie Whitfield (Giants)
Coach
It was a tough job to pick the coach of this merged team, but John Longmire just edged out Leon Cameron by the fact that he is a premiership coach.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Captains
I couldn’t decide between Luke Parker and Josh Kelly. They are both good leaders. Parker had the most disposals of any Swans player last season, while Kelly was named in the All Australian squad. Both deserve the accolade of being captain.
Back line
Nick Smith is one of the best small defenders in the competition. Adam Tomlinson started his career as a forward but has been a revelation in the back line for the Giants.
Nick Newman is a star of the future – every possession he gets is efficient – and he is one of the more understated characters in the competition. Callum Mills provides lots of run for the Swans and is someone who can play through the midfield.
Dayne Rampe has been a solid performer ever since the Swans match committee gave him a chance to play in the AFL. Heath Grundy should be regarded as one of the best tall defenders in the league as he usually negates the oppositions best tall forward.
Midfield
All three midfielders selected are all left-footed skilful exponents of using the footy. Dylan Shiel is very important to the Giants and was an astute pick in the national draft a few years ago.
(Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Forward line
Will Hayward is a promising youngster who averages more than a goal per game. He doesn’t get a lot of the footy, but when he gets possession, he uses it well.
Lance Franklin is universally regarded as one of the best tall forwards going around. He is also extremely mobile and capable of kicking a goal from outside 50, pulling off the freakish and unfathomable.
Isaac Heeney is a talented young player who can play through the midfield or up forward and who averages slightly more than a goal per game.
Followers
Rory Lobb should thrive as the Giants number one ruckman after the retirement of Shane Mumford and will benefit from the time he has spent plying his trade as a tall forward target. Josh Kelly and Luke Parker are both in their respective leadership groups. They are both no-fuss elite midfielders.
Interchange bench
The captain of the Swans and Giants are listed on the interchange bench as they can both add to the midfield rotations. Zak Jones and Lachie Whitfield are both capable of playing off half back or on a wing.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Thanks for your input and insightful ideas.
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Roar Guru
The composite Swans-Giants team you have compiled appear strong on paper, and have the potential to be very scary on the field. However, leaving out Phil Davis (co-captain of the Giants) is somewhat questionable to me, but of course you can't fit them all on the field. I can now imagine a quad-series between the Lions/Suns, Swans/Giants, Crows/Power and Eagles/Freo sides you have compiled together. Who would come out on top and why? Your next challenge now is to compile State of Origin teams for each of the five major states of Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia). Better, you could also have a composite side consisting of players from QLD/NSW/TAS/ACT/NT. That, though, would be a difficult task.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Some interesting thoughts, thanks for the positive feedback.
Patrick
Roar Pro
Its certainly a tough job trying to narrow these sides down to 22 players. With Grundy in the side I suppose it was always going to be one of Tomblinson, Haynes, and Davis, although the latter 2 are certainly unlucky. Newman, Hayward, and Hewett are probably the borderline players. I'd suggest that Jake Lloyd or Zac Williams would at least challenge Newman, whilst Gary Rohan would be unlucky to be behind Hayward. The absence of Coniglio certainly reflects the cumulative quality of the 2 midfields, although he did only play 10 games last season. I understand why he isn't picked, as all of the midfielders deserve their spot. Perhaps Coniglio could replace Hewett, but that would effect the balance of the team. Its an interesting exercise, and certainly an unenviable one!!
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
This is a subjective exercise. There was not one ounce of bias to any team, it was purely based on my opinion. I only selected to tall forwards, in Franklin and Cameron and they are the two best for the merged team. I am a big fan of Deledio, both as a person and as a player, however, he was injured most of last Season, but I hope he proves me wrong in omitting him from my merged team. You can’t keep everyone happy, re leaving out Hopper and Williams. I still picked 9 Giants players.
Winston
Guest
Half fun exercise, but it's a bit difficult to critique without having all players from both teams listed as well. We need to know who you've ditched as well as who you picked. Or maybe I'm just lazy. Should Patton be there? There's no strong marking forward. Brett Deledio doesn't get a game? And if you're going to pick Hayward and Hewett on the back of talent, what about Jacob Hopper and Zac Williams? To me this team is very Swans biased (and that's coming from a Swans fan).
Johnny Banter
Guest
Kennedy would be close to first picked in the starting line up, no way he's benched. Some odd choices like Will Hayward & Nick Newman - both fringe Swans who wouldn't be guaranteed a starting spot in the red & white.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Fair side. I'd probably have Kennedy in the starting midfield and Parker at half forward ahead of Hewitt or Hayward, with one of those two omitted to squeeze Coniglio onto the pine.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Interesting that Josh Kelly is named as a captain, when he isn't one of the Giants' current captains; and yet Callan Ward (not Callum as the article says) is in the team.
truetigerfan
Guest
Gotta say this is a pretty formidable team you've picked, Doran. Add to this depth players to satisfy the naysayers suggesting positional changes and you'd have a team who would take a power of beating.
josh
Guest
The only thing that would happen is the Midgets getting 20k instead of 10k....and still claiming the whole of Western Sydney is in love with them.