Opinion
Despite having only two teams in the AFL, the state of New South Wales has quality players playing for the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants in this hypothetical competition that would be played in the pre-season.
The leadership group would be made up of two co-captains, one from each team. Luke Parker and Tim Taranto both have the capability to lead the team. The starting 22 consists of 12 Greater Western Sydney Giants players and ten Sydney Swans players.
Coach: Leon Cameron (GWS)
Backs: Nick Haynes (GWS), Dane Rampe (Sydney Swans), Callum Mills (Sydney Swans)
Halfbacks: Jordan Dawson (Sydney Swans), Phil Davis (GWS), Zac Williams (GWS)
Centres: Josh Kelly (GWS), Luke Parker (co-captain, Sydney Swans), Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
Half forwards: Matt de Boer (GWS), Jeremy Cameron (GWS), Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
Forwards: Toby Greene (GWS), Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans), Tom Papley (Sydney Swans)
Followers: Sam Naismith (Sydney Swans), Tim Taranto (co-captain, GWS), Jacob Hopper (GWS)
Interchange: Sam Jacobs (GWS), Josh Kennedy (Sydney Swans), George Hewett (Sydney Swans), Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans)
Emergencies: Jeremy Finlayson (GWS), Oliver Florent (Sydney Swans), Callan Ward (GWS), Jake Lloyd (Sydney Swans)
Coach
Leon Cameron coached the Greater Western Sydney Giants to the 2019 grand final, while the Sydney Swans struggled under coach John Longmire.
Backs
Nick Haynes finished fourth in the Giants’ 2019 best-and-fairest. He has the capability to create run out of defence.
Dane Rampe won the Sydney Swans’ 2019 best-and-fairest. That shows what a quality defender Rampe is, given the Swans’ lowly finish on the ladder in 2019.
Callum Mills is a quality defender that can provide plenty of run out of the back line.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Halfbacks
Jordan Dawson is a quality player who is capable of playing a key role for the team on the halfback flank.
Phil Davis is a good tall defender whose best position is centre halfback.
Zac Williams finished fifth in the Giants’ 2019 best-and-fairest. Williams usually plays on a wing, but is also capable of providing run on a halfback flank and is playing that position due to team balance.
Centres
Josh Kelly would benefit from playing on a wing as it would give him the freedom to run and play with more freedom than starting in the centre square would.
Luke Parker is a player with immense ability and is a tremendous leader.
Lachie Whitfield is best suited to starting on a wing.
Half forwards
Matt de Boer is a part of Greater Western Sydney’s leadership group and finished sixth in the 2019 best-and-fairest. He also has the ability to play in the midfield and has the capability to tag the opposition’s most dangerous midfielder, but is ultimately selected on a half forward flank due to team balance.
Jeremy Cameron won the 2019 Coleman Medal with 67 goals. His ideal position is centre half forward.
Stephen Coniglio is the captain of the Greater Western Sydney Giants. He is a good player, but only played 15 games in 2019 due to injury, therefore his ideal position would be playing on the half forward flank as he can play sporadically through the midfield. This would hopefully allow him to play every game.
Forwards
Toby Greene is a naturally talented player capable of kicking goals and having an impact on the game. Greene is a match-winner.
Isaac Heeney showed that he should be a permanent forward in Round 1 of season 2020, when he managed to kick four goals and was the best player on the ground.
Tom Papley is another player that is capable of being a dangerous player in the forward fifty.
Followers
Sam Naismith should be the number one ruckman as he is a player that has the ability to hold down that role, which he showed with a solid display in Round 1 of season 2020.
Tim Taranto won the 2019 GWS best-and-fairest.
Jacob Hopper is a player that often goes under the radar. He finished third in the 2019 best-and-fairest.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Interchange
Sam Jacobs showed that he is still a quality ruckman in Round 1 of season 2020 when he had a good game shouldering the number one ruck role. He is mobile, so he is capable of playing as the second ruckman.
Josh Kennedy showed that he still has the ability to play at AFL level in Round 1 of season 2020, when he was one of the best players on the field. He finished tenth in the 2019 best-and-fairest.
George Hewett remarkably finished second in the 2019 Swans best-and-fairest. He is still only 24 years of age.
Lance Franklin would benefit from having less game time than usual in order to prevent him from getting injured.
Emergencies
Jeremy Finlayson has the ability to kick a goal and play as a second ruckman.
Oliver Florent needs to prove that his performance in Round 1 of season 2020 was his usual standard and not an aberration if he is to make his way into the team.
Callan Ward needs to prove that he can recapture his usual form when he returns from injury if he is to make his way into this team.
Jake Lloyd finished seventh in the 2019 Swans best-and-fairest.
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Outstanding from Nicholas Madden!
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