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Joined January 2019
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Sam Reid finishes very well in front of goal. He finished with 30-17 in his last full season (2017) which was far more accurate than Buddy with 73-60 in the same year.
I’m confident a mix of Menzel, Reid, Buddy, Sinclair/Naismith, Blakey, McCartin and resting midfielders Kennedy and Parker will provide The Swans plenty of forward marking power to select from in 2019.
Blakey, Buddy and the space between
Menzel, Reid, Sinclair and a more experienced McCartin will help Buddy this year. Mills, Jones, Blakey will back up Parker/Kennedy. Don’t forget the Swans defeated every other top 8 team except Richmond in 2018. While they lacked depth and struggled with injury all year they still accounted for 1/3 of West Coast’s losses. Swans will finish top 4 in 2019 and play GF in 2020 and/or 2021. Anything can happen in a GF. Sydney’s last two years were rebuilding. Geelong will finish top 8 again and Hawks too if they can cover Mitchell (big loss) but will be the stronger for it in 2020.
The end of an era
You clearly don’t understand how the Swans forward line operated under duress this year. It was over-dependance on an injured Franklin that crueled any chance of winning finals. The Swans did indeed make maximum use of Buddy but what they really needed was atall forward or two by his side. Instead they had the youngest player in the comp filling a key forward role. “Kick it to Buddy” was not so much a mantra as a necessity. Parker player forward to try to give another marking target necessitating the move of Papley and Ronke through the middle to try to balance his loss.
The loss of the so many key playes such as Reid, Naismith and Mills during a rebuilding year just left too little depth. GWS successfully gambled bringing in underdone players for the EF. Swans didn’t have any left to gamble on. An injured Buddy and a cooked McCartin had no chance.
This year will see McCartin, Buddy, Ried, Menzel and Sinclair as tall forward options. Parker will play midfield again. Ronke and Paps will feast as small forwards. Mills, Blakey and Jones will be available as mids. Let’s see if that doesn’t change things around
The comprehensive end-of-year review: Sydney Swans
The real bloods fans waited 72 years for a premiership. The real bloods fans are enjoying the best period of the club’s history. The real bloods fans understand that building a team afresh takes time. This club will not be going anywhere other than up.
Sydney 2019 season preview: Best 22 and predicted finish
Swans are one of the youngest sides in the competition. Do keep up
Sydney 2019 season preview: Best 22 and predicted finish
Swans should have snagged the 2016 cup. They’ve rebuilt during the last couple of years even as injury has been cruel. The Swans have done well to remain competitive are well placed to go much deeper into finals over the next 5 years.
As for Papley. So many said Tom Mitchell should stay as a small forward ……. you never know. Besides, it’s not so much a matter of an individual’s best position as it is what best suits the team.
Sydney 2019 season preview: Best 22 and predicted finish
It isn’t until they’ve departed the players feel free to air their grievances, and in Sydney’s case we have Tom Mitchell to thank.
After the marquee signings of Kurt Tippett in 2012 and Lance Franklin in 2013, the AFL decided to whack the Swans with a trade ban for 2015 and 2016, a punishment comparable to that for draft tampering.
Tom Mitchell claimed he left for more games yet he played fewer in his two year at Hawks than his last two years at Swans. He left for money, and lots of it.
The trade ban was illegal and crippled the Swans ability to recruit. Tippet at his best was brilliant but was beaten by injuries. You argue Swans should recruit experienced players yet that’s one of the risks. They cost big money and there are no gurantees. Tippet has been moved onto the rookie list to reduce future payments.
Swans recruiting strategy has seen them with one of the youngest squads in the league whilst still retaining key senior players to guide, such as Grundy, McVeigh, Jack and Buddy. They picked up some experienced newbies while dropping their overall player payments by offloading Rohan and Hanners. Why would they recruit more senior players.
Youth isn’t the answer: The Swans must target delisted free agents instead