I’m not a big fan of the midseason trade idea. We’re not like the NBA with millions of dollars to buy land and houses so easily. Like on the field it works, you might be in need of a certain type of player. But off the field it doesn’t make sense imagine for example being in Victoria just bought a new house and have a young family, playing decent footy then getting the call you’ve being traded to Western Australia and you need to figure out the logistics of moving you’re entire life and family over to WA.

I reckon if the AFL wants to have any such midseason movement it should be from state leagues only. Example the Crows and Power the SANFL, Eagles and Dockers the WAFL. In NSW and Queensland the NEAFL not being as strong as the other state leagues besides just getting state league players these clubs can have the option of using their under 19 academy players. Also contracts should be short in the way of till the end of the season with maybe the bonus of having the opportunity to draft these players the next season if they impress enough.

Love this as a Swans supporter I agree with pretty much all of this. I mostly agree with that best 22 as well. Out would be Naismith with his ACL, then Hayward then In Towers and Florent. Sinclair would play the sole ruck with guys such as Reid and Towers pinch hitting when needed. I’m hoping for a big season and a Premiership at the end of it. The Swans have all the pieces just need them all to fall into place.

No Hipwood, Martin, Andrews, Hall, Miller???

Ainsworth hardly deserves a spot after only 13 games to, Lester not at centre half forward not a chance.

Should be In: Hipwood, Martin, Andrews, Hall and Miller

Out: Lester, Thompson, Witts, Young and Bastinac

Sloane and Fyfe on the bench, Smith and Merrett on the ground in the middle that’s a bit different. Also where is Swans captain Josh Kennedy? An absolute beast in the middle and led the Swans to 14-8 after a 0-6 start in his first season as captain.

Very underrated as a player probably doesn’t get the recognition he deserves playing in Portland. One word I would use to explain Lillard is clutch, he’s hit some big shots, and showed his prowess in that special performance the other night scoring 19 points (15 in a row) in the last 8 minutes to help the Blazers close out the Lakers 108-103.

Another take which I believe will be quite important is the Giants moving Whitfield to the half back line after the loss of Wilson and Williams out for the season. Racked up 29 disposals and 8 marks against the Swans following up from his 25 disposals and 9 marks against the Magpies. He’s efficient with the ball, and has the engine to push up and back all day. Showed his class also against the Swans pushing forward and kicking a nice goal off his opposite foot.

I was at the JLT game between the Swans and Giants and Whitfield put on another great display, running up and down the field from the half-back line. He took a few great intercept marks in defence and even snuck forward and kicked a classy goal on his opposite foot. He ended the game leading all players in disposals with 29, 8 marks, 4 tackles and a goal. The Giants will definitely use Whitfield out of defence this season he’s proved it in both JLT games he can play the role and still find the footy.

As a Swans supporter I like the look of Cameron but I believe he’ll struggle to break in and only injury to Sinclair or Naismith will get him included. Even then the Swans May opt to use maybe Reid or Towers as a second back up tuck option if one of the others goes down. I reckon our breakout player this season could be Oliver Florent, showed signs last season and impressed in the first JLT game with 16 disposals and 7 tackles. Could be a goal threat and may try and push in for some midfield time this season.

Well the squads will be 14 players for clubs who don’t think would name more than 3-4 big names. Most of the players will youngsters and developing players looking to make their mark. But yes it would be fantastic to see the clubs play a lot of big name players.

I agree in the fact that Melbourne with some off season moves and with players such as Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Hunt, Harmes, Neal-Bullen, Strech and Salem under their belts will push into the finals this season. But maybe it’s still very early to be talking premiership contention yet. I believe very similar to the Bombers, making the finals was a big thing and that was a great first taste of finals for the majority of the team and will put them in great stead to go one step further in 2018 especially with all their new faces. Melbourne i believe will be like that this season, making finals and finals experience for the majority of the players will help them greatly and put them in a great position for the seasons ahead, but still a bit early for premiership contention just yet.

I reckon it was fair to pick Drummond he’s been putting up good numbers for years. Simmons has many All-Star games ahead of him in the future. To add that Drummond the next night dropped 21 points and 22 rebounds in a win over the Cavs. The injury to Kevin Love now opens the door for either Simmons or Dragic to make their first All-Star appearance.

Tippett was brought in as a key forward like he was at the Crows. A big monster that would command attention and kick goals for the Swans and for the most part he did that in his early career in Sydney. In his first three seasons at the Swans Tippett played 48 games kicking 113 goals which is averaging better than his last three seasons at the Crows. We only seem to be judging Tippett on his past two seasons when he has been plagued by injury and playing mainly as a ruckman which he had never before in his AFL career. So you could say Tippett worked for what he was brought in to do but failed when injuries started and he was playing out of his preferred position. I wanted him to succeed and wished the Swans had put him back as key forward only. Unfairly judged.

I stated in the article that this how the draft should go if each team was picking the best player available. With both guards left you would always pick Kyrie Irving over DeMar DeRozan.

Those kids mentioned need to keep being played when available. But the rest of the squad needs a change and needs to be blown up, Swallow, Waite, Hansen, Thomas, Thompson need to be moved on. Goldstein should be put on the trade table while he still has value and so Preuss can hold the number one Ruck role all to himself. Ben Brown and Robbie Tarrant are great bookends at each end to start with. But its time to rebuild through the draft, keep playing the kids and if you want to get back into contention a big star signing needs to be made with all that cap space left.
Kelly and Dusty are great targets but in my opinion will most likely stay at their clubs. Maybe use money to get experienced or recycled players to help with the young kids and hopefully slowly move back up the ladder while still saving that money for when a big name is available when North become a top 8 side again and will become a destination where free agents want to move to.

Adding Jeff Teague at the point will automatically bring more offence to the point guard position big upgrade on the output Rubio would have ever given.

But with the free agency crop wearing thin I’d be chasing players such as Rudy Gay, Tyreke Evans, Trey Burke even Brandon Jennings to add scoring for the second unit and adding depth. Even Tony Allen could be an option to play his lockdown defender role.

Ever since early on in the season when he won his Rising Star nomination I knew Hipwood could be the real deal. He’s shown his worth and the Queensland local product is going to be the Lions centre half forward of the future. I know there was the big deal going on about Schache’s new deal but if anyone should be getting the big money long term offers its this kid.

With everyone knowing Porzingis isn’t happy in New York I heard a rumor being talked about today on ‘The Herd with Colin Cowherd’ with Chris Broussard that Boston might want to try and trade for Porzingis. The Knicks are rumored to be in love with Arizona’s Freshman from Finland Lauri Markkanen who is a very similar player Porzingis.

The rumor is that maybe Boston might trade Pick 3 along with Jaylen Brown and Al Horford for Porzingis. So from here the Knicks would draft Josh Jackson at pick 3 Lauri Markkanen at pick 8 then also have gained a veteran center/forward and a young small forward in Jaylen Brown. It sounds crazy I know, if you want to have a listen its on ‘The Herd with Colin Cowherd’ on youtube and the video is called “Broussard on Knicks: ‘I’d fire Phil Jackson before I trade Kristaps Porzingis’ | THE HERD”

‘d have to disagree saying GWS won’t pull a crowd for their first final. Yes Spotless is only small you might only be getting 20-22 thousand fans. But I was there for their Prelim last season and it was pumping even games against the Tigers and Swans there the atmosphere is amazing for such a small stadium and crowd and GWS thrive off it, their record there is very good.

But yes the top 8 reckon will be what you said maybe one or two differences, Port aren’t a top 4 team by any means right now

Keeping the side balanced with Hogan and Gawn soon to come back in will be the challenge. Integrating them back in will very important for Goodwin to manage without disrupting the side’s balance. No one expected Melbourne to win without their two most important players.

I believe both Hardwick and the players fault you can’t blame one without the other. Watching the game with about 5 or 6 minutes to go on the commentary one comment i don’t remember who by really interested me that he would be disappointed if Richmond weren’t rehearsed in someway in these close game situations that they had a plan to go to, which it really looked like they didn’t. I think the Hardwick and Richmond coaching staff need to figure out if the games get close again and they’re in front how the are gonna keep the lead whether that be slow it down, chip the ball around in the backline, whatever works for them as a team.

It also comes down to the players, they hit the front and got comfortable, the third quarter when the Swans started to claw back into the game the Tigers still played a comfortable game style didn’t look to have any real urgency like the first half. At the start of the last of the last they led by 3 goals, and the Swans came out firing and guys like Kennedy and Hannebery started to get their hands on the ball and get the Swans back into it and after the Papley and Kennedy goals Richmond players really dropped their heads and stopped competing. I believe because its happened so often lately losing close games whenever teams come back at them and games become close they start to drop their heads. You could see it after those goals they knew what was coming and instead of continuing to push it looked like they had given up, they had no intent. But this still shouldn’t take anything away from the Swans they came back and won that game through sheer determination and are looking like they can be real contenders again if they make the Top 8

I’ve always followed the progress of the Lions as a club always having a soft spot for them. Even though still down the bottom I can see light at the end of the tunnel and agreeing with your point that they have All Australian candidates in Zorko, Beams and Stef Martin. I’ve also loved watching the growth of Hipwood, I’ve heard people comparing him to Buddy in recent weeks, I reckon that’s a bit steep so early on I would say a mix between a young Tom Lynch and young Jeremy Cameron. Lych with his size and build at the same age and Cameron with the way he moves and kicks on his left. He has to be the key forward of the future for the Lions.They have the young pieces and midfield stars I really hope that it’s the start of Brisbane’s rise back up the ladder.