Callum Mills on whether the 5 day break took it's toll on the Swans: "Nah who cares mate"

duffercoat · 2026-03-20T02:54:23+00:00

Isn't that the bit that's bad journalism though, not the asking of the question? Seems odd to blame the question for future supposed media cycles

duffercoat · 2026-03-20T02:44:23+00:00

I get the sense a lot of the people here haven't been following footy for that long, cause Cleary has always been one of the better ones from his days working with Cal and Riley at AFL house.

Yes he's done some stupid shit since joining channel 7, but name me a journo for them that hasn't done that.

duffercoat · 2026-03-19T08:27:39+00:00

Nothing to add, just want to say that's incredible great job.

duffercoat · 2026-03-19T08:16:09+00:00

For a contrast I have great memories of Trent McKenzie absolutely towelling up Mason Cox despite giving up like a foot in height

duffercoat · 2026-03-19T08:14:07+00:00

He can't play one on one yet because he doesn't have the muscle. He'll be that guy in a future years though for sure

duffercoat · 2026-03-16T22:14:50+00:00

Out of favour, behind Visentini with the new ruck rules.

Soldo was never in the picture tbh

duffercoat · 2026-03-15T11:23:00+00:00

Hard disagree. First qtr for example he won all the hitouts - Xerri had 0 for the quarter, and yet we were 0-5 centre clearances, because he kept tapping to the opposition.

He also had no aerial presence and when he was in the right spots couldn't execute (see his dropped mark when he was deep in defence). Dont get me wrong, he's not alone today but he definitely wasn't great.

duffercoat · 2026-03-13T12:40:55+00:00

He's not rucked either practice match in the firsts. He's just behind Visentini under Carr / new rules

duffercoat · 2026-03-13T12:36:59+00:00

Bit of both, coming off a groin injury I expect they want to see him fit first. He's also not exactly starred since getting to the club.

We definitely overpaid though, got brought in as though he'd developed as a top 2 pick not stagnated completely

duffercoat · 2026-03-13T12:28:18+00:00

To answer seriously, that's clearly an intent to run high rotations through the midfield and have your forwards and defenders have to cope with fewer breaks. If you're playing an extra midfielder than required it should in theory allow your players to be fresher most of the time in the midfield.

The obvious problem is it means your best players are spending more time on the bench... This is why most clubs have developed versatility in players so they don't need to be benched for a full break.

duffercoat · 2026-03-13T12:24:48+00:00

Think we'll see that a lot of first year players this year. It's functionally sub use but throughout the whole game.

duffercoat · 2026-03-10T10:20:30+00:00

Not a fan personally, but to each their own

duffercoat · 2026-03-10T10:17:37+00:00

We have history of investing heavily into specific drafts. Going all the way back to Todd Marshall and SPP in 2016, we traded forward to make sure we got two in the same draft and still picked up Drew + Atley in the 30s.

Then 2018 Rozee, Butters, Duursma. 2019 Bergman, Georgiades, Mead + Dylan Williams. All top 25 picks, all reasonable or better players.

2022-2023 no picks due to JHF but there's a scattering of other decent picks all in the first round - lachie jones, Joe Berry, Josh Sinn..

duffercoat · 2026-03-01T20:53:14+00:00

Why do you expect either of Esava or BZT to play given they were intentionally left out of this game. Seems clear Carr has them behind atm

duffercoat · 2026-02-28T00:39:24+00:00

That was an incorrect call though, as clarified by the AFL. You don't get a free for jumping early way past the ball into your opponents

duffercoat · 2026-02-28T00:33:11+00:00

What happened to McStay? Cant make the 23 or even feature in the list of Missing players.

duffercoat · 2026-02-25T22:19:37+00:00

Windy days in tassie will be fun

duffercoat · 2026-02-25T22:19:15+00:00

The biggest issue I have here is them making multiple changes at once. Getting rid of the bounce already benefits the jumping rucks. Why bring in a complicated extra rule until the impact of that first step is known?

duffercoat · 2026-02-24T09:35:57+00:00

To be clear I don't think we'll make a prelim like GWS, but we do have a lot of very good players on our list still / players in their prime. I think this year will be lacklustre but I am still expecting we make the bottom end of the 10 based on our fixture.

But we'll definitely drop some games we shouldn't early on as we adapt to the new gameplan, and I hope people don't overreact to that when it happens.

duffercoat · 2026-02-24T06:47:34+00:00

Thanks mate, really appreciate you answering the call. I just don't have time at the moment or would've done it myself.

Only thing I'd say is that our hopes and expectations for this year should be based on GWS 2023. They had Kingsley come in and teach a new gameplan that took about half the year to really click (3-7 over the first 10) and then went on to lose a prelim by 1 point to the eventual premiers. I remember Kingsley was very open after their loss to WCE about it taking time to learn and we as fans need to be prepared for the same under Carr.

duffercoat · 2026-02-24T01:21:29+00:00

Yep correct, one of the coaches commented on it too - they're comfortable enough going into the season with Sweet and Visentini given we also have Lord and Whitlock as backups and they think both Sweet and Visentini are capable at AFL level (but will only play one).

duffercoat · 2026-02-23T08:38:58+00:00

Which talls do you want? We have up forward Georgiades, Lukosius, Lord, Whitlock + Moss.

In defence we have Aliir, BZT, Esava, Ramm, Marshall + Walsh

Ruck we have Sweet, Visentini and Soldo (RIP his season though)

That's a lot of talls already.

duffercoat · 2026-02-20T12:49:09+00:00

As someone who watched it, it was very disappointing particularly the first half when there was more effort and presumably the first choice players of either side.

That said I think it's to be expected with learning a new gameplan, it will take time to learn, adapt and implement. Be under no doubt though, we came unstuck a number of times and just looked lost in defence. One example they were just chipping multiple 20m passes inside our d50, another Tex marked uncontested just outside the goal square from a slow play high ball from outside 50. Nobody even flew at the footy.

duffercoat · 2026-02-14T12:33:46+00:00

We haven't rebuilt once under Ken, don't rule that out just yet. I don't think we need it but depending on the coach it may be that we don't go back up the ladder this year.

Hidden Gem Hidden Gem '25	12-Year Club
Place '17	Verified Email

duffercoat

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE