Player: Riley Bice

Shirt Number: 26

Last Year : Werribee Tigers #26

Position: Defender.

This is so weird and a little emotional to write. Number 26 for the Swans has been Parks number for so long, it feels wrong that I’m writing about anyone else, but the number is Bice’s now and he is a player to keep on your radar. At the incredibly old age of 24, Bice is not your average draft pick. A medium sized defender, his gameplay from last year reminded me a bit of Jake Lloyd mixed with Lizards. He is a daring runner, but does not push as far up as Liz usually, he is not the best in contested marking situations but is often used for the switch of play due to his great left boot and his composure under pressure. Bice was picked up with pick 41, interestingly 5 picks later, Swans academy player Joel Cochran was drafted by the pies (who also tried to take CC last year) and we did not match the bid.

Looking over Bice’s numbers from last year, he started off slow but by week 6 he found some incredible matches which is why he got drafted. Bice had some freakish games, but also had a tendency to go missing the next week. He particularly had a 5 match period where this was the most apparent (I don’t like talking in terms of fantasy points but I’m going to here because it helps express his output well.) Bice scored 98 points, then 66 (this was against us), 129, 65 then finally 157. He averaged 90 fantasy points per game in 2024 and had nearly 22 touches a game, 76% disposal efficiency, 7 marks, 4.5 intercepts, 4.2 score involvements and 2.6 tackles a game on average. If he can produce anywhere near those numbers again in the 2s, do not be surprised if he comes into the main squad sometime this year. If you are not convinced he can make it in, look up Shaun Mannagh

2025 Outlook

Low end - Bice’s incredible 2024 is nothing to turn your nose up at, he has earnt his chance to play AFL level but it is never easy to crack into a team that just played in a grand final and in this scenario, Bice does not manage it. He shows that he is still a valued player in the 2s, but the troughs in his play are lower and the peeks are not as high as it was for Werribe. Bice isn’t really given a chance to play and knows that he has to fight even harder if he ever wants to play beyond VFL level.

Middle of the road - Bice picks up where he left off last year and starts playing at an extremely high level in the 2s. He averages 19 touches a game, but remains that the 76% efficiency marker. Weekly, Bice is considered to play 1s, but the Bloods in this scenario are on a hot streak and changing the starting 22 is a risk we do not take. He is named emergency a few times, and does make a debut towards the end of the year, but spends most of his time being regarded as one of the best defenders in the VFL. He comes into 2026 fighting for some vacancies that retirements create.

Best result - The confidence from winning a flag last year cannot be overstated for Riley, and he comes into the building ready to fight for a starting job. He does not get it week 1 but continues to apply pressure to those ahead of him through remarkable play in the 2s. In this scenario, a medium defender is hurt and Bice is selected to take their place. He does not let the lights of the big stage daunt him. Naturally his numbers are nowhere near his 28 touches a game he was having in the 2s, but Bice averages 18 disposals a game with 4 intercepts. He plays so well that he forces an older player to miss out on a spot when September rolls around and Bice becomes another success story for the Werribee Tigers.

Player: Justin McInerney 

Shirt Number: 27

Last Year : Sydney Swans 27

Position: Winger

What a year 2024 was for Juzzy. We came into the season as with some people predicting Juzzy would struggle to keep his spot on the team, or might need to be trialed in other positions just to stay in the rotations, he took the role of the winger and absolutely made it his own. Particularly during our dominant stretch, it seems as though Juzzy couldn't miss a target, he was arrow straight and although his kicking form still looks gnarly, he would be carving defenses apart with ease. That was, until he got injured, and in the few games he came back for, he just was a step slow. I don’t think it’s something to be afraid about but it is still noteworthy. At just 24, Juzzy still has room to improve but is a lock weekly to play unless something drastic happens. 

2025 Outlook

Low end - Juzzy isn’t in such amazing form as he was in 2024 and as such, finds form somewhere between his pre and post injury level. His kicking accuracy goes down, and he has less explosive runs but still remains accurate enough and a strong wingman. He gets dropped a couple of times throughout the year to allow for younger players to be blooded, but when a win is needed, Juzzy is selected and plays his role well. 

Middle of the road - Juzzy shows that 2024 is the new normal and comes out hot and firing. His numbers stay around his best, averaging around 18 touches and kicks at a 76% kicking efficiency rate (tied with his career best in 2021). He plays all 25 ish games the Swans play, and until we find a superstar winger, Juzzy is safe knowing few players will take his spot.

Best result - Juzzy’s stats show that he consistently thrives in disposal efficiency and marks, but in 2025 he starts to get more touches than ever before. With such hard tags going to Isaac, Errol and the Chad, Juzzy comes through and starts to find openings which were never there before. With his disposal efficiency numbers still being in the mid to high 70%’s, Macca is given licence to ditch the wing in stoppages more to help with the scrapping. Juz becomes extremely elusive and shows shades of Chads game with his line breaking ability. He finishes 2025 averaging a career high 25 disposals a game and finishes top 5 in the Bobby Skilton

Hey guys so sorry for the missed few days. Been a very busy time. I'll post 2 today to get back on track. Ok first up, Will Edwards.

Player: Will Edwards

Shirt Number: 28

Last Year : Sydney Swans 28

Position: Key defenser

Will joined our team as a category B prospects in 2023 out of our academy. In his first year playing for the 2s, he was very volatile in his production, but had a game Sandringham that still remains his best game ever statistically. Last year, he saw an increase in his baseline numbers and was much more consistent in his performances. This consistent performance and skill increase, saw Will get himself a 1 year extension midday through last year, with good words of praise from Leon Cameron. Will is my dark horse to be a new starter, but if it doesn't happen, it could be his last year on the team.

Before I begin on the guesswork, I want to state that I think low end is most likely here, but his range is large enough I need to spread it out.

2025 Outlook

Low end - Will’s only 21. He is typically not the right age for a KPP to fill out their frame and show their full potential. As such, Will's improvements are slight and he never makes it out of the 2s. Despite improvement, Will is not offered a new contract and starts playing SAFL.

Middle of the road - Will continues to improve in the 2s but the jump becomes more week to week rather than gradual. As such, come round 20, when Sydney is already a lock for finals, Will makes his debut and ends up playing 2 games. In his 2 games, he averages 13 touches and 2 intercept marks. He isn't elite but does enough to get him a year extension and a chance to push for a true starting spot in 2026.

Best result - Tommy's move up front leaves a hole for a key defender, and no set player to fill it. While trying more established players such as Hamling and Francis in the early stage of the year, Will plays strongly in the 2s, averaging 3 intercept marks a game while taking on the best defender on the opponents team. By week 5, Edwards is given his chance and he takes it with both hands. He shows room for improvement but plays well enough to keep his spot from the other contenders and becomes a regular best 22. He doesn't manage a finals appearance as we shift Tommy back and bring in older heads but comes back in 2026 as a lock down back and with fire in his belly from being snubbed.

Everything sounds like Journo grapevine nonsense - but think Swans would be sending their contact details to him?

Player: Joel Hamling

Shirt Number: 29

Last Year : Sydney Swans 29

Position: KPP, both back and forward

Joel came to the bloods in 2024 after good showings in Freo, though his time with the club was marred by injuries. In his first year with the club, he said that despite being 31, that he felt like he was in the best form of his life. He sadly didn't get a chance to show this in the 1s because we transitioned him into being a key forward rather than a defender. He saw games in both positions in the 2s and had some very strong games during his stretch, but unfortunately for him, they came during our win streak so it was nearly impossible for Joel to get a chance at the 1s. He finished the 2s season with 31 goals and 18 behinds, but only registered a score in about half of the games he played in, so he has proven, at a level below that he can be a strong goal scorer. Now it's about if he can do it in the main team

2025 Outlook

Low end - With Tommy floating forward more, Hamling is primed for more chances to play with the 1s, but isn't given a chance as he is out performed by Aaron Francis and the established bigs. He plays well in the 2s but not quite well enough to seriously push for a starting spot and Joel decides to retire at season's end.

Middle of the road - Joel continues his form from last year and manages a handful of first team games. He plays well but not brilliantly but more importantly, his play was enough to put pressure on Amartey, Logan and Hayden and that ultimately pushes him into only featuring in a couple of games. He finishes with 4 games, 3 goals and 2 behinds. Joel decides to bet on himself at season's end and moves to West Coast where he told me when I met him last year, that he preferred living.

Best result - After a disappointing year for the vet, Joel really shines in his new home, playing whatever role TMac leaves vacant. Joel's size, ability to play both up front and down back and experience provides the perfect relief to whatever spot the more talented Tommy leaves. When up front, now it's not Tom, Joel is given more space and using it to rip the hearts out of defences right as they think they were out of trouble. In the moments he's down back, he plays a solid lockdown tall on the second big and uses his extensive game knowledge to ensure he isn't beaten by size or strength by younger and fitter opponents. He plays 15 games and locks in the 2023/4 offseason as one of the best talent finds in recent history

Ok that's it for today. Tomorrow I will be heading home so I will try and write Will Edwards on the flight but no guarantees that there will be one, sorry.

Question about the 2 Tall vs 3 Tall set-up in the forward line.

If Logan, Joel & Hayden all play 80% of game time. And McLean  splits that so he plays 20% in the ruck (60% up forward, 20 bench). And Grundy plays 80% game time in the ruck 20% on the bench.

That would work out to be an average of 2.2 tall forwards on the field at once (as a KPF). So in other words, 20% of the time we'd have 3 Tall forwards, 80% of the time we'd have 2 Tall forwards. 

Then assuming we have a non KPP as the sub, we can sub one of the big 3 off at some point, if we sense we are too tall, or someone is having an off game, or looks cooked we can sub them assuming no injuries of course, which don’t always happen. This would further reduce the time of the 3 tall set up. So it might only work out to be 10-15% of the time we are operating with the 3 tall set up. 

If we drop Amartey lets say. Then this would reduce us down to 1.4 tall forwards at a time. Then someone like Hayward or Heeney become the 2nd tall for 60% of the game.

Are we still too tall with picking the big 3?

Have I missed something here? 

Player: Tom McCartin

Shirt Number: 30

Last Year : Sydney Swans 30

Position: Our best defender / Key forward

This one is going to be a weird one.

Tommy, is an All-Australian calibre key defender who over the past 3 seasons down back, has been one of our best defenders. He played almost every game over those 3 years, and when he wasn't down back, we got smoked. He helped keep our shape lead our defensive structure and took out the opponents best scorer all at once. Now, I love a bit of Swans media content, probably a little too much. Was I surprised to see Tommy taking big marks, no. Was I surprised to see him taking these marks as a key forward. Absolutely. Tommy has great hands, a more in depth understanding of defensive structures and how to exploit them then anyone else on our roster, but to take our best defender and make him back into a forward is going to be a drastic change for both our scoring and the strength of our defence.

2025 Outlook

Low end - Tommy plays decently but not brilliantly up front. He kicks 6 goals 3 in his 5 games up front. In this time though, we are 1-4 due to our defence being leakier than a burst drainpipe. We shift Tommy back home and predictability he takes over leading the defence and solidifies the issues we were experiencing down back. He statistically finishes 2025 having a down year due to those lost 5 games but no one tries to reinvent the wheel again

Middle of the road - Tommys shift up forward is filled with growing pains but makes him a matchup nightmare. While he spends the better part of half a season with performances below the expected AFL level up front, his defensive strength keeps him as apart of our best 10 players. By the halfway stage however, Tommy finds some form and starts to become a beast up front. You often see TMac leading high up field to take a mark, then just keep running while he transitions to defence and confuses the opposition defensive structure. He ends up with 15 goals and the bloods come into 2026 with a solid plan on how to dominate everyone with Tommy being a key factor.

Best result - TMacs deep knowledge of defense's and his solid preseason body of work means that he starts 2025 firing and becomes an instant problem for our opposition. He requires a tag, but the second he gets one he rotates to defense and throws off the other team's shape. Once they stabilise again, here comes TMac and he wrecks everything again. Between Hamling, Francis and TMac, we have a revolving door of strong key position players that can play both forward and back and there are no defensive lapses and this strength and flexibility helps lead us to a flag.

The Warner brothers didn’t square up for round 2 this time, but yet again Sydney players had to be separated from one another as pre-season heats up. Plus more on a re-signed Swan.

There might not have been brothers battling it out this week, but the Swans’ physicality was on display during their second major match simulation in under a week.

Heavy tackles and bumps were the order of the day on Tramway Oval as teammates got in each other’s faces, with the players left on their haunches after the session as they prepare to go into a four-day break.

The two sides were split relatively close to seniors and reserves as Dean Cox begins to formulate his preferred combination. Isaac Heeney, James Rowbottom and Chad Warner started alongside Will Green for one side at the first centre bounce, with the quartet up against captain Callum Mills, James Jordon, Angus Sheldrick and Peter Ladhams.

It was the ‘reserves’ side that got off to a faster start thanks to some really strong early touches from Sheldrick. He linked up well with Ned Bowman, who found Indhi Kirk to convert the first goal with a check kick using the outside of his foot from the pocket.

Green and Ladhams appeared well-matched in the ruck, with Sheldrick and Jordon both reading the taps well and able to break out of the stoppages. There was a real focus on “taking the sting out of the game” from the defence of the main side, as Dane Rampe, Lewis Melican and Nick Blakey attempted to slow down the pace of the play.

However, the highlight moment arrived when Chad Warner used his body to create some space from Patrick Snell off the halfback line. With no one ahead of him, Warner took nearly half a dozen bounces, moved inside 50 and converted beautifully through the sticks. It was a typical Warner goal, and one Swans will be hoping to also see beyond this season.

Tom McCartin had some nice moments ahead of the ball as he develops his forward craft. His best involvements came when he could outmuscle his opponent, with the 25-year-old still getting his head around some of the leading patterns for his teammates.

NO LOVE LOST

There was clearly an instruction from Dean Cox not to leave anything on the field, and the players delivered some absorbing hits throughout the match.

Taylor Adams’ pressure around the ball was superb, including a monster tackle he laid on Rowbottom in the final stages of the first quarter. It’s not often you see Rowbottom slow to get up, but he was clearly shaken from the impact as Adams helped him off the ground.

A few spot fires emerged across the ground, including between two of the clubs leaders in Mills and Dane Rampe. The pair exchanged some shoves, with Mills clearly trying to bait Rampe into giving away a free kick. He was eventually successful and as he converted the goal, you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

Another moment occurred in the final quarter between Joel Amartey and Riak Andrew. As Andrew shepherded the ball across the boundary, a late push from Amartey sent him flying. The draftee didn’t take too kindly to the extra attention and got straight in Amartey’s face to let him know with several teammates needed to pull the pair apart.

Defensive physicality is clearly king for the Swans in 2025, and it will be fascinating to see what sort of impact it has on their fortunes.

PRESSING TO IMPRESS

The players who stood out most on Wednesday morning were ones who pressed relentlessly in the forward half and created turnover opportunities.

Corey Warner was constantly buzzing around in the forward line, looking for space and hounding his opponents when they had the ball. Mid-season draftee Tom Hannily was another who laid a couple of strong tackles and caused at least one turnover inside 50.

Caiden Cleary had a couple of nice moments, but it was the youngest Warner who looked most lively. The 21-year-old just needs to match his conversions to his intensity, as he missed a couple of opportunities to hit the scoreboard. Tom Papley also got in on the action with a nice crumbed goal.

DEFENCE TAKES SHAPE

With McCartin moving forward, there are a lot of question marks about how the Swans’ backline will line up.

From the first two major match simulations, it’s clear that Lewis Melican has adopted the role of the backline leader with Dane Rampe and Nick Blakey working alongside him. Melican was incredibly vocal communicating with his teammates, demanding them to fill gaps and marshalling them to great effect.

Matt Roberts will also continue to build on his breakout year as the 21-year-old showed elite ability to switch the ball with supreme accuracy. Rampe was rotated to the other team for the final quarter as Cox experimented with some combinations, mainly involving Aaron Francis.

The rest of the backline will likely be opposition-dependent. Francis and Joel Hamling both took turns playing as the key defender for the reserves side, with Hamling occasionally getting forward. Francis took some strong grabs, particularly when the wet conditions set in.

Ben Paton and Riley Bice will likely be shooting it out for a chance to play alongside Harry Cunningham. They both present different options with Paton more of a shut-down defender, while Bice can look to rebound and get the ball forward quickly.

As for the youngsters coming through, Patrick Snell and Riak Andrew both had strong moments throughout the game. Andrew took a massive contested mark on the wing, while Snell’s strength to break tackles was also on display. Will Edwards looms as another option but is working his way back from an infection in his leg he suffered playing in the VFL.

PLAYERS WHO STOOD OUT

Will Green

The second-year draftee is looking far more composed around the stoppages and performed strongly in his contest against Pete Ladhams. While he often gave up first position, he still regularly won the tap and looked to put his midfielders into space. His ball distribution and tackling in and around the contest was also a highlight as he looks to convince Cox he deserves a debut in 2025. Ladhams also performed strongly as he enters a contract year.

Nick Blakey

The Lizard looks primed to build on his All-Australian season, reading the flight of the ball superbly and using his size to create space and uncontested marks with ease. He was also finding targets inside 50 beautifully, giving them space to run into and mark in front of their body. With more responsibility on the defence in 2025, expect Blakey to rise to the occasion.

James Jordon

While he made a name for himself as the Swans’ tagger last year, Jordon had some really nice touches around the stoppages on Wednesday. He was breaking out of the contest and into space, finding teammates and creating plenty of opportunities. There is such a logjam of talent across the ground for the Swans, so it’s hard to see exactly where Jordon plays. But if he can match efficient ball use to his pressure game, he will be a valuable asset for Cox.

Hey guys so sorry I missed yesterday, still in Hamilton Islands and just ran out of time to write it. Let's get straight into it

Player: Indhi Kirk

Shirt Number: 31

Last Year : Sydney Swans 31

Position: Mid/Forward

After being selected as a Category B rookie in 2024, Indhi played 16 consistent but average games in the 2024 VFL season. He spent most of the season in the half forward, struggling to find midfield minutes with the likes of CC, Sid and Corey. He started the season in hot form and had a chance to debut, but after starting with 4 out of 5 solid games, Indi got into a slump and played mediocre football until week 18. From his half forward spot, Indhi played a superb game, which helped him get only his second midfield start of the season. This game was his best of the season, having 21 touches, 8 marks, made some damaging kicks and he looked to be building. Then we ran into Footscray and noone could touch the ball. He had a down game (though he had 5 tackles) and it ended our season.

In 2025, his chances of breaking into the 1s is slim, but he needs to show an uptick in consistent performances if he wants to stay on the team list.

2025 Outlook

Low end - Indhi continues his playing level of 2023 and 2024. He has some good games and some mediocre games but doesn't have any standout performances. His contract expires at seasons end and he isn't renewed

Middle of the road - Indhi sees an uptick in play as he pushes to stay with the club that his father is a legend of. He increases his baseline from 7 touches to 13 and has a career best game having 27 touches and a goal. He gets selected as an emergency twice but doesn't make a first team appearance and at seasons end, he leaves the club to chase a chance in the WAFL.

Best result - Like in the middle of the road, Indhi increases both his baseline and his top end performances as his unique talents start to show. His highlight mark from training (You can find it here) is a show of his confidence he has and the strides he has made during the offseason. He starts to push for regular midfield minutes as he starts to match CC for stats per game. He and CC fight for first team minutes and he manages 3 games and kicks his first goal during that time. He gets a 2 year contract extension and goes into 2026 with a chance of becoming a regular.

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/1710124?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3s6SS3Jcs6oYeQJFu-QrO5zSboITPqiEQw2VaTGHa8cBo8EqR-zvGllbg_aem_029LlpNMRNJatgRTZIrrrg

What do we all think? I’m glad we have signed him, and put faith that he’ll improve more, let’s hope to a big 2025 for him

PART 1.

We are all starting to wonder – is this a bit more than flexibility /experimentation?

There is actually some compelling logic around this.

It is more than just – Tmac – can play forward it’s HOW he plays forward.

Seems in 2025 – the CHF you want is a player who –

-can take a contested mark but knows when to spoil and is an elite spoiler (getting the ball down to the zippy smalls). TICK.

- when the defense has possession – be elite at rolling up to pressure or positioning to limit their transition. TICK.

- Be good at marshalling teammates around you. TICK.

Ok – not so elite at set shots – but at CHF would be just as often passing – pretty good at that.

PART 2.

We wonder – what about the hole in defence? What you are adding to the fwd line is a subtraction from defence.

My main thought was the parallel universe – Logan McDonald – goes to CHB. Would take some time to work through – but a feasible option if Blakey/Melican/Rampe can hold the ship until it gels.

I think he has the talent and attributes to succeed as both CHF or CHB. The swans have form with both TMac /PaddyMac making the switch. Not saying it would be an instant success but if it can settle in by finals time. They might even be thinking medium term Logan has quite a ceiling as a CHB??

I was starting to think – maybe this logic is genius –

But now – BLOODY HELL - with the injury worries for Logan – that might torpedo the whole thing.

There does need to be a solution to – the hole in defence – so do you plow on regardless and try all sorts of other possibilities. Back to the drawing board DC for some more ideas.

Player: Blake Leidler

Shirt Number: 32

Last Year : Oakleigh Chargers #21

Position: Defender

Blake is an 18 year old defender that comes out of the Oakleigh Chargers. The 2006 born prospect (god I feel old) got the nod with the Swans, being the 14th pick in the rookie draft after missing out on the national draft the day before. During his 2 years in the U18s comp, Blake made a name for himself tagging the most athletic forwards in the comp, most notably, having a very strong game again a kid called Jesse Dattoli (we'll get to him in a few days). His biggest strength however came when in a Blakey style role, when he was not given a direct opponent but instead was allowed to use his natural talents to roam to make an impact on the game from the back half. His forward attacks have been described as ‘entertaining’ but he reads the defence with ease and show be an exciting prospect for years to come

2025 Outlook

Low end - The jump from playing under 18s to an adult's competition is always going to be a tough transition and Leidler struggles early with the speed and strength of the players in the 2s. They give Blake the chance to play in many positions which also leads to down games and a drop in confidence. Towards the end of the year, Blake strings together a few solid games which, along with a solid preseason, sets him up nicely for a strong run into 2026.

Middle of the road - After a few growing pains, Blake puts together a consistent patch of solid but not outstanding matches. As to be expected he has good and some not so good games but shows more than enough to merit a 2 year extension at seasons end

Best result - Blake has a few early season bad moments, but no full bad games. He instantly becomes another hidden gem that the Bloods often find late in drafts and quickly brings Blakey style rebounding defence to our VFL team. Close to seasons end, with the minor premiership already wrapped up, Leidler gets his chance in the 1s as we rest Lizard before finals. In his only game in the 1s, he has only 5 touches as the sub, but makes some carving runs, which gives the fanbase something to look forward to in 2026

Player: Caiden Cleary

Shirt Number: 33

Last Year : Sydney Swans #33

Position: Midfield / Half Forward

CC is another young player that rocketed onto the scene in 2024. Our second draft pick thought for sure he was going to be in Collingwood during the draft process, but the young academy prospect competed hard from day 1 and got his chance against the giants in round 15. In his first 3 games he was pretty quiet, but finished game 4 with 11 disposals and 16 in game 5, showing that he is heading in the right direction for 2025. In the 2s, CC was very impressive from day 1. He had a steady rise in performances each week, and peeked in round 14 with a 39 disposal game! The best 22 remains a tough squad to crack but CC, along with Gus Sheldrick are the 2 in the best position to make the rise into regulars this upcoming season

2025 Outlook

Low end - The likes of Corey, Indi Kirk (what a mark) and Jesse Dattoli make rises and take opportunities away from CC who does not stand out in the 2s. He does enough to get 5 games in the 1s and averaged 10 touches a game in those games but does not do enough to be a regular.

Middle of the road - CC continues his natural rise towards stardom and sees an uptick of minutes and performances. CC averages 15 touches a game over his 10 games and even manages to feature as the sub in a final. He finishes with 8 goals over the year and comes into 2026 primed to be a regular starter.

Best result - CC rises to the challenge and steals Parks spot from right under Adam's nose. After a big performance in R3, CC does enough throughout a strong stretch of football that he is considered a locked in member of the best 22. He is a key aspect of our deep run into September and continues into 2026 joining Errol and Gus as being the future of this great club

enjoy to all those lucky enough to be on the cruise ❤️🤍

Player: Matt Roberts

Shirt Number: 34

Last Year : Sydney Swans #34

Position: Half Back

Matty is another player that exceeded even my loftiest expectations for him in 2024. Coming off a 2023 where he played 6 games but only got in because of injuries, we were optimistic that he might make a push for the best 22, but I don't think anyone truly expected the season he had. Besides a midseason dip in form that saw him miss 3 games, and a missed game here and there, Matty was close to a lock every week. When in form, he was having 23 touches a game and was averaging 3 tackles a game. At 21, Ranga Robs still has a lot of potential growth in his game and has the chance to join Liz and McCartin as the face of our future defence.

2025 Outlook

Low end - The drastic rise of Matty slows in 2025 and he starts to have some mental demons take over. Starting the year on the edge of the best 22 is a tough place to be and Matty struggles to rise to the occasion. He plays 15 games, but has to keep going to the 2s to get form and confidence back and a shaky performance sends him on a downward directory. He has slightly lower numbers over the season and is worked with over the 2025 offseason to improve his dips in form

Middle of the road - With a full season of starting under his belt, Matty comes into 2025 ready to take over as a key part of our team. With the likes of Ramps, JLo and Harry getting older, Matty raises his game to take up the mantra for our defensively focused team. Though his numbers remain the same as last year, his dips in form do not happen and he comes a consistent and dependable assets to our squad. His defensive play is one of the key reasons we do not have any defensive drops in 2025 and he helps us remain in a championship window.

Best result - After his first full season being a defender, Matty’s game continues to rise and he starts to become the best true defender on the team. Matty takes a lot of confidence from being given a long extension and uses this, along with a full preseason in defensive training to jump himself into being a top 10 player on the roster. His calm and precise ball movement has Matty reflect the play of a young JLo and his stats reflect this. Matty ends the season averaging 24 touches and scores 6 goals, while increasing his tackles to 70 in the year. He finishes 2025 8th in the Bobby Skilton and is primed for a super career as a blood

So sorry for the delay on posting this one. I'm going away tomorrow and had to get ready. I'm going to write the next few on the flight so I am set for the days ahead. Anyway, onto the review

Player: Caleb Mitchell

Shirt Number: 35

Last Year : Sydney Swans #35

Position: Midfielder

At the start of every season, a name starts to be thrown around as a chance to play and I think to myself, if ‘insert name’ plays, then we will be in a rough spot. For me, last year that was Sid Mitchell. I looked back on last year's review on him and in it I said his best result would be considered a rising star in the 2s and is lucky to make his debut. He exceeded these loftiest of goals I set for him 12 months ago. He may not have done a lot in his 2 games in the first team (I say 2, he didn't even get a touch in week 4 against West Coast so it was really just 1) but the fact that he even played and so early on shows that he is a player to watch. In the VFL, he had 2 quiet games all season and was unlucky to not be given another chance in the 1s. He averaged over 20 touches a match and around 5 marks a game. Sid is a key part of the pressure our best 22 feel weekly to retain their spot as he will undoubtedly, being only 20, be a starter for this great team sooner or later.

2025 Outlook

Low end - Sid remains the fringe 1s player that he was last year. With so many players on contract years, with young talent everywhere trying to make a name for themselves and older players trying to prove they still got it, Sid just does not rise to the occasion as well as some others. He manages 2-3 games in the 1s but is mostly still carving up the VFL, averaging 22 touches a game. Sid’s given a 2 year extension and gets into 2026 knowing it is now or never to make a place for himself.

Middle of the road - With the Swans not going on a 10 game winning streak, Sid finds it a little easier to come by first team chances and is featured in more games in 2025. When on the field, he shows flashes of high end AFL skill but does not force selectors into making him a weekly play. In 6 games, Sid averages 10 touches and 2 score involvements. He gets a new contract and again, is ripe for the run at the 1s in 2026

Best result - Sid is given the first chance at starting, and knowing that it will be hard to get back in, he takes the chance with both hands and runs with it. Sid breaks out in a big way, averaging 16 touches a game and locks in a spot in the front 6. Over his 14 or so games, Sid scores 10 goals. He returns in 2026 with high hopes and a chance at some true midfield minutes.

Sydney track watch: All the match sim standouts as Chad and Corey Warner involved in heated exchange

There was no love lost in Sydney on Friday with coach Dean Cox forced to step in when tensions boiled over during match-sim. And it wasn’t the only eye-catching moment of the heated session.

Tom McCartin has led the way in a new-look Swans forward line as last year’s minor premiers played a physical four-quarter match simulation on Friday morning, which saw the Warner brothers involved in a very heated exchange. 

There was no love lost as the side completed four 10-minute terms, with big bumps and heavy tackles all across Tramway Oval. 

Several big names including Brodie Grundy, Logan McDonald and Hayden McLean weren’t involved in the matchplay as their loads were managed, while Taylor Adams also was not involved. 

From the very first bounce, it was clear that this would be a fierce internal battle as Callum Mills, Isaac Heeney and James Rowbottom lined up for the red ‘first’ team. Opposing them were Justin McInerney, James Jordon and Angus Sheldrick. Will Green played predominantly as the ruck for the red side with no strong opponent, as Pete Ladhams played forward for the second-string side.

At first glimpse, a couple of players have clearly started the year strong and earned first crack under Dean Cox. 

One of those is former Saint Ben Paton who played off the halfback line for the first two quarters in the main side alongside Matty Roberts. They completed a defence that saw Lewis Melican as the main key defender, alongside Dane Rampe, Nick Blakey and Harry Cunningham. 

Further up the field, Tom McCartin cut an imposing figure in the goalsquare, playing as the deepest lying forward and looking to crash the pack wherever possible. Joel Amartey played slightly further ahead of him, with the pair complimented by the likes of Tom Papley, Will Hayward and the impressive Caiden Cleary. 

In-demand star Chad Warner started the game in the forward line but rotated in the midfield throughout the match simulation.

IN THE ACTION

From the first bounce, the main side’s intent was clear, as Mills, Rowbottom, and Heeney worked well in tandem in the midfield. They regularly found their way into space, either releasing Errol Gulden on the wing or looking to get the ball quickly inside 50. McCartin was the key beneficiary early, kicking the first two goals of the simulation, including a great conversion from about 40 metres out in the left pocket. 

Gulden’s footy IQ was also on display as his field kicking was a class above on the day, with the winger always looking to switch the ball across the field.

Papley chimed in for a smartly-taken goal in the first term with the small forward looking as energetic as ever. At one point early in the second term, he came to the sidelines having popped one of his fingers out while attempting to mark a ball, but was back on the field five minutes later. 

Major changes were made to the sides for the last two terms, including flipping Gulden and Warner around, while Braeden Campbell was brought in on managed minutes.

BROTHERS GET PHYSICAL

The biggest flash point of the game occurred between the two Warner brothers. 

As Corey Warner attempted to regather the ball on the wing, his brother, Chad, laid him out on the ground with a massive hip and shoulder. The collision was noticed by plenty on the sidelines, but most continued to watch the play. 

However, Corey immediately got up to remonstrate with his older brother, forcing Dean Cox and the umpires to come in and intervene. Jumpers were pulled and they were both happy to get in each other’s face, but that’s where it ended.

While there was zero malice in either incident, it’s a good indication the mongrel the Swans require this season has well and truly arrived.

PLAYERS ON THE RISE

From the opposing side, Jack Buller was a standout looking to put his injury troubles behind him. While he didn’t have much impact on the scoreboard, he was a nuisance for Melican and Rampe, constantly bringing the ball to ground. 

Sam Wicks is a player who fell out of favour at the backend of 2024, and he has been flipped around in 2025. The Academy product was predominantly playing off halfback, as they look to use his speed and tackle pressure out of defence. 

Young draftee Ned Bowman was another to make the most of his chances, taking a strong mark in the forward pocket in the second term before slotting the goal from a tight angle, much to the delight of his teammates. The South Australian forward is a raw product but full of potential if he can continue producing moments of quality. 

Green has also clearly cemented his place as the back-up ruckman to Brodie Grundy, and it’s not hard to see why. He took a big contested mark on the wing, but his groundwork and ability to use the ball is a key feature of the game.

PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED

Callum Mills

Mills was incredibly strong around the centre bounces and looks to be the piece of the puzzle the Swans were missing in 2024. What stood out was how tidy he was using the ball by hand and foot. After winning the contested ball, he looked to have a bit more time than everyone else and that turned into really efficient ball use. He also linked up nicely with his other midfielders, in particular, Heeney and Rowbottom who are likely to be the main pair around the centre bounces.

Ben Paton

Paton is still building his connections with many of the Swans players but it’s easy to see why he’s impressed early in his career in the red and white. His positioning was strong on the halfback flank and he was linking up well with his teammates as the game went on. His best moment of the day came late when he made a strong run off halfback, received a handball from Heeney and converted on the run from the arc. It looks to be between him and Ollie Florent for that spot on the halfback line, with the pair switching at half-time.

Caiden Cleary

With an emphasis on defence across the field, Cleary created some strong attacking opportunities on the back of his forward pressure. He was relentless with his running and is incredibly hard to tackle. Will certainly get some more game time in 2025. 

Angus Sheldrick

Sheldrick had plenty of eye-catching moments as he looked to win the contested ball at the stoppage. While he sometimes lacked the cutting edge in linking up with some of his teammates, it’s a positive sign that the WA boy was looking so comfortable at the contest. He came into his own in the final term with some impressive decision making and field kicking.

Pics

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Player: Joel Amartey

Shirt Number: 36

Last Year : Sydney Swans #36

Position: Key forward

Joel had one of the most turbulent seasons out of any of our regular starters in 2024. Joel had some remarkable games, most notably his 9 goal performance against Adelaide but he also had a fair few games where he went missing. He was mostly accurate, only having 6 games in which he kicked more behinds than goals. Joel had career highs in games played, kicks, marks, disposals, tackles and goals. He is a key part of the 3 headed forward monster we are trying to build but may be the lowest in the pecking order of the 3. He's turning 26 this year, this should be heading into his prime years. If Joel can reduce the gap between his best and worst games, it will be a massive push for us towards the flag we desperately want.

2025 Outlook

Low end - Joel struggles to make a strong stand in 2025. He starts the year taking the key defender but his slump in form means they quickly switch this tag onto Logan. Where Logan continues to grow, Joel plateau’s and produces numbers similar to 2024. When he is able to regularly take strong marks, he looks good but more often than not, Joel keeps with his fumbling ways and often is missed in the crowd of standout players. Joel is contracted through to the end of 2026 but with the emergence of the likes of Jack Buller and Will Green, Joel knows that he will need to be in for a huge 2026 if he is to remain on the team.

Middle of the road - Heading into his prime years, Joel starts to show why we stuck with him through the slumps of 2024. He still has both good and bad games, but the difference between a good and a bad game is less volatile and his overall level improves. He ends up with around the same numbers of goals and behinds as last year, but gets them in a more consistent manner. He draws the key defender more often but still manages to raise his marks per game from just above 3, to close to 4 a match. The boys run it back in 2026 knowing that Joel is primed to have a breakout year. 

Best result - Undoubtedly, Joel felt the pressure from his dips in form last year, in this scenario, Joel is determined to make sure it does not happen again. Joel makes strides beyond that of the expected and turns into a monster up front. His hands and reading of the game jump to a whole new level, meaning that if a ball is kicked his way, Joel is either marking it strongly, or intentionally hitting it down so Will and Paps can rove the ball and score easily. With Logan and Hayden taking away any chance of a double team, Joel starts to thrive, using his strong frame to take 120 marks in the season, kicking 65 goals and ending the season in the top 5 of the Coleman. Joel shows the world that last year's game against the Crom, was a sign of what’s to come rather than a singular flash of brilliance.

Well, finally our days and our shirt numbers match up. As the title says, it is time to have a look in on baby Warner, and what 2025 has in store for him

Player: Corey Warner

Shirt Number: 37

Last Year : Sydney Swans #37

Position: Midfield / Forward

Corey had himself a very interesting year in 2024. He managed 6 games in the 1s (doubling his previous best of 3) and played pretty damn well in the 2s excluding the game against Box Hill, in which he did his ankle. He played alright in the 1s when he was in the side but struggled to make a real impact, leading to him being unable to push for a best 22 spot in earnest. He kicked 1 goal 4 (3 behinds in week 2 though) and averaged 8 touches a game (11 though if you don’t count the games he was sub / wasn’t subbed early for Parks) which really highlights his ineffectiveness during his first team runs. He averaged, in contrast, 23 touches in the VFL games he played in (excluding Box Hill again) which highlights that he has the talent but is just struggling with form in the 1st team as of yet. From all the pre-season media that is being shown, Corey has seemed to be going really hard at it, even winning the first of the back-to-back 2k time trials. Being in a contract year and all the rumours surrounding his brother, there is every chance that this is the last year we see Corey in the Red and White. He needs to make the absolute most of his chances this year when they come or his AFL dream may be over. 

2025 Outlook

Low end - Corey continues to prove his strength in the 2s, but cannot get it right in the 1s. He’s given a handful of chances to prove that he is just a better running version of his brother, as the Chad has once suggested he is, but fails to capitalise on his opportunities. Corey starts to be considered as the reincarnation of Dean Towers [Drive by shots at him will remain a feature of my reviews, sorry Dean] and does not get a new contract at seasons end. In this world, Corey joins the likes of Belly and Will Gould who, after just not making it, joins Glenelg to fight for his chances to revive his AFL dreams. 

Middle of the road - Corey again starts in the 2s and plays very well. With some dips in form from some of the established best 22, Corey is given more chances and sees an uptick in his numbers while playing, be it, only slightly. In his 10 first team games, Corey averages 15 touches and scores 8 goals on the year. Corey believes that with regular starting minutes, he could start to carve out his own legacy but the opportunities for such minutes at the Swans are not regularly available. As such, Corey leaves us at season's end, to join Chad in WA, chasing more starting minutes, as well as being closer to home. 

Best result - For the 3rd time, Corey starts off very well in the 2s and is given an early chance to make a run in the 1s. This time around, in his 4th year and with a very hearty offseason, he thrives in his minutes. Averaging 18 touches a game, Corey starts to be a threat up front, kicking Wicksy out of his spot and becoming a regular in the high pressure, small forward role. He starts to average 2 tackles a game while also scoring 18 goals on the year. At seasons end, Corey resigns with the team as he continues to shine in his time in the 1sOk. Another player down. Tomorrow we got Joel Amarty, looking forward to hearing from you all then