Oz Footy List Manager now takes a look at the mighty Bloods – Sydney.
List:
Sydney are in the here and now in their opportunities to win a premiership, with the bulk of their core situated in the twilight, mature and developing areas. In fact, that’s what makes the Sydney list management so attractive. The list can be in the premiership mix but doesn’t rely on a specific age group. One can see into the future that as their twilighters retire, there is a good group of developing and junior players to replace them.
In defence, Lloyd, Rampe, and Melican, with Cunningham, are playing out the last phase of their careers, but Paton from St Kilda, and young Roberts, among some others can replace them.
The midfield has many options but appears to lack the very strong tall physical midfielder that can take the bumps. This is the crux of Sydney’s premiership dilemma, in big games you can knock them out of the game because they lack the physical presence on the inside.
The forward half looks okay but lacks for a star goal-kicker and relies heavily on Papley as their small forward. They need a star tall and more small and medium goal-kicking options. Maybe the returning Sheldrick, previously a strong disposal accumulator, can build his goal kicking skills.
In the ruck, Grundy is still a star, but Ladhams, now in the mature phase, must be given more games.
The only knock seems to be a big gap in their developing mobile talls, which is why they hung onto Hamling and Francis. But, this the column of Bontempelli, Pendlebury, and Cripps, and the Swans may have to realise that premiership success and their ability to physically compete in big games may lie in that vacant area.
Select 22:
As said, Sydney’s team largely picks itself and there is depth in their talented developing and junior players to put pressure on all positions.
Sydney has a strong but aging defence. I’ve picked the players that have consistently performed for them in that area, but others such as Roberts, Paton and others have the chance to be there mid-season as age and injuries can upset the twilighters.
Also, up forward, they have a large array of players who can kick one or two goals a game, but lack a genuinely talented forward who can kick big bags of goals. Until they do, Amartey, McLean and McDonald, supported by Papley and Hayward, and some midfielders will kick a competitive score.
B: Lloyd, McCartin, Rampe
HB: Mills, Blakey, Melican
C: Florent, Ch. Warner, Gulden
HF: Hayward, McLean, McDonald
F: Sheldrick, Amartey, Papley
R: Grundy, Rowbottom, Heeney
I: Adams, McInerney, Jordan, Ladhams
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About
It was 25 years ago that I began developing a model for analysing footy squad lists for the purpose of improving those lists into a premiership window. Since then, the model has been used to successfully predict premiership clubs and to improve either lop-sided or underdeveloped lists into premiership lists. Indeed, the model was used for an article that I had published as a double page spread in The Age 2005 Pre-Season magazine. Over the 25 years, I have analysed the annual lists of one particular club but have used it for other clubs upon request. It has always been on my bucket list to display the lists of all the clubs, using the model, which I've done since 2021 on my website - OzFootyListManager.com
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