AFL 2022 previews: Predictions for the upcoming season for Swans and Giants
Sydney stunned pundits with its performances in 2021, then shocked even more when it was dumped from the first week of finals. The only way is up for the Swans in 2022.
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Sydney won its first four games of the year to set the platform for an unlikely finals appearance after back-to-back bottom-four finishes.
Lance Franklin’s re-emergence after a couple of injury-ruined seasons played a key role in the Swans climbing the ladder, as did a strong collection of youth.
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They wobbled a bit down the stretch, then wastefulness in front of goal cost them against the Giants in their eventual one-point elimination final defeat.
Marc McGowan probes their 2022 hopes.
Coach: John Longmire
Co-captains: Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dane Rampe
WHERE DO THEY FINISH IN 2022
Sydney should go nowhere but up next year. Longmire’s team has great depth, even with Jordan Dawson and George Hewett leaving for opposition clubs. Assuming Franklin can still be a force, the Swans have enough developing tall targets around him to cause some noise. It might be slightly early for a flag assault but they can go deep.
BIGGEST IMPROVER
Dylan Stephens might be the big winner from Dawson leaving for the Crows. Stephens was the No.5 draft pick two years ago but has played only 15 games since. He might be able to grab a wing spot with a strong summer – but either way his opportunities should spike significantly.
X-FACTOR
Braeden Campbell might be the best kick at the club already and a big jump from him in season two would be huge for the Swans’ prospects. Can slot in at halfback or in the midfield but having sweet kicks like him and Errol Gulden in the same team is brilliant for ball movement purposes.
COACH STATUS
Longmire has one of the safest coaching seats in the land. Signed a three-season extension until 2023 in mid-2019 after North Melbourne tried to lure him back to the club he was a star forward at. The 2012 premiership coach must be buoyed with the state of his playing list.
WHO IS IN THE LAST YEAR OF THEIR CONTRACT?
James Bell, Ryan Clarke, Harry Cunningham, Ollie Florent, Robbie Fox, Lance Franklin, Will Gould, Errol Gulden, Isaac Heeney, Josh Kennedy, Jake Lloyd, Lachie McAndrew, Logan McDonald, Justin McInerney, Sam Naismith, Colin O’Riordan, Dane Rampe, Callum Sinclair, Lewis Taylor
INS FOR 2022
Peter Ladhams (traded – Port Adelaide), Angus Sheldrick (pick 18), Matthew Roberts (34), Corey Warner (40), Lachlan Rankin (58)
OUTS FROM 2021
Kaiden Brand (delisted), Malachy Carruthers (delisted), Jordan Dawson (traded – Adelaide), Sam Gray (delisted), George Hewett (free agent – Carlton), Matt Ling (delisted)
FIRST SIX GAMES AND HOW MANY THEY WIN
GWS Giants W
Geelong W
Western Bulldogs L
North Melbourne W
West Coast L
Hawthorn W
Prediction: 4 wins, 2 losses
BEST 22 IN ‘22
B: Harry Cunningham, Lewis Melican, Dane Rampe
HB: Jake Lloyd, Tom McCartin, Nick Blakey
C: Justin McInerney, Callum Mills, Ollie Florent
HF: Tom Papley, Peter Ladhams, Errol Gulden
F: Sam Wicks, Lance Franklin, Isaac Heeney
R: Tom Hickey, Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy
INT: Chad Warner, Hayden McLean, James Rowbottom, Braeden Campbell
EMG: Will Hayward, Dylan Stephens, Logan McDonald, Sam Reid
GWS GIANTS SEASON PREVIEW
—Marc McGowan
The Giants lost their first three matches in 2021, endured a horror injury run and spent months on the road because of Sydney’s Covid-19 outbreak.
But none of that stopped them from returning to the finals, helped by an incredible Round 21 upset of Geelong with a severely undermanned line-up.
GWS beat Sydney to reach the second week in September, but lost superstar forward Toby Greene to suspension for the first five rounds of next season.
How will they go in 2022? Marc McGowan assesses the Giants’ hopes.
Coach: Leon Cameron
Captain: Stephen Coniglio
WHERE DO THEY FINISH IN 2022
GWS will expect to make the finals again after retaining every senior regular except forward Jeremy Finlayson — who isn’t a major loss. A top-four berth is possible with a better injury run.
BIGGEST IMPROVER
Tanner Bruhn is an elite young talent who was the No.12 pick in last year’s draft. He played 13 senior games in his debut season and was even trusted in the centre on occasion, with his decision-making and poise among his strengths.
X-FACTOR
It has to be Bobby Hill, who unsuccessfully requested a trade to Essendon this year. How that situation plays out will be fascinating. Hill’s highlight reel is must watch, but whether he becomes more consistently impactful will be significant, especially with Greene out early in the season.
COACH STATUS
Cameron is out of contract at the end of next season, having signed a two-year extension in September 2020. He is one of the AFL’s most-scrutinised coaches but his effort to lead the injury-ravaged Giants to the second week of the finals was commendable.
WHO IS IN THE LAST YEAR OF THEIR CONTRACT?
Ryan Angwin, Kieren Briggs, Callum Brown, Tanner Bruhn, Jack Buckley, Isaac Cumming, Phil Davis, Matt de Boer, Cameron Fleeton, Bobby Hill, Jesse Hogan, Connor Idun, Lachie Keeffe, Adam Kennedy, Daniel Lloyd, Xavier O’Halloran, James Peatling, Harry Perryman, Will Shaw, Zach Sproule, Jake Stein, Tim Taranto, Callan Ward, Jacob Wehr
INS FOR 2022
Finn Callaghan (pick three), Jarrod Brander (delisted free agent), Leek Aleer (15), Josh Fahey (42), Cooper Hamilton (rookie)
OUTS FROM 2021
Matt Buntine (delisted), Jeremy Finlayson (traded – Port Adelaide), Tom Hutchesson (delisted), Shane Mumford (delisted), Sam Reid (delisted), Nick Shipley (delisted)
FIRST SIX GAMES AND HOW MANY THEY WIN
Sydney Swans L
Richmond W
Gold Coast W
Fremantle L
Melbourne L
St Kilda W
Prediction: 3 wins, 3 losses
BEST 22 IN ‘22
B: Phil Davis, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes, Isaac Cumming
C: Harry Perryman, Jacob Hopper, Josh Kelly
HF: Toby Greene, Harry Himmelberg, Daniel Lloyd
F: Brent Daniels, Jesse Hogan, Bobby Hill
Foll: Braydon Preuss, Tim Taranto, Stephen Coniglio
INT: Callan Ward, Matt Flynn, Tom Green, Lachie Ash
EMG: Matt de Boer, Adam Kennedy, Tanner Bruhn, Jake Riccardi
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