The burning pre-season questions for the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants

Who replaces Buddy Franklin? Here are the big questions for both Sydney clubs ahead of their first practice match. Plus see both squads for the game.

Josh Kelly is tackled. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The Sydney Swans and GWS Giants are set to be two of the most watchable teams in the AFL this year and both clubs will be dreaming of premiership glory.

The sides commence their pre-season fixtures with a cross-town clash at Tramway Oval on Thursday, and here are the three burning selection questions for both teams ahead of what will be an exciting 2024 season.

Sydney Swans

Who is the Swans’ next man up in defence?

Sydney’s defence was one of its most potent assets by the end of 2023. But throughout the year, they found themselves leaking too many points in important games so John Longmire will want to get it right from the opening round.

Four players in the back six pick themselves – Jake Lloyd, Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin and Nick Blakey. The other two positions pose interesting selection debates.

Matt Roberts has trained off half-back this pre-season and the Swans are huge admirers of his talent. Playing alongside Blakey, he would give Longmire plenty of rebounding power. However, it could leave them potentially too short, with Joel Hamling and Lewis Melican looming as the next key defender.

Roberts is pushing for a starting role as part of the Swans’ defence. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Hamling arrived at the club with premiership experience, but Melican has done the job before. His performance in the elimination final was one of the best of his career and he has had a solid summer getting his body right. Aaron Francis was also in contention but a slight setback means he is likely not to feature as much in the early stages of the year.

Melican and Hamling have both been named in the VFL side to take on the Giants after the main AFL practice match on Thursday.

The other opening is in the back pocket with stalwart Harry Cunningham set to have the inside running. His 24 matches last year are the most he has played in a season and he was the Swans’ most important small defender. A highlight was his lockdown role on Charlie Cameron at the Gabba. But Longmire could also deploy a player like Ollie Florent a bit deeper, especially as he looks to rejuvenate the defence with Lloyd, Rampe and Cunningham all aged 30 and over.

Battle for wing positions – how to fit four into two?

The arrival of James Jordon at the Swans has strengthened their midfield depth even further and creates a real selection dilemma for a couple of young stars.

Errol Gulden could easily write his name in permanent marker for one of the sides after his incredible 2023 campaign. However, Jordon will likely be contending with Justin McInerney and Braeden Campbell for the other position.

Jordon has made a big impression in the months following his move from Melbourne. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Firstly, the positive for the Swans. The trio are all 23 and under and have their best footy ahead of them so their development will only be a good thing for Sydney. But balancing them in the side will prove tricky for Longmire. Jordon has added flexibility by being able to be pushed onto the ball, while Campbell could move either forward or backward to bring his lethal kicking more into play. Jordon has impressed already this pre-season, but the former Melbourne player will just be hoping he’s nowhere near the sub role again.

Key forward dilemma

The Swans forward line will be looking out for a new leader as they go into a season without Buddy Franklin for the first time in more than a decade.

The next crop of youngsters coming through all offer different qualities but the key will be for at least one of them to stand up and lead the club in goalkicking this year.

Logan McDonald should get the first crack at full-forward, with the 21-year-old also coming off contract at the end of the year. His strength is his accuracy and with another pre-season under his belt, he looks more prepared to assert himself in the goal square after some promising signs in 2023.

Hayden McLean is the most in-form of the young trio, and with his added mobility he’s likely to play more of a half-forward role. He also has the added flexibility of being a ruck option.

Sydney’s new big three will have the forward line to themselves in 2024. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The conundrum for Longmire is then between Joel Amartey and Sam Reid. Both players have a chequered injury history but have real upside, particularly with their marking ability. Managing them both through the season will be key.

There are a few other options that present themselves with young WA product Jack Buller finally getting an AFL pre-season under his belt. While Will Hayward’s strong presence in the air could see him pushed into a pocket and another smaller forward brought into the side.

GWS Giants

How many small forwards are too many?

The Giants’ Orange Tsunami was a raging success in 2023 and internally the expectation is they can take that game plan to another level this season. A lot of the foundation for the strategy was built on the work in the forward half by the pressure of Toby Bedford and Brent Daniels. Their absence in the loss during the regular season against Port Adelaide highlighted just how crucial they were.

While the pair will likely start again in the forward line, Daniel Lloyd’s retirement has opened up a spot for Adam Kingsley to fill. One player pushing hard this pre-season has been Darcy Jones. He has successfully returned from his ACL and is showcasing electric pace and plenty of physicality and looks as though he has the attributes to shine in the AFL.

Darcy Jones will sit out the game against the Swans, but is expected to take on the Suns next Thursday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

There are also a few players in their first season, Phoenix Gothard and the impressive Nathan Wardius, who will also be gunning for an AFL debut this year.

Jesse Hogan and Jake Riccardi are strong key forward targets, while Toby Greene is one of the competition’s superstars. But the balance between bringing in another small forward, or creating a pathway for former No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman, will be a tough choice for Kingsley.

Who will play as the side’s back-up ruckman?

Kieren Briggs was a revelation during his breakout season in the AFL and ranked among the best ruckmen in the competition for clearances. His consistency allowed the Giants’ midfield to establish themselves as one of the most dominant in the competition.

But by the end of the season, a shoulder injury had hampered some of his impact and in the preliminary final against Collingwood, the eventual premiers were able to put on a strong display around the stoppages.

Briggs is ready to go to the next level, but it will be important that the team can give him as much assistance as necessary. Picture: Phil Hillyard

A full pre-season has Briggs ready to go to the next level, but who acts as his back-up isn’t extremely clear.

Matt Flynn joined West Coast during the trade period, meaning Braydon Preuss earned a new contract despite not playing a game last year. Another injury setback has also pushed back a potential AFL return.

That means it will likely be down to someone to pinch-hit for Briggs early in the season.

Cadman has been doing a lot of sessions post-training with coaches working specifically on his ruck craft. It would create an easy pathway for him to come into the team and likely fill the exact role Lachie Keeffe played in 2023. However, Keeffe has still been training strongly and especially for an opening-round clash against the reigning premiers, his experience could play a factor.

How long until the youngsters bang the door down?

The Giants’ experienced players stood up in Kingsley’s first year in charge with the likes of Stephen Coniglio, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and more all having phenomenal campaigns. But the exciting prospect for the club is the number of players they’ve got waiting in the wings to eventually replace them.

Rowston will play with the VFL side on Thursday but looks primed for a big 2024 campaign. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Harry Rowston has turned a lot of heads during the pre-season, relishing spending more time on the ball and the 19-year-old looks ready-made to fill Ward’s boots if this is his last season.

He will be pushing for an interchange spot throughout the year and some strong performances could create a real headache for Kingsley.

Jacob Wehr and James Peatling have also looked strong this pre-season as they both look to add to their handful of AFL games so far. Max Gruzewski and Wade Derksen are two more youngsters who will also be vying for an AFL debut.

While Tom Green and Finn Callaghan dominate the headlines as the young players to watch at GWS, there is no end to the talent coming through the ranks at the club this season.

Originally published as The burning pre-season questions for the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants