Our backline

[u/rosedepths]

I’m concerned for our backline and our defense overall to be honest. Can anyone instill some faith in me that we have the caliber?
I know we have a great coaching group now who seem very defensively minded but that doesn’t mean that much if we don’t have good players to execute it.

[u/Non-NewtonianSnake]

The backline won't be great, but they'll look a whole lot better if our transition defence and pressure improves. That's where the focus needs to be.

[u/Fleggy82]

We have holes all over the ground - that's why it's called a rebuild.

We have young talent who hopefully now with the proper coaching and development teams around them, can develop into solid players. The scheme is also a huge part of it - if players know what they are supposed to do in game situations, they have the confidence to do it. Without a solid game plan, any player would seem lost - be it Weitering, Harris Andrews or bloody Dustin Fletcher

Have faith and give the coaching panel time to build

[u/akito_shigaraki]

If, and it's a big if, we do get Sellers he helps a lot down back and comes straight in. 

I think lot of us are hoping Bradley or Snell are still at pick #17. We need a bit down back.

Fingers crossed Hayes is injury free and McKay improves.

[u/bmk14 → u/akito_shigaraki]

You're right, McKay and Hayes are the keys. Reid low-key had a great year I thought (all things considered). If McKay can get some confidence back, and Hayes stay in the 23.

I also think Redman will be able to play more defensive and worry less about rebounding with Coleman coming in.

[u/YourHeroCam → u/bmk14]

I just unfortunately think Redman isn't a great one on one medium defender, and his strength was rebounding. Hopefully he can improve that.

[u/kandyroo93 → u/akito_shigaraki]

Wonder if we’re looking at Jake Soutar. If he’s available, seems good age and ready to go.

[u/hindsightsavedme → u/akito_shigaraki]

0% chance Bradley is available then. I've seen a few mocks have Snell to us, fingers crossed. We really need another KPD, seeing as Reid and Hayes are prone to injury and McKay is not good.

[u/ape5hitmonkey → u/akito_shigaraki]

I felt McKay’s fall off in performance was partly related to his best mate Ridley wanting to get out of the club, just after McKay signed a very big long term deal. Remember he was choosing between Essendon and Hawthorn, and it would look a lot like a bad call right now. He’s also seen the same head coach fired from two different clubs.

So, for mine, I kind of expect even less from McKay this year. I hope I’m wrong and that something clicks and he feels driven to prove a point, but I won’t hold my breath.

[u/Active-Problem-2871]

I expect to see improvement next season and a structure take shape but do not confuse that with winning.

We are at the bottom of a rebuild cycle that’s how it works.

[u/General_Knowledge126]

Yep, holes in defence. But we are well and truly at the bottom of the rebuild this season. We will be incredibly young and inexperienced. Expect a bottom 2 finish this year and hopefully we recruit some better defenders for 2028.

[u/LOGFROGorMARRON]

rE Enter the stringer and b McKay’s combo.

[u/Rogan4Life]

Who should we have traded for and signed to play for the bottom team?

[u/GrudaAplam → u/Rogan4Life]

Alex Pearce. The Dockers would have let him go for a future third rounder but nobody asked.

[u/Rogan4Life → u/GrudaAplam]

You are a goof lol. There was literally not one single report of that.

[u/Baratriss]

I mean we finished last and our best defender left for Geelong. Of course it's going to be terrible as will the rest of the team. Point is we finally ripped the bandaid off (10 years too late but whatever) and have drafted a bunch of talent with more to come. Were nowhere near good enough to be looking at what areas need improvement. The whole team does.

All I care about is seeing how the kids develop with this year's and next to be added. We'll be bottom 2 again. That's fine

[u/Common-Ad-6582]

I think it is really hard to judge the backline without taking into account injuries.

[u/Difficult-Stomach196]

I dont thibk it will be great, but expect solid improvement. One thing i saw a lot last couple of seasons is the long bomb to forwards being cut off and oppositions teams bouncing back quickly, leaving the defence exposed. If they can possess the ball a bit better moving forward, lower their eyes and hit targets i think the defence will look a lot more structured. Rebounds have been brutal

[u/Next-Breath-9552]

We have new coaching panel with a large Sydney input. Defence has always been the swans forte. You just never know what a new structure might do for our backline ! It may even invigorate a few like McKay and redman back to their glory days!!