AFL 2019 – Unfamiliar Territory on the cards for Longmires Swans
AFL tips and betting at iTipsports features all 18 teams in our FREE AFL Season Bonus Preview that will outline their fortunes for 2019 from our expert AFL tips analysis and introduces our method of AFL betting analysis the HBM Human Behaviour Model.
Our sixth team we analyse for the AFL tips and betting in the AFL 2019 season is the Sydney Swans.
Extended period of Success under Longmire
John Longmire has been at the helm of the Sydney Swans for 8 years. In that time they have never missed the finals, they have played in 3 grand finals and won a premiership. We get the feeling the Swans may be staring down the barrel of no September action for the first time in a long time.
The cracks really began to appear after the Swans lost the 2016 Grand Final to the Western Bulldogs. Despite making the finals the next two years they were not the force they once were.
The Swans did have their injury concerns last year and their star Buddy Franklin had “probably trained for about 20 mins for the season” according to Longmire after a loss mid year to Essendon. Add to this injuries to Dan Hannebery Jarrad Mcveigh Kieran Jack and Sam Reid the Swans were up against it and although they made their way into September the Giants ended their run in emphatic style with Lance Franklin goal less.
“Bloods” Culture has driven the Swans success
This club has always had culture at the epicentre of its brand particularly over the last 15 years. We get the feeling that this has waned and despite the instigator of this culture (Brett Kirk) returning to the coaching ranks over the last year or so it doesn’t appear to have the same continual on field implementation that is needed.
In the off season Sydney moved on Dan Hannebery and Gary Rohan along with the retirement of Kurt Tippet it opens up some significant salary cap room that may enable them to build toward the future.
However age in the list is a big problem for Sydney, how Longmire balances the likes of Jarrad Mcveigh, Heath Grundy and Kieran Jack for younger growth in the group will go a long way to determining what the Swans can do this year.
Loss of Mojo at the SCG
Sydney need to rediscover their form at the SCG. They lost 6 games at home in 2018 IN a former fortress for the Harbour City team. The game style they utilize will be very interesting, the amount of times Sydney elected to chip it around in the back half at the SCG when they had the best player at centre half forward was astounding. Kick it to Buddy needs to be the new game plan at the Swans!!!
No doubt the midfield will be a big concern for Longmire as they ranked 13 in midfield stats in 2018 and losing Hannebery doesn’t bode well for an improvement in this area. How they win the ball at the coalface will decide what will and wont happen at Sydney this year.
Despite the mighty run of the Bloods Swans that extends right back to 2005 we see some baron lands ahead for one of the former powerhouses of the competition.
AFL 2019 SEASON PREDICTION 13 with 8 – 11 wins
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