Despite being less than a month until the start of theย AFL Draft, almost all of the league's 18 clubs will believe their starting line-ups are close to complete
But irrespective of this confidence, every roster still has holes.
Due to the nature of the league, it is almost impossible for two sides to be in exactly the same place, so some of these gaps may be chasmic, whilst others may be wafer-thin.
However, if left unattended, those of any magnitude could lead a side to ruin.
Sydney
Having flown back into the finals following a fast start with impressive kids, theย Swansย appear to have refound a formula that served them so well for decades on end.
While the Bloods strengthened their foundation for the future by blooding Campbell, McDonald, and Gulden, the continued rise from fellow youngsters Warner, Rowbottom, McInerney, McCartin and Blakey were sure to create a swarm of smiles between Albert and Moore Parks.
Given the variety of roles that each of these players perform, almost every position onย John Longmire's whiteboard has been covered.
However, the departure of a winger that found new heights last season leaves at least one base without a runner.
After entering 2021 just shy of the 50-game mark, there was a hope thatย Jordan Dawsonย would both elevate his own game and his side's service between the arcs.
And after more than doubling his output for marks and rebound 50s from the season before, as well as almost doing the same for disposals, tackles, and forward line entries, the South Australian repaid this faith with an entire deck of spades.
Across the course of his final 23 appearances in a red and white guernsey, Dawson recorded the astronomically ameliorated averages of 22.3 disposals, 5.5 marks, 4.9 rebound 50s, three inside 50s, and 2.95 tackles.
This exponential growth was enough to see the now 24-year-old rewarded with a podium finish in the Bob Skilton Medal count.
Yet, with the quiet achiever opting to trade feathers this off-season, the sterling young wing partnership of Dawson and McInerney was ended.
As mentioned, Longmire has plenty of other names he can deploy in this up-and-back role next season, so even though this is a hole, it is one that has the ability to be filled with relative ease.
Still, if rotations to find a fit are required, and a suitable successor isn't found with pace, then theย Swansย could be set to stall for a portion of next season.
Some may believe this view is too alarmist and that I am inflating his influence given his ubiquity during the recent trade period, but with these previously mentioned averages in mind, and his true ceiling still out of reach, Dawson's departure does meet the metrics for this particular piece.
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