The Hitlist

[Jimmy C]

Silly Season (trading period) approaches. What a fascinating time. I'm interested in everyone's thoughts regarding who we'll be seeing off at season's end.

Here's mine;

Fosdike-Great value and has made some excellent contributions (I'd hate to see him playing elsewhere). What's he worth on the player market? I think he's tradeable.

O'Keefe-What can you say? Surely the club regards him as a required player. Talk is that he wants to go home. I'd never want him to leave under any circumstances. But in Real Estate terms he has solid investment potential for the future. Worth either a high draft pick or quality player (or both?).

Saddington-He's from the Victorian Eastern suburbs. Does he want to go home? I reckon he's been played out of position this year and it hasn't worked for him/us (so much better on the wing). Another player I'd hate to see playing in other colours. He also has value at trade time.

Nicks-The Club could offer him for a trade, but I don't reckon they'd get more than a middle level draft pick. He'll probably be hung onto.

Warfe-This years whipping boy without a doubt. Does he have trade value? Some would say "NO!". Maybe he'll get de-listed. Like Nicks, he could easily escape the axe.

Frosty-Sorry Frosty13. No trade value whatsoever imo. Is this how we treat former GF players? I see him retiring from AFL.

Seymour-Wasn't there a story about Lethal being impressed by Snapper? I've always loved watching this bloke play (except for that game against the Saints last year). Could he (and a draft pick) be involved in a trade for Aker?

Some other blokes who could be under consideration for trades would include Fixter, Buchanan (could add something to Geelong at the moment-closer to home for him), and Ablett. Although Fixter can form a strong part of the backline, Buchanan and Ablett haven't had much in the way of opportunities to show off this year.

Thoughts?

[caj23]

Yeah, my favourite time of the year is coming upon us again (except for finals of course).

According to the experts it is supposed to be a weak draft this year so I don't see much value in trading too many players unless an offer that can't be refused comes along.

Further, I'm one of those that thinks that trading players unnecessarily can hurt the fabric of the playing group (i.e. this year it seems that the playing group is very tight).

Anyway Jimmy, here are my two cents:

Fosdike: We've invested too much into him now to discard him and see him succeed at another club ala Licuria, also our onball brigade is pretty thin, so I would retain unless a great deal was placed on the table (pretty unlikely!)

O'Keefe: One of my favourites and would hate to see him go. Would only trade if he was keen to go home due to personal circumstances, would try and swap for a young tall from Essendon perhaps??

Saddington: An interesting one. I've always thought that playing wise he hasn't lived up to expectations and is expendable, but then again we probably missed him on Friday night. I'd be reluctant to let him go because he has the talent to go a long way and the potential to become a future team leader.

Nicks: I think his back is stuffed which is obviously affecting his input to the team. Also signed up for another season. Would take a 3rd rounder for him at this stage of his career.

Warfe: I don't think he's been as bad as everyone has suggested, but neither would we miss him. Also signed up for another season so unless we can get something for him, 3rd or 4th round would suffice he will stay.

Frosty: No trade value, will be delisted at the end of the year. Great club man though.

Seymour: Could be seen as expendable given his injury history but I'd prefer to retain. Another favourite (who isnt??) and adds some toughness to the team.

Fixter: No way I would trade, quick, skillful, future midfielder would be in strating 18 but for injuries.

Buchanan and Ablett: They seem to have missed their opportunities, if we can get a trade great, otherwise they seem destined for the scrap heap. (Why hasn't Ablett been given a game???)

[TheHood]

Originally posted by Will Sangster
Yeah, my favourite time of the year is coming upon us again (except for finals of course).
Saddington: An interesting one. I've always thought that playing wise he hasn't lived up to expectations and is expendable, but then again we probably missed him on Friday night. I'd be reluctant to let him go because he has the talent to go a long way and the potential to become a future team leader.
Frosty: No trade value, will be delisted at the end of the year. Great club man though.

Yeah funny you say that Will give the game was on Saturday night? I mean was he meant to be at your place for a few drink and didn't show up sighting crook knee? hehe I am only joking of course, HOWEVER;

Is it not team rules to stay off the grog when recovering from injury with a return date in sight, ie 3 weeks? Well my PA was at North Cronulla hotel on Friday night (not Will's house) and she is a Pies supporter (foul woman), anyway she saw Saddo and gave him some tongue-in-cheek crap about "Go Pies".

Now I am not 100% sure about this but I would have thought recovery is best served resting one's leg with a nice glass of red (just one glass) at home, not out at a busy pub drinking beer?

[caj23]

Oops, got a little confused about game time there, living O/S at the moment!

Interesting though, I'm also suprised he'd be out on the town with a crook knee, especially when there's a (very) slim chance that he could get back for the finals.

He could potentially do alot more damage to it after a few cheeky pints

[liz]

Originally posted by Will Sangster

Fosdike: We've invested too much into him now to discard him and see him succeed at another club ala Licuria, also our onball brigade is pretty thin, so I would retain unless a great deal was placed on the table (pretty unlikely!)

Completely agree. Firstly I think his contributions this year have been underrated by many posters on this board.

Secondly, I know there are people here who think I'm picky (or just plain mean!) for my frequent reminders that they had written off Jude this time last year but there is method to my madness.

I see great similarities between where Fosdike is now and where Bolton was last year. They are both obviously talented enough to be AFL players and have been pretty much automatic selections in the 22 since the start of their second year with the club. Both have had high expectations from we supporters due to their being high draft picks, and both have, at times, failed to live up to those expectations. But I really think Nic isn't far off becoming a quality AFL player - he does have the skills, and definitely the pace and fitness. IMO it's just a case of learning to settle himself a bit better, and hence improving his decision making process at times. Which I think is exactly what Jude has managed to do this year.

Of course Fossie is tradeable if the right deal were laid on the Swans platter - eg a top notch centre clearance man definitely wouldn't go astray. But I certainly wouldn't be throwing his name around just for the sake of it.

Frosty: No trade value, will be delisted at the end of the year. Great club man though.

Agree - specially on the last part. I think he deserves recognition for that.

Fixter: No way I would trade, quick, skillful, future midfielder would be in strating 18 but for injuries.

Another reason not to contemplate trading Fixter is that this year out of footy would have diminished his trade value. I see no point of trading a player who's value to the club is greater than his perceived value in the market. Obviously professional recruiters at the other clubs would be far more aware of his abilities than the average punter, but fact is that he's only really played one full season of AFL footy and probably wouldn't be rated that highly, especially with an injury cloud over him.

Buchanan and Ablett: They seem to have missed their opportunities, if we can get a trade great, otherwise they seem destined for the scrap heap. (Why hasn't Ablett been given a game???)

Buchanan, sadly, probably has lost his chance. Very unfortunate to suffer that injury in the off-season which robbed him of the opportunity to show what he has. If the Swans had a long list of delistable players maybe they'd give him another chance, but there are probably more compelling reasons for holding on to most other players at the club, and there is a quota of delistings to be filled.

Ablett I'm not sure about. Will be interesting to see which way the club goes on him. Wouldn't be surprised to see him survive the cut but if he does then next year will have to be the year he makes an impact.

[caj23]

If you hadn't guessed by my comments already, I'd like to see the Swans remain pretty quiet over the trade period, unless we are absolutely screwing another team (doesn't happen too often unfortunately).

Whilst we don't have any genuine superstars yet, I think we have a young even list with a bit of talent. I'd like to see the bulk of the list kept together, rather than trading players for picks.

My strategy would be to keep our 1st round pick, and trade later picks or players only if the right opportunity came along.

[Mike_B]

The thing to keep in mind of course is that we have to cut at least 4 players.

Frosty would be a definite, the other 3 could be interesting...

[boroboy]

I'd look at trading Saddington for a lump of rock, on the basis that the rock would be more useful...

[chammond]

Secondly, I know there are people here who think I'm picky (or just plain mean!) for my frequent reminders that they had written off Jude this time last year

Ah, but let's not forget that there was also a sizeable bunch of 'experts' on this list who desperately wanted to trade Adam Goodes last season.

And even a couple of clowns who wanted to see the back of Michael O'Loughlin as well!

The reality is that both Fosdike and Saddington are tradeable, but the chances of a suitable offer being made is remote. Saddington in particular is one of the most highly regarded players at the club, and certainly won't be touted around come trading time.

[midaro]

Let me clear up something regarding Saddington.

He signed a new contract this year.

A new AFL rule (sometimes known as the Heffernan rule) states that a player can not be traded in the first year of a contract.

Therefore, Saddington can not be traded.

..and all talk of him being so is a waste of electrons.

Someone please CONFIRM or REFUTE

[boroboy]

Being serious for a second...I know Saddo in well regarded, and the media do a great job in talking him up...

Howver I fail to see why - he infuriates me - his defensive qualities are non-existent (in fact he's a liability at times) and even on the wing he's no more than average.

I'd love to know what Roos and the media see that I can't.

If we can trade him then it would be with at leat one supporters blessing.

[Rob-bloods]

I know how Boroboy feels, Sadds can be frustrating which is why on another ?dream? thread yesterday I mused that we need a hard man in defence, our small guys are not soft, but we do not have a tough-guy, there is a big difference. Sadds has good hands and disposes well by hand and foot, his long hand pass probably the best in the club, he can take a mark overhead, but he is not strong enough for Tredrea / Carey. That?s why we need a CHB to free Sadds up to wing or half back flank and to take on lower rated talls.

[penga]

Originally posted by Rob-bloods
I know how Boroboy feels, Sadds can be frustrating which is why on another ?dream? thread yesterday I mused that we need a hard man in defence, our small guys are not soft, but we do not have a tough-guy, there is a big difference. Sadds has good hands and disposes well by hand and foot, his long hand pass probably the best in the club, he can take a mark overhead, but he is not strong enough for Tredrea / Carey. That?s why we need a CHB to free Sadds up to wing or half back flank and to take on lower rated talls.

there is a huge difference between a player being played out of position compared to a crap player, i can tell u which saddington is... he is far from crap...

when he is moved back to a flank he will take over kennelly's role and kennelly moved to the wing where we will see some scintillating delivery into the forward line...

[TheMase]

Originally posted by Rob-bloods
I know how Boroboy feels, Sadds can be frustrating which is why on another ?dream? thread yesterday I mused that we need a hard man in defence, our small guys are not soft, but we do not have a tough-guy, there is a big difference. Sadds has good hands and disposes well by hand and foot, his long hand pass probably the best in the club, he can take a mark overhead, but he is not strong enough for Tredrea / Carey. That?s why we need a CHB to free Sadds up to wing or half back flank and to take on lower rated talls.

Could Saddington be re-intented as a CHF?

[Rob-bloods]

Again it comes back to toughness, you see players and you get a feeling back, forward, midfield, Sadds always strikes me as a back half player, I like Penga?s thought, Kenneally looks like a real wing man he could be a real goal kicking wingman like of old, Neagle, Murphy etc that pace can split defences, Sadds on a flank to Tadgh etc etc but where is the chf to stiffen the back ....is it Powell in time?