Where they were drafted, where they are now - list breakdown

[Bleed Red Blood]

Where they were drafted, where they are now.
Of the current players playing for the swans, this is where they came from -

1994 draft.

Number 21.Matthew Nicks.

Solid,versatile player.Most swans fans would have been happy to see him go at the end of last year.Though since his 150th game has lifted and is now providing a valuable game.

Number 40.Michael O'Loughlin.

Missed so many games through injury that we have never seen his best.Still kicks 2/3 goals a game.

Zone selection.Leo Barry.

Playing very well under Roos.With Schuable missing half the season has played as a key defender and on smaller players.

1995 draft

Number 8.Jared Crouch.

Played every game since his debut in 95, can play midfield or back.

Zone selection.Ben Mathews.

Along with Crouch plays on opposition smalls week in week out.Though I have no stat on this, he rarely misses a game.

1996 Draft

Pre-season uncontracted player draft.Stuart Maxfield.

Though Stuey isn't capable of tearing the game apart, Maxfield is a very good leader.

Number 17.Rowan Warfe.

Joke of a player now, but in his prime was very capable, should retire/be delisted at the end of the year.

Number 11.Jason Saddington.

As is the opinion of many swans supporters, Saddo has been forced to play as CHB which he most certainly is not.Before his injury was playing very well as a midfielder, full forward and pinch hitting in the ruck.

Number 43.Adam Goodes.

Dissapointing this year before his knee injury, not a forward.Will get better as he gets older.

1998 draft

Number 3.Nic Fosdike.

Very dissapointing, athlete not footballer.Lacks good disposal.Wouldnt mind seeing him go at the end of the year.

Number 8.Jude Bolton.

Along with Fossy, has been dissapointing though he does attack the ball ferociously, can get better.

Number 28.Heath James.

Haven't seen enough of Heath really, due to 11 hamstring strains among other things.Has shown glimpses of talent.A keeper.

1999 draft

Number 26.Stephen Doyle.

Along with Heath James has never shown what he can do due to injuries.Can, and will get better with a full pre-season.

Number 56.Ryan O'Keefe.

Plays as a CHF decoy for Hall usually but as seen on sunday, can play at full-forward, getting better every game.

Rookie Elevation.Brett Kirk.

Fine leader, great ball getter, great stopper, under Roos.Hard to see him get better, but is a very valuable player.

2000 draft

Pre-season, number 7.Ben Fixter.

Seller 2002 under Roos. Cut down by injuries couldnt play a game in 2003.Still rated as in the top 18 of the side by Roos.

Number 24.Luke Ablett.

Not as great as his cousin, can play well, great disposal, lacks consistancy.

Number 52.Amon Buchanen.

Good 2002, didnt play a game in 2003 and was subsiquintly delisted but redrafted.Great one-percenters.Cruel that he was injured when he had a great chance to cement his place in the 22.

Number 54.Jared Sunqvist.

Has shown glimpses before going down for the season, likely to be traded at the end of the year.

2001 draft

Number 28.Mark Powell.

Has got talent, isn't showing enough in the 2s from reports has debuted and can play anywhere on the ground.

Number 28.Lewis Roberts-Thomson.

Will be a good player given time.Injured this season, but got a rising star nominination last year.Give him time.

Number 53.Daniel Hunt.

Cut down by injuries, never debuted.Should be delisted at the end of the year.

Number 60.Adam Schneider.

Great 2003, not doing so good this year due to recurring hamstring problems.Great disposal, great goal sense.

Rookie elevation.Tadgh Kennelly.

Great ball skills, great pace, not a defender.Given a full game in the midfield, should be very damaging.

2002 Draft

Number five.Jared McVeigh.

Great foot skills, good poise, high endrance.Will be good.

Number 34.Sean Dempster.

Tall wingman, or defender or forward.Hasn't debuted but has been emergency 3 or 4 times this year.

Number 50.Josh Thewlis.

Can play midfield or a KP(as is my understanding)played one game this year.Will make it.

Number 64.Nick Malkeski.

Great footskills, injured pre-season for the year, but will make it.

Pre-season. Craig Bolton.

Never got a much of a run for brisbane, has been a revelation for the swans.

There have been gems - Ryan O'Keefe, Adam Schneider.

And there have been the dissapointments.

Obviously I havent included the trades.

[SimonH]

I am so darned proud of you

Thanks for that. A very timely post. There is an awful lot of nonsense written in the AFL generally (and, ahem, by a few people on this site in particular) about it being better to finish bottom than in the lower reaches of the 8, and/or trading away first-18 players in a fire sale at the end of each year, because racking up huge numbers of draft picks in the first round is supposed to be the only way of picking up champions and therefore winning flags.

A quick look at the recent history of this club (and most other AFL clubs) explodes the myth pretty fast. To pick just the 3 most glaring examples:
* A player blessed with absolute dead-set genius (Micky O'Loughlin) at #40. (Say what you like about injuries etc, but he'd be among the top 10 most talented players I've seen in the flesh in 30 years of watching the game.)
* A Brownlow Medal winner at #43
* The fourth-selected player for the Swans in the 2001 draft having more impact to this point in his career than the first 3 players combined.

In case anyone was in any doubt that it's culture and teamplay that wins flags more than having individually brilliant players (alas, poor Nathan Buckley), go to any of the major footballing websites and check out the experts' archived predictions for 2004 vis a vis Melbourne and Hawthorn. The recurrent theme is that Hawthorn has the cattle to go top 4 no worries, and possibly further, and that Melbourne's list is hopeless and needs major structural rebuilding. Where are they now?

And that's my 2 cents' worth.

[Tooth Fairy]

Re: I am so darned proud of you

Originally posted by SimonH

And that's my 2 cents' worth.

Well, I'm just glad you didn't bust a pooper valve holding all that angst in until now. Welcome to the board.

[NMWBloods]

Re: Where they were drafted, where they are now - list breakdown

Originally posted by Bleed Red Blood
Number 40.Michael O'Loughlin.

Missed so many games through injury that we have never seen his best.Still kicks 2/3 goals a game.

I think we have seen his best, which is why it is such a shame that we are unlikely to do so regularly.

Zone selection.Ben Mathews.

Along with Crouch plays on opposition smalls week in week out.Though I have no stat on this, he rarely misses a game.

Only missed 2 of the past 117 games.

1996 Draft

Pre-season uncontracted player draft.Stuart Maxfield.

Though Stuey isn't capable of tearing the game apart, Maxfield is a very good leader.

Not now, but he was back in those first few years with the Swans.

Number 8.Jude Bolton.

Along with Fossy, has been dissapointing though he does attack the ball ferociously, can get better.

Not sure how much better he will get, however makes a very useful third midfielder doing the grunt work.

Number 28.Heath James.

Haven't seen enough of Heath really, due to 11 hamstring strains among other things.Has shown glimpses of talent.A keeper.

Not getting a lot of game time at the moment.

Number 26.Stephen Doyle.

Along with Heath James has never shown what he can do due to injuries.Can, and will get better with a full pre-season.

This one is very much a wait and see.

Number 52.Amon Buchanen.

Good 2002, didnt play a game in 2003 and was subsiquintly delisted but redrafted.Great one-percenters.Cruel that he was injured when he had a great chance to cement his place in the 22.

But has another chance now until the end of the season.

Number 54.Jared Sunqvist.

Has shown glimpses before going down for the season, likely to be traded at the end of the year.

Why?

Number 28.Mark Powell.

Has got talent, isn't showing enough in the 2s from reports has debuted and can play anywhere on the ground.

A bit disappointing from a buy who looks very talented.

Number 60.Adam Schneider.

Great 2003, not doing so good this year due to recurring hamstring problems.Great disposal, great goal sense.

Really needs to improve his goal kicking.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Re: Re: Where they were drafted, where they are now - list breakdown

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Why?

We need to get rid of 3 players whether we like it or not.I see Hunt going same with MeikleJohn (rookie) and Warfe if we can get rid of him if not, we have to keep him. Which is when. I see Sunqvist going.

[Nico]

You little aussie bleeder, you are a very harsh marker of Adam Goodes. Did win a Brownlow and before he was injured probably polled Brownlow votes in the first 3 rounds. The way he was running into form he looked a real chance for consecutive medals. Bet a lot of sides now breath a sigh of relief when they play us.

[Bleed Red Blood]

He did play well, yes, but not as well as last year.Maybe I am being harsh on him.

[Nico]

Originally posted by Bleed Red Blood
He did play well, yes, but not as well as last year.Maybe I am being harsh on him.

My point was it was a bit early in the season to even suggest he had dropped of last year's form particularly when he seemed to be playing within himself but still in our best few.

[sharp9]

Originally posted by Bleed Red Blood
He did play well, yes, but not as well as last year.Maybe I am being harsh on him.

Yes you are. he was good against Brisbane in rd 1 and BOG against Kangaroos in rd 3 or 4...and even then he was saying how he was just getting into the swing of it.....then he did his knee.

[chammond]

Originally posted by sharp9
Yes you are. he was good against Brisbane in rd 1 and BOG against Kangaroos in rd 3 or 4...and even then he was saying how he was just getting into the swing of it.....then he did his knee.

Agree with that. Anyone who's forgotten what Goodes' injury has cost us (and Saddo's, for that matter) should have another look at the Roos match. Awesome!

[footyhead]

Re: I am so darned proud of you

Originally posted by SimonH
Thanks for that. A very timely post. There is an awful lot of nonsense written in the AFL generally (and, ahem, by a few people on this site in particular) about it being better to finish bottom than in the lower reaches of the 8, and/or trading away first-18 players in a fire sale at the end of each year, because racking up huge numbers of draft picks in the first round is supposed to be the only way of picking up champions and therefore winning flags.

A quick look at the recent history of this club (and most other AFL clubs) explodes the myth pretty fast. To pick just the 3 most glaring examples:

using our drafting as an example is a practice filled with pitfalls.
Ricky is a dubious choice for cheif scout.
But thanks for your opinion anyway Ricky.