Swans announce scholarship player

[liz]

It will be interesting to see if this scheme has any impact on the Swans priority rookie selection concession.

Maybe it won't make a huge difference given

a) the number of local players elevated off the rookie list to longish term senior positions has been very low

b) the Swans will (I assume) still be entitled to priority selections from NSW players who fall beneath the geographical cut-off line. I don't believe any of the three players taken as priority picks in the 2005 rookie draft, for instance, would have been eligible for this scholarship scheme.

But it does mean that the likes of Paul Bevan and Kieran Jack are unlikely to be available to the Swans as rookies in future years (unless they are the Swans' own scholarship players).

[timthefish]

Originally posted by liz
But it does mean that the likes of Paul Bevan and Kieran Jack are unlikely to be available to the Swans as rookies in future years (unless they are the Swans' own scholarship players).

do the clubs have priority to the scholarship kids? this sounds quite unhealthy to me as it amounts to drafting kids when they are 14.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by floppinab
Two or three would be fantastic but given the amount of kids coming from "above th e line" in the last 5 or so years I think just one is more realistic.

maybe initially, but as participation increases at a junior level and these selected young athletes get exposed to junior football of a high standard then it may increase. i don't think this sheme would have been put in place if there wasn't this kind of hope or expectation.

[jude_boltons_babe]

thats excellent

[Reggi]

I thought we signed Sleeth or some ruckman from the North Coast late last year?

[floppinab]

Nothing on Sleeth yet although the kid has got a bit of press. Clubs could not finalise signings until 1 May this year.

He's got a head on him, might not comply to the No D-H's rule.