Swans urged to chase Aker

[sharp9]

Originally posted by dread and might
The big question is, What would we have to give up?

Not much. Maybe a 3rd rnd pick (plus $350K a year)

[dendol]

Will his hunger to win another flag be as strong as it was 4 years ago? I cant help but think he'll use Sydney as a place to play out the end of his career. If he's on the slide now, we might get a year or two of Aker talk without any of the walk.. and at the price Brisbane would be asking for him, I'm not sure it would be worth it.

However, if we were serious contenders again this year and Roos thought we'd be just as strong in 2007/08, then I'd back his judgement if they wanted to go for broke and top-up while we had the team to do win another flag.

[SimonH]

What robbieando said. Plus tonight has really killed off the 'DH on the field, lovely guy off it' theory.

When you consider how appallingly many AFL players behave (only in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, of course), to alienate your teammates so much that you get dropped just for being impossible to work with, takes some doing. We don't need that. Talented but troubled player (Lockett, Hall), sure; fading superstar who gives every impression that he believes the world revolves around him, no.

After doing a good job of trading picks for mature bodies in the last few years, 2006 is the year to actually use our early pick. (Sure, pick 16 isn't exactly 'early', but I'm prepared to suffer for success.)

But for the love of god, not midfielders. Not unless the club decides that Brabazon, Laidlaw, Thornton, Garrubba, Jack and Simpkin aren't going to make it, and delists little Willo and Schmidt. That's just the players who haven't debuted. Add in Malceski, Moore, Spriggs (okay, just being complete), McVeigh and Bevan among the young fringe players. If Roos thinks that Willo's retirement would necessitate trading a midfielder into Sydney, that's not a vote of confidence in a very large slice of our list.

Keep our 1st-round pick and use it on a strong-bodied marking forward.

[graystar]

Originally posted by SimonH
Keep our 1st-round pick and use it on a strong-bodied marking forward.

Yep, I think we need to start think about the period AM. After Mick.

[Schneiderman]

A few things to consider (and remember I cant stand the guy):

1. Was it Aker's fault he was dropped this week? Or are the players simply making him into a scape goat?
2. Leppitsch was also dropped. Yet there is no publicity there.
3. For those bemoaning the fact we are looking for another midfielder, you may want to check out the new AFL rules and the intent the AFL have communicated about them. Then you may want to watch the way Adelaide and the Bulldogs play. Tall marking forwards are becoming a rare breed, and are not evident in three of the four best sides last year (Hall is not a marking forward because of his endurance and how far down the ground he plays). Only Gherig really fits that bill.
4. To assume Aker would be bad for the team is to give the team very little credit. Surely if ANY team could put up with the publicity he creates it would be the Swans. Plus if you chop out his media committments he would become as mute as the rest of the players.
5. I dont think its fair to question his passion to win another premiership. ESPECIALLY if he was traded by the Lions. In fact the passion may well redouble in a man like Aker.

I dont think we need him, and dont think he deserves a first round pick. A good player plus a second rounder may well be enough considering his asking salary. And the Lions may still want to trade him, because his value will be half next year, and they are struggling to get value on the field from him anyway.

Nevertheless, if the club picks him up, he will have my 100% support. Just dont @#$% up!

[Zlatorog]

Sorry, guys no Aka for me if the price is too high. This year it is going to be a very good draft and it would be a "crime" not to participate just to save a fading footy star. he's still good, but we've got a star of similar quality and ego and we know how we sometimes "love to hate" him (guess who?).
Just another thought. Why is Sydney always linked with the footy players that are about to retire or to pass due date? Is it because Sydney is a cash cow for them and milk more money for their retirement?

[Provost]

Originally posted by Zlatorog
but we've got a star of similar quality and ego and we know how we sometimes "love to hate" him (guess who?).

I don't guess, who on our list do you think has a similar ego and you "love to hate"?

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Zlatorog
we've got a star of similar quality and ego and we know how we sometimes "love to hate" him (guess who?).

Maybe I haven't been here long enough, although I have been here for a while, but who are you talking about?

[Provost]

Hey GS14 I asked first

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Provost
Hey GS14 I asked first

Just backing you up buddy!

[dendol]

Originally posted by goswannie14
Maybe I haven't been here long enough, although I have been here for a while, but who are you talking about?

only person I can think of is N Davis.. but that would be a very harsh call, so apologies to Nick and all KFC lovers if I picked the wrong guy!

[adnar]

Originally posted by adnar
He would be 30 when he got here, can't perform in the side coming last, how would he fit in a premiership midfield (and under the no dic heads policy).
Don't get me wrong, I really like Aker, I think he's great for the game but I can't see him being a great fit for us.

Quote in the telegraph today

[Lucky Knickers]

I'm not entirely sure that "super" drafts are a reason not to consider Akers. It seems flawed logic to rule someone of his talent out because you have a chance of picking up a kid untried at AFL level who is very possibly 3-4 years away from a starting spot in the first 22.

[NMWBloods]

And how frequently does a "super" draft extend to players picked up in the low teens?

[Jeffers1984]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
And how frequently does a "super" draft extend to players picked up in the low teens?

Apparently one expert said that the expected draftees from 1-18 would of been top 3 in the last 2 drafts...grain of salt stuff i know but that's one hell of a call to make.