Swans recruiting concerns

[hammo]

This isn't an over-reaction to the weekend's loss, but this article in The Age today raises some further concerns with our recruiting.

http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/swans-eagles-see-teen-fly-to-hawks/2007/05/07/1178390225665.html

There seems to be an endless procession of potentially great talent heading to other clubs under the scholarship scheme. I recall reading articles on Collingwood and now Hawthorn recruits in particular.

The only Sydney recruit I've read about is Craig Bird who isn't featuring as prominently as you'd expect with the Reserves for a draftee who missed out last year.

In particular, this part raises an eyebrow:

The Swans are another matter, again. Trent still treasures a picture of himself with the recently retired Paul Williams, taken in the Sydney changerooms after a game last year. The 2005 premiers met Richard, Trent and his mother Marylou last Thursday.

And yet 24 hours later, they decided to join Hawthorn, whom they had visited earlier in the week. The decision apparently was not taken well at Sydney headquarters. At a late hour on Friday night, a member of the club's recruiting staff rang Richard and accused him and his son of, among other things, turning their backs on the code in the state.

When Swans 'supporters' are turning their back on Sydney then clearly something is amiss. A lot of these kids may not make it as AFL players but at the moment it feels like other clubs are doing a lot better at identifying and signing the talent in our own backyard than we are.

Our recruiting as recently as 2 years ago was the envy of the AFL - Goodes, Buchanan, O'Keefe, Kirk et al were all taken from low picks or rookie picks.

Malceski fits the bill as a low pick but who else has really shown the potential to develop into an elite AFL player?

[Boodnutz]

I coach a very successful junior team in Sydney AFL juniors. Within that team are several players who will certainly attract attention over the coming year or two under the scholarship program. And I have to tell you the experience with the Swans so far has been abysmal. The comments made by Trent Stubbs and his family in that article is spot on. To say the club is arrogant towards Sydney juniors is the understatement of the year. It has burnt me to the point of considering sending back my Swans membership card and telling them to stick their club where the sun doesn't shine. If the rest of the club has the same attitude as the recruiting team, well... I've raised issues with recruiting management about their methods and attitude and virtually got told to nick off. At this point, I'd recommend to any junior looking at the scholarship programme to pick ANY other team than Sydney.

[giant]

This is interesting because it appears like the Swans are assuming they will have the pick of the scholarship candidates simply by fact of their geography. Sounds to me like this kid and his parents have been perfectly reasonable in the way they've made their decision and that the Swans recruiting department needs to lift its game as far as this scheme is concerned.

[Ludwig]

Craig Bird

Craig was apparently BOG in the RAMs TAC Cup game against the previously undefeated Calder Cannons.

http://sydneyswans.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/7106/Default.aspx?newsId=42773Bird

[caj23]

this is a big concern, scott reed at collignwood has huge wraps on him, whilst matt suckle chose to risk not being selected in the rookie draft rather than going with the swans

these youngsters are practically gift wrapped to the swans and we are stuffing it up

this is an issue that needs to be sorted asap or we are going to have egg on our faces in a few years time

[Ruda Wakening]

Tom Young (Campbelltown Blues) has also joined Collingwood.

[DST]

this is a big concern, scott reed at collignwood has huge wraps on him, whilst matt suckle chose to risk not being selected in the rookie draft rather than going with the swans

these youngsters are practically gift wrapped to the swans and we are stuffing it up

this is an issue that needs to be sorted asap or we are going to have egg on our faces in a few years time

They are not gift wrapped, we are allowed up to 6 teenagers and we have no special arrangements to chose before the rest of the clubs other than geographical location so we may know a bit more about them.

These players are 14 years old and to this date the AFL has no real history with how succesful they are going to be picking talent at this age. So yes there are going to be players that get through us who we are not going to consider that might bob elsewhere in the future.

DST

[ItsAllGoodes]

The Swans have at least one more scholarship player by the name of Ryan Bottin-Noonan

In an article dated May 04, 2006 he was 14...so now, 15
He was 191 cm and 76kg at 14

http://www.footygoss.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=27422&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&POSTNUKESID=fb917364ad7fcb5af5cd8c3c8eccbd73

Whilst it sounds disappointing that we may be missing out on some of these youngsters there is a limit to the number of players any one club can sign.

The aim of the scholarship program is to develop NSW youngsters...so, first of all, hopefully it will achieve that...then hopefully we can draft players that other clubs decide not to draft (assuming we figure they are any good) and/or players will get homesick and want to come home to NSW (a la Nick Davis)

The thing we have to make sure of is that our 'attitude' doesnt mean that the players we would prefer to get, choose to go elsewhere. This seems to be the case with Trent Stubbs. If we really want some of these kids we have to make sure they know how much we want them

[SimonH]

They are not gift wrapped, we are allowed up to 6 teenagers and we have no special arrangements to chose before the rest of the clubs other than geographical location so we may know a bit more about them.

These players are 14 years old and to this date the AFL has no real history with how succesful they are going to be picking talent at this age. So yes there are going to be players that get through us who we are not going to consider that might bob elsewhere in the future.

DST

Yes, but the point is whether the Swans' local talent development people know about these kids, and want to sign them, but aren't putting the club in a positive light to encourage them to choose Sydney.

The 'go home' (or 'stay home') factor should be a natural advantage to us in the local scholarship program, in the same way that getting early draft picks from Victoria was a disadvantage to us in the mid-90s b/c they all wanted to run back to Melbourne. So we should generally be getting the cream of the crop of local talent (thin as it may be) through a combination of scholarships and local rookie selections, because Sydney is the first choice of the best players. In the case of Suckling and Stubbs, for whatever reason, that hasn't happened-- and the Swans need to look at changing processes (or attitude) so that it does.

On the plus side, not only did Craig Bird rack up 40 possessions for the Rams in a BOG performance, but (amazingly) the Rams won over the Calder Cannons! Report here. On the minus side, 6-goal kicker Taylor Walker is the holder of a scholarship with the Camry Clones. Adelaide clubs have a natural geographical advantage with Broken Hill boys, though.

[Damien]

Can someone explain to me what this entitles the club to?

Does a player on these scheme automatically join the list when old enough? does a club have to sacrifice a particular draft number? Rookie List? what is the go?

[Ruda Wakening]

Can someone explain to me what this entitles the club to?

Does a player on these scheme automatically join the list when old enough? does a club have to sacrifice a particular draft number? Rookie List? what is the go?

Under the rules of the scheme, clubs are able to select two youngsters from New South Wales each year and provide them with between $10,000 and $20,000 worth of development support per annum. The scholarship holders must be at least 15 in the year they are selected.

When the scholarship holder becomes eligible for the draft, the club will then have first rights to draft that player with their final selection in the AFL Draft.

[Damien]

Under the rules of the scheme, clubs are able to select two youngsters from New South Wales each year and provide them with between $10,000 and $20,000 worth of development support per annum. The scholarship holders must be at least 15 in the year they are selected.

When the scholarship holder becomes eligible for the draft, the club will then have first rights to draft that player with their final selection in the AFL Draft.

Woah, could put the Geelong Father and Son draftees to shame if a club get their NSW scholarship holders correct.

[liz]

If that article is fair, it sounds as if the Swans have some things to look at in the way they are going about things.

But in terms of the Swans missing out on all this local talent, bear in mind these are 14-17yos from a region that is lucky to produce one draftee and a couple of rookie choices each year.

Every AFL club is obliged to sign at least one each year, I believe, so expect to see lots more articles by clubs pumping up the players they have picked into TNBT. Doesn't necessarily mean the Swans are losing 15 future champions to every other club.

[caj23]

They are not gift wrapped, we are allowed up to 6 teenagers and we have no special arrangements to chose before the rest of the clubs other than geographical location so we may know a bit more about them.

These players are 14 years old and to this date the AFL has no real history with how succesful they are going to be picking talent at this age. So yes there are going to be players that get through us who we are not going to consider that might bob elsewhere in the future.

DST

The point is that these kids are under our noses and we should be able to identify those with the most potential and ensure they want to play with the swans.

According to reports the Swans went hard at Stubbs and Reed as they are the most highly rated and they both chose to go to opposition clubs.

Obviously its not possible to take all of these kids and alot of them wont make it, but to have the cream of the crop stolen from under our noses is a big slap in the face.

[Damien]

If that article is fair, it sounds as if the Swans have some things to look at in the way they are going about things.

But in terms of the Swans missing out on all this local talent, bear in mind these are 14-17yos from a region that is lucky to produce one draftee and a couple of rookie choices each year.

Every AFL club is obliged to sign at least one each year, I believe, so expect to see lots more articles by clubs pumping up the players they have picked into TNBT. Doesn't necessarily mean the Swans are losing 15 future champions to every other club.

Yep and these articles are more likely to be written about players signed to Melbourne based clubs anyway.

It does surprise me that if the Swans did want this guy, and this guy was a swans fan, why they just didn't go with the Swans. I can't imagine, myself, having the opportunity to join the Swans on this scheme but going to another club because they "wanted me more". Wouldn't surprise me if this was more financial than "professional".