2008 Draft discussion

[Bleed Red Blood]

On another note, I saw that Maxfield has said that the Swans staff are confident Dan Hannebery will play over 200 games. That's very good to hear!

Well yeah, do you really expect them to say anything else?

[lwjoyner]

While I have no qualms with Johnstone at 12 I would rather have taken Trengove. I think our tall defenders stock is more a worry than fwds. Hall should have at least a couple of yrs left provided he remains calm and only Micky O would be a worry whereas our defence is worrying even with Leo still around and how many games will he play and whilst Trengove might not be rady next yr as I am sure Johnstone wont be also as will the other 2 kids. Why also did we go for midsizers again, it must be Stewie liking people like him. We have Meridith,Schmidt, Okeefe, Brabazon, Laidlaw etc of this type so we could have should have taken a bigger guy with 2nd choice say a Cornelies,taken at 57, Gillies (FB of TAC team of yr) taken at 33 by the cats or even a J Lisle CHB in Under 18 AllAust team taken at 50 by the Hawks. Some of our selections bewider me. any comments

[goswannie14]

While I have no qualms with Johnstone at 12 I would rather have taken Trengove. I think our tall defenders stock is more a worry than fwds. Hall should have at least a couple of yrs left provided he remains calm and only Micky O would be a worry whereas our defence is worrying even with Leo still around and how many games will he play and whilst Trengove might not be rady next yr as I am sure Johnstone wont be also as will the other 2 kids. Why also did we go for midsizers again, it must be Stewie liking people like him. We have Meridith,Schmidt, Okeefe, Brabazon, Laidlaw etc of this type so we could have should have taken a bigger guy with 2nd choice say a Cornelies,taken at 57, Gillies (FB of TAC team of yr) taken at 33 by the cats or even a J Lisle CHB in Under 18 AllAust team taken at 50 by the Hawks. Some of our selections bewider me. any comments

You obviously know more than our staff, why don't you apply for a job?

[Bas]

You obviously know more than our staff, why don't you apply for a job?

Won't get employed as he doesn't believe in recruiting poofteen amount of mid size midfielders.

Hey we've got LRT at CHB. We don't need another hero!

[Robbo]

Happiest I've been after a draft day for about 4 years. I think we've done well.

[Dalai Lama]

lw - what is your beef? Surely Stuey, Roosy and the powers that be have got it right. Three cheers for a well rounded draft day I say! Hip Hip anybody?

[satchmopugdog]

The three of them are soooo young. They were born in Paul Kelly's second year of senior footy. They were only 5 when we played in the 96 grand Final. Jeepers where did that time go!!!!?

[satchmopugdog]

Nickname for Heath...Teddy ?

[ugg]

Nickname for Heath...Teddy ?

Teddy?

I'm going for Cliff.

[Dalai Lama]

How about Jesus?

[BSA5]

Well yeah, do you really expect them to say anything else?

They don't have to say anything about a games total. They could just say "we expect him to be a very good player for us", etc. To actually come out and say they are confident he'll be a 200 gamer is a pretty bold statement.

[Nico]

In the Melbourne rag this morning Johnstone is said to have taken 16 contested marks in the carnival, 6 more than anyone else. A forward who can take contested marks is worth his weight in gold. He is still quite light so when he fills out hopefully will be a very formidable forward.

He moves around and reads the play well as the ball comes in. I would suggest we have done very well.

Also Iw talks about the need to recruit tall backs, but if we want to go the way of Adelaide who have no tall forwards of note and suffered in 2008 as a consequence of having no goal kickers, then that is a sure fire way of tumbling down the ladder when Hall and MOL retire. Adelaide have recruited 3 tall forwards at 17 YO to try to arrest that problem.

On the other blokes only time will tell because they will hardly get a chance next year unless they prove to be over the top stars. This though is where most midfielders find themselves at any club if drafted.

[connolly]

Stolen from a rival, but a nice interview on Adelaide radio after the draft this morning.

Lewis Johnston interview

Edit: Disregard the filename....it is from SA when it's all said and done.

A Port (Pirie) boy. Better response than young Smith who apparently told Roosey to go jump when he rang him to congratulate him on being recruited.

[hammo]

In the Melbourne rag this morning Johnstone is said to have taken 16 contested marks in the carnival, 6 more than anyone else. A forward who can take contested marks is worth his weight in gold. He is still quite light so when he fills out hopefully will be a very formidable forward.

He moves around and reads the play well as the ball comes in. I would suggest we have done very well.

Also Iw talks about the need to recruit tall backs, but if we want to go the way of Adelaide who have no tall forwards of note and suffered in 2008 as a consequence of having no goal kickers, then that is a sure fire way of tumbling down the ladder when Hall and MOL retire. Adelaide have recruited 3 tall forwards at 17 YO to try to arrest that problem.

On the other blokes only time will tell because they will hardly get a chance next year unless they prove to be over the top stars. This though is where most midfielders find themselves at any club if drafted.

Agree with this Nico. Key forwards were our glaring deficiency considering Murphy, White and I suppose Grundy are being groomed as key defenders for the future. In contrast our stocks of young tall forwards were bare.

Johnstone says he models his style of play on Nick Reiwoldt so if he turns out to be that sort of player for us we've done well.

In regards to Hennebery and Heath it seems as if they'll stay in Melbourne to study next year anyway.

The biggest regret for me is that our third round pick could have landed us a really good player (such as Cornelius) so I hope the Rhys Shaw gamble pays off. Stocking up with another youngster would have been preferable in my view.

[Jeffers1984]

Hannebery's highlight reel impresses me. (i know they don't show any of the bad stuff). To me he seems to have decent acceleration and a penetrating left foot.

His bio says that he is a high possession midfielder which is another plus as long as he doesn't butcher it.

I think i even read somewhere that he would of gone much higher in next years draft.

Campbell Heath looked ok from his highlights as well. Bit suprised we didn't take another tall forward. Looks like we've stocked up well for HBF which i think is okay as alot of our plays are orchestrated from there. Shaw, Tadhg (for this season at least), Laidlaw, Eski, MOD, Heath and Mattner is good depth for a vital position in the Swans team. With hopefully Thornton to be rookied as well.

Johnston certainly looks an exciting prospect for us. Sticky hands, big kick on either foot (Big + for the SCG), super athlete/endurance/speed and add to that a bit of X-Factor. Has questions on his discipline and lack of hard work when things don't go his way, but the Swans environment should hopefully fix alot of that.

Very happy considering we only had 3 picks to choose from.