Mitchell watch

[liz]

One of the people on Big Footy who does phantom drafts every year says if Mitchell wasn't a father/son selection he would have had him at no.1.

Another has him at 6 in an uncompromised draft.

Emma Quayle, on the other hand, has him ranked at 15. So she is clearly not as much of a fan as others.

For someone as obviously knowledgable about all things draft-related, she has referred in a few articles of hers that I have read (including the one linked a couple of posts earlier) that Mitchell turned down an offer to join GWS as a 17 yo concession pick. He was actually not eligible to be taken under that rule because it only offered access to players born in a 1 January to 30 April window, and Mitchell's birthday is in mid-May. For GWS to have secured him (and it was widely reported that they chased him hard), they would have had to guarantee that they were going to pick him with one of their first 3 picks in the ND in much the same way as GC did with David Swallow (and then moved him across the country a year early so he could play with their VFL side in 2010). Obviously GWS' draft rankings may have changed in the past year, but this indicates that a year ago they rated him clearly as one of the top 3 players in the draft.

[kangle4]

I remember him being a top 3 prospect this time last year but the injuries and limited playing time could explain the slide.

[jono2707]

Is it true he's only somewhere in the vicinity of 73kgs? I would assume he'll need to bulk up a bit over the next couple of years if that is the case. Could this limit his game time in 2012? Whilst we should be getting time into him next year, if he doesn't have the ready-made body a la Luke Parker, will he be brought on more slowly than we perhaps think at this stage?

[Auntie.Gerald]

and young Mitchell isnt probably far away from mounting a challenge for a spot in the 22 ?

[Jewels]

and young Mitchell isnt probably far away from mounting a challenge for a spot in the 22 ?

As far as I know he's injured/has a problem with his knee again.

[Primmy]

He has had knee issues preseason, and they will not be bringing him in to the side until he has had a lot more match fitness via ressies. I don't think he has even had a ressie game yet. So, think we have to hold fire, cannot see him around for this year.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Of course we all hope that Tom comes good, but if he doesn't she his drafting be classified as:

Another case of the curse of the Swans Father Son pick (John, Doyle, James)
or
Another case of the curse of the Swans First Round Pick?

[Cpt. Kirk]

Of course we all hope that Tom comes good, but if he doesn't she his drafting be classified as:

Another case of the curse of the Swans Father Son pick (John, Doyle, James)
or
Another case of the curse of the Swans First Round Pick?

Mcveigh, Jetta and Rohan wouldn't call those players a curse. Tom Mitchell will be one of our best players in the future, he will take ROK's spot on the team when he retires and play it better. A year ago i would have said he would have taken jude's spot but it appears a player wearing 26 looks like a gun.

For a player to be injured as long as he was last year and come back and be dominant for WA in the last two matches is a sign of how good this kid is. I would be suprised if he is not a regular by the end of this year(if he can shake off these injuries).

[Alan]

Does anyone know what kind of style midfielder Tom is? Is he one of those mega classy silky smooth gut running types like Cousins/Murphy?

Yep, I watched him on a couple of occasions when I lived out west and he has a good blend of inside and outside capability. Is good on both sides of his body and can take a catch when he has to, can run all day. Not sure what the profile states but he looks about the height of Jarred Moore only slighter in build. It will be a dilemma for the coaching staff where and how to use him as he is so versatile. Could even captain our team one day. He is very, very highly regarded in the WAFL.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

[QUOTE=Cpt. Kirk;566342]Mcveigh, Jetta and Rohan wouldn't call those players a curse. QUOTE]

Nor I, the three players you mention do look the goods. Your response to my jockular speculation on the existance of a curse on the Swans first round draft choices seemed most ernest.

For some reason however, it did seem that you have inadvertently neglected to mention that 4 out of 5 of the Swans first round draft picks that were selected between McVeigh and Rohan are no longer with the club. (Veszpremi, LJ, Dan O'Keefe & Willoughby).

A fact which certainly decreases the authoritativeness of you response.

[Swansongster]

Your response to my jockular speculation on the existance of a curse ...

Pedant alert. I think we'd prefer to avoid speculation about what's in your jocks. However, your jocular speculation is most welcome. Also happy for you to take a stance on the existence of a curse.


We should be patient with Tom. If he reaches half his potential it is worth waiting for his young body to heal and develop for the rigours of AFL.

[chalbilto]

[QUOTE=Ruck'n'Roll;566366]

Mcveigh, Jetta and Rohan wouldn't call those players a curse. QUOTE]

Nor I, the three players you mention do look the goods. Your response to my jockular speculation on the existance of a curse on the Swans first round draft choices seemed most ernest.

For some reason however, it did seem that you have inadvertently neglected to mention that 4 out of 5 of the Swans first round draft picks that were selected between McVeigh and Rohan are no longer with the club. (Veszpremi, LJ, Dan O'Keefe & Willoughby).

A fact which certainly decreases the authoritativeness of you response.

It is fair to say that in this period these picks were not successful. However, before you classify them as "the curse of the Swans First Round Pick" a comparison should be made with the successes of other first round picks at other clubs. It could make interesting reading.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

[QUOTE=chalbilto;566392]

It is fair to say that in this period these picks were not successful. However, before you classify them as "the curse of the Swans First Round Pick" a comparison should be made with the successes of other first round picks at other clubs. It could make interesting reading.

It could well be, I certainly had no idea of how we stand in comparison to other team's first round track record and it could be interesting, but frankly I'm not interested enough to do that much research (I got as far as 8/11 for the Hawks in the same period then lost interest, sorry).

In any case I'm more "concerned" when I see my jocular aside being refuted, with every sign of seriousness, by some "slightly disengenous" examples/proofs. It's like proving that all cruise liners sink by naming the Lusitania, the Titanic and the Costa Concordia in front of a panel of experts in maritime history.

[caj23]

[QUOTE=chalbilto;566392]

It is fair to say that in this period these picks were not successful. However, before you classify them as "the curse of the Swans First Round Pick" a comparison should be made with the successes of other first round picks at other clubs. It could make interesting reading.

Our recruiting in first rounds was extremely ordinary around that period (see Vezpremi before Rioli, O'Keefe before anyone), and it has cost us on the field over the last few years. Thankfully Kinnear Beatson has come in and changed that trend recently.

If you were to go back and make the comparison RnR I think you'll find it will confirm how badly we did

[Cpt. Kirk]

On the injury report this week, Matt Cameron said if Mitchell makes it through training on Thursday which sounds likely he could be playing in our 2s this week. Should be an exciting weekend hopefully there is another stream or radio call on the game i can listen too.