Why did we overlook Michael Barlow?

[dawson]

Every club in the land is as guilty as each other and that Michael Barlow ended up at Freo is more to good luck than than anything they had to do with it.

I'd love to know why the Swans didn't pick him up. Clearly he is a fantastic player and an absolute ball-magnet.

[goswannie14]

Every club in the land is as guilty as each other and that Michael Barlow ended up at Freo is more to good luck than than anything they had to do with it.

I'd love to know why the Swans didn't pick him up. Clearly he is a fantastic player and an absolute ball-magnet.

Not happy with our recruits?

[ROK Lobster]

Not happy with our recruits?

Not the question padre.

[Primmy]

Well its not as tho the Swans are the only club in the land for the last ten years! And I am fairly convinced there are a few on our list that we should be pleased to HAVE got......lucky lad he got picked up, yes, but there must be hundreds playing lower leagues that could have made it if all the planets had aligned etc.....

[dawson]

Well its not as tho the Swans are the only club in the land for the last ten years! And I am fairly convinced there are a few on our list that we should be pleased to HAVE got......lucky lad he got picked up, yes, but there must be hundreds playing lower leagues that could have made it if all the planets had aligned etc.....

That's what I was thinking. For every Michael Barlow there must be hundreds of other guys across the land who look the goods - most of them stink when they get to the AFL. But with Barlow and Jame Podsiadly got me thinking how valuable some of these overlooked players could be. For instance, I think we did ok with John Stevens.

[goswannie14]

Not happy with our recruits?

Not the question padre.

I was wondering why the question, that's what prompted my question. If you are happy wioth the recruits we have, you wouldn't be worried about the others. But bthen some pwoplw ant to have their cake and eat it too.

[sydneyswans1989]

who cares? We've picked up a bunch of fantastic recruits over the pre-season. Yes Barlow is playing good footy and i'm happy for the bloke. Fremantle have done some horrid recruiting over the years so hats off to them for finally finding something good rather then a bunch of essendon hacks...oh wait mphee!? we'll let that one slide for now

[Damien]

Fair enough question, I'm happy with Swans 2010 but I'd love to know if he was on our radar at all and if he was, what turned us off him.

[dawson]

Fair enough question, I'm happy with Swans 2010 but I'd love to know if he was on our radar at all and if he was, what turned us off him.

Exactly. If anyone who was playing their first year of AFL was eligible for the Rookie of the Year, I'm sure he'd win it in a landslide. The way he is going, he is a certain All-Australian selection and a good chance for the Brownlow.

[707]

I think a large number of us were surprised when the Swans didn't take anyone in the rookie draft other than the zone selection of Dylan McNeill, particularly as we had an early pick for once.

Might be worth looking back at that old thread and see who amongst the various of us nominated as to who we wanted drafted and whether any of the knowledgable amongst us wanted Barlow?

I'm off for a look now if I can find the thread

[dawson]

I think a large number of us were surprised when the Swans didn't take anyone in the rookie draft other than the zone selection of Dylan McNeill, particularly as we had an early pick for once.

Might be worth looking back at that old thread and see who amongst the various of us nominated as to who we wanted drafted and whether any of the knowledgable amongst us wanted Barlow?

I'm off for a look now if I can find the thread

Gold Coast had the first 5 picks than it was Melbourne, Richmond, Freo, North and Sydney. We took Henry Playfair with that pick.

[BSA5]

We've already got one.

[Robbo]

No club is as guilty as Essendon for not picking him up. He was training with them during the pre-season.

I have a little theory though. Essendon lost McPhee to Freo for nothing. Instead of taking Barlow, they took Kyle Hardingham who had been training with Freo. I reckon they did this to give Freo the @@@@s as a way of getting back at them for taking McPhee. Turns out they @@@@@@ themselves even more though.

[707]

Barlow was Freo's first pick in the Rookie Draft who took him two picks before our first pick so that is why we couldn't consider him.

I've had a look a the Rookie Draft thread, Matthew Panos who went with Rookie Draft pick 47 to the Bulldogs was the one most forumites were keen on, no mention by anyone of Barlow.

Let's see if Panos makes the grade.

[Bas]

Well Barlow has been good for the first few games of the year. What about next year, 3 years, 5 years.

Who in the National draft would you have passed to take Barlow? We didn't have a chance in the rookie draft.

Don't forget our very own rookie picks:

1999 Selection 40 - Brett Kirk
2000 Selection 9 - Tadhg Kennelly
2003 Selection 64 - Paul Bevan
2005 Selection 42 - Heath Grundy. Touted as top 10 National Draft pick for that year.
2007 Selection 15 - Nick Smith.
2007 Selection 30 - Matthew O'Dwyer
2008 Selection 10 - Matthew O'Dwyer (again)
2008 Selection 41 - Jake Orreal
2009 Selection 12 - Kristin Thornton
2009 Selection 57 - Myke Pyke
2010 Selection 10 - Henry Playfair.

These are just the players that are on our list now. I could have mentioned Vogels and Brennan as rookie selections over the last 10 years.
Not much to complain about me thinks.