Kennedy and McGlynn

[giant]

Is he? Sure, he's inside but Kirk is a defensive player first and foremost who has willed himself to learn to win important ball himself at stoppages. There is little evidence that Kennedy is being groomed for a predominantly defensive role. I think a comparison with Jude is slightly more apt, though not perfect.

However we look at things, we seem well set for hard ball winners in the years post Kirk and Jude. Kennedy, Bird, Smith, Hannebery all look like genuine in and under ball winners. (They have other strings to their bows too.) Jack and McGlynn are no slouches either. Further down the production line, McNeil is already showing at reserves level he is a clearance machine, and we also have the possibility of Mitchell on the horizon.

While I agree, there's no question that Kennedy has enabled Kirk to increase his focus this year on his defensive jobs. He seems to be pulling himself last out of packs less often this year and concentrating on the shutdown jobs - and I'm sure that's because Kennedy has taken up much of the responsibility for being the extractor. Very happy to have Josh on board, especially if it means we get an extra year out of Kirk's aging limbs.

[707]

Kennedy is a big unit for a midfielder, I've noticed how strong he is in muscleing his way through thick packs and getting out deft handballs to the runners. Not flashy but very much our kind of player.

As someone said earlier, we're now looking good for inside midfielders. Nice to hear McNeill is showing a bit, be great if he turns into a bargain buy for us.

[wearebloods]

Apparently JK3 has a younger KPP sized brother. If he's any good we should pinch him just to annoy HFC fans

[Primmy]

Any acquisition to do with Dill is right by me. I reckon he is a gunn. A little gun, more a pistol, but nonetheless, a right royal good one.

[BSA5]

Apparently JK3 has a younger KPP sized brother. If he's any good we should pinch him just to annoy HFC fans

Invite him to move over to Sydney to live with his brother.... and then sign him up to the Academy!

[liz]

Invite him to move over to Sydney to live with his brother.... and then sign him up to the Academy!

Speaking of which...Bradshaw mentions in his Playing Fair video that his oldest son has been invited back to the Swans Academy after trialling with them recently. Wouldn't that be the ultimate slap in the face for the Lions if his son turns out to be any good at footy and becomes a Swan rather than a Lion by virtue of his father to Sydney!

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Does Swans Academy cancel out the F/S rule?

[BSA5]

Speaking of which...Bradshaw mentions in his Playing Fair video that his oldest son has been invited back to the Swans Academy after trialling with them recently. Wouldn't that be the ultimate slap in the face for the Lions if his son turns out to be any good at footy and becomes a Swan rather than a Lion by virtue of his father to Sydney!

Oh god yes! Please, please, PLEASE make it happen, oh merciful, wise, vengeful footy gods! And while you're at it, could you make him a decent player too? Oh, and the Roos boys too. Don't know how old they are, but if we could get all three...... Well, perhaps we could get a proper Swans/Lions rivalry going after all.

Does Swans Academy cancel out the F/S rule?

If it's anything like the NSW Scholarship system, probably. I'd say the AFL would want to make it as powerful as possible. If a player is drafted to a NSW/QLD team through a NSW/QLD Academy, he'll be more likely to be recognised as a NSW/QLD player, rather than the father of a former player, hence a supposedly higher profile of footy in NSW/QLD. That's what I'd do if I was in Vlad's shoes anyway.

[707]

Does Swans Academy cancel out the F/S rule?

Doesn't actually cancel it but here's how it would work.

The Father-Son rule allows a team to offer a place on their list to an eligible young player who can accept or refuse their offer. If they accept the club surrenders a draft pick determined by bidding for that player by other clubs. The young who says no thanks then takes his chances in the National Draft.

If that young player was in our Academy zone and knocked back th F-S offer, he could elect to go into the Academy sheme and we could pick him up under the same conditions as F-S, that is we lose a draft pick depending on what draft picks other clubs offer up to get him.

The most notable knock back by a young player was Marc Murphy who declined Brisbane's F-S offer (his father played for Fitzroy) and took his chances in the draft knwing that Carton would take him with pick number 1.

So young Bradshaw when he comes of draft age could get a F-S offer from Brisbane but if he was in our Academy, he could say no thanks to Brisbane and we could draft him by giving up a draft pick.

[Jewels]

Invite him to move over to Sydney to live with his brother.... and then sign him up to the Academy!

He's not a little, little brother, somewhere around the 18 mark I think.

[Go Swannies]

He's not a little, little brother, somewhere around the 18 mark I think.

Now you've done it!

With the Braddy love around here you've started a cougar stampede.