Swans Academy and player watch

[barry]

Reid doesnt have LRTs mongrel.

[ernie koala]

I would like to think our window will be open for a few years yet. When out current mid age crop ( Jack, Jetta, Kennedy, Bird, Smith et al) become veterans our current young crop ( hanners, Parker, Rampe, Rohan, Harry, Tom, Reid etc.) will be mid age. There's a lot of names I've left out I've just given a few to give an idea. There's a lot of talent there, particularly in the mids, if we can produce some solid KPP's To go with them we could be a Geelong like side that is never out of contention

We do have a couple of handy KPPs already......Franklin, Tippett, Ried. So the forward line is covered

We need 1 or 2 ruckman to come through, and 1 or 2 KP defenders.

If we can unearth those needs then we should be in contention for the next 4 -5 years.

[theta]

Agree with you re Jones, the staff clearly rate him and I could see him really stepping up next year. You are right re Mitchell, I really do think he is the only player we'd be keen to let go if we got the right deal and it would definitely have to be a first round pick or a young KPD.

I believe we have Bird, Malceski and Pyke as our only decent players coming off contract this season - I think we'll probably lose one and my money would be on Malceski, especially I we win a flag. Hate to see him go but I'd be OK with that if it meant tying the other two up, Bird in particular is a real unsung hero.

Can't see us being anywhere near the money for Frawley and I tend to agree with Gary Lyon about him anyway...

At the end of the day we have the best list management team in the business and I'll back then to make the right calls.

I think you misunderstood my position on Mitchell. I would much prefer to lose Bird or Mal than Mitchell.

[theta]

I would like to think our window will be open for a few years yet. When out current mid age crop ( Jack, Jetta, Kennedy, Bird, Smith et al) become veterans our current young crop ( hanners, Parker, Rampe, Rohan, Harry, Tom, Reid etc.) will be mid age. There's a lot of names I've left out I've just given a few to give an idea. There's a lot of talent there, particularly in the mids, if we can produce some solid KPP's To go with them we could be a Geelong like side that is never out of contention

I agree our list will be spectacular....but just looking at the talent of GC and GWS it will be hard for ANY team to compete.

Eg:

Ablett, Swallow, Bennell, O'Meara, Prestia, Martin......will become the strongest midfield to ever play the game.

Patton, Boyd, Cameron.....will become the strongest forward line to ever play the game.

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Reid doesnt have LRTs mongrel.

I dont think LRT's mongrel is anything special.

[tasmania60]

Sure your not doing swans recruiting , sounds like a plan ,does Eddie need to know???????????????????

[Ampersand]

I agree our list will be spectacular....but just looking at the talent of GC and GWS it will be hard for ANY team to compete.

Eg:

Ablett, Swallow, Bennell, O'Meara, Prestia, Martin......will become the strongest midfield to ever play the game.

Patton, Boyd, Cameron.....will become the strongest forward line to ever play the game.

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I dont think LRT's mongrel is anything special.

GC and GWS will probably struggle to hold onto all of those players long term. Sure, they've locked a lot of them into longer contracts but most of them will be free agents in the prime of their careers.

[theta]

GC and GWS will probably struggle to hold onto all of those players long term. Sure, they've locked a lot of them into longer contracts but most of them will be free agents in the prime of their careers.

True, but I dont think the AFL will let a few kids ruin their multi-billion dollar, multi-decade expansion plans. If they have to arrange some paperbags they will. I see almost all of them hanging around for a flag or two each, and then their individual worth will jump anyway.

[Primmy]

Reid doesnt have LRTs mongrel.

Well I laughed.

It took years for LRT to get mongrel. He used to positively apologise for kicking a goal in his early years. A sweet man, but ....

Now about Reid. Nah, don't need to say anything. He is a smart kid, he is improving his positioning around the ground. Its a rule I watch by. Are they playing the same game week in week out (when starting off) or are they doing more things, more intelligent moves, week in week out. Not many of the greats started off with all the footy smarts needed. The good ones keep learning, the not so good ones retire early.

[troyjones2525]

Finally got to see Heeney, Mills, Davis, Dunkley Jnr and a few of our other Academy boys play live today! Heeney looked just as exciting live as I've been hearing and him coming off in the 3rd qtr with blurred vision from his 2nd head high hit for the day probably cost the Rams any chance of victory. Mills was just as exciting and they linked up well when both out there. Mills almost single handedly tried to keep the wounded Rams in it in the last qtr but unfortunately missed a couple of chances at goal that he was clearly disappointed with! They are both going to be special players in the future! Davis showed a bit too, especially in the first half and if it wasn't for a few wayward disposals he would have been right up there in the best couple of players on the ground at half time. He was playing down back and looked to read the game well and showed a bit more pace than I thought he had from seeing him on TV in the national championships. Could be a chance to be picked up by us if he keeps improving as I'm sure he has more upside to his game! Dunkley was good also and kicked an important goal in the last qtr when the game was in the balance from a stoppage inside 50. He has all the physical attributes to make it and at 17 and has played senior footy the last 4 or so years the sky's the limit for him! Exciting times for us swans fans! For those interested in the result, the Rams were on top in a close game for the first 3 qtrs but with a couple of game ending injuries including Heeney, they were overwhelmed by the home side in the last qtr to lose by about 4 goals. Great day though!

[Conor_Dillon]

Cheers for the update Troy! The way Heeney and Mills combined in the national championships is arguably more exciting than either of the individual players, they might as well be brothers the way they just know what the other is going to do

[Primmy]

Thanks Troy, much appreciated.

[Matt80]

Just heard from one of the Rams players that Heeney sustained a broken nose in the game.

He sounds like he is a very courageous and tough player as well.

[troyjones2525]

Yes he came off bleeding from the nose in the 3rd qtr. He also copped a hard knock at the start of the 2nd qtr at a centre bounce that left him rattled but after some time off the ground shook it off and back on and picked up where he left off, gathering plenty of quality touches. I heard him say to someone at 3 qtr time that he got a bit of blurred vision and they won't let him go back on! Seemed fine and has that toughness that we all love! Gonna be a beauty!

[Reggi]

We have nominated as potential draftees

Sydney Swans ? Abaina Davis (University NSW), Michael Dickson (University NSW), Jordan Foote (University NSW), Zachary Fyffe (North Shore), Isaac Heeney (NSW TAC Cup/Swans Reserves), Jack Hiscox (Sydney University), Vahid Roser (University NSW), Bradley Watson (Pennant Hills).

[ScottH]

AFL names academy players eligible for draft - AFL.com.au

The Father/Son and Academy bidding system is causing angst with some Victorian club presidents - namely Collingwood's Eddie McGuire - who are putting heat on the AFL to have a "pure draft". The Swans say if they are not going to benefit from their academy why should they put their money and resources into it.