Welcome Jed Lamb, Luke Parker, Alex Johnson, Matthew Spangher

[Damien]

What's the story on Spangher? All the information on him seemed to suggest he wanted to go to a Vic Club and was given permission to train with Hawthorn.

I know you take an opportunity where you get it, but did we 'steal' him from under Hawthorn's nose??

[ugg]

Hawthorn has a pick before us in the rookie draft, which was where they were looking to pick Spangher. So if we wanted to steal him, we had to do so at pick 73. Given that there was a bit of a pause before the pick, it might suggest it was not an unanimous decision from the Swans recruiting team.

[giant]

BTW, that is a relatively slow time 20m for Lamb, given that he is meant to be quick? Maybe he doesn't have the acceleration of someone like a Rohan.

an intersting quote from one of his coaches:

"He probably doesn't test as well in some areas like speed and agility compared to what he shows in a game, but I think his anticipation and ability to get on the footy quickly is outstanding."

[aardvark]

Spangher has woeful skills and no football smarts, probably the worst player I saw at senior level in the AFL last year. A terrible selection.

Agree totally. Move over Jesse I have a new whipping boy.............

[AnnieH]

Poos and wees go out of their way to stuff us around year after year after year at the drafting table.

Need I remind you that one team's trash is another team's treasure. Do I need to name names?

[giant]

Spangher has woeful skills and no football smarts, probably the worst player I saw at senior level in the AFL last year. A terrible selection.

Completely agree - his performance at the SCG this year was one of the most embarrassing I've seen from an AFL player. And now he's a Swan...sad face.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Lamb was the best kick at the AFL draft camp...wasn't Gary Rohan the number 1 kick last year (or was it Sam Reid???)

Yep Rohan was approx 79% and Sam Reid was top 5 from memory at 73% - big difference compared to 29/30 for Lamb ie 97%

their times over 20m is a bit of a worry as it is quite standard - a reasonable amount of guys in yr 12 at any school could do 3.15ish seconds

[liz]

Yep Rohan was approx 79% and Sam Reid was top 5 from memory at 73% - big difference compared to 29/30 for Lamb ie 97%

their times over 20m is a bit of a worry as it is quite standard - a reasonable amount of guys in yr 12 at any school could do 3.15ish seconds

Apparently it was quite windy last year though, and not this year. But any test like that is only of limited benefit because it can be practiced and isn't performed under the same pressure as during a game. It measures just the execution of a skill, not the decision making.

[Go Swannies]

Spangher has woeful skills and no football smarts, probably the worst player I saw at senior level in the AFL last year. A terrible selection.

That's what I would have said of one R Shaw after watching him in a Grand Final. A few years later he's runner up in the Swans B&F. He may be our next Chambers or the recruiters have done due diligence and see something in him we don't. Maybe it's the same thing the Hawks saw?

[aardvark]

That's what I would have said of one R Shaw after watching him in a Grand Final. A few years later he's runner up in the Swans B&F. He may be our next Chambers or the recruiters have done due diligence and see something in him we don't. Maybe it's the same thing the Hawks saw?

Ahhh...the eternal optimist lives on.....

[Robbo]

We have a very good record for recycling players and improving them, but I just can't see how we will do that with Spangher. I've seen a lot of his WAFL games over the past 3 years and while he is OK at blanketing key forwards and is a good spoiler of the ball, he is absolutely terrible when he has possession of it. Just cannot kick or make quick decisions. I'm happy to be proved wrong but I don't think I will be - I think he's a spud of the highest order.

The other 3 look promising. Lamb is an outside mid, Parker is an inside mid. Johnson gives us plenty of KP depth now. We are pretty well covered in this area now.

Overall a good draft which has given us a few more promising youngsters to add to our current group of promising youngsters. We have depth everywhere now. However I just found Spangher a really strange decision.

[ugg]

More on Lamb

Article on his tragic personal history regarding the murder of his dad: Lamb's drafting a story of immense courage
Article from June, talking about his transition to a forward (involves a Butcher!) This Lamb's not so sheepish

Article from May on Johnson - Skipper's example inspires Chargers' Alex Johnson | Herald Sun

Based on their weight alone, Lamb and Parker could probably play seniors next year. Johnson will be a longer-term option (although we said the same about Reid) and of course the mature Spangher will play if required.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I agree re Spangher lets wait and see..........sometimes players get their mojo later and he is only 22/23 ?

I worried about Kennedy coming to us.......he had some shocka's at the Hawks in his few 13 games or so..........remember when he was in an open goal and stuffed the pass to Franklin.......its like Youtubes fav dumb ass AFL stuff up............and he stuffed numerous kicks in games and sometimes hand passed to no one.......plus he just looked lost out there if he wasnt in the middle of the pack fighting for the ball

[Auntie.Gerald]

More on Lamb

Article on his tragic personal history regarding the murder of his dad: Lamb's drafting a story of immense courage
Article from June, talking about his transition to a forward (involves a Butcher!) This Lamb's not so sheepish

Article from May on Johnson - Skipper's example inspires Chargers' Alex Johnson | Herald Sun

Based on their weight alone, Lamb and Parker could probably play seniors next year. Johnson will be a longer-term option (although we said the same about Reid) and of course the mature Spangher will play if required.

TDL, Jetta, Rohan, Bird, Moore, Meredith, Heath will all be fighting for a job in the 22 but I think Parker and Lamb are mature physically and will put pressure on............Parker especially if we get a couple midfield injuries

[sharp9]

Haven't seen anything to get excited about Spangher except two thoughts.......1.....Eagles played him very young for a KP - he can't have been completely useless.....2......The Eagles have had a toxic set-up ever since Worsfold took over so any refugee from there may well not have been treated properly.