leading up to Tues 7th Dec

[cookie]

I know what your saying but I guess the difference with Krueger is that he is tearing it up running wise - but time will tell.

[wedge.maverick]

Agree totally,Liz. My worry is that they don't take the full quota of rookies like last year. I do think Krueger is a chance as we have 3 NSW rookie spots available and if we don't use them they are forfeited, Krueger could be our sole NSW rookie.

[Triple B]

Don't think Krueger is a definite. Last year we had another kid from the Sydney league who'd played with the reserves the previous year as a top-up (Sam "I-can't-remember-his-surname-but-Ugg-will-know-for-sure) training with the squad but he wasn't picked up as a rookie. ....

Crichton? (or some similar spelling)

I agree re: Krueger, definitely not a monty, but will get used as a pretty regular topup I'd imagine with a view to 2012 if he is overlooked for this year.

[wedge.maverick]

I'd love it if we took at least one rookie that's a real excitement machine in the Jetta mold.

[ugg]

1. Yes it was Sam Crichton from Syd Uni that was given permission to train last year

2. Re: Krueger, the club is keen on him. To back this theory up, according to this
2011 club lists as they stand - AFL.com.au we have 7 rookie spots left, and according to this
2011 AFL Pre-season & Rookie Drafts Selection Order - AFL.com.au we have been pencilled in for 6 'live' picks i.e. picks excluding the NSW zone picks for us and QLD zone picks for the Lions and GC. So we could conclude that we are selecting one NSW zone pick, most likely Krueger. The only thing working against is that two those web pages are from mid November.

[liz]

2. Re: Krueger, the club is keen on him. To back this theory up, according to this
2011 club lists as they stand - AFL.com.au we have 7 rookie spots left, and according to this
2011 AFL Pre-season & Rookie Drafts Selection Order - AFL.com.au we have been pencilled in for 6 'live' picks i.e. picks excluding the NSW zone picks for us and QLD zone picks for the Lions and GC. So we could conclude that we are selecting one NSW zone pick, most likely Krueger. The only thing working against is that two those web pages are from mid November.

One thing I have never really understood about the NSW priority rookies is the extent to which we have access to three new such rookies a year, or can hold three on the list. The distinction is important in determining how many rookies we can pick / have because these aren't just priority selections - they represent an additional quota of rookies.

So, the standard rookie size is 6. Add 2 for the short-term concession given to all clubs while GWS and GC17 get established, but take 1 away because we have an outside veteran this year (Goodes). So that means the starting point is a rookie list of 7. We already have 3 on the list. Does that mean we have 4 live picks of non-NSW players and up to 3 NSW players? Or can we say that McNeil is a NSW rookie, and hence we have 5 +2? How about Gordon? He is not a NSW priority rookie but a scholarship elevation. It is a moot point, given how few rookies we took last year, but technically he could have sat outside the main rookie list as a first year scholarship elevation, and this year becomes part of the main list. Can he also now be ajudged to be a NSW rookie, giving the club 6 +1.

Related to this, I have wondered whether - specifically for the Swans - listing a first year scholarship player nominally fills one of the 3 NSW rookie spots. It would actually make a bit of sense if they were, given that the extra concession we get is meant to open doors for local players to get a shot, not to provide the Swans with a potentially vast rookie list.

[ugg]

If my 6+1 theory is correct, that would mean that Gordon is classified as one of the 3 NSW rookie spots, and also means that it's up to 3 spots in total every year not 3 picks.

[liz]

If my 6+1 theory is correct, that would mean that Gordon is classified as one of the 3 NSW rookie spots, and also means that it's up to 3 spots in total every year not 3 picks.

The other problem with your theory is that not only are the articles from mid-November, they are from AFL.com.au...when was that ever a source of reliable information!??

(Not that your theory is necessarily wrong - just couldn't pass up the chance for a dig at the main AFL site.)

[ugg]

Podsiadly could be template for Crows

In other developments, former Hawthorn ruckman Simon Taylor has attracted the interest of Sydney and Carlton. Taylor, 28, played just one match last season after recovering from a broken leg but was cut when the Hawks turned their attention to snaring former North Melbourne forward-ruckman David Hale in trade week.

I would have thought an experienced ruckman would be the last position we would be after in the rookie draft, especially with the new interchange rules in place. Perhaps they might plump for a young tall who may be able to pinch-hit in the ruck as insurance for the reserves given that there were a few games where we played without a recognised ruckman, but I can't see a 28 year old Taylor coming in to be the 4th or 5th choice ruckman.

Either that or the journo left out the 'Greater Western' prefix

[cookie]

Its the usual rubbish where we have a journal throw around the name of clubs like syd and carlton just to make a story.

[Primmy]

I am hoping we do get Kruger and he doesn't get snaffled by GWS. He is a classy mover, has the ability to read the play and get to the contest, nice safe hands, pretty good legs and didn't play like a toppie. All in all I want him on our list; and I will be seriously miffed if we miss out. Jack was a rookie wasn't he? Nuff said.

[707]

We have six Rookie picks today and after last years disappointment I hope we use them all or we are potentially missing out on a future senior player. I was stunned when we started calling "PASS" last year.

Kruger would have to be picked, given that he has only been playing AFL for a few years and his outstanding athletic ability, there must be a lot of upside to him. Not sure if any other NSW boys are up to it, the Scholarship scheme has picked the eyes out of NSW talent and surprisingly we don't seem to have got the most benefit from the scheme.

There should be someone with potential at our first pick 21, if we are going to take Moss then I reckon it will be with a later pick.

[liz]

We have six Rookie picks today and after last years disappointment I hope we use them all or we are potentially missing out on a future senior player. I was stunned when we started calling "PASS" last year.

I'll be quite surprised if we use all 6. Kruger (if they like him), Moss and just one other wouldn't surprise me, which would give a total rookie list size of 6 players. Last year (after taking McNeil) they commented they didn't have anything in the budget for rookies (beyond what they were already committed to, in Gordon and McKaigue) but that McNeil was too good to ignore. Can't see much having changed financially, and they must be conscious of not spreading development resources too thinly. I think there are 5 scholarship players who reach draft age in 2011, and these players are already going to be spending a far bit of time training with the squad.

[cookie]

I actually think we will pick more rookies then we did last but thats only because of the new comp and my thinking is that we might want to make a bit of statement in that regard - but I guess we will soon find out.

[707]

If we take Moss with our first pick be scared that after that we will be passing.