Draft Picks

[swanspant12]

Yes I agree that was a bit early. But Swanspant is on the right track but just wrong ruckman. We need to get a junior now and develop him as second to Mummy. Pykie and Seaby are both 29 so they don't have that much footy left, probably 2 to 3 years. Best to get a rookie ruckman now and develop him. The thing is we could draft an academy player and because we get first choice we can draft him with our first draft choice without any other side being able to touch him. Young Naismith falls into that category.

Exactly right wolftone. By no means do I think mummy is close to retiring but we must draft a ruckman and develop him alongside mummy cow of Pyke and seabys age. That was what I meant as you said. If Ben Reid doesn't sign a contract get him down here ASAP horse.

[wolftone57]

Exactly right wolftone. By no means do I think mummy is close to retiring but we must draft a ruckman and develop him alongside mummy cow of Pyke and seabys age. That was what I meant as you said. If Ben Reid doesn't sign a contract get him down here ASAP horse.

I think we have to look to the Swans Academy to develop players now that Roos has taken over there. Nick Davis is also coaching there so we could end up with some kids who can really kick. In the three years time we need to have listed and rookie listed at least two junior ruckmen, some tall forwards and a couple of tall backs just to be sure. I think or mid strength is brilliant at the moment and we will not need to bolster this area for at least 5 years.

[caj23]

Lmao, yep the big mummy is looking into a retirement village as we speak. NFI me thinks

Not that I agree with the idea of drafting a ruckman, but presumably the thought process is that it takes an 18 y.o ruckman 4 + years to get up to speed in the AFL by which time Mummy will be approaching 30, hence the need to draft one now

So NFI is a harsh and incorrect call

[swanspant12]

Not that I agree with the idea of drafting a ruckman, but presumably the thought process is that it takes an 18 y.o ruckman 4 + years to get up to speed in the AFL by which time Mummy will be approaching 30, hence the need to draft one now

So NFI is a harsh and incorrect call

Exactly right mate.

[liz]

I think or mid strength is brilliant at the moment and we will not need to bolster this area for at least 5 years.

Not sure on what basis one can say that. The only player currently running around in the midfield for our reserves who you'd bet your house on playing senior footy (injuries permitting) is Mitchell. (I've excluded Parker on the basis he is just passing through.) I have reasonably high hopes for Cunningham but there's not much more after that who are true midfielders and who are more likely to be on the list next year than not. Bolton and ROK will possibly retire during the next couple of years. Others will get injured or lose form. I reckon our midfield is where we currently have the least developing depth on the list, particularly given that you need 12-14 players in the senior team capable of rotating through there.

[Dosser]

Not that I agree with the idea of drafting a ruckman, but presumably the thought process is that it takes an 18 y.o ruckman 4 + years to get up to speed in the AFL by which time Mummy will be approaching 30, hence the need to draft one now

So NFI is a harsh and incorrect call

Nope, nope, nope.

Drafting a potential ruckman is fraught with danger. For every 6 developing ruckmen on a club's list, only one will probably ever make it. To waste a pick on a tall, gangly kid who may or may not make it is a waste - unless the kid is a top 10 who is ready to play now (ie, Kruezer, Fraser, GC and GWS ruckmen). Just look at the trail of wasted picks and shattered dreams we have made with these kids over the years.

Instead, we need to get smart and get the best player available and simply let another club put 4 years of work into developing a ruckman - this is what we did with Jolly and Mummy. By that time we know which kids will make it in the ruck and which ones wont and we also have a good player that we could possibly trade for them as we wave a lot of money in their face. It has been a highly successful method for us so far and we shouldnt be changing it now.

[Ludwig]

Not sure on what basis one can say that. The only player currently running around in the midfield for our reserves who you'd bet your house on playing senior footy (injuries permitting) is Mitchell. (I've excluded Parker on the basis he is just passing through.) I have reasonably high hopes for Cunningham but there's not much more after that who are true midfielders and who are more likely to be on the list next year than not. Bolton and ROK will possibly retire during the next couple of years. Others will get injured or lose form. I reckon our midfield is where we currently have the least developing depth on the list, particularly given that you need 12-14 players in the senior team capable of rotating through there.

What about Biggs, Lamb, Merredith, Morton and Nipper? I'd bet at least 2 of this lot will play at senior level on a regular basis. I'm sure we'll draft a few mids this year and next and perhaps get a few from the Academy program. The way I look at it is that we have a number of reserves players that would be vary capable of getting a game at many clubs in every position except KPF. I don't want to get into the never ending LRT debate, because I think he's doing okay, but let's face it, he's not the long term answer to a second tall forward. Unfortunately, this draft doesn't look like one that's big on KPFs, so hopefully we can find a roughy that's not on other teams' radars.

[jono2707]

Nope, nope, nope.

Drafting a potential ruckman is fraught with danger. For every 6 developing ruckmen on a club's list, only one will probably ever make it. To waste a pick on a tall, gangly kid who may or may not make it is a waste - unless the kid is a top 10 who is ready to play now (ie, Kruezer, Fraser, GC and GWS ruckmen). Just look at the trail of wasted picks and shattered dreams we have made with these kids over the years.

Instead, we need to get smart and get the best player available and simply let another club put 4 years of work into developing a ruckman - this is what we did with Jolly and Mummy. By that time we know which kids will make it in the ruck and which ones wont and we also have a good player that we could possibly trade for them as we wave a lot of money in their face. It has been a highly successful method for us so far and we shouldnt be changing it now.

I don't see too many ruckmen at other clubs looking for an opportunity at another club that I would throw too much at. Perhaps Bellchambers at Essendon might be a chance, as they're well stocked and will pick up Daniher. Other than that, maybe Lycett at WCE may seek chances elsewhere although he's young. The others I could think of that might move from where they currently are don't really get me too excited - Griffin or Clarke at Freo, Graham or Browne at Richmond, Daw, Jenkins, Spencer, maybe a Collingwood or Geelong youngster. Not much there in that mob - maybe Seabs will be staying put for another year after all....

Oh and that Naismith kid is 208cm - you know what they say, you can't teach tall.....

[liz]

What about Biggs, Lamb, Merredith, Morton and Nipper? I'd bet at least 2 of this lot will play at senior level on a regular basis. I'm sure we'll draft a few mids this year and next and perhaps get a few from the Academy program. The way I look at it is that we have a number of reserves players that would be vary capable of getting a game at many clubs in every position except KPF. I don't want to get into the never ending LRT debate, because I think he's doing okay, but let's face it, he's not the long term answer to a second tall forward. Unfortunately, this draft doesn't look like one that's big on KPFs, so hopefully we can find a roughy that's not on other teams' radars.

Lamb will get another year on the list (I am almost certain) but has yet to demonstrate more than fleeting glimpse of senior potential. Morton's showed nothing this year other than as a forward. If he gets a game it will be because the coaches decide his goal kicking prowess outweigh a lack of chase and tackle. Gordon plays in the midfield in the reserves, but if it plays more senior games, I suspect it will be as a forward. Meredith will be fortunate to get another year on the list. He's not a dud, but he's had lots of injuries and doesn't look close to getting a senior game in what is now his 5th year on the list. Biggs I am not convinced by yet but it is early days for him. He may well get another year but is far from a sure thing. (Nor is Cunningham for that matter - he just looks to have more "senior AFL" about him to me than Biggs does.)

Even if a couple of these players do progress to senior level, at this stage they look like pretty marginal players and none of them looks like a pure onballer.

We might well pick up a couple from the Academy this year. But NSW was absolutely smashed in the U18s this year and it doesn't sound like any of our "possibles" screamed out "pick me". Robinson did get a few mentions as decent but Wray and Jack sound like they were quite subdued from the reports I read. Again, at this stage, they need to be considered as marginal long term senior players, not the next Hannerbery or Parker, who were capable of making an impact at senior level almost as soon as they arrived.

We have as many tallish players developing in the reserves who might make it as senior players - Walsh, Heath, Brown (very early days), Lockyer (very early days and still injured), Lynch. I am not arguing they are more to become long term senior options than the smaller reserves players but I don't think they are less likely either (other than compared to Mitchell). And there are more opportunities for (and requirements for) smaller and medium sized players than for talls.

[caj23]

It's pretty simple really, draft the best player available regardless of position.

On the surface that looks like what we've been doing since Beatson came on board

[swans]

This is in any order
This is just a list of draft player that people maybe interesting at looking at for draft picks for the swans next year

------------------Potential A-Graders--------------------
1. Joe Daniher (Ess ? F/S)
2. Jaeger O?Meara (GC ? 17 Y/O)
3. Lachlan Whitfield
4. Jack Viney (Melb ? F/S)
5. Jimmy Toumpas
6. Brad Crouch (Adel ? 17 Y/O)
7. Brodie Grundy
8. Jake Stringer
9. Oliver Wines
10. Nick Vlastuin
------------------Potentially high level AFL players--------------------
11. Sam Colquhoun
12. Dayle Garlett
13. Lachlan Plowman
14. Troy Menzel
15. Sam Mayes
16. Jonothon O?Rourke
17. Ben Kennedy
18. Jed Anderson (GWS ? likely NT Zone)
19. Adam Carter
20. Jackson Macrae
----------------Potential AFL Quality-----------------
21.Kristian Jaksch
22. Mason Shaw
23. Tanner Smith
24. Tom Temay
25. Shannon Taylor
26. Josh Simpson
27. Marco Paparone
28. James Stewart (Coll ? F/S)
29. Sean Lynch
30. Rory Atkins
31. Alex Howson
32. Nathan Wright
33. Matthew McDonough
34. Harley Montgomery
35. Nathan Hrovat
36. Jason Pongracic
37. Tim Membrey
38. Matthew Haynes
39. Laine Wilkins
40. Craig Moller (Freo ? NSW/ACT)



Minidraft (2011):
#1 Gold Coast - Jaeger O?Meara (WA - Mid)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 23/02/1994
Recruited from: Perth Football Club
Style: Gary Ablett
Player comparison:
Range (2012): 1-2
Profile: Has absolutely elite speed ? 2.80 of 20m. Endurance is incredibly high ? 14+ beep test. Really looks like a sensational athlete already and has huge AFL potential. He makes good use of his speed and can take players on like few others and reminds you so much of a Judd or Ablett with the way he can go. Has that rare vision and awareness to go with it. Big time clearance player. Probably more outside than inside at this stage. Overhead marking good. Gets high tackling numbers. Decision making can be iffy at times, but improving. Can kick both feet incredibly well but could certainly work on consistent by foot and hit targets and finish more consistently, certainly not as polished as Whitfield yet but is well on his way but when his kicking is on can hit at will and kicks it like homing missiles which gives me confidence that this aspect of his game will improve and develop that consistency. Also would like to see him hit the scoreboard more. But everything he can do and already does suggests that he will go on to be a special player.
Why:

#2 Adelaide - Brad Crouch (VIC - Mid)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 12/01/1994
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Style:
Player comparison: Luke Ball
Range (2012): 3-5
Profile: Really strong inside player. Could play AFL footy now. Very ready to go. Physically is ready. Has a complete game. Really hard worker and will never die wondering. Future captain material. Ball use very good and is good by both hand and foot. Speed good. Very low risk guy where you know what you?ve got, and you know he will succeed in a big way at the next level.
Why:


GWS - NT Zone:
Jed Anderson (NT ? Mid/Util)
Height: 178cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 16/02/1994
Recruited from: Darwin
Style:
Player comparison: Toby Greene
Range: 10-35 (GWS can sign through zone selection ? likely)
Profile: Anderson is a really high level contested ball winner. Absolute bull with his attack on the ball. During the 2011 U18 Champs was the best from NT and really displayed his talent as a bottom age player and backed it up with another standout effort in 2012. Has some versatility to play through the midfield, up forward or down back. Skill level very good and decision making in congestion in particular stands out. Quickness is above average but what athletically stands out with Anderson is his evasiveness and side step which has impressed. Also like his strong marking ability forward of centre which has impressed with his nice leap and ability to mark the ball in the air, 1v1 and also take a strong contested grab which at his size is impressive. Looks likely to go to GWS through a Zone Selection you?d think.
Why:

GC ? QLD Zone:
Clay Cameron (QLD ? KPP)
Height: 191cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 27/05/1994
Recruited from: Mt Gravatt
Style:
Player comparison:
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Has in the past played as a key forward but this year is showing some ability as a key defender. Cameron is an above average athlete and has a strong leap on him. The major strength in his game is his strong marking ability and his ability to take a grab at its highest point.
Why:


Power Rankings for 2013 ? to give an indication of where I rank these eligible for the minidraft against those others in next year?s draft:
1. Thomas Boyd (VIC - KPF)
2. James Aish (SA - MID)
3. Luke McDonald (VIC - UTIL ? NM F/S) ? Minidraft eligible but likely will choose not to enter due to F/S.
4. Jesse Hogan (WA - KPF) ? Minidraft eligible
5. Matt Crouch (VIC - MID) ? Minidraft eligible
6. Jack Martin (WA - UTIL) ? Minidraft eligible
7. Josh Kelly (VIC - MID) ? Minidraft eligible
8. Jack Billings (VIC - FWD)
9. Matt Scharenberg (SA ? MID/DEF)
10.Guy Dickson (VIC - FWD)


Minidraft (2012):
1. Jack Martin (WA ? Mid/Fwd)
Height: 185cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 29/01/1995
Recruited from: Claremont
Style: Dale Thomas
Player comparison:
Range:
Profile: Martin is a neat little prospect and really stands out with his great run and carry. Has great pace and uses it well through the midfield and is a guy you really notice. One thing that has impressed me with Martin is his explosive sidestep, can just explode off to the side and it isn?t just straight line pace. Probably more of an outside player but is an above average stoppage player and clearance work very reasonable for someone so slight of build which is encouraging. Has a great leap on him and can take a high flying mark and also for his size is a very strong contested mark. Has also shown nice ability to read the ball and regularly gets intercept marks off opposition kicks. After a mark is willing to move the ball on quickly and in a team with quick ball movement could really thrive. Skills very neat and pin point. Finishing ability around goal good. Also really like his composure with ball in hand and generally uses it really well.
Why:

2. Jesse Hogan (WA ? KPF)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 12/02/1995
Recruited from: Claremont
Style: Jonathan Brown
Player comparison:
Range:
Profile: Strong contested marking forward and is a real presence and target you can kick to. Also has excellent ability to take a 1v1 mark and this seems a real feature of his game. Reads it well in the air and off the players boot. Has the ability to crash packs and bring it to ground and seems to enjoy the physical side of the game. Physically developed for his age and already a very high level key forward. By foot is a good field kick and can find a leading target. Will need to work on set shot goal kicking routine ? just doesn?t look as fluid as you?d ideally like to see and as a result his set shot goal kicking seems to suffer.