Swans' Draft Selections / potential FA pick-ups

[707]

This year's trade month has been remarkable.

The numbers of trades, some players were traded for what I thought were overs, others traded for what I thought were unders.

The delistings have never had so much quality IMO which means clubs have suddenly decided against trading in fringe quality and want to chance their luck at the ND.

You can make a fair side out of the delisted Free Agents list. It will be interesting to see how many now find a new club because this year they can be brought in for free.

I wonder if we are looking at anyone? Can't see it because we'd only be bringing in depth but our lack of dept is a worry to me. That said, I'm happy with having four or five ND picks, albeit them being late ones. Come on down the next Goodes, Parker, Johnson, Malceski, ROK etc who were all 40+ picks

[dimelb]

This year's trade month has been remarkable.

The numbers of trades, some players were traded for what I thought were overs, others traded for what I thought were unders.

The delistings have never had so much quality IMO which means clubs have suddenly decided against trading in fringe quality and want to chance their luck at the ND.

You can make a fair side out of the delisted Free Agents list. It will be interesting to see how many now find a new club because this year they can be brought in for free.

I wonder if we are looking at anyone? Can't see it because we'd only be bringing in depth but our lack of depth is a worry to me. That said, I'm happy with having four or five ND picks, albeit them being late ones. Come on down the next Goodes, Parker, Johnson, Malceski, ROK etc who were all 40+ picks

Is it really a worry? I thought we were better off for depth than we have been for ages. A small problem is that other clubs have started pinching our depth - such as Campbell Heath, TDL. But I trust Beatson and his gang to keep us well supplied.

[Ludwig]

RE: Delisted players

You would imagine that there were attempts to trade most of those players, but nothing materialised. All the teams seem to be thinking more or less the same: Why keep a player on your list when they have little chance of making the seniors next year? As far a depth is concerned, if you're getting down to playing your 35th best player due to injuries, your season is in deep trouble anyway, and you're probably going nowhere. So why not give yourself a chance of getting another fresh face and see what happens.

[caj23]

I'm interested to know which positions people think we lack depth in?

The reason I ask is that we have an extremely versatile list and I reckon we're pretty well covered in the event of injuries.

The only area that could bite us is the ruck with Mummy, Pyke and Jessie our only 3 options (LRT as a short term pinch hitter as well). Given the size of lists these days I'm not sure you can afford to hold more than that anyway and as Ludwig pointed out, if Mummy and Pyke go down with long term injuries we're probably in trouble regardless of who is available as a back up.

[SPC]

Is it really a worry? I thought we were better off for depth than we have been for ages. A small problem is that other clubs have started pinching our depth - such as Campbell Heath, TDL. But I trust Beatson and his gang to keep us well supplied.

I agree. After the 22 who won the GF and are all still here for 2013, we have Rohan, McGlynn, Lamb, Mitchell, Armstrong, Everitt, White, Walsh, Cunningham, Brown, Lockyer, Briggs + the ones we pick up in the draft. That seems reasonable cover for most positions.

[Ludwig]

I agree. After the 22 who won the GF and are all still here for 2013, we have Rohan, McGlynn, Lamb, Mitchell, Armstrong, Everitt, White, Walsh, Cunningham, Brown, Lockyer, Briggs + the ones we pick up in the draft. That seems reasonable cover for most positions.

The first 8 will all be hoping to get a fair amount of games in 2013 (let's say around 10), to keep them reasonably satisfied. Of course Rohan (if fit) and McGlynn will be expecting to be regulars. Otherwise they will be looking for other clubs at the end of next year. Those 8 + the 22 from GF, 30 in all, is just about the limit for what you can carry as qualified senior list players without causing too much discontent. The last 4 will be going into their 2nd year and will hope to impress in the reserves and force their way into the seniors. That looks like a good mix for a team that hopes to get into another GF in 2013.

If we land Tippett, then Pyke, Walsh, White, LRT and Everett will be competing for 1 or 2 spots in the side. All could even miss out if everyone's fit. Think Rohan, McGlynn and Tippett in, Pyke, LRT, Morton out, for example. Quite feasible. You can see why it made sense to transfer out the players that we did.

Tippett is the only delisted player available that could make our 1st 25, so there is no point in chasing any of the others.

Like every year, you hope your list manager finds a few young players that will allow your success to carry well into the future, especially when tanking is not an option.

[Swansongster]

NZ forward aims to silence doubters

I hope the recruiting team are doing due diligence on Haretuku. Not sure if he has all of the goods but if they are running the rule over him, I trust their judgement one way or the other.

[Donners]

I'm interested to know which positions people think we lack depth in?

The reason I ask is that we have an extremely versatile list and I reckon we're pretty well covered in the event of injuries.

The only area that could bite us is the ruck with Mummy, Pyke and Jessie our only 3 options (LRT as a short term pinch hitter as well). Given the size of lists these days I'm not sure you can afford to hold more than that anyway and as Ludwig pointed out, if Mummy and Pyke go down with long term injuries we're probably in trouble regardless of who is available as a back up.

Key defence and ruck are the two which strike me as the main worries. We only have Richards, Grundy and LRT for the former, unless Alex Johnson bulks up a lot over summer. With few options in the ruck and no Tippett, LRT may find himself thrown all over the ground next year.

[BillyRayCypress]

Shopping list available here:

AFL Best Value Delisted Players

[Nico]

Not too many of those will get picked up.

[stellation]

Of those folks I'd be happy to pick up Gillies then after that Bate.

[caj23]

Key defence and ruck are the two which strike me as the main worries. We only have Richards, Grundy and LRT for the former, unless Alex Johnson bulks up a lot over summer. With few options in the ruck and no Tippett, LRT may find himself thrown all over the ground next year.

Johnson is more than capable of holding down a Key Defensive position, if Richards and Grundy both went down I'd be comfortable with LRT and AJ as replacements, compared to most other teams that's a pretty good position. We probably need to draft another large KPD unless we are confident that Brown and Lockyer are going to develop in those positions.

Ruck is a bit of a concern but there's only so many you can have on your list at once, I don't have a problem with Jessie as the 3rd option back up ruck, I wouldn't want him to be no 1 for an extended period though!

[royboy42]

Of those folks I'd be happy to pick up Gillies then after that Bate.

I've always had an interest in Bate after seeing him carve some team up on tv a while ago.

Was he caught up in the alleged 'lets lose a few games' period? May have affected his form at Melbourne if that was the case.

Still only young and maybe worth a good look. And he's a ranga!

[rojo]

Have just been reading about Kristen Jaksch. He would be a great pickup. At 194cm he plays forward, back and can ruck. However, as one of the few KPP listed in the top 20 players (14) in the upcoming draft, he will probably be gone before we get our chance.

[swanspant12]

Theres many players I'd love in the upcoming draft, but i hate speculating on who's going where etc. I trust the club and the recruitment team in choosing the best player for our pick.