Trade Whispers / Rumours and Confirmations

[Ludwig]

Just to put our current situation going into next year in perspective, here's my top 30:

FB_ Johnson T.Richards Rampe
HB_ Malceski Grundy Smith
CTR Parker McVeigh Hannebery
CT2 Bird ROK Mitchell
RCK Kennedy Pyke K.Jack
HF_ Goodes Franklin Reid
FF_ Rohan Tippett Jetta
EMG Shaw B.Jack LRT
EM2 Towers McGlynn Membrey
EM3 Cunningham Biggs Lloyd

We still have 3 experienced players outside the starting 21, and some very promising young players as well. Even the top teams often play a few 1st or second year players in the senior squad. I don't see any problem with depth.

[jono2707]

We've ended up with some decent draft picks.

We'll have to make sure a few youngsters take another step up to cover the loss of a couple of 'depth players' (which are always needed thru the course of a season).

We'll need to find at least 1 ruckman in the draft. Not only do we need injury cover, having a decent ruck in Ressies is good for the developing midfielders playing there.

9 years? I'm still uncomfortable about that. Buddy doesn't seem to me like the sort of player who'd make it through to 35.

Bummer about Jed if he still goes - he'll be a good player soon enough.

[scolsey22]

Article up on swans site says Rampe and Jack will be uprgraded to the senior list. So guess that means Biggs and Richards will stay on rookie list. With Perris and Pat Mitchell to join rookie list also

[CureTheSane]

At what point did we pick up Gary Ablett Jr??

Franklin is good but certainly not the best player in the league by any stretch of the imagination

If you consider marketing etc he is the nest in the league

[magic.merkin]

Yeah, tah for that Magic, sometimes you just gotta be reminded WHAT the Swans bought for lotsa money.

I hadn't seen some of them. Jeez, Candy Man!

He just ignites.

Also the goal from 50cms from the point line. what did he kick that through? Must have been a gap 1cm either side of the ball!

[lwjoyner]

I see 2 problems one for loosing Mummy for pick 39, he was/is worth more than that particularly if you compare with Everitt we should have dug in and perhaps packaged both he and lamb for a in the 20-30 range (GWS had 21 and 22)

[Meg]

I notice on the AFL trade updates earlier today it said
"Darren Jolly, (saying) the delisted Pie is fit and eager to play on. St Kilda is still in the mix, along with one other club."

Do you think we are the other club? I guess Jolly would prefer a Vic club rather than move his family again. How does the system work for delisted players now that the trade period has ended?

[AnsweredPrayers]

I think we did ok. Keeping players on your list who want more opportunity elsewhere is a waste of everyones time and money. You move them on and take what you can get. Looking at the Swans success with mid draft picks I'm sure they'll find some talent. Who knows the next Hanners or Parker may be just around the corner!

[Ludwig]

I think we go into this draft in a reasonably good position, considering that we have a young midfield with some quality depth. After struggling to find a forward line for several years, we now arguably have the best in the comp.

I would think that either Blake Acres or Jonathon Marsh would be available at pick 15. I like them both, but would lean toward Acres because of his versatility, although Marsh can play the third tall forward allowing Reid to play in defence, or could be developed into a 3rd defender.

I wouldn't spend pick 15 on a key defender. It's too hard to tell how they'll turn out. I actually think Gardiner looks a bit clunky and prefer either McStay or Cameron Giles, who should be available later in the draft, and would look at picking up one them at either pick 32 or 35.

At 25 yo, Joel Tippett is unlikely to go before pick 40, and is more likely not to be drafted. But could be a possibility for the rookie draft. Tippett is ready to go now, but we still have a couple of years to go before we need a key defender in earnest.

Despite this being called a below average draft, there seems to be a number of interesting prospects that should be available with our 3 picks 32, 35 and 44:

Jake Kolodjashnij: Brother of fraternal twin and top 10 prospect Kade. Is tall enough to be a key defender. Has many of the same qualities of his brother, but a bit bigger and slighly less agile because of it, but still very athletic.

Darcy Hourigan: Can play a key forward or defender, but probably not your no. 1. Is a tough, smart footballer who can take a strong mark and kick well. Has a bit of Tim Membrey about him but a few cmtrs. taller. Would take him if available at pick 32.

Tom Cutler: A tall midfielder that will probably be suited for a rebounding defender. Good agility and skills.

Jarrad Jansen: A big bodied midfielder that can play anywhere on the ground. Quick and skillfull. A bit like Acres, but not expected to go before pick 30. Possibility at pick 35 or 44.

Eli Templeton: Versatile and skillful Tasmanian Midfielder with Dyson Heppell Hairdo.

Ben Sokol: Fwd/Mid with elite endurance. Luke Parker body type and attitude. Could be a good pickup at 44 or even 53.

Tom Langdon Def/Mid: 19 yo who missed being drafted last year. A solid player with a good all around game. Someone who can play a Mattner type role in defence or go forward and kick goals.

Max King: 2 mtr tall ruck forward from NSW. Might be zoned for GWS, but if so, will probably pass. Amazingly not at all unco for his size, in fact a very agile player. Looks a good prospect and worth a rookie pick at least.

Ben Brown: Athletic 21 yo ruck forward that might be a good option for a backup ruckman next year with some real long term potential. Looks ahead of Naismith at this point. Worth a look at pick 44.

[ugg]

I would love to hear what GWS offered for Lamb. If it was 48, then it's a little strange we didn't accept as we've now stated we're picking up to pick 53.

[BillyRayCypress]

I would love to hear what GWS offered for Lamb. If it was 48, then it's a little strange we didn't accept as we've now stated we're picking up to pick 53.

So what picks do we use on upgrading Rampe and Jack?? Wouldn't it be one of these picks??

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Article up on swans site says Rampe and Jack will be uprgraded to the senior list. So guess that means Biggs and Richards will stay on rookie list. With Perris and Pat Mitchell to join rookie list also

Biggs has already done two years as a rookie

[ugg]

So what picks do we use on upgrading Rampe and Jack?? Wouldn't it be one of these picks??

No it doesn't really matter what those picks are. It could be 53, it could be pick 153, as long as they are the last 2 we 'use'

[Ludwig]

A few additional thoughts on the trade period:

1. We might be contemplating offering Armstrong a contract, but probably not a big one. This can go either way. Armstrong is the achetypical depth player, for those who can't get enough depth. May be a choice between Tony and using pick 53.

2. I wonder what effect the fallout from the trade period will have on the COLA beyond the impact of the Franklin deal. GWS used a their big stash of cash to wrench 2 good players from us for just pick 39. We could argue that if the league takes away our COLA but leaves GWS with theirs, they will continue to raid our playing list. Perhaps this is why we let Lamb go to the PSD, to make this point. Furthermore, the devastating effect the loss of COLA to Brisbane has seen one of the greatest AFL teams ever, playing in an important market, fall apart at the seams. But this may be attributed to poor management.

3. I would not be surprised if our list management team is already making a list of targets on GWS's list, and might be talking to their managers before Christmas. We may want to make a statement in next year's trade period. Hopefully GSW don't finish last next year as well, so lose their prime position in the PSD.

4. It seems that we have cleared enough cap space to accommodate Buddy and put us back in the game to attract additional players next year. Beside GWS players, it will be interesting to see what happens with Ben Reid, if he signs or decides to become a free agent. I'm sure we have spoken to his manager as well.

5. The current atmosphere of easier player movements has made list management a very tricky balancing act. If you see your veritable senior playing list growing to 26 or 27 players, it's probably time to trade a couple out and get the best value possible before they leave for lack of opportunity. You need to maintain a quality list of 2nd and 3rd year players to fill your depth requirements. And it's important to have your club perceived as a great place to play footy, especially for quality players. In this respect, landing Buddy was great publicity for top talent looking for a good club to play footy.

- - - Updated - - -

I would love to hear what GWS offered for Lamb. If it was 48, then it's a little strange we didn't accept as we've now stated we're picking up to pick 53.

It's not clear if we will use pick 53. It may depend on what happens with Armstrong. I feel that even if we lose Armstrong we may wait and see who's available at 53 at the time. We might even be looking to use this pick for washed up backup ruckman (Jolly, Seaby). Even without Armstrong we could take 4 ND picks and do 4 rookie upgrades, perhaps adding 2 of Biggs, Xav, or Lloyd.

It's hard to say what our ruckman strategy will be; how many we plan to draft, if any, and what part of the draft we see making ruckman selections. It's nearly certain that their will be a number of reasonable ruck prospects available at pick 53.

[aardvark]

It's hard to say what our ruckman strategy will be; how many we plan to draft, if any, and what part of the draft we see making ruckman selections. It's nearly certain that their will be a number of reasonable ruck prospects available at pick 53.

Mitchell is a brilliant athlete and has a whole preseason to work with Ruck Coach Legend Taubert. Pyke played seniors 6-7 games in to his first season.
I'm just saying don't be surprised.