Swans 2013 Draft Strategy

[Ludwig]

Just did a quick ins and outs for the year, and it looks pretty good to me. I think we have definitely improved the team.

Out ----- In
Bolton ----- Hewitt
Mattner ----- Laidler
White ----- Franklin
Everett ----- Aliir-Aliir
Armstrong ----- Jones
Mumford ----- Nankervis
Lamb ----- Perris
Morton ----- Derickx
Brown ----- P Mitchell

[liz]

Everyone was so panicky with the ruck situation after losing Mummy. Fair enough! But it seems a bit of overkill to add 3 ruckmen to the list in one year.

Derickx shapes as a short term option, able to play now due to age and size. Mitchell is an incredibly long shot, coming to the game so relatively late. Remember that no-one expected Pyke to even play a single senior game - or at least, that is what the coaches told him to expect. Nankervis is more of a mainstream, longer term option, aside the still very raw Sammy N.

Bear in mind that Pyke is either 30 or close to it. So unless he displays unusual longevity for a big guy playing in a physically punishing position, he'll need to be replaced within the next 2-3 years.

I agree it's a fair number of development rucks to be carrying at one time. Mr Taubert is going to have to really earn his keep this year.

[R-1]

On the plus side, if he does, we might have a surplus to trade with.

[ugg]

Just did a quick ins and outs for the year, and it looks pretty good to me. I think we have definitely improved the team.

Out ----- In
Bolton ----- Hewitt
Mattner ----- Laidler
White ----- Franklin
Everett ----- Aliir-Aliir
Armstrong ----- Jones
Mumford ----- Nankervis
Lamb ----- Perris
Morton ----- Derickx
Brown ----- P Mitchell

Hmm, not sure about that. The only definite improvement is White to Franklin and perhaps Mattner to Laidler only if you consider Mattner was injured in the first half of the year. To say that Hewett, Nankervis and Aliir are improvements on Bolton, Mumford and Everitt respectively is probably stretching things a tad.

[Ludwig]

Hmm, not sure about that. The only definite improvement is White to Franklin and perhaps Mattner to Laidler only if you consider Mattner was injured in the first half of the year. To say that Hewett, Nankervis and Aliir are improvements on Bolton, Mumford and Everitt respectively is probably stretching things a tad.

Didn't mean it as a matched up comparison, although it does look that way. But I feel overall we were able to replace some good players with equally good or better or younger players that seem solid prospects.

Franklin is the big plus. But we did okay replacing Bolton, Mattner and Armstrong with Hewitt, Laidler and Jones. I feel quite confident that Jones and Hewitt will be very good long term players.

[tasmania60]

Checked out AAs highlight real its not gloom and doom something there seems like a diamond in the rough ?????

[liz]

Hmm, not sure about that. The only definite improvement is White to Franklin and perhaps Mattner to Laidler only if you consider Mattner was injured in the first half of the year. To say that Hewett, Nankervis and Aliir are improvements on Bolton, Mumford and Everitt respectively is probably stretching things a tad.

Our improvement was never likely to come from the players we drafted this year, though. The losses of the likes of Bolton, Mumford, Lamb et al need to be covered by improvement from Mitchell, Parker, Jack, Harry, and maybe contributions from players like Membrey, Lloyd, Lockyer, X. Not to mention (fingers, toes and everything else crossed) injury free years from Goodes, Jetta, Reid, AJ, Shaw, Rohan. Oh, and Tippett not being suspended for half the year.

[Ludwig]

Interesting that we landed 3 under 18 AAs this year. 3 out of 22 is pretty good. They are Jones, Nankervis and Perris.

I have to say again that I don't know why Darcy Hourigan, who also made the AA under 18 team was not picked up in the draft. He was super impressive in the Champs. I was hoping we would take him at 44. He reminds me of a quicker and more skillful Reg Grundy. Around the same size, but Hourigan has a booming and accurate kick and is also good at ground level. He's a natural tough minded footballer that reads the play well, like Reg, who also surprisingly slipped through to the rookie draft after being touted as a near certainty for the ND.

You would think we'd have room in the salary cap for one more rookie.

[ned]

For everyone worrying about Aliir Aliir, I remember looking at his profile at the end of 2012 and thinking he looked exciting. This year I looked at his highlights and wasn't impressed, so I had a Google and found the old video and I can see why the club felt like taking a punt. I can't post a link because I'm on my phone, but if anyone is interested type his name into a Google video search and it comes up at number one. Not sure if he has the makings of a key back, but he looks like he has potential in spades.

[lwjoyner]

Like many other here, was disappointed not picking up Acres when available at 15, they must see something of his bro in Jones hope they are right. Size wise Acres would have fitted our mids profiles perfectly. Also to not pick an outright key d when either Hourigan an AAU18 and J Tippert were available and to pick what most consider a project player at 44 when I thought that pat was what the rookie list was for , is unbelievable.. Aliir is definitely from left field.

[Ludwig]

For everyone worrying about Aliir Aliir, I remember looking at his profile at the end of 2012 and thinking he looked exciting. This year I looked at his highlights and wasn't impressed, so I had a Google and found the old video and I can see why the club felt like taking a punt. I can't post a link because I'm on my phone, but if anyone is interested type his name into a Google video search and it comes up at number one. Not sure if he has the makings of a key back, but he looks like he has potential in spades.

He does have the size and athletic ability to be a good defender. Seems quick at ground level as well. I commented that I saw the video stream of the championships where I thought he looked seriously outclassed, but perhaps that was just his lack of experience. I didn't know that he only just started playing as a key defender this year. He is a project player, but we do have time to teach him the game. It's not like he has to play next season. He looks to be a genuine ruckman as well. He has a great leap.

With all the ruckmen we now have, Patrick Mitchell will also likely be playing as a key defender in the ressies. Longmire mentioned that they thought he could be a defender and not just a ruck prospect. And since there is no hope for Tommy Walsh to have any chance of making it as a forward anymore, he too I would suspect will be playing in defence. So we are likely to have and All non-Australian defensive trio in Mitchell, Walsh and Aliir Aliir.

[Bloody Hell]

Pretty much as expected - 2 midfielders, a ruckman and a tall defender. Interesting to see who is rookied. I'm sure everyone had their eye on Marsh until the Pies swooped late.

Allir was a bit of a shock....all I knew of him was every time I saw highlights of the top ranked key forwards - Boyd, McCarthy, Apeness, etc - Allir was getting beaten by them!

Looks like he can spoil with both hands and has good reach and height...definitely a work in progress.

[Bloody Hell]

Pretty much as expected - 2 midfielders, a ruckman and a tall defender. Interesting to see who is rookied. I'm sure everyone had their eye on Marsh until the Pies swooped late.

Allir was a bit of a shock....all I knew of him was every time I saw highlights of the top ranked key forwards - Boyd, McCarthy, Apeness, etc - Allir was getting beaten by them!

Looks like he can spoil with both hands and has good reach and height...definitely a work in progress.

Not McCarthy...obviously - but the ilk.

Thought Acres would be a good pick.

[ernie koala]

Jones - hmmm, reminds me of Bevo. He's tough, but an ordinary kick, one paced.....Please not another 1st round flop.

Hewitt - Good pick at 32 has class and can use both sides of his body.

Nankervis - Looks OK but would of preferred a more athletic type..ie Lobb

Allir Allir - I like this pick, a gamble with plenty of upside...No harm done if it doesn't pan out.

[Simo]

Aliir Aliir is a great marketing move Majak Daw has been a massive benefit to North and the public love the story. Aliir can play, fast, big and raw...With Buddy and Allir the swans are promoting hard. From Melbourne its obvious that Sydney can only have one team. WE need to be the best in play and off the field. GWS will be really good in a few years, they have the best of the best.....once that happens,{watching the Sydney public's support of the game}...we will have a serious problem enough. Gaining the majority or NSW support is the KEY!