Swans 2013 Draft Strategy

[Auntie.Gerald]

Draft in focus: Christian Salem - sydneyswans.com.au

would be perfect off HBF for us !!

[Mug Punter]

If we draft a ruckman, it should be someone deemed more ready to cover for Pyke than Naismith. Otherwise what's the point?

Agreed, think we may need to use of second round pick. I'll go as far as to say without a decent second ruckman we will not win the flag next year. Sure we all love Pyke but he will be stepping up next year as well and I am not sure he is a number 1 ruckman

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cant see why we wouldnt risk garlett because:

From all reports he is a grade A idiot and human ticking time bomb. Suspect he will be taken in the rookie draft where he can be discarded early if he stuffs up. Too risky IMO

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Mitchell is the other project ruckman, Wolfie.

Anyone expecting a Seppo basketballer to make an impression in his first season playing AFL is deluded. Maybe 2015 if we are lucky.

Not sure which camp I fall into re our drafting success. I'll go away and get back to you. One thing that cannot be debated is our ability to pick up recycled players to meet our needs. It won us a flag in 2012 and forms a huge part of our 2014 push

[Auntie.Gerald]

when did mike start - ie one or two pre seasons after joining the swans?

[liz]

It will be a miracle if we find someone lurking in the 30s of this draft who is going to step up and be a better ruckman than Pyke for 2014. It is a clear area of vulnerability, but we're going to have to hope that Pyke stays injury free, his upward improvement trajectory continues, and that between he, LRT and Tippett they can hold the position to an adequate level for the next season or two before other options emerge.

[Mug Punter]

It will be a miracle if we find someone lurking in the 30s of this draft who is going to step up and be a better ruckman than Pyke for 2014. It is a clear area of vulnerability, but we're going to have to hope that Pyke stays injury free, his upward improvement trajectory continues, and that between he, LRT and Tippett they can hold the position to an adequate level for the next season or two before other options emerge.

Agree with that assessment which is why I believe we will use pick 15 to plug the only glaring gap in our list. It's not worth risking a shot at a flag by waiting till the 30s IMO

[liz]

Agree with that assessment which is why I believe we will use pick 15 to plug the only glaring gap in our list. It's not worth risking a shot at a flag by waiting till the 30s IMO

But there's no-one who'll be sitting at no 15 in the draft either who fits the bill. Not unless Bellchambers, Kruezer (I have my reservations about him as a true first ruck), Leuenberger, Zac Smith, Zac Clarke, Ben McEvoy, Shane Mumford(!), or someone of that ilk is surprisingly delisted from their current club between now and the draft, nominates for the ND, and isn't snapped up by another club in the first 14 picks of the draft.

[aardvark]

when did mike start - ie one or two pre seasons after joining the swans?

He played Rnd 6 in his first season.

[Ludwig]

None of the top ruck prospects (Apenness, Lobb and Nankervis) is any more AFL ready than Naismith. Perhaps Ben Brown, who is unlikely to be picked before 35, is most AFL ready other than the likes of Jolly and Seaby. If we are happy with our first 3 picks, Brown could be worth a shot at 44. I wonder if Teddy's mate David Hille would give it a go as a depth ruckman for s year?

[Mug Punter]

None of the top ruck prospects (Apenness, Lobb and Nankervis) is any more AFL ready than Naismith. Perhaps Ben Brown, who is unlikely to be picked before 35, is most AFL ready other than the likes of Jolly and Seaby. If we are happy with our first 3 picks, Brown could be worth a shot at 44. I wonder if Teddy's mate David Hille would give it a go as a depth ruckman for s year?

Fair point, perhaps the club has just decided that KT will fill in if Pyke is injured, along with LRT filling in in the backline.

Ben Brown as a second rounder would make me feel more comfortable with the balance of the squad. If Naismith is the prospect everyone says he is then I guess we shouldn't waste 15 on him....

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Draft in focus: Christian Salem - sydneyswans.com.au

would be perfect off HBF for us !!

Can't see him being available at 15 somehow but looks promising

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I can't possibly express how much I hate the idea of Tippett rucking for us. He's a forward and averaged three goals a game when he came into the side.

Making him a part time ruckman would be a big mistake imo.

[Bloody Hell]

Agree with that assessment which is why I believe we will use pick 15 to plug the only glaring gap in our list. It's not worth risking a shot at a flag by waiting till the 30s IMO

We are the only team with serious ruck deficiencies, so there is no point in wasting a high pick in a draft with no standout ruckman....and our shot at a flag will be diminished by the time this miracle ruck man comes of age.

My thoughts match many of those I've read here - which is either a good sign or a bad sign, but - for what it's worth, my dream Swans drafting will look a bit like this:

15 - Blake Acres - the big bodied, skilled midfielder

32 - Jonothan Marsh - Seen a few drafts where he goes to our second pick, but most have him going to GC at 20 or 27. If Acres is gone at 15 - would pull the trigger there. He could be anything...or nothing.

35 - Apeness - FWD/Ruck - good mark, mobile and competitive. Again it seems the fad to draft ruck man later. I wouldn't take a pure ruckman though, as I think this will/has been resolved by the Swans.

44 - Tippett - at 24 is a good age profile for us and our defence. Good in the SANFL last year - and continues with the brothers theme.

53 - Seaby - yep, the S word. Immediate coverage for Pyke, and experience to guide Naismith, Apeness, Mitchell and (maybe)Dawes, who as I said in the OP I expect to be rookied...so we go from 2 rucks to 4/5 rucks. Not sure if Seabs is interested in coming back to Sydney - but he is exactly what we need atm. He knows our structures.

I thought we needed 6 picks, but others have said 5. If we need 6 I'd use 44 for the next Parker/Membrey as I can't see too much demand for Tippett and Seaby.

As I said, it's the dream draft so I realise some of the picks won't be there...but one can dream.

[GordonS]

can someone name me some swans players who have left the club, only to return and play some years later?? (apart from kennelly) i cant think of any

[Ruck'n'Roll]

can someone name me some swans players who have left the club, only to return and play some years later?? (apart from kennelly) i cant think of any

Now THAT is a fun off-season trivia question!
Paul Morwood, John Rantall, Warwick Capper, Paul Hawke, Laurie Nash, Bob Pratt, Ian Stewart, Brett Kirk, Barry Round, Fred Way, Roy Cazaly, Rob Clegg and Dinny McKay.
There must be more, anyone?

[Ludwig]

Plugger

[Scottee]

Now THAT is a fun off-season trivia question!
Paul Morwood, John Rantall, Warwick Capper, Paul Hawke, Laurie Nash, Bob Pratt, Ian Stewart, Brett Kirk, Barry Round, Fred Way, Roy Cazaly, Rob Clegg and Dinny McKay.
There must be more, anyone?

Jim Taylor

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Now THAT is a fun off-season trivia question!
Paul Morwood, John Rantall, Warwick Capper, Paul Hawke, Laurie Nash, Bob Pratt, Ian Stewart, Brett Kirk, Barry Round, Fred Way, Roy Cazaly, Rob Clegg and Dinny McKay.
There must be more, anyone?

Austen Robertson and Bob Kingston (I think).