Paul Roos looking for class midfielders

[rojo]

I agree with what you are saying on an intellectual level. I mean Rohan is a good example of how hard it can be to recapture pre-injury form. And we should definitely not pressure the young man. But there is something about AJ that makes me think he is going to come back strong and eventually be a great key defender. This belief is probably unreasonable. But hey, football is the home of unreasonable beliefs.

Maybe Nic Mal has shown the way for AJ. Before his last setback AJ said in an interview that he had been studying the position of full back in his time off and was eyeing Ted's job when Ted was ready to give it up. I too believe he has shown the determination and confidence that will see him give it his best shot to make it happen.

[aardvark]

If mitchel cannot get a game in the 1's, then hes worth a second round pick at best.

He'd be a lock in the seniors if he'd just stop getting injured for 5 minutes. Maybe we should trade him before everyone decides he's injury prone.

[ernie koala]

If mitchel cannot get a game in the 1's, then hes worth a second round pick at best.

Simplistic crap. To suggest he's just a journeyman worth a 2nd round pick shows what little understanding you have for the game.

His first dozen or so games last year were as good as any.

He's had a bad run with injuries since, as happens to many players.

Once he gets some continuity he'll be elite.

[Matt80]

Simplistic crap. To suggest he's just a journeyman worth a 2nd round pick shows what little understanding you have for the game.

His first dozen or so games last year were as good as any.

He's had a bad run with injuries since, as happens to many players.

Once he gets some continuity he'll be elite.

Sorry Ernie. I'm with Barry on this one. If Mitchell wanted to leave, the Swans could only expect a pick 15 - 25 for him (late first round, early second round. He has played some good games in the 2nd half of 2013, but has spent most of his other 2 years at the Swans on the physiotherapy table.

He does not have the speed to break the lines and is not the greatest deliverer by foot. People get nostalgic about Father/Son players because they see the old man in the young man, but the Swans and Tom know that this industry is a business.

Tom?s manager will be getting improved offers now for Tom?s services. He needs to decide whether it?s worth taking an improved offer or try and break into the best midfield in the competition.

I think when you see someone like Lloyd coming off the rookie list and playing well in the seniors, you realise that there is a lot of less heralded talent in the club, who are itching to make their mark and cost less than a Tom Mitchell.

[stellation]

If mitchel cannot get a game in the 1's, then hes worth a second round pick at best.

Come now, Tom isn't the SCG!
Dom Tyson had an injury plagued couple of years and only managed 13 games for GWS in total (with just 3 in 2013), yet was able to nab GWS No.2, No.20 and No.72 for Tyson and picks No.9 and No.53 from Melbourne. Dom's been good for Melbourne. I'd suggest Tom has close to similar currency, even toiling away in the magoos because his senior team is going gangbusters and it's hard to get a spot.

[jono2707]

Tom's currency to us is on the field, for a very long time to come. He's young. Had some injuries. He's a special player and the Swans haven't gotten to where they are by letting go of special players.

[Ludwig]

Come now, Tom isn't the SCG!
Dom Tyson had an injury plagued couple of years and only managed 13 games for GWS in total (with just 3 in 2013), yet was able to nab GWS No.2, No.20 and No.72 for Tyson and picks No.9 and No.53 from Melbourne. Dom's been good for Melbourne. I'd suggest Tom has close to similar currency, even toiling away in the magoos because his senior team is going gangbusters and it's hard to get a spot.

I agree stella. I also thought about the comparison with Tyson and would rate Tom even higher. If the ankle is not an issue, I think Tom is worth a top 10 pick.

[Matt80]

I agree stella. I also thought about the comparison with Tyson and would rate Tom even higher. If the ankle is not an issue, I think Tom is worth a top 10 pick.

With Heeney in the mix we can't do a swap of draft picks like the Tyson deal. I think a deal to send Mitchell and pick 17 to Melbourne for pick 5 would have been a likely outcome.

Liz pointed out that Academy and Father/Son bidding occurs before the draft and the Swans would likely pledge pick 17 for Heeney.

Maybe then Melbourne can provide a player to the Swans in a straight swap. That's why I suggested young key defender Tom McDonald.

Maybe another club wants Mitchell more and will provide a better deal.

Time will tell. This will be a Tom Mitchell led discussion as much as anything.

[Melb Blood Bro]

How did Tom Mitchell's name get raised? He elected to come to the Swans when he could have gone into the draft. Is this the way to repay him? Even if he, for example, was traded, what would be the chance of the player you pick up being better? Highly unlikely I would have thought. This completely goes against the Swans ethos.

Another thing some of you are forgetting is that players are no longer categorized as backs, mids and forwards and that speed is very important. Players need to be versatile and mid-fielders are now playing in all three areas. Therefore, the more mid-fielders we have the better (within reason of course). I'm sure, for example, that you will find Rohan playing off the half-back line next year where, after a good pre-season, he can use his run. You will always need your key-position players but that is a separate issue.

[Melb Blood Bro]

With Heeney in the mix we can't do a swap of draft picks like the Tyson deal. I think a deal to send Mitchell and pick 17 to Melbourne for pick 5 would have been a likely outcome.

Liz pointed out that Academy and Father/Son bidding occurs before the draft and the Swans would likely pledge pick 17 for Heeney.

Maybe then Melbourne can provide a player to the Swans in a straight swap. That's why I suggested young key defender Tom McDonald.

Maybe another club wants Mitchell more and will provide a better deal.

Time will tell. This will be a Tom Mitchell led discussion as much as anything.

Good point. There is no use trading players for draft picks only to lose them in the draft picks provided for Heeney, Davis, Mills and Dunkley. The only way to proceed would be to trade a mid-fielder for a backman.

[Ludwig]

Good point. There is no use trading players for draft picks only to lose them in the draft picks provided for Heeney, Davis, Mills and Dunkley. The only way to proceed would be to trade a mid-fielder for a backman.

It doesn't work that way.

[Melb Blood Bro]

If that is true and Tom wants to go, then we have to deal with Melbourne in good faith.

There is one player on the Melbourne list that I'm sure the Swans would love to get their hands on:

Tom McDonald - 22 year old, athletic key defender who had developed into a very strong player. He came 3rd in the B and F in 2012.

Melbourne would not give him away easily, and it would cost more than Tom Mitchell to get that deal done. Not sure if Tom would be open to it.

If the Swans could get McDonald our key defensive worries would end.

This is just a proposed deal:

Tom Mitchell and Zak Jones to Melbourne in exchange for Tom McDonald.

That would give Roos one midfielder (Mitchell) and another who would come on well being reunited with his big brother.

The Swans would get their long term key defender.

People will scream that I've given away young midfielders, but we have Heeney, Dunkley and Mills emerging.

You must be a Melbourne plant Matt. No Swans supporter would ever think that was anywhere near fair.

[Melb Blood Bro]

At the current trade projection the Swans will get pick 17 in the NAB AFL Draft in November. The Swans may well use that pick to get Isacc Heeney, who will attract a bid before pick 17.

If the Swans trade out some fringe players in the trade period and get another first round pick before 17 (ie pick 11) does that pick 11 now need to be used for Heeney if there is a bid before pick 11?

If that is the case, suddenly Heeney becomes more expensive than what he was before we improved our draft position!

With this in mind it may be affect how we deal in the trade period.

If players do want to be traded we may try and get one ore two picks between 18 - 25, so we don't overpay for Heeney?

Short answer is yes, we would be wasting our time in improving our draft position. Lets say we trade someone for say pick 11 and we end up with picks 11 and say 17 we will need to trade our highest available pick to better the best offer. For example, if we had picks 11 and 17 and GWS bids pick 14 for Heeney then we would only need to use our pick 17. However, if they used pick 10 to bid for Heeney then we would have to use our pick 11. We would be stupid to trade anyone for draft picks over the next two years with Heeney, Davis, Mills and Dunkley coming through. Infact, the higher up the ladder we get, the less we are required to give away. The father-son pick is treated in the same way as the academy selection. On curren t form, there would be a good chance that Heeney, Mills and Dunkley would all be top 10 selections if they were on the open market. I hope this answers your question?

[Flying South]

Short answer is yes, we would be wasting our time in improving our draft position. Lets say we trade someone for say pick 11 and we end up with picks 11 and say 17 we will need to trade our highest available pick to better the best offer. For example, if we had picks 11 and 17 and GWS bids pick 14 for Heeney then we would only need to use our pick 17. However, if they used pick 10 to bid for Heeney then we would have to use our pick 11. We would be stupid to trade anyone for draft picks over the next two years with Heeney, Davis, Mills and Dunkley coming through. Infact, the higher up the ladder we get, the less we are required to give away. The father-son pick is treated in the same way as the academy selection. On curren t form, there would be a good chance that Heeney, Mills and Dunkley would all be top 10 selections if they were on the open market. I hope this answers your question?

Bro as Liz pointed out earlier in the thread, " Whatever we do at the trade table won't affect the pick we will have to commit to if we want Heeney. The bidding process happens before trade week starts."

[Melb Blood Bro]

Bro as Liz pointed out earlier in the thread, " Whatever we do at the trade table won't affect the pick we will have to commit to if we want Heeney. The bidding process happens before trade week starts."

Thanks. I thought it was trade, bid then draft.