Rookie Draft

[YvonneH]

I see Essendon has signed Michael Long's son Jake as a Rookie. This seems a good way to get a father/son pick cheaply without having to use one of your picks.
Can we do the same with Andrew Dunkley's son or is there something I am missing?
Even if we could I am sure the AFL/Eddie would find a way to stop us.

EDIT: Posted this before I read the Age article on Jake. Seems they didn't nominate him in the ND so he was available to all the clubs.
A very well kept secret.

Also notice reference to the James Hird Academy. Does Essendon have it own academy and does it pay for it the same as we do?

[The Big Cat]

Hi all

I am a little confused

why do we have the following selections but some clubs only have Rookie Draft Selections and no pre-season selections ?

Pre-season draft selections: 5, 8

Rookie draft selections: 17, 35, 52, 64, 69.

A team is allowed 40 players on their senior list. Swans choose to have two short on the senior list but pick more rookies.

[jono2707]

I see Essendon has signed Michael Long's son Jake as a Rookie. This seems a good way to get a father/son pick cheaply without having to use one of your picks.
Can we do the same with Andrew Dunkley's son or is there something I am missing?
Even if we could I am sure the AFL/Eddie would find a way to stop us.

EDIT: Posted this before I read the Age article on Jake. Seems they didn't nominate him in the ND so he was available to all the clubs.
A very well kept secret.

Also notice reference to the James Hird Academy. Does Essendon have it own academy and does it pay for it the same as we do?

If no other club bids on a F/S or Academy player, the club who 'owns' the rights to them can then choose to either draft them with one of their later picks in the ND or rookie draft them if they may need time on the rookie list. I'd have thought young Long needs more time to develop hence Essendon rookieing him. I think that's why we're doing the same with Foote.

[Jewels]

I see Essendon has signed Michael Long's son Jake as a Rookie. This seems a good way to get a father/son pick cheaply without having to use one of your picks.
Can we do the same with Andrew Dunkley's son or is there something I am missing?
Even if we could I am sure the AFL/Eddie would find a way to stop us.

EDIT: Posted this before I read the Age article on Jake. Seems they didn't nominate him in the ND so he was available to all the clubs.
A very well kept secret.

Also notice reference to the James Hird Academy. Does Essendon have it own academy and does it pay for it the same as we do?

What does this academy teach I wonder? How to be an arrogant arse and put yourself above and beyond everyone else I'd presume.

[swansrob]

I'd start looking at players such as Daniel Noon and Sam Pleming in the VFL.

Pleming is 28 or 29 and has retired from the VFL - he's unlikely to be picked up by any club at that age and if his body's no longer up to VFL, it's certainly not up to AFL.

[wolftone57]

It would appear that The Swans are confident about our up and coming key backs but I still think we need a ready made key defender. If either Richards or Grundy get an injury or their ages catch up with them in the next couple of years we will be in deep trouble. Neither X.Richards nor Aliir are ready to step up yet and are likely to be at least a couple of years away. I'd like to see us go after a player from the state league who has played on big men before and can fill this gap for a couple of years or more. I'd start looking at players such as Daniel Noon and Sam Pleming in the VFL.

I am not sure Xav & Aliir are 2 years away. I think they are almost ripe. One year at most. I think they both might play some footy this season to ready them for 2016.

[swansrob]

I am not sure Xav & Aliir are 2 years away. I think they are almost ripe. One year at most. I think they both might play some footy this season to ready them for 2016.

I may be wrong, but wasn't Aliir named emergency a coupe of times this year?

[robamiee]

It was suggested on Superfooty i think that we maybe interested in KPD Nic Newman from the VFL.. i think he is 24 or something..had some solid games for the Dolphins

[troyjones2525]

21 year old I believe, averaged 23 touches and 7 marks as a half back. Only 187cm though so I'm not sure if it fills any holes on our list?

[liz]

21 year old I believe, averaged 23 touches and 7 marks as a half back. Only 187cm though so I'm not sure if it fills any holes on our list?

Other than the huge gaping hole left by Nicmal's departure. I realise we have a few existing options to fill that spot but we're going to need someone to step up, big time. I've been watching a few replays, and have been reminded of just how important he was to us in 2014. He's been a pretty significant player for us throughout his career, knees permitting, but 2014 saw him take his game up a notch. There are some big boots to fill, and it's a far more immediate need than eventually replacing Ted or Reg (and Reg could still have plenty of years ahead of him. As might Ted, of course. He might be another Dustin Fletcher.)

[Auntie.Gerald]

Liz

i feel that we can cover Mal and it is also possible that we may find some greater answers to the challenge of building our attack from the backline like Mal did.........Hawks and Sam Mitchell play that play making role a little different and we have seen Sam shift back off the pack for many years and building the attack via short sharp passing to uncontested possession

Macca, Jones, Rohan, Shaw, Rampe, Smith, Lloyd, Harry, Jetts, Jack minimum all have a great opportunity to move thru the attacking HBF type role in different stages of our games and as alluded to above we may lean towards a slightly more uncontested style in some parts of certain games

I agree that Mal was a first class attacking back and that our team had a luxury in setting up of play from Mal......... but I do feel we have enough ready to step up and lets be honest the attacking role off the HBF is a role that so many players just dream of playing.......the competition will be fierce

When i was a young fella that was my dream position and i remember at my club it was a highly contested role that so many players wanted to have as their job

Jetta and Harry also played quite deep on leads into the back line last year ...............i remember many occasions when these two guys made 50m leads onto our defensive arc.....especially Jetts..........I know I stretched some forum members minds when I suggested a month ago that Jetta or Harry could find them self deeper in our defence in a more playing role like a Pearse, Hunt or Mal but I am leaning towards the vision of a Jetta or Harry rotating in that attacking defensive role a little more

I love it when Jetts has ball in hand and moving from our defence and lets be honest Mal wasnt a great one on one defender........he was more superior in his attack and that was his key value to our team

I think Jetts has improved his defence tremendously and has the pace to pick up a one on one dual in recovery as good as anyone

The other random call is K Jack featuring a little more of the HBF like Macca has done

I think Kizza could do this role very well also

[ScottH]

PSD over in 5 seconds. Carlton get Jason Tutt, no other selections made.

Sydney to takes Jordan Foote with 9th round selection

[ScottH]

Pick 17 = Sean McLaren

Age: 18
Height: 197cm
Weight: 92kg
Pos: Defender

This versatile big man has shown he can spend quality minutes in both defence and the ruck. McLaren was part of the AIS program and played largely in defence for Vic Metro, using his good closing speed to keep highly rated Hugh Goddard in check. At TAC Cup level, the Dragons used his 197cm frame in the ruck, where he used his athleticism around the ground to impact contests. Is constantly improving and looks a good key position prospect who can provide valuable support in the ruck.

[liz]

McLaren is first rookie picked. Seems to fill a need and was touted as being worthy of main draft selection by some. So seems like a decent pick.

[Ludwig]

Very pleased with the McLaren pick, who along with Keenan Ramsey (went to PA at pick 27) was at the top of my list for the rookie draft.