2015 academy discussion thread (with some FS thrown in for good measure)

[liz]

If it comes to the crunch we probably need Dunkley more than Mills.

How so?

[aardvark]

How so?

Dunkley can play as a defender. We have plenty of decent mids already

[liz]

Dunkley can play as a defender. We have plenty of decent mids already

Based on what? Just because his father was, doesn't mean he is too. He could grow another inch or two and become KPP height, but as far I have read, he's played his junior career almost exclusively as a midfielder, or as a mid-sized forward.

[aardvark]

Based on what? Just because his father was, doesn't mean he is too. He could grow another inch or two and become KPP height, but as far I have read, he's played his junior career almost exclusively as a midfielder, or as a mid-sized forward.

Josh Dunkley
Gippsland Power/Vic Country
9/1/97
187cm/84kg
Defender/midfielder
Has the versatility and maturity to play a number of different spots, including as a medium defender, forward and midfielder. With a developed body, Dunkley is able to out-position opponents, he tackles with some oomph, doesn't get ruffled in the action and is strong overhead. Is eligible as a father-son pick to the Sydney Swans, where his dad Andrew played 217 games.

The next crop: Who are 2015's top draft prospects? - AFL.com.au

Plus the fact I live in the area and have watched him play many times but if you don't believe me that's fine, I bow to your greater knowledge. My point is he is more versatile than Mills and we need defenders.

[liz]

OK, apologies. I have only seen him play in the U18 championships, and read a few snippets of reports. He's always been described as a midfielder, and I've seen him play there and a little forward. But clearly you've seen him more so would know better.

I've probably seen Mills play more than you have. He may not have shown as much positional versatility but he's class. All class. And we need that too.

[Auntie.Gerald]

eddie COLA.jpg

couldnt help myself

[jono2707]

OK, apologies. I have only seen him play in the U18 championships, and read a few snippets of reports. He's always been described as a midfielder, and I've seen him play there and a little forward. But clearly you've seen him more so would know better.

I've probably seen Mills play more than you have. He may not have shown as much positional versatility but he's class. All class. And we need that too.

From what I saw of the U18s last year with both Henney and (a bottom-aged) Mills, Heeney looked great and tough and obviously someone for us to get excited about, but Mills oozed class. He seemed to have the extra time real star players tend to have. I'm sure Dunkley's worth it too but Mills will be a great pick up for us next year.

[rojo]

Does anyone think that with the Pies on a bit of a roll at the moment and everyone in the media talking them up, Eddie's recent paranoia re everything Swans might become a little less all-consuming. Pigs might fly too - but we can only hope.

We do so need both Mills and Dunkley, to along with Heeney, give us spark for the future. Between them and Hanners, Rohan, Reid, Parks and Mitchell, all we have so far blooded is Cunningham, Lloyd and Towers. Somehow we really do have to find out, this year, who from among the in-betweeners, if any, are likely have what it takes to be future key players.

[mcs]

Does anyone think that with the Pies on a bit of a roll at the moment and everyone in the media talking them up, Eddie's recent paranoia re everything Swans might become a little less all-consuming. Pigs might fly too - but we can only hope.

We do so need both Mills and Dunkley, to along with Heeney, give us spark for the future. Between them and Hanners, Rohan, Reid, Parks and Mitchell, all we have so far blooded is Cunningham, Lloyd and Towers. Somehow we really do have to find out, this year, who from among the in-betweeners, if any, are likely have what it takes to be future key players.

It wont last - Pies have had a soft draw (indeed their whole draw is soft) and will be nothing but cannon fodder come finals time.

[Doctor]

Pies have beaten those that they have been drawn to play but have had a very easy draw, I agree with mcs.

[jono2707]

Pies have beaten those that they have been drawn to play but have had a very easy draw, I agree with mcs.

They'll still probably beat us

[Nico]

Does anyone think that with the Pies on a bit of a roll at the moment and everyone in the media talking them up, Eddie's recent paranoia re everything Swans might become a little less all-consuming. Pigs might fly too - but we can only hope.

We do so need both Mills and Dunkley, to along with Heeney, give us spark for the future. Between them and Hanners, Rohan, Reid, Parks and Mitchell, all we have so far blooded is Cunningham, Lloyd and Towers. Somehow we really do have to find out, this year, who from among the in-betweeners, if any, are likely have what it takes to be future key players.

You can safely take Towers and Cunningham off the list.

[Nico]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1272[/ATTACH]

couldnt help myself

And clearly someone at Channel 9 couldn't help taking the piss.

[aardvark]

OK, apologies. I have only seen him play in the U18 championships, and read a few snippets of reports. He's always been described as a midfielder, and I've seen him play there and a little forward. But clearly you've seen him more so would know better.

I've probably seen Mills play more than you have. He may not have shown as much positional versatility but he's class. All class. And we need that too.

I just hope we can get both.

[Meg]

As we wait for a decision from the AFL on the future draft system to apply to players from Academy (and F/S) backgrounds, I continue to be frustrated at the lack of understanding of the wider objectives of the academy system in the non-traditional states of NSW and Qld.

In June 2014 Andrew Pridham put out an excellent statement (link below) which covered some of these objectives but I feel this has not been followed up with sufficient and frequent background information. While Isaac Heeney's successful AFL debut is a great story, it is also a double-edged sword for the academy system because of the jealousies it has provoked against the Swans for the alleged 'steal' we got in drafting him.

In the June 2014 statement, Pridham said that in the 5 years since its commencement in 2010, the Swans Academy had trained around 1000 boys/young men from Sydney and its surrounds. We know that two of these - Brandon Jack and Isaac Heeney - have played senior AFL games. But what has happened to the rest?

I would expect the Swans to retain contact details for every young man that has gone through the Academy (and I assume these details would include email addresses). It would therefore be easy enough to engage a professional survey firm to conduct an electronic survey to find out what impact the Academy has had for the large number who are not playing at the AFL level.

Why did they apply to take part in the Swans Academy? How much did the fact that the Academy was run by the Swans influence their decision to apply? Would they have applied if the Academy had been run by the AFL and had not been associated with an individual club? Did they play Australian Rules football before they trained in the Academy? How many years did they train in the Academy? Are they still playing? If so, where and at what level? If not, why not (for example, have they chosen another sport instead)? If they are not playing, do they have any other involvement in AR - coaching, administration, umpiring, running the drinks etc.? Has their involvement in the Academy had any wider impact on the support or involvement in AR of their families, friends, schools etc.? What general comments do they have to make about about the time and training they spent in the Academy?

If the answers to questions along these lines told a positive story for the academy system as a way of fostering AR participation and a following of AR in non-traditional areas, then that would be a very strong selling point and serve as a warning not to risk damage by diluting the incentive for the Swans (and the other three clubs) to continue to run the academies. And if the survey results were negative, then the cost/benefit of the resources invested would need to be questioned. And in either case, similar surveys run in future years would assist to build a longer-term picture of the influence of the Academy.

It is of course possible that someone has already done such a survey and not publicised the results. If that were the case however it would suggest the results are not encouraging.

QBE Sydney Swans Academy explained