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

[Syd Swan]

I'm 100% certain we will take Mills - I can't see us not, given our focus on the academy and his clear qualities - kicking deficiencies aside.

Dunkley I'm not so sure of. Its made hard by the ridiculous trading restrictions we have to deal with as well - its hard to come up with a recruitment strategy when you have your hands tied behind your back.

I don't think Dunkley will nominate us. I did see on television last week here in Hobart that Keiran Lovell was being interviewed about the recently completed championships and he mentioned he was hopeful of getting drafted and that the Sydney Swans had been in touch with him.

[Pmcc2911]

I agree, if he hasn't said by now, "I want to go to the Swans under F/S", he aint coming.

[WauchopeAnalyst]

I saw some of the U18's and Lovell is a ball winner. Beep test around 14.9 and good speed with 2.99 at 20m and 7.98 for the agility test, and kick from both feet, maybe the next Sam Mithcell without the dog shots. One thing his does have a lot, and I mean alot of tape on his shoulders, Hird big problems but you know what happened with him, I would take him in a second for a inside mid with greaty footy sense.

[Conor_Dillon]

He won't commit to the Swans until we commit to him. And we can't commit to him until we know roughly where he will go in the draft and roughly where we will finish on the ladder. The club would also have to take into account what players, if any, will request trades etc. which will lead to us having more picks.

And I'm not sure where the talk of Mills being a sub-par kick have come from? He was more than competent by foot in the Championships last year.

[YvonneH]

And I'm not sure where the talk of Mills being a sub-par kick have come from? He was more than competent by foot in the Championships last year.

Wash you mouth out with soap even suggesting this. The AFL will see this as a conspiracy by us to talk down Mills and will penalise us some more.

[liz]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mill's kicking, from what I've saw last year. Most importantly, he seems to be able to make consistently good, quick decisions, and hit targets even when in traffic.

[ugg]

I watched him warm up during half time of the Reserves game, he was easily making the distance from 50m shots at goal. Granted this isn't under match conditions and no pressure but from some descriptions I've read I was under the impression he was a terrible kick.

[707]

Can't see us not taking both, Mills is a given, Dunkley will purely depend on when another club calls his name.

The further we slip on the ladder the more points we'll have, that's the only positive thing about our current form!

If Mills really is as good as Heeney and we get him for pick 4+, Eddie's head will definitely explode!

[Conor_Dillon]

As good as Heeney is and will be, I'm still confident that Mills will be better. Without going overboard we could legitimately have the 2 best midfielders in their respective age groups for the best part of 12-13 years.

[ugg]

What makes you say that Mills will be better than Heeney?

[Conor_Dillon]

What makes you say that Mills will be better than Heeney?

A combination of things. He was much more impressive in the championships last year in the games that I saw, although it should be noted that Heeney spent a lot more time in the forward line. And his stats last year in our NEAFL games for a bottom age under-18's player were nothing short of remarkable, far more substantial than Heeney's when he played NEAFL, both as a top-age/bottom-age player. I know that factors like game-time, positions, opposition etc. need to be taken into account and I also know that Callum is probably more of an accumulator than Isaac but it's just my opinion.

Having said that though I didn't expect Isaac to have such an impact in his first few AFL games this season so maybe he wasn't exactly going 100% for the Rams with the knowledge that he was practically already a swan. Could also explain the lesser midfield minutes.

Either way and no matter what mine or anyone's opinion is, it's a very exciting discussion to be having.

[Mug Punter]

Can't see us not taking both, Mills is a given, Dunkley will purely depend on when another club calls his name.

The further we slip on the ladder the more points we'll have, that's the only positive thing about our current form!

If Mills really is as good as Heeney and we get him for pick 4+, Eddie's head will definitely explode!

Why?

There's no evidence whatsoever that Mills is a Number 1 draft pick - Schache and Weitering are almost unanimous in pundit's first two picks so if we get him at 4 then it will be a fair trade.

Plus we'll give up all this years picks and a player (or two) for him so whilst we are getting a good player we are not getting a bargain

[707]

Why?

There's no evidence whatsoever that Mills is a Number 1 draft pick - Schache and Weitering are almost unanimous in pundit's first two picks so if we get him at 4 then it will be a fair trade.

Plus we'll give up all this years picks and a player (or two) for him so whilst we are getting a good player we are not getting a bargain

What will make Eddie's head explode is that as a top four finishing side we shouldn't be able to get a player that good in the first place. Heeney was a huge steal last year, we all know that, and Mills could be another albeit more expensive steal.

[jono2707]

What will make Eddie's head explode is that as a top four finishing side we shouldn't be able to get a player that good in the first place. Heeney was a huge steal last year, we all know that, and Mills could be another albeit more expensive steal.

And of course Eddie still can't get his head around the fact that of it wasn't for us, Heeney (and perhaps Mills) the AFL footballer wouldn't even exist.

[707]

And of course Eddie still can't get his head around the fact that of it wasn't for us, Heeney (and perhaps Mills) the AFL footballer wouldn't even exist.

From everything I've read this years draft is as poor as any previous draft with the top dozen on a par with normal years but thinning quite significantly in the 30s.

Against this backdrop the academies will supply five or six of the top 25 so thank god for the academies Eddie!

What it does mean is that picks in the 40s out are not worth much this year so lets burn them on Mills and Dunkley. BTW, Kyle Dunkley is playing for Vic in the U15s so get Josh then in three years time we'll get the Swans supporting Kyle - nice :-)