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

[Mug Punter]

It has been announced today that Carlton and Brisbane will NOT receive priority picks. Does anyone know how this will affect our drafting, i.e. make it easier or more difficult to get the points to match a bid for Mills?

This is good for us though I di believe that Brisbane deserved one

For Carlton to make a dummy bid for Mills they will risk not drafting Weitering who seems to be generally regaded as the Number 1 pick. Had they had two picks I fear they may have been prepared to pick Mills as the best midfielder in the draft but they need KPPs so they should go for Weitering. I would not match #1 as I don't believe he is worth all our pick this year plus our #1 for next year as well

Brisbane should draft Schache who has indicate that he would like to move to Bris Vegas so unless Gold Coast trade their #3 pick to someone who makes play on Mills I expect hom to go at #4 which is probably fair value.

[Pmcc2911]

I commented on another thread that I am surprised that Jake Veale isn't nominated.
Does anyone have any info?

[WauchopeAnalyst]

I commented on another thread that I am surprised that Jake Veale isn't nominated.
Does anyone have any info?

All it does is allow all clubs to select Jack, if nominated for the draft, with Sydney not allowed to claim him out of order as a Acedemy player.

e.g. Select 56, Melbourne, Jack Veale, and there is nothing Sydney, or any other club, can do about it.

Sydney can select Jack Veale but I believe with no discount. Rookie!

[Mug Punter]

All it does is allow all clubs to select Jack, if nominated for the draft, with Sydney not allowed to claim him out of order as a Acedemy player.

e.g. Select 56, Melbourne, Jack Veale, and there is nothing Sydney, or any other club, can do about it.

Sydney can select Jack Veale but I believe with no discount. Rookie!

I'd like to see at least one other academy player drafted assuming the club think they are good enough.

And I'd definitely like to see at least four if not five of our rookie list players being academy products

[Meg]

I'd also like to see some academy players, both from the Swans and other clubs, get drafted by other clubs (but not Mills .......). It helps to show the academies are working as intended to increase the depth of the draft pool Australia-wide.

[Mug Punter]

I'd also like to see some academy players, both from the Swans and other clubs, get drafted by other clubs (but not Mills .......). It helps to show the academies are working as intended to increase the depth of the draft pool Australia-wide.

And long term it will also really benefit the local comp in Sydney. I know it's not the main goal of the academy but it's a great side effect.

I am sure that I played with and against several players who would have had a real crack at AFL level (not me, I was ordinary) but we just never had the structures in place for developing elite talent and there was no reason for the Swans to invest beyond the PR level because all that wpuld happen would be that other clubs would benefit. And kids wouldn't buy into a program where they'd have t move interstate as most of these kids have several elite sporting options

So from my experience of Sydney footy I think we'll be pleasantly surprised as to the quality of the academy products - it won't so much be the elite level in my view but more the second round level products where we will get real value

[Levii3]

Any highlights for the other four?

[ugg]

I'd also like to see some academy players, both from the Swans and other clubs, get drafted by other clubs (but not Mills .......). It helps to show the academies are working as intended to increase the depth of the draft pool Australia-wide.

Port picked up some GWS players last year, don't think they went particularly well in the SANFL though

[Ludwig]

I thought Behagg was better than McClaren and could be a swap on our rookie list if we decide to delist McClaren, but I don't think Behagg quite looks AFL material anyway. Instead of taking any of those other academy players, I would prefer to rookie list Tom Young, the MVP in the NEAFL. I doubt he will get drafted as he's already been delisted by 2 AFL clubs. Mitch Brown (ex-Geelong player) and Tom Hartley (ex Collingwood) are 2 KPDs laying in the VFL worth a shot if we don't get Talia. Mills and Dunkley should consume all of our draft picks and probably more. That would be a good haul for Academy/FS recruiting for one year.

It appears that GWS are getting the giant share of the better NSW academy players now, Mills excepted. And Brisbane are getting lion's share of the Queenslanders, with 2 or 3 good recruits coming through this year for each.

Jake Brown is the only 17 yo from our academy that looks a likely 2016 recruit at this early stage, based on his appearances with our reserves squad. He was easily better than any of the nominees this year, Mills excepted of course. Maybe things are drying up for us. Heeney and Mills sucked out all the talent the system had to give.

[YvonneH]

If the talent dries up in the next couple of years is the academy worth pursuing considering how much it is costing us annually?

[Conor_Dillon]

If the talent dries up in the next couple of years is the academy worth pursuing considering how much it is costing us annually?

Definitely worth pursuing...we are only at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to developing local talent.

[Mug Punter]

If the talent dries up in the next couple of years is the academy worth pursuing considering how much it is costing us annually?

Wash you mouth out young lady

My answer is absolutely it should be. Both Heeney and Mills would not be the players they are without the academy and Heeney probably would be playing another sport.

It's got to be a long term project and it is essential for us to get our home grown content up to the 60-75% we need to have to offset the loss of COLA and offset the go home factor.

I also have huge faith the ability of the academy to generate the talent it needs to and it also provides a huge community engagement factor.

I would also think the vast majority of the costs of the academy would be covered by QBE's sponsorship much lik the Lions have their acaademy sponsored by Hyundai

[YvonneH]

Wash you mouth out young lady

My answer is absolutely it should be. Both Heeney and Mills would not be the players they are without the academy and Heeney probably would be playing another sport.

It's got to be a long term project and it is essential for us to get our home grown content up to the 60-75% we need to have to offset the loss of COLA and offset the go home factor.

I also have huge faith the ability of the academy to generate the talent it needs to and it also provides a huge community engagement factor.

I would also think the vast majority of the costs of the academy would be covered by QBE's sponsorship much lik the Lions have their acaademy sponsored by Hyundai

I liked the 'young' lady in your post although it definitely does not apply to me. I agree with all you have said by the way.

[Mr Magoo]

Wash you mouth out young lady

My answer is absolutely it should be. Both Heeney and Mills would not be the players they are without the academy and Heeney probably would be playing another sport.

It's got to be a long term project and it is essential for us to get our home grown content up to the 60-75% we need to have to offset the loss of COLA and offset the go home factor.

I also have huge faith the ability of the academy to generate the talent it needs to and it also provides a huge community engagement factor.

I would also think the vast majority of the costs of the academy would be covered by QBE's sponsorship much lik the Lions have their acaademy sponsored by Hyundai

We need the academy . We dont have a TAC Cup or anything along those lines so you need a pathway for kids in NSW otherwise the talented kids will explore sports that offer that type of thing here. No point having a talented sportsman just playing well in local competition each week with no other form of "higher" level to aspire to other than an off chance they may make the RAMs team one day (which is dominated by riverina kids anyway )

[Pmcc2911]

The academy is an absolute must, it:
is improving the level of junior footy in Sydney,
is improving the standard of U/19's footy in Sydney,
will start to improve the level of senior footy in Sydney,
provides a clear pathway for kids to aspire to.
And if occasionally it spits out a Heeney or Mills along the way, that is a bonus.
The Swans don't look at it that way though, their aim is to get 1 draftable kid each year.
I just hope the Swans/AFL don't ignore the flow on benefits to the local comp.