2016 trading and drafting (merged thread)

[Mug Punter]

Please note that B Jack is contracted for next year. Will only go off the list if he is traded to ........ say Richmond!

He has been disappointing but by the same token he made the NEAFL team of the year. Make or break year for him next year, I'd hope he has some chance of getting another club even if we do cut him

[dejavoodoo44]

It's a fair question and to be honest it's one I cannot understand the Melbourne clubs and media not running with.

To a certain extent the Swans get the best deal in the Sydney carve up. AFL has traditionally been stronger in the middle class areas of the North Shore, Hills District and Eastern Suburbs and it's also very strong in the nation of The Shire.

But GWS does have some growth areas. Penrith has a strong junior league and Baulkham Hills, which is in the GWS catchment, is a junior powerhouse club. Plus there's the huge growth corridors of the North West and South West. So, longer term I'd say that GWS' Sydney zone had just as much if not more potential than ours. Plus they have the ACT which should also be a strong area. The areas of Campbelltown and Parramatta have in the last 20 years supported and grown some very good junior footballers - they may be in decline at the moment but all it takes is a little money but more importantly effort and those areas can indeed start to produce AFL footballers.

My mail is that whilst the Swans spend millions on their Academy the GWS one is pretty much lip service, especially in Sydney. You only need to look at how GWS have sponsored Manly (FFS Dumbest_Decision_Ever) to see how totally out of touch they are in terms of local engagement.

But why should they send all that money and effort on grassroots when they can just cherrypick the talent from Albury on the Victoria border? And they are so goddamn arrogant and entitled (just try and listen to that Liberal Powerbroker Shepherd and not feel the smugness) they don't see the big picture and to be honest they don't care.

I have no doubt the GWS concession will be wound back, quite possibly with a sunset clause, but surely they need to be forced to start developing the region that they represent

Just out of idle curiosity, do you think that GWS sending some funds to Manly-Warringah, may have something to do with the close political relationship between Shepherd and the member for Warringah?

[Markwebbos]

All this talk about 4 ruckmen and losing Nankervis. Why not play Tippet FF next year. We need a full time marking target other than Buddy

[Mug Punter]

All this talk about 4 ruckmen and losing Nankervis. Why not play Tippet FF next year. We need a full time marking target other than Buddy

Personally I didn't think it worked with Tippo and Buddy in the forward line, just too crowded. I think Tippo as our main ruckman rotating through the forward line on a 70/30 baiss works best for us.

But I do think we really need four ruckman on the list, they've all gotten big game-time this year, I just hope we can keep Nanka because he's coming on well. I just feel he'll get his head turned, I could well see the Tigers come in for him given they are losing Vickery

[Mug Punter]

The Weagles have now lost Lycett as well for 2017.

Petrie rumoured as cover but surely they'd be after an additional ruck. Lobb would be ideal but I reckon GWS are drawing a line in the sand re contracts so unless WCE come up with two first rounders then Rory stays.

What about if we were to send Callum Sinclair back in a straight swap for McKenzie? (after re-signing Nankervis)

[0918330512]

The Weagles have now lost Lycett as well for 2017.

Petrie rumoured as cover but surely they'd be after an additional ruck. Lobb would be ideal but I reckon GWS are drawing a line in the sand re contracts so unless WCE come up with two first rounders then Rory stays.

What about if we were to send Callum Sinclair back in a straight swap for McKenzie? (after re-signing Nankervis)

What happens in terms of his lengthy owed contract payments that are with us? I thought if a player was moved on while still under contract, there was a co-payment situation? I could be wrong (or probably am wrong).

[Auntie.Gerald]

Will Langford for Tom plus a pick ?

[goswannies]

Does Chris still live & work in Sydney?

[707]

Will Langford for Tom plus a pick ?

Will Langford is now a spud according to Hawks BF posters, so can you please clarify what you are suggesting with this trade.

Remember, we don't need list cloggers or NEAFL players coming in. We only want best 22 players and you then need to work out who is dropping out of our best 22 to make way for them.

[mcs]

He has been disappointing but by the same token he made the NEAFL team of the year. Make or break year for him next year, I'd hope he has some chance of getting another club even if we do cut him

He has not improved in the clear area where he needs to - and that is his disposal. He still wastes far too much of the pill when he gets it, and I don't think he is near AFL standard in that space. We already have enough players with a high level of skill in butchering the ball when they get it, so I can see how he hasn't got another run in seniors.

I do think he will get another chance elsewhere if we do let him go however.

[rojo]

I think Towers blew it last Sunday. He had played some really good senior games this year with his leg speed and intercept marking being invaluable in a few games. If he had stood up in the NEAFL final and made his mark, he would have had to be considered v McGlynn. The fact that he didn't or couldn't is telling. The skill level of players across the competition these days means teams who want to have success in finals cannot carry too many players who cannot stand up under pressure.

The difference between being in the top eight and getting to the grand final is really what the Swans are having to look at. We started the game on Saturday, bang, bang, bang - point, point point, very gettable shots from experienced players. What a difference it would have made if it had been goal, goal, goal. Perhaps that is what happens when you rely on midfielders for your goals. Papley and Hewett on the other hand did deliver on their few opportunities and Newman in the reserves game was able to deliver too. This Saturday is going to be a very crucial, on several levels. Who has got what it takes going forward - and what do you do about the players who fall short?

Second game into the finals it will not be a good look for Macca or anyone else to be telling other players where they should be standing in general play. How can Grundy and Rampe give 100% attention to their difficult tasks and worry about what Aliir and Marsh and Lloyd are doing and ditto Buddy in the forward line. And Macca worrying about what everyone is doing! If it hasn't been sorted out by this stage then it is too late!

We are really asking a lot of this team but if they go in with self-belief and greater intensity they can do it. They stayed with GWS for two quarters. The absence of Tippett and Mills however may be really telling. (Sorry to have wandered off topic!)

[barracuda]

2018 will be when our academy really starts to come online, Hardman and Bell look like prospects for 2017 but they're not getting rave reviews but 2018 we'll be fighting for Nick Blakey and have some other really good young kids coming through.

The potential of that academy is enormous. For example the GPS System, and most of the schools and kids are in the Swans zone, will start coming online in about 5 to 6 years time. Shore, a traditional rugby school, now has more Year 7 kids playing AFL than rugby. That's why we have the academy and if it succeeds there won't be any issue about us being able to recruit everyone because there will be an enormous over supply. But, and this is where boneheads like Eddie don't get it, it needs to have some success to survive

Shore had its inaugural year fielding a seniors first 18. They even had goal posts installed on the hallowed Northbridge main oval courtesy of the AFL goal post program. The kids who played loved it, as did their parents. The school doesn't give colours for AFL yet, but hopefully next year. Many games were at Lakeside, which is one of the most difficult ovals to get hold of. The fact they were played there is testament to how important the AFL views the GPS comp.

[longmile]

Shore had its inaugural year fielding a seniors first 18. They even had goal posts installed on the hallowed Northbridge main oval courtesy of the AFL goal post program. The kids who played loved it, as did their parents. The school doesn't give colours for AFL yet, but hopefully next year. Many games were at Lakeside, which is one of the most difficult ovals to get hold of. The fact they were played there is testament to how important the AFL views the GPS comp.

I went to a GPS school and between years 11 and 12 we had enough kids to field a team and plus some, who were passionate to play. We even passed a petition over to the dean of sport who was uninterested, he only seemed to care about Rugby, Rowing and Cricket. So it's good to see the GPS schools finally getting involved in the AFL, when I was there it was only Riverview at the time. I would of killed for it.

[vleung1208]

Swans offer for Tom Mitchell

Jon Ralph on Fox Footy saying the Swans have a 5 year $1.9m deal on the table for Tom Mitchell, but he's likely headed to the Hawks. That's about $380k a year. He's probably after $500k+ a year.

Next year Mills/Heeney will move to the midfield so should be ok. Newman gets blooded and with Zak Jones back, we will hold up alright.

[mcs]

Frankly I think ~400K is not a highly unreasonable offer, and I doubt very much he will be on much more at the Hawks. I'd be exceptionally surprised if he gets 500K+ - that is if we are to believe they have the very flat salary structure that they are always trying to tell us that they do.

I have no doubt we will deal with it fine if he does go. Foote is another that, on the back of a good 2016 (and assuming he is promoted), and hopefully a good pre-season, could put his hand up for more seniors experience.