2016 trading and drafting (merged thread)

[RogueSwan]

Lol. I have a rotating set of photos as the desktop background on my work computer. Many of the pictures are Swans related, and one is of a topless Kurt sparring with JPK ( who sadly is fully clothed)....

I am pretty sure that I have a topless Joey shot somewhere from the Coffs camps. My boss loved them too but he didn't put them on his work machine though.

[Mug Punter]

You make a lot of good points, although I didn't see this as being a problem during the period you examined. And it's kind of you to feel sympathy for these poor heartbroken men who can only go home for around 8 weeks a year.

I am not solely picking on WA either, and I've said that many times. They produce a lot of players as you have noted, it's a long way back home, so you would expect they would be involved in a fair number of homesick cases.

The problem has escalated in the last couple of years. There's nothing wrong with a fair trade being done which results in a player going back to his home state, like with Kersten. It's when players request to go home or to a specific club that riles me. This year we have Pickett, Hill, Joel Hamling and Cam McCarthy, plus Marcus Adams requested a trade home and will likely go next year. Bryce Gibbs wanted a to trade Adelaide, but he was under contract and it didn't get done.

If players have family issues or they want to be close to home they should forego a career in the AFL instead of taking the risk of being drafted by an out of state club and then requesting a trade back home. It's deceptive and undermines the integrity of the competition. Once several players get away with this tactic it spreads like wildfire and everyone thinks it's a viable option. I'm not the only one saying that contracts are hardly worth much these days.

I'm most annoyed at the AFL for not recognising this issue and doing something about it. I hardly care what the something is, but just do something, instead of pretending it doesn't exist.

I think the reality is that players now seem to have more power than ever on where they play.

It annoys me too. Not only do players demand a trade, which of course they are entitled to do, but they now also nominate their destination club. And the destination clubs' behaviour is also highly questionable at times, treating the trade as a fait accompli before the trade has even been finalised. I doubt a scenario like what happened with ROK a few years ago, when we stood our ground, would occur now. I can't remember the last time a player was "sent to the draft"

It further annoys me, and I think we're in total agreement here, that players think they can wriggle out of a contract when it suits them just because another club illegally taps them up and offers them much more money. In a perfect world you'd ban illegal approaches but then 18 clubs would get penalised and we're not averse to clandestine activity ourselves (e.g. the Buddy heist). The best approach of course is for clubs to stand firm and demand that players respect their contracts, and I like the fact that GWS stood firm on Lobb and also played a straight bat with McCarthy despite his mental issues which I think were 100% genuine. I'd suggest that clubs should just demand players honour their contracts but at the very least it should only be if the offer suits the club that the club should entertain the offer, I cannot for the life of me see how Bryce Gibbs or his management could feel aggrieved at not getting to Adelaide but the modern player is an entitled being.

In many ways free agency will take the edge of it a little bit I think. I think a lot of players will get the 8 years at their drafted club provided the pay is market value and then really test the market as a 26-27 year old. The only reason we lost Tom was because we were so low-ball (and I believe we were actually quite happy to let him go in the name of list management).

What the current trend of greater mobility does is create a real advantage for home grown lists and that is where we need to academy to work.

PS - You are right that this year there was Hamling and Adams so it seemed like a bit of a flood but I guess I also see them as depth. My emphasis was on how risky it was to draft from WA at the pointy end of the field and from the stats we've seen it doesn't seem like it as risky as it may appear at the moment.

[barracuda]

Just wait until the GPS and CAS schools start funding their AFL programmes properly and watch the talent flow.

Are you still of the opinion that Hardman and Bell (indigenous kid from Shell Harbour) are the pick of 2017

Its a bit early to tell. Both players are not endurance runners and so there are plenty of kids beating them at this stage.

[707]

Bolter alert on this mornings AFL website - mature ager Luke Ryan at pick 19?

[AnnieH]

Lol. I have a rotating set of photos as the desktop background on my work computer. Many of the pictures are Swans related, and one is of a topless Kurt sparring with JPK ( who sadly is fully clothed). A colleague (who happens to be one of our lawyers) saw it a couple of days ago and (jokingly, I think) asked if that was appropriate for an office environment.

Swoon.
100% appropriate.

[RogueSwan]

I am pretty sure that I have a topless Joey shot somewhere from the Coffs camps. My boss loved them too but he didn't put them on his work machine though.

Swoon.
100% appropriate.

Swans final training run 2013-02-01 016.jpg
I found this one from 2013
and this one:swans training day 2013-01-30 081.jpg

[AnnieH]

OMG.
I just fainted.

[Ludwig]

Bolter alert on this mornings AFL website - mature ager Luke Ryan at pick 19?

I've seen some video of Luke Ryan and he's not a bad player, but I'd say we might be interested given we have 2 picks in the 40s. Besides that I don't think we have a weakness in medium defenders, with Marsh, Laidler already in the mix and Newman just being elevated to the senior list. Add to that O'Riordan, who looks to be the next in line for senior promotion. Alex Witherden and Cedric Cox are both better prospects that are likely to be picked in the range of our pick 19, and I would rate both Sam Walker and Bailey Morrish as better prospects than Ryan as medium defenders and neither is likely to be selected until the 30s. I think we were one of the clubs that interviewed Ryan, hence the rumours. Window shopping is one thing, buying is another.

I'd be hoping we would be targeting a player that would bring speed and goal scoring power through the midfield and forward, like Jy Simpkin, Gallucci and Cedric Cox (who I think we would convert to a forward if picked). Against players of this caliber, Luke Ryan looks a poor choice.



I still can't bring myself around to take down my picture of Abe Davis taken when he could still pass the skinfolds test.

[Billericay]

Sorry to drag you back on topic like this

No Cookies | Herald Sun 2016-champion-data-ranks-the-top-30-players-based-on-their-statistical-performances

A lot of GWS Academy players in there. No Logue. Berry is ranked #26. Sam Landsberger thinks Swans may go after Jy Simpkin and Shai Bolton, Describes Oliver Florent as "Could be the best outside midfielder..." Gallucci down around the 20 mark.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Here's an article on Luke Ryan who we are rumoured to be very interested in.
Ryan's rise from 'Marby Park' to mature-aged draft bolter - AFL.com.au

I personally can't see why we are interested in him. We have Newman, Marsh, O'Riordan, and others who I see as similar players.

[mattybloods]

Ryan might be worth a late pick, top 25 would be a surprise!

Strange seeing pictures today of Nankervis in Richmond colours and X in Essendon colours (training only)

[Auntie.Gerald]

yep luke has been mentioned a few times now around the traps

if we didn't try and take on Barrett as a free agent it appears we have some players in mind considered much more important in the draft

Luke Ryan
Coburg
185cm/82kg
6/2/96
The defender began the year in the VFL's Development League but soon forced his way into coach Peter German's team on the back of some irrepressible performances. He is excellent at reading the play and setting up attack from defence. Missed three games with an ankle injury but is still averaging 20.5 disposals in his first season at VFL level and has hit a real purple patch of late.

Mature-age talent who might have caught the eye - AFL.com.au

[Auntie.Gerald]

Coburg's Luke Ryan invited to Draft Combine - VFL - SportsTG

Round 3, 2016 - Luke Ryan Post Game Interview - YouTube

luke ryan afl video - Google Search

[Auntie.Gerald]

guess pick 35

..............


#35 Luke Ryan
General Defender (Coburg/VFL)
07/02/1996 | 185.7cm | 82.9kg

Luke Ryan stats

Luke Ryan is the best state league prospect across Australia and seems likely to be a first round pick. Upon watching him, he looks to be ?skinny?, but up close and testing wise he sits at a touch under 83kg. The general defender rebounds the ball and isn?t afraid to intercept mark. He is very good athletically, but from the games I have seen him play- he does collect a lot of the ball uncontested due to dropping off his man. A shoulder injury saw his season end early but was still able to win the Fothergill-Round medal as the best Under 23 player in the VFL.

https://afldraftcentral.com.au/2016/11/07/matt-balmers-2016-final-afl-draft-power-rankings-part-1/

[707]

Pick 9 full of intrigue.

Also it appears GWS will be pinged a pick or two for the distasteful Whitfield incident, could it be pick 2? Can only hope, but then again, are the VFL likely to make an example of their love child GWS??