2016 trading and drafting (merged thread)

[liz]

Just google the headline, click the link and you should be able to read it for free

That never, ever works for me. I still land up at a page telling me I am trying to access "premium content" (which is a bit of an oxymoron when applied to anything published in the News Limited press).

[ugg]

To summarise the article

Edwards 'over the moon' about his selection.
Has been in NT recently to visit family, flew out of Melbourne last night for Sydney (despite what Kinnear Beatson was saying about driving up).
'Looking forward' to the beautiful weather and beaches
'Shattered' for Tony Olango

[bloodspirit]

Here are the list changes side by side. I think we really improved.

Out ------------------- In
Mitchell -------------- Florent
Nankervis ----------- Cameron
Ted ------------------ Maibaum
Xav ------------------ Hayward
Derickx ------------- Ronke
Davis ---------------- Fox
Hiscox --------------- Edwards
Mcglynn ------------- Fisher
Galloway ------------ Pink

It's a much stronger list than last year, and we did quite well last year. Not to forget that we will get back Reid, Talia and AJ who were all out injured. Only Mitchell made a significant contribution and we got Florent, effectively, as a result of that trade. The increase in pace in the new side is considerable.

We are building nicely to stay competitive in a period where GWS and GC are looking formidable with the quality of their lists.

That is helpful, Ludwig - good post! Although I think you have also crafted the comparisons to support your optimism. If it's a stronger list now, it's only slightly so. I guess it also depends on the point in time of comparison - to the same time a year ago or to the end of this season when Ted and Benny were ready to retire? I would say overall I would rather have Mitchell, Nank, Ted, Davis and McGlynn of 12 months ago compared to the Florent, Cameron, Maibaum, Fox and Fisher of today. Anyway, it's good that we're renewing our list and, as I think you have said yourself, we give our relatively young senior list time to settle and consolidate while the newbies show us their wares and hopefully develop beautifully. We don't desperately need our latest recruits to be ready to go. We've got a bunch of players on the fringes of our 22 who are in that space already.

I'm not sure what to make of the rookie recruits myself. I would have thought we'd rather have X and Abe compared with Pink and Edwards. However, perhaps Pink, Edwards and co have the potential to be more than X and Abe. More likely I think there are other factors related to those delistings. Wish we knew what those factors were but I suppose whatever it is must be embarrassing for the players which is why neither the club nor the players may never tell us.

- - - Updated - - -

Notice that Ronke was the topped ranked player available today in Knightmare's Power Rankings as posted on ESPN and BF.

Hi 707 - please could you post the link. I've looked on both espn and BF but can't find them. I'm never much good at navigating around BF and don't go there much. Thanks.

Also interested to know more about which new recruits you particularly like and why.

[bloodspirit]

I think I've found the power ranking you were talking about. Knightmare (who was as successful as Cal Twomey in predicting which players would go to which clubs in 2015) rated Ben Ronke the 25th best player available in the drafts! Here's his write up:

25. Benjamin Ronke (VIC)?
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward?
Height, weight: 181cm, 75kg?
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
?Plays like: Luke Shuey?
Projected draft range: late/rookie?
Rated last month: 25
?Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Excellent second half to the TAC Cup season where strong production and explosive speed and contested-ball winning stood out. Rapid rate of improvement demonstrated. Finished in Calder's best in his last seven games and was listed as Calder's best player in five of his last six matches. Late season he played two VFL games and at that level also held his own.
Strengths:?
- Contested-ball winning?
- Wins first possession at stoppages?
- Explosive acceleration
?- Breaks away from stoppages
?- Tackling?
- Chase-down tackling
?- Energy around the contest
?- Gives second and third efforts?
- Athleticism?
- Rate of improvement and standard of performance through second half of season?
- Held his own against VFL standard competition
?- Scoreboard impact (19 goals from 15 TAC Cup games and two goals from two VFL contests)?
- Kicks goals from stoppages and on the move
?- Can play forward?
Weaknesses:?
- Inconsistent foot skills ?
- When pressured feels rushed and can make poor decisions
?- Does not find much easy outside ball

Apart from this being very encouraging, I also think it is good we have drafted an inside mid. Inside mids are our traditional strength and since the loss of Mitchell we are a bit thinner on this front now, with all our recruiting emphasis being on shoring up skilful outside mids and half-forwards (is that a position?). Outside the 22 Foote is the only pure inside mid that leaps to my mind although we have a bunch of players who we have developed, or are developing, to be able to go through the midfield. So thumbs up to drafting Ronke - I look forward to seeing him in action.

Too bad GWS still had room on their list for Sproule. He would have been a good one to nab. I guess that's why they let Barrett go. Just no more room they are so chockers with talent.

[bloodspirit]

Knightmare also rated Brodie Romensky 26th and Lachlan Walker 27th and they didn't get drafted at all. Conversely he rated Logue 30th. It's hard to know whether he knows what he's talking about but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Encouragingly he rated Hayward 11th. Hayward is probably the player I'm most excited about of all our draftees. I can't wait to see what he turns into. Fingers and toes crossed!

[RogueSwan]

That never, ever works for me. I still land up at a page telling me I am trying to access "premium content" (which is a bit of an oxymoron when applied to anything published in the News Limited press).

worked for me with Chrome v54
edwards.jpg

[707]

That never, ever works for me. I still land up at a page telling me I am trying to access "premium content" (which is a bit of an oxymoron when applied to anything published in the News Limited press).

LOL, ah Liz, that's two good laughs you've given me in a day!

[Levii3]

I'll say it again. Jeremy Laidler

Forget Laidler Mitch Morton was at West Coast and Richmond before he joined us

[AnnieH]

Who has the brighter hair... Pink or Rohan?

[Ludwig]

Sam Fisher v. Jake Brown

If I understand the academy and zone rules correctly, and I may not (Meg and Liz can correct me if I've slipped up here), I figure taking Fisher was a smart strategic move.

Fisher was available to us under the same rule that brought us Harry Cunningham. It was an opportunity to grab a player in the GSW academy zone. Jake Brown, being a Swans Academy player will still be available to us next year as an academy player, so we retain first access to him in the 2017 draft. Fisher, if not drafted, would revert to a GWS Academy selection next year, where they would get another crack at taking him.

So we actually go Fisher for free, so to speak, since Brown can stay in our academy another year and play with our reserves as a top up.

[aardvark]

Who has the brighter hair... Pink or Rohan?

So we selected Pink. Who knew?

[Auntie.Gerald]

Pink ahead of Olango ?

amazing

[Levii3]

All Olango can do is jump like Jason Holmes thats not enough to get drafted, he's not the best kick his hands aren't great he's soo raw. Pink may never play a game but he's not that bad to take a punt on he may surprise who knows.

Toby Pink, SANFL U18s Highlights 2016 - YouTube

[Meg]

In the context of earlier discussion in this thread, this is an interesting summary of the players taken by each club as Category B rookies this year.

First Ugandan in the AFL as clubs confirm Category B rookies - AFL.com.au

[barracuda]

Sam Fisher v. Jake Brown

If I understand the academy and zone rules correctly, and I may not (Meg and Liz can correct me if I've slipped up here), I figure taking Fisher was a smart strategic move.

Fisher was available to us under the same rule that brought us Harry Cunningham. It was an opportunity to grab a player in the GSW academy zone. Jake Brown, being a Swans Academy player will still be available to us next year as an academy player, so we retain first access to him in the 2017 draft. Fisher, if not drafted, would revert to a GWS Academy selection next year, where they would get another crack at taking him.

So we actually go Fisher for free, so to speak, since Brown can stay in our academy another year and play with our reserves as a top up.

Good observation Ludwig. I think Jake Brown started to find his feet in the Neafl late in the season. Provided he can self fund the year, I think he will have been told by the Swans to play another year of NEAFL Dev Squad, and then if good enough be drafted.The NDS is not much different to being a first year player, and according to the Academy, NDS players are actually a year further developed than a raw under 18 draftee. For example I imagine Will Hayward will play NEAFL all year alongside Jake and some of the other Academy boys.

What will be interesting will be what happens to the other NDS players like Wilson, Baron Hay, Reinhart etc. Will the swans let them go and bring the next group of academy players up, or will they hang on to them. It will be new territory as the NDS is only a year old. The pressure will be to cull some of them to ensure the Academy can continue to grow its reputation as a legitimate pathway for talent. No doubt the fact that only Davis managed to squeeze in at pick 75 as the only academy pick doesn't help.