2017 trading, drafting, list management

[Billericay]

This Dawson chap, sounds a likely type by that. Do the match committee know about him?

How good would it be for the Swans to give their supporters the opportunity to 'ask the coach' or 'ask the selection committee' some questions.

[S.S. Bleeder]

A year with Lockett this year sharpening his kicking at goal........priceless

Yes, that seems to be really working for us doesn't it ????

[Ludwig]

How good would it be for the Swans to give their supporters the opportunity to 'ask the coach' or 'ask the selection committee' some questions.

You can ask the coach, but you won't get much of an answer from our coach. Longmire has a rare form of OCD where he cannot construct a sentence without using the word 'consistent'.

The Swans were planning to trial a weekly 20 minute videocast called Ask Ludwig, but in the test run, once the offensive material was removed, there wasn't there was only 47 seconds left of presentable material.

[Mug Punter]

I'm going to take a leap of faith and assume that the Reid extension is in the bag as well. If he is not then we get first rounder as compensation so that is probably not a bad worst case.

If so then it leaves us with a strong list and all the cards in any trading conversations that we may have.

The only two players I see as having any potential currency are Tippett and Aliir. Both I think we would like to keep but the right offer would see us offload them I think

Tippett I now believe will stay and I hope he does, I wanted him traded if it meant that we get the cap space to keep Reid but it would seem we can have both. Fully fit I still think he may be our best ruckman and he provides KPF cover as well. If it is true he is on $600,000 for the next three seasons I think we would require almost all of that off the wages bill for us to consider trading him. I expect a few nibbles but we won't be held to ransom here.

Aliir is more interesting. I just don't know how to read this one. On one level it could just be that Melican is not droppable on form at the moment and also the back six generally are going so well that there just isn't space. On the other hand I find it hard to see how he isn't in our best 22. Luckily for us he is under contract so we don't have to do anything here and I expect Aliir and "required player" to be heard if this rumour gets legs. There may be some issues behind the scenes but that doesn't seem the case. He is 24 next year so needs to be playing senior footy - there is an obvious opening when Reg presumably retires at the end of next year but whether he can stomach another season in the NEAFL I would say is doubtful.

Having said that he is critical to our list at the moment in terms of any injuries and I still think there may be some teams where we need the three talls.

Would we be tempted with either Brisbane's second round pick (approx. 20) or one of the Tigers' first rounders packaged up with one of our later picks? Quite possibly but I think we would be guided by Allir's interest and also perhaps if the deal was rejected we would try and extend his deal a year or two. I do think he'll attract some bids as we all know he is too good for the twos and other clubs will sniff a chance to get an unhappy player.

Hard to see anyone else of any great value that we'd look to trade as I think the list is pretty good atm

[Ludwig]

First of all, the Aliir story has absolutely no credibility. It was just some call in to a radio station. Secondly, Aliir is in the top 10 best players at the club an is destined to be the 2nd best defender in the AFL, so there is no way he should be traded. Thirdly, Longmire is slow to change his ways. He took a long time to finally capitulate and play 1 ruckman. We leak around 2 goals a game due to undersized mismatches. You can be undersized in the forward line and still make it work, but not in defence. Smart coaches will find ways to get the matchups they desire. Both Hawthorn losses resulted in Roughead being left to an undersized defender. Eventually Longmire will play Aliir in defence. Aliir is the centerpiece of our defence, but Longmire doesn't realise it yet, and not many on RWO realise it either. Strangely, he is considered a superstar by the Melbourne footy world.

[CureTheSane]

I'd take Allir for Smith right now.
Also, against the Hawks, I felt we lacked talls

[Mug Punter]

First of all, the Aliir story has absolutely no credibility. It was just some call in to a radio station. Secondly, Aliir is in the top 10 best players at the club an is destined to be the 2nd best defender in the AFL, so there is no way he should be traded. Thirdly, Longmire is slow to change his ways. He took a long time to finally capitulate and play 1 ruckman. We leak around 2 goals a game due to undersized mismatches. You can be undersized in the forward line and still make it work, but not in defence. Smart coaches will find ways to get the matchups they desire. Both Hawthorn losses resulted in Roughead being left to an undersized defender. Eventually Longmire will play Aliir in defence. Aliir is the centerpiece of our defence, but Longmire doesn't realise it yet, and not many on RWO realise it either. Strangely, he is considered a superstar by the Melbourne footy world.

The story in question may have no credibility but I think it is highly na?ve to think that clubs won't come looking at Aliir and seeing of they can get their hands on him. My question was what would it take for us to be tempted? I would think a first rounder would seriously tempt us.

Having said that I agree with most of your comments, I don't see the structural concerns re his size (being a "tall") given his athleticism and I can't see how he can't get in the starting 22.

My only criticism of him is that he is too loose for my liking at times and also that he stuffs around with the ball trying to be too cute (including at NEAFL level) instead of taking the initial simple quick options; I think he'll get caught out at AFL level long term if he continues that habit. I see him at this stage as someone who is great as the loose man in defence and also maybe taking the third tall but I don't personally see him as the centrepiece of our defence taking the opposition power forward.

[waswan]

alir has played no games meaning we may as well give him away at the trade table
talk of him having currency is laughable even with a contract
he could be a steal if our match committee doesnt get their head out of their arse
check out GWS at the start of the year to see what it is like to have more than one line breaker versatile defender

[Hotpotato]

They have been harsh on Alir, one late for training and a couple of turnovers in the Ones and it's been all over.
He could have been the critical factor against the Hawks and helped win the game.
C'mon, build his confidence .

[Blood Fever]

I'm going to take a leap of faith and assume that the Reid extension is in the bag as well. If he is not then we get first rounder as compensation so that is probably not a bad worst case.

If so then it leaves us with a strong list and all the cards in any trading conversations that we may have.

The only two players I see as having any potential currency are Tippett and Aliir. Both I think we would like to keep but the right offer would see us offload them I think

Tippett I now believe will stay and I hope he does, I wanted him traded if it meant that we get the cap space to keep Reid but it would seem we can have both. Fully fit I still think he may be our best ruckman and he provides KPF cover as well. If it is true he is on $600,000 for the next three seasons I think we would require almost all of that off the wages bill for us to consider trading him. I expect a few nibbles but we won't be held to ransom here.

Aliir is more interesting. I just don't know how to read this one. On one level it could just be that Melican is not droppable on form at the moment and also the back six generally are going so well that there just isn't space. On the other hand I find it hard to see how he isn't in our best 22. Luckily for us he is under contract so we don't have to do anything here and I expect Aliir and "required player" to be heard if this rumour gets legs. There may be some issues behind the scenes but that doesn't seem the case. He is 24 next year so needs to be playing senior footy - there is an obvious opening when Reg presumably retires at the end of next year but whether he can stomach another season in the NEAFL I would say is doubtful.

Having said that he is critical to our list at the moment in terms of any injuries and I still think there may be some teams where we need the three talls.

Would we be tempted with either Brisbane's second round pick (approx. 20) or one of the Tigers' first rounders packaged up with one of our later picks? Quite possibly but I think we would be guided by Allir's interest and also perhaps if the deal was rejected we would try and extend his deal a year or two. I do think he'll attract some bids as we all know he is too good for the twos and other clubs will sniff a chance to get an unhappy player.

Hard to see anyone else of any great value that we'd look to trade as I think the list is pretty good atm

Club has put a lot of work into Allir. Not sure if it would want to trade him. He does a lot of community work off the field. He seems happy in Sydney and is only an injury away from playing in the backline. Grundy has been incredibly durable.

[Ludwig]

Of course Aliir is being looked at by other clubs. He's the best player in football not getting a senior game. But he is contracted and there's no indication that he's not happy at the club. I doubt the Swans could be tempted by any offer for Aliir. Our coach is like a horse that keeps going back to a dry well and instead of finding water he just gets Footes and Robbos. He's not exactly Mr. Ed. If Clarko were out head coach, Aliir would be the centerpiece of our defense and we'd be on our way to a premiership.

[Blood Fever]

If Clarko were out head coach, Aliir would be the centerpiece of our defense and we'd be on our way to a premiership.

Fantasy world

[waswan]

Not happy is a very vague view nowadays when contracts mean nothing
he would be on 250k tops would get offers above 500k easy
very easy to go from happy to not happy when you are offered twice the pay by an outsider which you would have to say is happening
membrey biggs and co dont hurt i have a feeling losing alir would burn us

[Dosser]

alir has played no games meaning we may as well give him away at the trade table
talk of him having currency is laughable even with a contract
he could be a steal if our match committee doesnt get their head out of their arse
check out GWS at the start of the year to see what it is like to have more than one line breaker versatile defender

+1
Any club that offers a first-round pick for a player who cant get a game at his own club seriously shouldn't be in this business.

[ugg]

For a team that has gone 9-2 in the last 11 games and has the number 1 ranked defence in that time, I don't think the non-selection of Aliir has cost us in that regard.

The Roughead contested marks against Hannebery and Jones were an issue with the midfield not the defence. As shown on On The Couch, Roughead started the centre bounces on the wing and moved forward. The Hawthorn forwards were also well coached to vacate the forward 50 area leaving a genuine one-on-one contests on both occasions with no third man up to help our undersized player. Unless Aliir was playing on the wing I don't think he would have made a difference in these 2 goals.