U18 Div 2 Championships

[liz]

Another thought: if the Swans are serious about getting an AFLW team in the future, perhaps now is the time to start an Academy stream for girls?

My understanding is that the Swans are onto that. Certainly, at the AGM, when Ireland spoke about the academy he mentioned the inclusion of girls. He didn't go into detail on this point, and maybe a girls' academy is imminent rather than already launched, but certainly the Swans are committed to this.

[barracuda]

I echo the general appreciation for your post, barracuda. Just curious, where you write "the drills all follow the swans structure" - can you describe what the relevant "swans structures" are or is this just something that parents are given to understand?

Another thought: if the Swans are serious about getting an AFLW team in the future, perhaps now is the time to start an Academy stream for girls? The great thing about the Academy program as I understand it is that at the beginning no prior AFL experience is required and takes in all kinds of athletic, skilful kids. I just checked the Academy's website (Academy - sydneyswans.com.au) to check and currently it is boys-only.

Also want to correct another furphy going around that Heeney and Mills are the only graduates we have had from the program to play for the Swans. The website lists 8 Academy players who have made the Swans senior list. Apart from Mills and Heeney, from the current list Robinson, Foote, BJ and Naismith are all also Academy graduates according to the webpage. Abe Davis and Jack Hiscox, now delisted, were also Academy graduates.

Hi, I don't know what the specifics are, however they get the same forward, mid and backline plays, with the intention that they can fit into NEAFL and understand the setups. A converse example was Will Haywards first game where he was apparently getting lots of grief from the coaches because he was running to the wrong places.

[Meg]

My understanding is that the Swans are onto that. Certainly, at the AGM, when Ireland spoke about the academy he mentioned the inclusion of girls. He didn't go into detail on this point, and maybe a girls' academy is imminent rather than already launched, but certainly the Swans are committed to this.

A Swans female academy was mentioned in the statement in April last year explaining the reasons the Swans would not bid for a licence in the first stage of the AFLW.

"Planning is underway for a new training and administration facility in the Moore Park Precinct, which will include provisions for both a Female Academy and a future NWL team, as well as the existing QBE Sydney Swans Academy and Indigenous Academy. However, the new facility is still some years away."


Sydney Swans NWL statement - sydneyswans.com.au

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Hi Barracuda

I believe that Hayward may have received some guidance from the coaches but for me its the big kicker for the Swans.

Hayward probably runs into space which a normal forward would lead too but the Swans forward structure is different to most teams.

We bomb it in alot, kick to Buddy 1 to 3, kick were Buddy has to crash into a pack (with your most precious talent) or even the worst we kick into the front 50 with no forwards, (generally done by the bottom 6 teams).

We are 1st in scoring from stoppages and 12th from general play (turnovers) because we do not create enough scoring from those turnovers.

Only my view. We play as a defensive team (also Cats, Dockers, Kangaroos) beating the others by stopping them scoring. GWS, Bulldogs, St Kilda, Crows and ors try to win by scoring more then the other team.

Reid, Rohan, Hayward would flourish in the attacking system, but ours is very regimented.

[liz]

I think the above is drawing a very long bow. Hayward has only just graduated from the underage competitions and he can't be expected to know much yet about forward line set ups in any AFL side. I think it is more relevant that he spent very little of the pre-season partaking in drills and game simulations with the main squad, focussing instead on running to build up his endurance. It's hardly surprising that he's got a lot to learn about how the team structures up, but that would be the case regardless of the club he played for.

[bloodspirit]

My understanding is that the Swans are onto that. Certainly, at the AGM, when Ireland spoke about the academy he mentioned the inclusion of girls. He didn't go into detail on this point, and maybe a girls' academy is imminent rather than already launched, but certainly the Swans are committed to this.

That's great news, liz.

Doesn't the Academy have their own facilities? Do they share with the Swans? I know they do their training at Tramway Oval (or whatever it's called), like the senior side. If so, then I guess they will have to wait until they get their new facility. If not, you would wonder if they can't get the girls into the Academy even before they have a new facility for the senior team(s).

[barracuda]

I think the above is drawing a very long bow. Hayward has only just graduated from the underage competitions and he can't be expected to know much yet about forward line set ups in any AFL side. I think it is more relevant that he spent very little of the pre-season partaking in drills and game simulations with the main squad, focussing instead on running to build up his endurance. It's hardly surprising that he's got a lot to learn about how the team structures up, but that would be the case regardless of the club he played for.

No worries Liz, I agree. I was just using Will as an example of the Swan's requirement to play to their structures.

[liz]

No worries Liz, I agree. I was just using Will as an example of the Swan's requirement to play to their structures.

My comment wasn't a response to yours (which I didn't disagree with in the slightest). It was a response to the suggestion that Hayward's challenges in knowing where to run were due to the Swans being an overly defensive team.

[Pmcc2911]

Has anyone seen the team for the first academy game?

[barracuda]

Has anyone seen the team for the first academy game?

Yes,

L. Robertson
M. Carroll
C Flanagan
L Maze
J Osborne
S Wicks
N Eynaud
J Shumack
C Loone
P Tegg
B Stewart
N Blakey
J Stern
L Skrivanic
J Reinhard
J Hardman
D Smith
M Rogers
B Norton
J Bell
J Brown
A Kinash

[Mug Punter]

Yes,

L. Robertson
M. Carroll
C Flanagan
L Maze
J Osborne
S Wicks
N Eynaud
J Shumack
C Loone
P Tegg
B Stewart
N Blakey
J Stern
L Skrivanic
J Reinhard
J Hardman
D Smith
M Rogers
B Norton
J Bell
J Brown
A Kinash

Is Liam Maze an U18? (he must be).

He is a beast of an U18 year old player and I thought he played very well in the intraclub with very strong hands

Do you think he is of draft quality? Any others to watch?

[liz]

A handful of that team comes from the U19 ADS. Maze is one, I think, and Brown is another.

[Pmcc2911]

Thanks 'cuda

[barracuda]

Is Liam Maze an U18? (he must be).

He is a beast of an U18 year old player and I thought he played very well in the intraclub with very strong hands

Do you think he is of draft quality? Any others to watch?

Hi, Maze, Osborne, Robertson and Brown are the 19 year olds

Here is a little summary I put together to the best of my recollection:

L. Robertson: NDS 19 year old
M. Carroll: Pennant Hills, around 190cm, key defender, very good intercept mark
C Flanagan: 17 year old
L Maze: NDS 19 year old ruckman
J Osborne: Manly Wolves: Under 19 NDS 180cm solid midfielder, very good basketballer,elite endurance runner
S Wicks: Manly Wolves: 180cm joel selwood type, very clean quick hands and elite agility
N Eynaud: Pennant Hills: 176cm, very strongly built, good leader and quarterback type player, similar to a sam mitchell
J Shumack: Northshore bombers: 182cm, incredibly fit and strong physique, great work ethic and commitment. Like zeibal from North Melbourne
C Loone: Under 17 recently moved to North shore bombers: about 190cm. Looks like daniel talia
P Tegg: St george: about 174cm. Elite middle distance runner, very quick and agile
B Stewart: East Coast Eagles: 182cm, Elite middle distance runner, huge tank, great attack on the ball
N Blakey: Gun
J Stern: pennant Hills: 177cm An agile player who is starting to develop nicely. Good small forward
L Skrivanic: Pennant Hills: 184cm: Talented player who has had some injury challenges
J Reinhard: UNSW: 190cm: Good ground skills for a big guy, and can really make a difference in a game
J Hardman: UNSW 175cm :Exceptionally quick, Was more outside but is now developing into a tough contested player: Potential draft
D Smith Under 17
M Rogers Manly Wolves: 190cm, recently moved from Adelaide. Very good intercept and contested mark, The son of Andrew Rogers who played for Geelong in the 80s and West Torrens
B Norton: I think North Shore. 182cm Athletic competitor with quick clean hands
J Bell: 185cm: Fast, clean mover with a strong body. Potential draft
J Brown Under 19 NDS 183cm, very fit, elite middle distance runner, lots of NEAFL experience, potential draft
A Kinash: North Shore 185cm, big strong blond guy, growing bigger everyday

[Ludwig]

Thanks barra. Great summary. I thought Bell and Brown played well in the Neafl games last year. I haven't seen Maze, but Mug Punter really likes him.

We might have 4 draftable academy players this year, but none are likely to get high bids, if at all: Maze, Hardman, Bell and Brown. A strategy for this year's draft might be to see if we can swap our first round pick this year for a first rounder in 2018. It seems this year's draft is strong with good KPPs, but the best will be gone by the time our turn comes round. We have a lot of young players on our list now that need to get game time and we don't need another gun coming to the club challenging for a spot next year.

If Maze really does look a promising ruckman and Sinclair ends the season 4th in line, I would look to trade him and let Maze take his place in the queue.