Father/Son Vs Academy Choices

[Boddo]

I really like Charlie Spargo. I see him as a very quick and agile small defender that can stay with those dangerous small forwards like Betts and Rioli. On the rebound, he can really break the lines. I still think he's in top 10 consideration.

I wouldn't rate him that high but fully agree would be good running off half back. He's not top ten for me. I'd rate him late 1st early 2nd round pick. Pick 15/16 to 25ish. He'll struggle as a full time midfielder just because of his size but as hb/back pocket I could see him making it. put it this way Oli was taken at around pick ten n I'd taken Florent over Spargo every day of the week.

[barracuda]

ESPN, afl draft hub, BigFooty etc there are plenty around if you look.

Thanks Boddo. Quick rant from a dad of a swans academy kid: Those phantom drafts are too Melbourne centric. They don't take any real interest in the kids from the other states. For example you would have thought that the domination by the swans academy of the div 2 champs would be a major talking point for them, with interest in who the players are. I have seen every swans div 2 game and many of the players they keep going on about like Ballenden and spargo etc were beaten or matched by a bunch of unknown kids. If we are going to have a truly national comp these phantom draft guys need to do more than wander down the road to a TAC cup game. There endeth the rant!

[Ludwig]

I wouldn't rate him that high but fully agree would be good running off half back. He's not top ten for me. I'd rate him late 1st early 2nd round pick. Pick 15/16 to 25ish. He'll struggle as a full time midfielder just because of his size but as hb/back pocket I could see him making it. put it this way Oli was taken at around pick ten n I'd taken Florent over Spargo every day of the week.

It's too early to say if someone like Spargo would come into our draft picture, 1st or 2nd round. I've been impressed by how well these small quick players have been going of late. Spargo is around Tom Papley size, but I think Spargo is more explosive and agile. I would love to get someone like a Tippungwuti, a small but quick and powerful player. Spargo may be smallish, but he certainly goes in hard.

[Boddo]

Thanks Boddo. Quick rant from a dad of a swans academy kid: Those phantom drafts are too Melbourne centric. They don't take any real interest in the kids from the other states. For example you would have thought that the domination by the swans academy of the div 2 champs would be a major talking point for them, with interest in who the players are. I have seen every swans div 2 game and many of the players they keep going on about like Ballenden and spargo etc were beaten or matched by a bunch of unknown kids. If we are going to have a truly national comp these phantom draft guys need to do more than wander down the road to a TAC cup game. There endeth the rant!

Agree but some points are good. Speaking of Ballender I think he's rated so highly because he has so much upside. I do rate him highly, top 10. I watch a lot of underage stuff. Unlimited broadband with a smart tv helps. I realised a long long time ago that's your clubs future. Buts like a lot of media. It's so Melbourne centric driven by the clubs. It was like Hayward, I rated him top 10 but was surprised when I watched him slip so far. I also rated Oli very highly so was very happy to get both.

[barracuda]

Agree but some points are good. Speaking of Ballender I think he's rated so highly because he has so much upside. I do rate him highly, top 10. I watch a lot of underage stuff. Unlimited broadband with a smart tv helps. I realised a long long time ago that's your clubs future. Buts like a lot of media. It's so Melbourne centric driven by the clubs. It was like Hayward, I rated him top 10 but was surprised when I watched him slip so far. I also rated Oli very highly so was very happy to get both.

Boddo, where in your opinion would the under 18 div 2 championships rate relative to TAC or Sanfl under 18s? Better or worse? Different?

[S.S. Bleeder]

Yep. Your right. A few mummurs, a bit of a complaint, some howls, protests, demonstrations and finally revolution. We will be screwed some way as we are viewed as the "Bondi Billionaires" club.

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At least we are on the bottom of the ladder this time around which should be more favourable for us. The AFL don't want us to succeed, but they also don't want us to flounder at the bottom of the ladder either. That's bad for the game (assuming they realise that).

[S.S. Bleeder]

David King can say all he wants. If I hear Papa John saying he wants his son to go to Norf, then I'd be worried.

It's always been up to the player as to where he wants to go. Nick has 4 choices, the Academy, NM, BL and the open draft. I can't see that changing.

He has a choice but he really shouldn't be allowed to have a choice. The moment a kid selects to join an academy should be the moment he makes his decision. Why should a club spend money and time developing a player that isn't going to play for them?

[Boddo]

Boddo, where in your opinion would the under 18 div 2 championships rate relative to TAC or Sanfl under 18s? Better or worse? Different?

TAC then SANFL/div 2. Div 2 has top end talent but not the depth. You only have to look at the recent draft to see overall there a lot more talent in Victoria. What I've noticed is the developing states have a lot of top end talent with not as much depth. The SANFL can be very up n down from year to year. Tassie has virtually fallen off a cliff but having family down there tells me the talent is there but the organisational part of their pathway is very disjointed. They need the Mariners back imo. NSW has come along in leaps n bounds. Just very disappointing what they did with the GWS academy just when they has started to produce good talent.

[Ludwig]

He has a choice but he really shouldn't be allowed to have a choice. The moment a kid selects to join an academy should be the moment he makes his decision. Why should a club spend money and time developing a player that isn't going to play for them?

I think it's much ado about nothing. I fully expect that Nick will choose to join the Swans. So what if some of the Melbourne media buffoons want to make it into a news story that is really not a story at all. I doubt Nick feels any connection to either NM or Brisbane.

[S.S. Bleeder]

I think it's much ado about nothing. I fully expect that Nick will choose to join the Swans. So what if some of the Melbourne media buffoons want to make it into a news story that is really not a story at all. I doubt Nick feels any connection to either NM or Brisbane.

I hope so. We are well overdue to benefit from the go home or stay home factor.

[troyjones2525]

Here are some highlights videos i have come across of some of Academy players in action on a YouTube page called AFL Draft Central. It's a great place for highlights on draft prospects!

James Bell v NT (2017 Under 18 Academy Series) - YouTube

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[troyjones2525]

Mitchell Rogers v NT (2017 Under 18 Academy Series) - YouTube

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[troyjones2525]

Jack Hardman v NT (2017 Under 18 Academy Series) - YouTube

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[troyjones2525]

Nick Blakey v NT (2017 Under 18 Academy Series) - YouTube

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[troyjones2525]

Seriously though, how exciting does young Nick Blakey look! He is still bottom age and already appears a class above the other young lads! And how good is it to see a young tall actually nail his set shots at goal!

We really need to get this boy! Here's hoping he has a close relationship with some of his other talented team mates and we choose a couple next year to help sway him! ????

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