2018 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Kumarangk]

I can't take this sort of Melbourne talk, about a contracted player about to play his 200th, too seriously...But if so, let's hope his body comes good and he puts together a strong 2nd half of the year,

because on recent form and injuries, he wouldn't be worth much...

It would certainly make the decision (in hindsight) to let Mitchell go, look very ordinary. Especially given the fact that at the time, Hannebery would of been worth a much better trade than pick 14.

Agree entirely . Lets hope he comes back to the way he was and hope that he hasn't peaked too early and hasn't been able to combat career threatening injury's. Him & Jack ( and perhaps Rohan ) are being carried at the moment.

[liz]

Swans still planning for in-form veteran to retire - AFL.com.au

Horse says that there's currently no plan for Macca to change his end-of-year retirement plans, despite his excellent form. I daresay that could yet change.

Another veteran who was questioned a bit after the first couple of rounds -Reg - has also got into his groove as the season has progressed and is also playing very good footy. I wonder whether he intends to keep going.

[Blood Fever]

Swans still planning for in-form veteran to retire - AFL.com.au

Horse says that there's currently no plan for Macca to change his end-of-year retirement plans, despite his excellent form. I daresay that could yet change.

Another veteran who was questioned a bit after the first couple of rounds -Reg - has also got into his groove as the season has progressed and is also playing very good footy. I wonder whether he intends to keep going.

Grundy could play on for a few more years. Pace not really an asset for him but he reads the game brilliantly. Huge loss when he gives it away.

[Ludwig]

We need to do a better job in preparing for the post-Grundy era. We've been fortunate that Reg has been such a reliable defender who plays just about every game. Melican, on the other hand, has been hit by frequent stints on the sidelines in his short career, so we will need to have a bit more depth at KPD in the years to come.

We also have not taken our opportunities to reintegrate Aliir into our backline. We had a good chance during the 2nd half of last year when he was playing well in the reserves, but instead opted to stick with 2 KDs plus Rampe, only to be caught out in the finals when Melican went down with injury again.

Aliir still has plenty to learn, but the time is right to get him in the senior team. Maibaum has also been playing well this season and may warrant a game or two if the opportunity arises.

We should try to sort out our future KPP slots before entering trade period, especially if Darcy Moore is being considered as a Swan. Personally, I can't see how he fits in the way things are going so well with McCartin and Amartey, and Blakey and Josh Raynor likely additions to the side in the next 2 drafts. The cup seemingly runneth over.

A bonus to having athletic KPPs is that it allows us to shift players from defence and forward positions into the midfield. This is particularly relevant in regards to Mills (next year) and Jones. With the performances of our midfield stalwarts falling off a bit this year it will really be a bonus to get those 2 into the regular midfield midfield. Hopefully we can add Dawson to that list, which should make for nice a transition into the next phase of the team's development.

[Doctor]

Have you ever considered that it just might be possible that Aliir may not be the player you think he is Ludwig?

Having said that, where I do agree is that I am concerned about the post-Grundy era. Melican is probably our Plan A but our lack of depth in the key defender area is worrying and I'm sure the club is aware of it and trying to make plans to address it.

[Ludwig]

Have you ever considered that it just might be possible that Aliir may not be the player you think he is Ludwig?

Absolutely. In fact, he's been a disappointment since looking so promising in 2016. It's hard to say with any surety why he hasn't made progress since then. It could be due to injury, his development program, or simply lack of ability to go beyond what he's already shown.

I'm hoping that once he's back in the senior side, with experienced players like Reg, Rampe and Macca around, he'll pick up where he left off in 2016 and continue to grow. I think the time in right now weighing up the positives and negatives. We've taken far greater chances with inclusions to the side than bringing Aliir in. He's much more likely to perform at a high level than Stoddart or McCartin, for instance. If he fails, so be it. At least we'll know where with stand and it will help with making other decisions with player recruiting and development.

[YvonneH]

What happens if we don't have the points to secure Nick Blakey? (I assume we miss out on him).
Would be a bit awkward for another club to pick him up knowing his preference was Sydney, and a possibility that after the initial 2 years requests a trade to us.
Would they be prepared to back their system or would they view it as 2 years wasted on a player that didn't want to be there?
Didn't one of Port Adelaide's player (was it Chad Wingard?) said they would request a trade back at the end of their initial contract?

[AB Swannie]

What happens if we don't have the points to secure Nick Blakey? (I assume we miss out on him).
Would be a bit awkward for another club to pick him up knowing his preference was Sydney, and a possibility that after the initial 2 years requests a trade to us.
Would they be prepared to back their system or would they view it as 2 years wasted on a player that didn't want to be there?
Didn't one of Port Adelaide's player (was it Chad Wingard?) said they would request a trade back at the end of their initial contract?

Almost impossible to have insufficient points. Using the current ladder as reference, the Swans would have somewhere around 2200 points available. Blakey would have to get picked at number 1 for us to lose all of these points - Pick 1 is worth 3000 points - 20% discount = 2400 points. In this unlikely situation, we would merely go into deficit for next year.

More likely, Blakey will get bid on around pick 8 which will cost us 1250 odd points which would chew up our 1st round pick and part of our second round.

[YvonneH]

Almost impossible to have insufficient points. Using the current ladder as reference, the Swans would have somewhere around 2200 points available. Blakey would have to get picked at number 1 for us to lose all of these points - Pick 1 is worth 3000 points - 20% discount = 2400 points. In this unlikely situation, we would merely go into deficit for next year.

More likely, Blakey will get bid on around pick 8 which will cost us 1250 odd points which would chew up our 1st round pick and part of our second round.

Thanks AB Swannie for that info. I must admit I don't fully grasp the points system. Much easier when it was our first pick for academy players, but I understand why that was changed.

[Boddo]

What happens if we don't have the points to secure Nick Blakey? (I assume we miss out on him).
Would be a bit awkward for another club to pick him up knowing his preference was Sydney, and a possibility that after the initial 2 years requests a trade to us.
Would they be prepared to back their system or would they view it as 2 years wasted on a player that didn't want to be there?
Didn't one of Port Adelaide's player (was it Chad Wingard?) said they would request a trade back at the end of their initial contract?

Even without the first pick atm they have enough points for Blakey with the 2 2nds & 3rd rounder if bid on at say pick 8 like has been suggested. Even if they don?t have enough points with every pick this year they go into deficit next year. He?s a Sydney player next year.

[707]

Lukosious massive game for SA vs WA today. Given his previous performances hard to see him not being No.1 pick. Reckon Carlton won't be trying to win any more games this year, Carlton vs Brisbane will be the Lukosious Cup!

A number of other players likely to go before Blakey, reckon we've got the points covered without problems.

[chalbilto]

Lukosious massive game for SA vs WA today. Given his previous performances hard to see him not being No.1 pick. Reckon Carlton won't be trying to win any more games this year, Carlton vs Brisbane will be the Lukosious Cup!

A number of other players likely to go before Blakey, reckon we've got the points covered without problems.

You are probably correct, but what is to stop a club which has an early draft pick nominating Blakey, knowing too well that Sydney will match it and as such, forcing Sydney to use more points in securing Blakey, and then selecting the player they had in mind all of the time.

[dejavoodoo44]

You are probably correct, but what is to stop a club which has an early draft pick nominating Blakey, knowing too well that Sydney will match it and as such, forcing Sydney to use more points in securing Blakey, and then selecting the player they had in mind all of the time.

Well, they could do that, but there are a couple of deterrents. Firstly, the Swans management might decide that the other club's bid is too high, so the other club then takes Blakey, for a points value that both clubs think is inflated. Then the problem could be exacerbated, by Blakey being unhappy to not go to his nominated club. This could lead to motivation problems, and possibly him being traded to the Swans in a couple of years, at a discounted value. And while that was happening, the player that they really wanted could be starring at another club.

[KSAS]

Noticed a headline in the HS tonight which reads "Suns consider chasing veteran Swan" regarding the Suns are weighing up making an offer to Jarryd McVeigh like Brisbane did with Luke Hodge. Can't get past the pay wall as it's a subscriber only exclusive. Not sure how much credence there is to this story.

[liz]

Noticed a headline in the HS tonight which reads "Suns consider chasing veteran Swan" regarding the Suns are weighing up making an offer to Jarryd McVeigh like Brisbane did with Luke Hodge. Can't get past the pay wall as it's a subscriber only exclusive. Not sure how much credence there is to this story.

If he wants to play on next year and the club doesn't think it has room on its list, I am sure he'll listen to offers. And there's no doubt that a club like the Suns desperately needs players/coaches with experience of success and driving high standards.

It may also depend on what the club has said to him regarding the availability of a spot on its coaching panel when he decides to retire from playing. And whether he wants to experience life in another club environment. I imagine a few clubs would be interested in his coaching services.