2019 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[waswan]

Why was it not expected? He was picked to go 6 to Adelaide. One after us. Flanders did not suit us. He is cocky, sulky and not what we needed. What's more he did not want to go out of Melbourne.

Stephens was as near as we could get to what was predicted. One spot up the list from the phantom draft. That's all. He is not kne out of keff field. He was always going top Ten

Sent from my ANE-LX2J using Tapatalk

AFL phantom draft had him 9 going to Carlton

[Markwebbos]

After listening to cal Twomey explain his picks in the phantom draft, I don’t think Flanders was anything more than a stab in the dark based on his perception of our need.

I apologise for starting a “go home” slur against Flanders and then being unable to substantiate it. It’s irrelevant now. I swear I wasn’t making it up, but I don’t know how reliable the source was.

Stephens sounds like a great fit for us. Inside outside mid who is quick, uses the ball well and has elite endurance. Plus he’s from the SANFL. We may see a fair bit of him in 2020.

Feels like there is plenty of quality left for our next two picks although I imagine there will be a frenzy of recruiters trying to get into the next 10-15 picks in the draft.

I’d love Gould, Schoenberg, Rantall.

Trusting SD, KB and team to nail these picks.

As an aside I feel like each new generation of draftees is a little bit better prepared than the one before. So a youth policy isn’t completely bonkers.

[Markwebbos]

On Dylan Stephens, here are a couple of grabs from articles about him. He sounds like an extremely solid pick

Category: | Herald Sun

“There’s plenty of West Coast wingman Andrew Gaff in Stephens’ run, but his class, ability at the contest and finishing around goal is in the Josh Kelly mould...
He’s been so impressive since moving from Mildura as a 13-year-old that a Norwood insider said Stephens is the best junior talent to come out of the Parade in more than a decade.”

Category: | Herald Sun

“Stephens’ under-18 season has reminded talent spotters of Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee, who went at No. 5 last year before finishing runner-up in this year’s Rising Star... Sydney and Adelaide are both likely to consider Stephens before Fremantle’s pair of picks.”

[wolftone57]

Well, I am pleasantly surprised. Both with the 'event' and with our pick.

I had never been that keen on Flanders until I made peace with the idea of recruiting him in the last day or so. I didn't expect us to draft Stephens because he had been in the conversation for our pick until just recently. Also, I am surprised we picked such an outside player when the perception is that we need more contested ball winners. I guess that could be a combination of things:

> a vote of confidence in Parker, Hewett, Rowbottom and maybe even JPK, Heeney and Mills - and Ollie

> changing game style - it seems we are less focused on being a contested ball winning side than once upon a time

> factoring in that Campbell and Goulden can win contested ball and are coming?

> confidence that we can get another inside mid further back in the draft

> the silk that Stephens possesses is rarer and harder to get than grunt?

(I still think we might have bid on Green if we knew we would get him.)

Anyway, that was fun, but tomorrow is probably a bigger night for us with three players (at least) likely to be coming in the door (a fourth might be an upgrade of Bell).

First issue is: should we trade up? I think we will get decent players with the picks we have but might be worth trading up if we could get Port's next pick and we want Dev Robertson who would give us ball winning and character and leadership (perhaps with some go-home factor). How much would we have to pay? I would pay picks 25 & 44 in a heartbeat for Robertson and would consider 25 & 32.

Failing that, I think we have 6th pick tomorrow although a bid for Maginness should come and push us back one and possibly another for Mead. Players left apart from Mead and Maginness of interest include:

1. Robertson
2. Bianco
3. Rantall
4. Gould
5. Schoenberg
6. Worrell
7. Rivers

(not necessarily in that order)

If we can't get Robertson, I'd love Schoenberg to complement Rowbottom and Hewett as an inside mid going forward. Interesting that Philp, Dow and Cooper Stephens all gone ahead of schedule.


For our third pick there are players like: Williams, Taheny, Taylor are all notable sliders and others like Jones, Rivers and Ralphsmith. Maybe we don't need to trade up?

Looking forward to getting two more good players and another decent prospect. Suprisingly pleased with Stephens.

I think we take at least one tall defender as a part of our remaining picks. Mids are all well and good but you have to have balance.

Sent from my ANE-LX2J using Tapatalk

[wolftone57]

AFL phantom draft had him 9 going to Carlton

Two others had him 6. But 9 is not a long way from 5. It is still top 10. So top talent.

Sent from my ANE-LX2J using Tapatalk

[Auntie.Gerald]

It seems difficult to resist not going for Dev Robertson to compliment Stephens and have two genuine midfield leaders of the future

It would probably take 25/32 combined to get It done though given the market would have plenty of buyers for the first pick today at the draft

brisbane would be our only chance though given port adelaide has two picks after port on 22

It really depends on what we had in mind as plan B for our two next picks and or see value at pick 44

If we walk away from the draft with the below players that for me is a good effort at the draft

Stephens
Robertson
Pick 44 a tall or Ruck ?

And add in Ports Speedster Aidyn Johnson from pre season training with us. AJ has some serious speed and one of our very late draft picks could be used at low risk in case his training and off field isn’t up to par in 2020

Plus we have Taylor and Gray already and cover for our Key Pos Defender in Brand

Starting to look like a team that can genuinely compete with flexible footy adjustments when needed ie in speed exiting from contests like a richmond, Bulldogs etc and also potential to transition fast like a gws from the HBF line or slow and controlled like a geelong/hawthorn

Long way to go from 15th on the ladder but our squad is more in alignment with the current rules and need for speed from contests

[Auntie.Gerald]

i couldnt resist

found Trent Cotchins AFL draft video........it is so worth watching as the amount of players names you will hear and see that are still AFL players from this draft is a classic

use of both feet when kicking, hunched over running style and speed from the contests...........Dylan Stephens immediately reminded me of TC who was i think no2 in the draft?

Draft highlights: Cotchin 2007 - richmondfc.com.au

more comparisons to Andrew Gaff though

Stephens is actually in first year of uni and turns 19 in Jan 2020 and played 11 games for Norwood Snrs this year so i suspect he will be very ready for our best 22 like Rowbottom

https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/player/dylan-stephens/

[i'm-uninformed2]

Mate of mine in Adelaide who’s a Norwood fan and goes to games texted on Stephens: think Dylan Shiel but with the ability to kick the footy and willingness to run both ways

[Jimitron5000]

I think there is a lot to like about Stephens! Playing senior SANFL is a big plus and will probably be ready to go round 1.

[Ralph Dawg]

The Stephens pick is considered by most "experts" to be from left field.

But I had a suspicion we were heading down that path for a variety of reasons:

1) Line breaking speed
2) Good disposal
3) Seems very mature and will fit in well. We seem to do well with the SA boys (although he is really country Victoria) - I guess Sydney v Adelaide imho is no contest!
4) We can get a decent inside mid later in the draft but an elite runner with silky skills less likely (look at how Stoddart and Ling are tracking as examples of runners taken later).

I wasn't sold on Flanders. His disposal looked average and the interview where he said he looked up to Toby Greene had me worried.

Tonight I hope we get a solid inside mid and a key defender. If we can get one of Robertson, Gould or Worrell I'll be stoked. Hope we steer clear of Elijah Taylor, really not what we need.

[Markwebbos]

Mate of mine in Adelaide who’s a Norwood fan and goes to games texted on Stephens: think Dylan Shiel but with the ability to kick the footy and willingness to run both ways

That sounds like the perfect player for us

[707]

Reported in the Adelaide paper today that Stephens is the best junior talent out of SANFL club Norwood in more than a decade. Classy, skilful, eye-catching on the outside but a terrific ability to win the ball on the inside. A win for mine????

[jono2707]

Mate of mine in Adelaide who’s a Norwood fan and goes to games texted on Stephens: think Dylan Shiel but with the ability to kick the footy and willingness to run both ways

High praise indeed. If he runs both ways he'll be in the good books with the coaching staff in no time and should be expected to get a good number of matches under his belt in 2020.

[mcs]

Mate of mine in Adelaide who’s a Norwood fan and goes to games texted on Stephens: think Dylan Shiel but with the ability to kick the footy and willingness to run both ways

Hope he is right - just what we need

[Mr Magoo]

The Stephens pick is considered by most "experts" to be from left field.

But I had a suspicion we were heading down that path for a variety of reasons:

1) Line breaking speed
2) Good disposal
3) Seems very mature and will fit in well. We seem to do well with the SA boys (although he is really country Victoria) - I guess Sydney v Adelaide imho is no contest!
4) We can get a decent inside mid later in the draft but an elite runner with silky skills less likely (look at how Stoddart and Ling are tracking as examples of runners taken later).

I wasn't sold on Flanders. His disposal looked average and the interview where he said he looked up to Toby Greene had me worried.

Tonight I hope we get a solid inside mid and a key defender. If we can get one of Robertson, Gould or Worrell I'll be stoked. Hope we steer clear of Elijah Taylor, really not what we need.

Funny on first impressions , when I saw Flanders getting interviewed on trade radio and he had his cap on backwards, I whinced. I thought if the swans academy standards are set from the swans seniors then he's in trouble. Swans academy crucifies their players for caps on backwards . Its a HUGE no no punishable by the Squad being given extra pushups, sprints etc etc . I know hes not to know that but if he was an academy kid they would crucify him for that and he would know never to present himself that way.

Stephens looks like the type they value , more understated , humble etc and probably in the longer term a good offset to Cambpell and Gulden if they are looking to the future.