2019 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[jono2707]

Darcy Cameron might be feeling a little uneasy right now, given he hasn't been able to break into the team.

That's exactly what I thought we I saw we picked Knoll. I'd reckon the two of them will play off for one spot on the list next year.

[707]

That's exactly what I thought we I saw we picked Knoll. I'd reckon the two of them will play off for one spot on the list next year.

I know who my money is on! So much upside with Knoll. Naismith is a worry, this year probably a write off.

[Agent 86]

Darcy Cameron might be feeling a little uneasy right now, given he hasn't been able to break into the team.

Hmmm, but we’ve got a hole to fill right now - and Darcy is not ready for it.

Time will tell if the other Sam can overcome the setbacks.

[liz]

Hmmm, but we’ve got a hole to fill right now - and Darcy is not ready for it.

Time will tell if the other Sam can overcome the setbacks.

I don't think we know whether he's ready for it or not. You can't judge a guy based on a single game when the whole team played appallingly. And it was close to a year ago - he went back to the NEAFL and continued to dominate.

I'm not in the camp of thinking the club should play two ruckmen, just to give Darcy an opportunity. Nor do I think Sinclair should be rested, just to give Darcy an opportunity. He'll need to wait until there's an opportunity.

However, the recruitment of Knoll will now reduce the opportunity Darcy has to prove his readiness as he'll be sharing ruck duties in the NEAFL team with Knoll. Fortunately for Darcy, he's quite effective as a tall forward target too, at least at NEAFL level. I have no idea whether Knoll is.

There may also be a small knock-on effect on Amartey, since he's less likely to have a chance to take a spell in the ruck, and also might have to deal with a more crowded forward line. On the other hand, learning to work in tandem with another tall marking option might help him. He's been pretty much a lone wolf up there this year and has had to deal simultaneously with multiple tall defenders at times.

[liz]

Gee, I've just looked at the picture of Knoll on the Swans website. His arms are huuuuuge.

[stevoswan]

How happy did Dunks Snr look when Kyle’s name was called by the Dees?

Wish we had got him just to see the pissed off look on Dad's face......what a bitter twisted soul.

[stevoswan]

Knoll looks a prospect but I'm shocked we got speedster Hirst at 16, he was touted to go top 4 or 5. Great get Swans!

[liz]

Wish we had got him just to see the pissed off look on Dad's face......what a bitter twisted soul.

I didn't think Andrew showed any emotion at all when Melbourne read out Kyle's name. When interviewed afterwards he was clearly happy his son was drafted but didn't give anything away about whether he was happy or otherwise that he'd remained in Melbourne, or which club he'd been selected by. When pushed about who he would barrack for if the two boys ever played against each other, he just said that Kyle had a long way to go yet (but also suggested they might both get traded to the same club).

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I'm not in the camp of thinking the club should play two ruckmen

I appreciate that you aren't in the 2 ruckmen camp Liz - I would have noticed a third resident when I was marking up the van site, putting up the tents, cleaning out the ablutions block, and arranging the evening sing song.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I respectfully disagree with much of what you said after "I don't think we know whether he's (Cameron) ready for it or not. You can't judge a guy based on a single game when the whole team played appallingly."

[Agent 86]

I don't think we know whether he's ready for it or not. You can't judge a guy based on a single game when the whole team played appallingly.

Oops… I agree. My (poorly worded) post was triggered by an earlier comment that Darcy should be worried as he has not been able to break into the side.

I don’t have an opinion on whether he’s ‘ready’ or not - but the MC must have.

[wolftone57]

I don't think we know whether he's ready for it or not. You can't judge a guy based on a single game when the whole team played appallingly. And it was close to a year ago - he went back to the NEAFL and continued to dominate.

I'm not in the camp of thinking the club should play two ruckmen, just to give Darcy an opportunity. Nor do I think Sinclair should be rested, just to give Darcy an opportunity. He'll need to wait until there's an opportunity.

However, the recruitment of Knoll will now reduce the opportunity Darcy has to prove his readiness as he'll be sharing ruck duties in the NEAFL team with Knoll. Fortunately for Darcy, he's quite effective as a tall forward target too, at least at NEAFL level. I have no idea whether Knoll is.

There may also be a small knock-on effect on Amartey, since he's less likely to have a chance to take a spell in the ruck, and also might have to deal with a more crowded forward line. On the other hand, learning to work in tandem with another tall marking option might help him. He's been pretty much a lone wolf up there this year and has had to deal simultaneously with multiple tall defenders at times.

Darcy has served his apprenticeship. He has one problem I think the match committee may be wary of, his lack of aggression.

At the moment, as much as Sinclair tries, he's getting towelked up most weejs. He is not a Ruck man first, he is a forward first. So indeed was Cameron. We have not drafted, traded or animated a real Ruck man since Naismith. This Knoll looks like a Ruckman. So he would be the second if that is the case.

The most important stat in ruck work in not how many taps a Ruck gets but how many are to advantage. Even when Sinclair gets a lot of taps his taps to advantage are very low. He has one of the worst ratios in the AFL. This basically puts a huge stone around every midfielder's neck. They really are at a huge disadvantage.

I know he tries hard but so did Derrickx. Neither would be a premiership Ruckman. We need a real Ruckman for that. I know he has been wonderful for us in the intrum but there comes a time when you have to bite the bullet and look to the future and make sure you have a pair of premiership Ruck men on your books

Sent from my ANE-LX2J using Tapatalk

[Ludwig]

According to Footywire, Cody Hirst is still only 2 years old, so there should be plenty of upside with this kid. Maybe we can save him before he gets a Facebook account.

Cody Hirst

Sydney Swans
Age: 2yr

Games: 0

Born: May 19, 2017

[0918330512]

I wonder, if Kyle Dunkley was willing to wait 6 months, would we have taken him father-son? Could we have taken him FS next draft if we didn’t take him last draft? Also if he didn’t get drafted mid-season, where would he have likely gone in the next draft? Pointless musing.

[bloodspirit]

My thoughts about the mid-season draft...

* the pundits didn't have much of a clue beyond predicting that Deluca and Dunkley would be among the first taken

* it was a good draft for shorter players - it seems there were quite a few sub-180cm players drafted, including Cody Hirst, which is disproportionately many relative to the competition

* the hype around it, while not massive, was overblown. It has to be remembered the players on offer were all players that had been overlooked by every club in the national and rookie drafts just 6 months ago. While it is exciting to get new players into a club any time, the chances of these players making it is lower than usual. Maybe two of the 13 odd players selected will have a decent AFL career.

* after Horse emerged from the fugue that Ludwig left him in following their marathon shisha session he has been gradually regaining his senses and remembering that he is all about ruckmen and can't get enough of them. We are now nearly back to the time when we had a stable of about 7 with Naismith, Sinclair, Cameron, Knoll, Amartey, McLean all plying their trade in the ruck to a greater or lesser degree.

* I think while Hirst is clearly a speculative project pick, Knoll has been picked up both for his potential and for the real possibility that all of Naismith, Sinclair and Cameron could be injured. It is exciting that, despite his age, he is relatively new to footy and has a fair bit of untapped potential which will be husbanded at one of the best ruck nurseries in the galaxy. Also, former basketballers (especially those that grew up playing a bit of footy) have an excellent track record of adapting to AFL, more so even then Gaelic football players.

* while it does up the pressure on Cameron I would think that Cameron has done well enough that he would be the first we turned to if Sinclair went down and Naismith remains unavailable

* for Amartey I think it means that we don't see a future for him as our #1 ruck. If he is ever going to play seniors it is much more likely to be as forward/second ruck

[Markwebbos]

Apparently G Knoll has joined our ruck “department”