2019 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Agent 86]

She is kinda right, and the swans took full advantage as they should.

Kinda right - but kinda wrong as well. She's just thinking about Richmond.

"The young indigenous kid…" comment with the laugh made me sick. (& at 27, he's not exactly a "kid")

Plus, aren't the rules that the players have to have previously nominated for the draft & been overlooked? So they had the chance to stash these players back then.

[Meg]

‘With Sam Naismith injured, the Swans' ruck stocks are thin behind Callum Sinclair though Knoll's aim this season is just to learn.

"I've only had a brief chat to the guys at Sydney. I don't know where I stand," Knoll said. "For me, it's about developing my game. I'd love to play AFL footy but everywhere I'm playing I want to give 100 per cent and get better."’

From Hoop dreams to late AFL draftee The Swans' mid-season recruit once played against Australia's NBA star Ben Simmons.

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/sydney-swans/hoop-dreams-to-afl-draftee-swans-recruit-faced-off-with-nba-s-simmons-20190528-p51s2t.html?btis

[111431]

What has gone wrong with Darcy Cameron? The Swans extended him early on, and yet he's only ever played that one disastrous game. He's big enough, has allegedly a huge tank, can mark and kick goals. So why doesn't he ever get a game?

he looks too slow around the ground

[sprite]

he looks too slow around the ground

If he looks slow, then Sammy must look like Usain Bolt

[MattW]

‘With Sam Naismith injured, the Swans' ruck stocks are thin behind Callum Sinclair though Knoll's aim this season is just to learn.

"I've only had a brief chat to the guys at Sydney. I don't know where I stand," Knoll said. "For me, it's about developing my game. I'd love to play AFL footy but everywhere I'm playing I want to give 100 per cent and get better."’

From Hoop dreams to late AFL draftee The Swans' mid-season recruit once played against Australia's NBA star Ben Simmons.
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/sydney-swa...1s2t.html?btis

Good piece by Andrew.

[Agent 86]

Or possibly underrated. . . . IMO

Haha! Shame about that missing "like" button

[707]

Haha, yes. Caroline Wilson says the mid-season draft was ‘ridiculous’

It was ridiculous if you look at the reason the AFL gave for reintroducing it. That was to allow clubs to find a replacement for a gap created in their list by unforeseen injuries.

But clubs will always find a way to maximise any situation, look at Swans and Essendon asking the AFL if they could use F/S & NGA! So what we saw happen was of course clubs using their pick to get in a likely player early and avoid having to use a ND pick later. A lot less competition in this draft than later in the year as well with not all clubs having picks.

It may just be that Knoll would have been the best ruck available in the ND, if that's the case then he would have needed a reasonably valuable pick to beat other teams. By getting him now we have saved using a ND pick, it's a free hit. I saw some commentary that said Kyle Dunkley on current form would have been a second/third rounder, Dees got him for free.

How many of the players picked on Monday night will fulfill the AFL's stated reason for the Mid Season draft? Probably only two or three, Deluca should play (this week!) for Carlton, Pickett a good chance with Richmond once his finger heals.

So Caroline is correct, but I'm happy we used two picks to get an early shot without burning valuable ND picks.

[rb4x]

Gardner is playing for the dogs

[liz]

It was ridiculous if you look at the reason the AFL gave for reintroducing it. That was to allow clubs to find a replacement for a gap created in their list by unforeseen injuries.

But clubs will always find a way to maximise any situation, look at Swans and Essendon asking the AFL if they could use F/S & NGA! So what we saw happen was of course clubs using their pick to get in a likely player early and avoid having to use a ND pick later. A lot less competition in this draft than later in the year as well with not all clubs having picks.

It may just be that Knoll would have been the best ruck available in the ND, if that's the case then he would have needed a reasonably valuable pick to beat other teams. By getting him now we have saved using a ND pick, it's a free hit. I saw some commentary that said Kyle Dunkley on current form would have been a second/third rounder, Dees got him for free.

How many of the players picked on Monday night will fulfill the AFL's stated reason for the Mid Season draft? Probably only two or three, Deluca should play (this week!) for Carlton, Pickett a good chance with Richmond once his finger heals.

So Caroline is correct, but I'm happy we used two picks to get an early shot without burning valuable ND picks.

I think that argument might be relevant to the Swans' drafting of Hirst, but not that of Knoll. Although Naismith's ongoing absence wasn't the reason the Swans had a couple of spaces available, I think it's legitimate that his setbacks have persuaded the club to go and look at ways to increase the ruck depth for this year. If they'd picked a 19 or 20 year old ruck it's unlikely that person would play this year, particularly with Cameron already in reserve. But it's perfectly conceivable that Knoll could get a game this year given his age, athletic prowess and sheer size.

I do have some sympathy for the state leagues, however. Losing someone holding down an important spot in their side makes things difficult for them. The move to a mid-season draft could be seen as an admission that list sizes are too small to allow clubs to carry sufficient players (quantity and mix) to cover injuries that might arise. So an alternative would be to just increase list sizes for the entire year. Many of the pool from whom these 13 players were drafted (not just those who were but also those in the mix) would have filled the next couple of spots on club lists had they been expanded during the offseason.

However, I suspect the reason for the midseason draft is as much to generate discussion and "excitement" as it is to help clubs cover injuries, and just expanding list sizes wouldn't achieve that.

[707]

Correct, the AFL is all about media exposure and the Mid Season draft created plenty of media coverage for what in reality is picking players 135-150 from last years draft pool.

I've got no doubt Knoll could play for us this year, the guy can play, he's an impressive person and got so much upside in a professional environment.

Loved the fact we cut Essendon's lunch in picking him :-)

[Meg]

However, I suspect the reason for the midseason draft is as much to generate discussion and "excitement" as it is to help clubs cover injuries, and just expanding list sizes wouldn't achieve that.

Yep. And now afl.com.au has started talk of a mid-season trade period (which I would absolutely hate - I need an off season to get used to players, particularly Swans, changing club loyalties).

Here are the suggestions for our mid-season trades:

Trade targets
Rory Atkins: The Adelaide wingman has great speed and endurance, and always seems to find the goals, a valuable asset for a midfielder.

Brayden Sier: Played all four of Collingwood's finals last year but hasn't been seen in 2019. A big-bodied midfielder the Swans need to help Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker.

Lewis Young: The young Bulldog has struggled for opportunities at senior level and would add more depth to the Swans' key defensive stocks following the retirement of Heath Grundy.

On the table
Ben Ronke: The small forward has fallen out of form and favour after his 24-goal debut season last year. A quick pressure forward with goal sense would be attractive to a lot of clubs.

Darcy Cameron: The mature-aged ruckman has dominated the NEAFL over the past three seasons but has only played one senior game. Looks ready to play at a club needing a mobile big man.

James Rose: Played nine games in five seasons so would be better off at another club. A smart small forward with good skills who can also play further up the ground.

——

After the success of the Mid-Season Rookie Draft, our reporters look at the strategy every team might take into a resurrected mid-year trade period Who would your club target in a mid-season trade? - AFL.com.au

[MattW]

Yep. And now afl.com.au has started talk of a mid-season trade period (which I would absolutely hate - I need an off season to get used to players, particularly Swans, changing club loyalties).

Here are the suggestions for our mid-season trades:

Trade targets
Rory Atkins: The Adelaide wingman has great speed and endurance, and always seems to find the goals, a valuable asset for a midfielder.

Brayden Sier: Played all four of Collingwood's finals last year but hasn't been seen in 2019. A big-bodied midfielder the Swans need to help Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker.

Lewis Young: The young Bulldog has struggled for opportunities at senior level and would add more depth to the Swans' key defensive stocks following the retirement of Heath Grundy.

On the table
Ben Ronke: The small forward has fallen out of form and favour after his 24-goal debut season last year. A quick pressure forward with goal sense would be attractive to a lot of clubs.

Darcy Cameron: The mature-aged ruckman has dominated the NEAFL over the past three seasons but has only played one senior game. Looks ready to play at a club needing a mobile big man.

James Rose: Played nine games in five seasons so would be better off at another club. A smart small forward with good skills who can also play further up the ground.

——

After the success of the Mid-Season Rookie Draft, our reporters look at the strategy every team might take into a resurrected mid-year trade period Who would your club target in a mid-season trade? - AFL.com.au

That afl.com.au article on possible trades made in a fictional trade period is peak concoction.

[Markwebbos]

That afl.com.au article on possible trades made in a fictional trade period is peak concoction.

I think the top half is completely made up, although I reckon that all three of Ronke, Rose and Cameron could well not be at the Swans next year.

[bloodspirit]

I think the top half is completely made up, although I reckon that all three of Ronke, Rose and Cameron could well not be at the Swans next year.

I don't think we'll cut Cameron but we might trade him out for a fair price if he's not getting opportunities here and is being offered them elsewhere. I think Rose is every chance of being delisted and possibly picked up by another club (or possibly traded for a meaningless late pick). Ronke is probably more in the Cameron scenario - can't see him being delisted but might be traded out to get better opportunities in return for a pick.

[Mr Magoo]

I don't think we'll cut Cameron but we might trade him out for a fair price if he's not getting opportunities here and is being offered them elsewhere. I think Rose is every chance of being delisted and possibly picked up by another club (or possibly traded for a meaningless late pick). Ronke is probably more in the Cameron scenario - can't see him being delisted but might be traded out to get better opportunities in return for a pick.

Chances of getting "other opportunities" are usually afforded to players in top teams who are sitting in reserves , not players sitting in reserves in a rebuilding bottom four team