2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Markwebbos]

When looking for defenders, the recent All Australian defenders were generally taken later on..
Harris Andrews - 61
Tom Stewart - 40
Hurn - 13
Grimes - pre season draft
Houli - 42
McGovern - 44
Rance - 18
Hurley - 5

So, high draft picks on defenders isn't the way to find the top end players.

You may be right about talls, although having a Grundy or even an English would improve the side.

Re: defenders, 3 of the above are first rounders and it looks highly likely Moore (pick 9) and Weitering (pick 1) will be in the AA discussion this year.

We also have a pick 3 inside mid playing in defence for some strange reason and another first rounder being groomed as a lock down defender!

[The Runner]

You may be right about talls, although having a Grundy or even an English would improve the side.

Re: defenders, 3 of the above are first rounders and it looks highly likely Moore (pick 9) and Weitering (pick 1) will be in the AA discussion this year.

We also have a pick 3 inside mid playing in defence for some strange reason and another first rounder being groomed as a lock down defender!

In fairness, Moore was drafted as a forward.

I probably shouldn't have used All Australians as a proxy, as it doesn't equate to premierships.
Midfields of top end draft picks seems to be much more likely to deliver a flag than defenders.

Agree on Mills. The fact we pull the trigger on him when we are in a time of need in a game indicates they see the value of it. They just need to take that punt and ask Gould, Maibaum Fox etc to step up down back.

[Ludwig]

I think we're okay with key defenders since adding Brand and drafting Gould. We also have Aliie, Melican and Maibaum. Barry O'Connor seems to be off to solid start for an International rookie.

We need to plan for the post Franklin era. Reid is injury prone, hence unreliable. McCartin looks to be one long term forward is he can avoid concussions. Blakey's position is unclear, but he's certainly in contention for a key forward role once his body develops. McLean and Amartey are still developing. Amartey could be the key one. I always felt he was worth a 2nd round pick, rather than going in the rookie draft. He's quite versatile, being able to play both forward and the ruck. We just need to see how he goes in the seniors.

I think we should use our 1st round pick for a key forward, if there's one that we like at our pick. The other option would be to trade the pick for a developing key forward. I have suggested Mabior Chol, but he's under contract. Peter Wright is another that several, including myself, have suggested. I'm trying not to mention Daniher for obvious reasons.

[andreww1]

2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

I think we're okay with key defenders since adding Brand and drafting Gould. We also have Aliie, Melican and Maibaum. Barry O'Connor seems to be off to solid start for an International rookie.

We need to plan for the post Franklin era. Reid is injury prone, hence unreliable. McCartin looks to be one long term forward is he can avoid concussions. Blakey's position is unclear, but he's certainly in contention for a key forward role once his body develops. McLean and Amartey are still developing. Amartey could be the key one. I always felt he was worth a 2nd round pick, rather than going in the rookie draft. He's quite versatile, being able to play both forward and the ruck. We just need to see how he goes in the seniors.

I think we should use our 1st round pick for a key forward, if there's one that we like at our pick. The other option would be to trade the pick for a developing key forward. I have suggested Mabior Chol, but he's under contract. Peter Wright is another that several, including myself, have suggested. I'm trying not to mention Daniher for obvious reasons.

I’d be using our first round draft picks for the best young midfielder available. If you look at who we have lost in last few years, plus Kennedy only a year or 2 from giving it away it is the area of most need. If your mids aren’t winning the ball and delivering accurately then forwards will struggle.
Marking fwd would be the next priority.
Then scan the 2nd tier competitions VFL, SANFL, WAFL, to use later round draft picks for some good mature bodies to support the kids.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Aprilbr]

I was watching the St Kilda game last night and they were using Zac Jones as a midfielder and he was instrumental in their centre breaks and clearances. He played really well. Sadly there is one we lost as he was just coming into his prime! He was even hitting targets with most of his kicks. We played him a lot off half back like we are now doing with Mills. My point is that perhaps we can get more value out of Mills by playing him as a midfielder? Sure we will miss his saving marks in defence but we are really being killed in the middle in most games at present.

[The Runner]

I was watching the St Kilda game last night and they were using Zac Jones as a midfielder and he was instrumental in their centre breaks and clearances. He played really well. Sadly there is one we lost as he was just coming into his prime! He was even hitting targets with most of his kicks. We played him a lot off half back like we are now doing with Mills. My point is that perhaps we can get more value out of Mills by playing him as a midfielder? Sure we will miss his saving marks in defence but we are really being killed in the middle in most games at present.

He's been good in their wins but no impact in losses. He's not going to hurt us that much, although developing him for someone else is never ideal.

We need to get over losing Tom Mitchell. Winning a brownlow exaggerates how big of a loss he was. He doesn't win games of footy with his style of play. He is a good clearance player but his stats are not as impactful as some believe.

[barry]

He's been good in their wins but no impact in losses. He's not going to hurt us that much, although developing him for someone else is never ideal.

We need to get over losing Tom Mitchell. Winning a brownlow exaggerates how big of a loss he was. He doesn't win games of footy with his style of play. He is a good clearance player but his stats are not as impactful as some believe.

Tom is coming back from a major injury, so has not recaptured his brownlow form yet, so a bit harsh there.

I have got over losing Tom Mitchell, in that I dont expect we can ever get him back (unless clarko leaves Hawthorn, then who knows?), but I think the process by which he was allowed to go (right back from time in the reserves, to contracts offers, to relationship handling) should be reviewed with an eye to making changes that ensure we dont lose another player that goes on to win a brownlow.

[Ludwig]

I’d be using our first round draft picks for the best young midfielder available.

I'm thinking of Mills and Heeney as midfielders. Along with a host of young players, our midfield looks fine to me. We'll also be adding Campbell and Gulden to the midfield brigade. Let's not forget that we just added Stephens and Warner from the last draft. We have to let these guys come through. We may well have a glut of good midfielders.

[bloodspirit]

Amartey could be the key one. I always felt he was worth a 2nd round pick, rather than going in the rookie draft. He's quite versatile, being able to play both forward and the ruck. We just need to see how he goes in the seniors.

You are, without a doubt, Amartey's greatest fan on RWO. Your loyalty towards your favourites shines brightly. When he fulfils his destiny you may be rightfully proud.

[bloodspirit]

Fair points bloodspirit- some good players there. However, from that group only Paps is a star and he is from 2015.

Thank you. And, as regards Papley, I don't think it's a coincidence that he is the star. He is the oldest of all those players (not only was he drafted in 2015 he was already a mature ager then) and generally the prime of a player's career is not their first year or two (Alex Johnson being a notable exception only because he basically never got to play again). The next biggest 'star' (the other one selected for the 'All Stars' team earlier this year) is Mills, and he is the second oldest player there. So let's give the rest time to develop, especially the taller players who, convention has it, take longer.

To win a flag we need at least 6 players with his energy and ability and another 16 above average. This is hard to achieve but we’ve done it before with a combination of smart trading and draft picks. Our current team has the required stars but half are out injured and the rest are bang average at best. I love our guys and know they are trying their best, but I’m just not sure if their skills are good enough.

I think having a 22 comprised entirely of above average AFL players is a big ask and I'm not sure we've ever achieved it. If you look at our last flag winning team it contained players who would not be called above average but they all gave their all: Morton, Bird, Pyke, and even Reid, Mattner and Grundy (at that time - he improved later) could not be called better than average players in my view. None of those players were All Australian ever in their careers (so far in Reid's case).

[Ludwig]

You are, without a doubt, Amartey's greatest fan on RWO. Your loyalty towards your favourites shines brightly. When he fulfils his destiny you may be rightfully proud.

I am a fan, but more of a hopeful fan, because he can fill such an crucial role for us if he works out well. I'm not as confident in Amartey as I was in some past favourites, like Lloyd and Hewett. And sometimes they don't come around like you think they should, e.g. Ronke.

I'm still upset about Abe Davis. He had a lot of talent. It just shows that talent isn't everything. Amartey has a lot of talent as well. He needs a better run with injuries and push for selection. He has a good opportunity this year to show his stuff.

[707]

With pick 2,3,4 or whatever it ends up, we must take the best midfielder who hopefully has some speed away from stoppages. This is not a pick to be spent on a KPF who often end up ordinary players despite their high draft position.

Best mid, no other thought!

Abe Davis playing good footy for my local team South Adelaide.

[dimelb]

I am a fan, but more of a hopeful fan, because he can fill such an crucial role for us if he works out well. I'm not as confident in Amartey as I was in some past favourites, like Lloyd and Hewett. And sometimes they don't come around like you think they should, e.g. Ronke.

I'm still upset about Abe Davis. He had a lot of talent. It just shows that talent isn't everything. Amartey has a lot of talent as well. He needs a better run with injuries and push for selection. He has a good opportunity this year to show his stuff.

I've long thought that if Amartey could learn to kick straight he'd be a very valuable player.

[Ludwig]

With pick 2,3,4 or whatever it ends up, we must take the best midfielder who hopefully has some speed away from stoppages. This is not a pick to be spent on a KPF who often end up ordinary players despite their high draft position.

Best mid, no other thought!

Abe Davis playing good footy for my local team South Adelaide.

I don't think Campbell will go in the top 5, so our 1st pick will be from the open pool. That means that our remaining picks will be used to match bids on Campbell and Gulden, so those will be the 2 midfielders we know we are getting in the draft.

We've been drafting midfielders like crazy, but so many on RWO don't like the one's we've drafted. What's to say the one's we take in this draft will fare any better. Personally, I'm okay with the one's we've drafted.

Miss Abe Davis.

[Mr Magoo]

I don't think Campbell will go in the top 5, so our 1st pick will be from the open pool. That means that our remaining picks will be used to match bids on Campbell and Gulden, so those will be the 2 midfielders we know we are getting in the draft.

We've been drafting midfielders like crazy, but so many on RWO don't like the one's we've drafted. What's to say the one's we take in this draft will fare any better. Personally, I'm okay with the one's we've drafted.

Miss Abe Davis.

If we want someone with speed from stoppages then Campbell provides that. Over 20 metres he is sub 3 .

The thing is that there may not be the normal number of picks in the draft. If they do reduce list sizes I wouldnt be suprised if clubs will only be obligated to take one or two picks at most and with so many highly considered players tied to academies or father/son, the swans may just go for Campbell and Gulden in the draft and thats it.

If the TAC cup and the national carnivals get raised to under 17 and under 19 level which I think is becoming a higher chance as the AFL remain silent and the pandemic does not abate in Victoria where 50% of draftess come from , they will get a better opportunity to look at the same set of boys in the following year.