2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[111431]

Disagree about recruiting Sier, or any midfielder for that matter.

It's not quite evident now, because we have so many young players, but we really have an excess of midfielders, whether you call them inside, outside, on-ballers, or whatever. It will be hard to keep all the midfielders we want who are presently on our list for lack of spots, which will be even more the case once Campbell and Gulden are added this draft.

The only way to get a handle on this is to go through the list and slot in the players you think will be in our best 22 in 2022. You can even leave out JPK. You will likely find that there are more than just a handful of players you think will be in the 22 but are not. I have at least 10. They include players like Ling, Stoddart, McInerney, Warner, COR, Campbell, Gulden, Wicks, Ronke, just to name a few. There are more. Maybe not everyone rates them as potential best 22, but I think most of them should fight for selection.

What we need most is someone who can play ruck or forward/ruck, like a healthy Daniher, or Peter Wright, or Preuss or Chol. All the other positions are well covered.

I agree with what you say re the ruck Ludwig.

In the case of Sier, he is built like a bull (even bigger than Josh). If we had a bull in the ring feeding it out to our emerging midfielders (who are lightly built) i think we might have a more dynamic combination. My fear with our midfielders is that someone needs to extract the ball and not be pushed aside. Other than Josh, and Parker, i don't see their replacement

[Markwebbos]

We all know that the Swans have been a net loser in recruitment the past few years (Hanners, Jones, Cameron, etc.). Instead of recruiting players from other clubs, for whatever reason, we have gone to the draft. My oft repeated reason, I believe, was to transition the team to one with more speed and skills. If we now go out and recruit midfielders from other clubs we undermine the development of those players we drafted by not doing exactly that. It would be a reversal of policy without first seeing the effectiveness of the current policy. Flip-flopping like that really doesn't accomplish anything. For better or worse, we have to see the current program through. In a few years we can step back and evaluate what we've done and pass judgment.

I don't agree. They aren't mutually exclusive. We didn't nullify our policy of recruiting from other clubs by going to the draft and we won't be "reversing" our draft heavy policy by bringing in the right players from other clubs. It needn't be flopping, it can be smart recruiting. I do agree that for whatever reason we haven't had much success recently with bringing in the right players, however that doesn't mean it was the wrong policy, just poor execution. Drafting is not an exact process, its hit and miss. There's no reason why we shouldn't complement our drafting with traded players and free agents.

I can see a number of positions, that would improve the development of our young players, for example a reliable ruckman for our midfield group; getting Buddy back (after so long out he'll be like a new recruit) for our young forwards etc. One of the things that also may have been lost with the retirement of Macca etc is their on field coaching.

Its a hypothetical, but if we could get a fit Daniher for nothing, I don't think that would hold our side back...

I don't know if Sier is the answer. It definitely helps young players to watch older better players and learn from them. If we could trade in an elite midfielder with pick 2 (not saying we will), it would potentially do more for the groups development than not.

[707]

An elite mature midfielder would A - want to come to us and B - take a very big chunk of TPP which we probably don't have.

Stay the course, add a potential elite player with pick 2, Campbell who looks very good and Gulden who may be better than the "also ran" tag he seems to be labelled with behind Campbell. These three this year will top off an already very promising young list, add mature player/s as needed next year.

We need a ruckman but not sure where we'll find one.

[Markwebbos]

We need a ruckman but not sure where we'll find one.

Punt Rd apparently

[TheBloods]

Sier is an example of someone who's a bit bigger, more mature sized. We only need one, maybe 2 of his sort (Hately, Caldwell, Wills, Drew, Constable are a few others). In terms of who would go out, Clarke is the obvious, maybe Bell. Wicks will play predominantly in the forward line, as will Paps once our troops come back. Mills has his papers stamped as a back, likewise Heeney at half forward.

I'm not advocating wholesale change. All long term plans require some tweaking along the way.

Btw I thought Sier was pretty good. Could stand in a tackle, get a handpass away. But that's all a matter of opinion.

I would think it's a premature reaction to Kennedy and Hewett's absence. With those guys out, of course there's a lack of big bodies in there. Take two of your three best mids away and any midfield group will struggle. But Rowbottom won't be 19 forever, and Parker will be all the better for having those guys around him again. That's a strong enough inside contingent.

My major concern is where our next superstar comes from. I don't see one on the list. Sier sure as heck wouldn't fix that problem.

[Ralph Dawg]

Just to remind everyone:

OFF CONTRACT 2020
Joel Amartey, James Bell, Kaiden Brand, Zac Foot, Robbie Fox, George Hewett, Josh P. Kennedy, Michael Knoll, Matthew Ling, Hayden McLean, Lewis Melican, Barry O'Connor, Ben Ronke, Ryley Stoddart, Samuel Wicks

[Mel_C]

What we need most is someone who can play ruck or forward/ruck, like a healthy Daniher, or Peter Wright, or Preuss or Chol. All the other positions are well covered.

After seeing the footage of Chol being inappropriately touched by his teammates we should have a quiet word to him.

[AB Swannie]

I like Sier but any mention of using pick 2 as part of that deal is crazy. Same with Mabior Chol.

I think we take pick 2, Campbell, and Gulden. If we do any trading this year it will involve our 2021 picks.

[waswan]

Pick 2 should be for the best mid available, and should be in our mids Round one, end of story.

Draft mids buy Key position players.

Put 5kgs on Blakey, give him a tank and start turning him into a midfielder, we are at a turning point for him.

[MattW]

After seeing the footage of Chol being inappropriately touched by his teammates we should have a quiet word to him.

Disgusting behaviour.

[Nico]

We all know that the Swans have been a net loser in recruitment the past few years (Hanners, Jones, Cameron, etc.). Instead of recruiting players from other clubs, for whatever reason, we have gone to the draft. My oft repeated reason, I believe, was to transition the team to one with more speed and skills. If we now go out and recruit midfielders from other clubs we undermine the development of those players we drafted by not doing exactly that. It would be a reversal of policy without first seeing the effectiveness of the current policy. Flip-flopping like that really doesn't accomplish anything. For better or worse, we have to see the current program through. In a few years we can step back and evaluate what we've done and pass judgment.

With all young footballers our boys need: maturity both body and mind, learning the game, learning where to place themselves at stoppages, learning where and when to run to space, read the play and fall of the ball, and above all more games under their belt. We also over handball through the midfield at times when it isn't necessary and delay going forward. On Saturday's effort we don't lack endevour. Taylor got himself into the game but at times but wasn't clear to take a handball. He has enormous pace and was much harder at the ball last night. Bell is improving with game time and Stephens looks a natural and appears better each game. Ludwig is spot on; give it time.

At some point, and hopefully this season, it will all click. Maybe this will happen when Buddy returns.

[Nico]

Disgusting behaviour.

School boy bully stuff. I suspect they singled him out as other players wouldn't tolerate that immaturity. Big bodied but small minded people. Pure and simple sexual harassment.

[cherub]

School boy bully stuff. I suspect they singled him out as other players wouldn't tolerate that immaturity. Big bodied but small minded people. Pure and simple sexual harassment.

Unbelievable that this would happen in this day and age. And it seems that it had happened earlier, as Chol approaches the circle protecting his genitals. I only saw Richmond's No1 harassing Chol, but really the 2 offenders should be suspended by the club.

[Markwebbos]

Not condoning it, but it wasn't Chol who complained and according to AFL (who we of course trust for their hard-hitting journalism). Chol said he took no offence and had "no issue whatsoever with those players, or any of my teammates".

[MattW]

Not condoning it, but it wasn't Chol who complained and according to AFL (who we of course trust for their hard-hitting journalism). Chol said he took no offence and had "no issue whatsoever with those players, or any of my teammates".

Yes, that quote is in the the club's press release, but he didn't look comfortable with it while it was going on, did he?