2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[bloodspirit]

Article about Ben Mathews returning to the club: https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/833576/mathews-returns-to-sydney. Along with Stevie J (forward line coach), Tadgh Kennelly (midfield?), John Blakey (backline coach), Stuey Maxfield (opposition analyst) and Lloyd Perris (development & reserves) departing and the arrival of Don Pyke, this seems to finalise our coaching structure for 2021. So we are left with:

Head Coach: John Longmire
Assistant Coaches: Dean Cox, Don Pyke, Ben Mathews & Jarrad McVeigh (unclear what they will each be responsible for at this stage).
Reserves: Laidler (stepping up into the new reserves comp)
Head of Welfare and Development: Brett Kirk

It's a leaner coaching outfit but quality and a good mix of fresh blood and club stalwarts. I think the departure of Blakey in particular means slightly greater responsibility and oversight necessary for Horse.

[707]

I thought his comments on Paddy were luke warm. He was asked if Paddy had a medical with us and just brushed over it. He was more bullish on Hickey. I suspect he will come to us. Nothing else was mentioned about possible trades. Watson rattled on about Daniher and Papley from last year.

What was more relevant was his comments on Buddy, Heeney and Rampe. Buddy is in the gym working on strengthening before hitting the track soon, Rampe is fine and into his pre season running and Heeney is coming along nicely.

Those three would be nice best 22 recruits to add to our promising young team :-)

Paddy McCartin will only cost us salary, we can add him basically any time we want as a DFA. We may already have something agreed but it won't happen until after the draft.

List sizes are a real headache for teams, we in particular might be wanting to add some cheap late picks for points but for every pick we need a senior vacancy.

[bloodspirit]

It seems we made a play for Ladhams, without success: https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/11/08/swans-provide-update-on-aliir-mccartin-hickey-and-ladhams/ (with link to audio). Here are excerpts: https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/834365/trade-period-tom-harley-key-quotes. Harley has said:

* likely to keep Aliir
* did we ask questions about Ladhams? - "we've asked a lot of questions of a lot of people"
* seems that we dropped off Daniher as much as he dropped off us
* we're clearly interested in Tom Hickey ("he can add something to the squad" - want to "put some support in there" - but, he's contracted)
* how did we turn the Papley situation around? - "all of the credit goes to Tom [Papley] and John Longmire... we dug our heels in..." - claims not to know whether Papley was approached again by Carlton this year - plausible because the approaches could have been made to Papley via his manager rather than via the Swans.

[MattW]

I thought his comments on Paddy were luke warm. He was asked if Paddy had a medical with us and just brushed over it. He was more bullish on Hickey. I suspect he will come to us. Nothing else was mentioned about possible trades. Watson rattled on about Daniher and Papley from last year.

What was more relevant was his comments on Buddy, Heeney and Rampe. Buddy is in the gym working on strengthening before hitting the track soon, Rampe is fine and into his pre season running and Heeney is coming along nicely.

Thanks Nico, I haven't had a chance to listen yet and was just going by the tweet.

[Markwebbos]

Mitch Cleary reporting: "Keep an eye on the Aliir Aliir deal, I think it could still move between Sydney and Port Adelaide"

https://www.afl.com.au/trade/trade-talk

Does that mean Allir for Ladhams or that they'll give us a pick for AA, which we'll give to the Weagles for Hickey?

[Melbourne_Blood]

Mitch Cleary reporting: "Keep an eye on the Aliir Aliir deal, I think it could still move between Sydney and Port Adelaide"

https://www.afl.com.au/trade/trade-talk

Does that mean Allir for Ladhams or that they'll give us a pick for AA, which we'll give to the Weagles for Hickey?

I don’t think I’d be too happy with essentially a straight swap of AA for Hickey, we’d have to get something else back from the eagles in that case.


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[Markwebbos]

I don’t think I’d be too happy with essentially a straight swap of AA for Hickey, we’d have to get something else back from the eagles in that case.

I agree. Effectively trading a 26 year old for a 29 year old feels like a backward step, so I hope Ladhams or Hayes is coming our way in exchange for AA...

[Ludwig]

There was a part of Harley's interview that I thought was most relevant regarding our current position in trade week. Harley commented about the uncertainty of list sizes, both currently and going forward, and how that presents difficulties in determining how to forward in this post season period. He was quite vague, but I think we would prefer to leave the trade decisions until that's resolved, with some hope that it will come before the trade deadline. Further player signings and delistings will also wait for some resolution and guidance in this area.

A lot of clubs seem to be moving along regardless of the lack of list size information, although with 4 days left, there hasn't been much player movement to this point.

Harley confirmed what Gardiner and others have said in that our list is currently at a stage of improvement through internal development rather than strengthening the list through recruiting.

Those who are looking for more activity on the trade front are likely to be disappointed. I can only see Aliir going if it involves a trade for a ruckman, like Ladhams or Hayes, not for picks. Aliir is contracted and may not be all that interested in going to Adelaide in any case. So there are hurdles to jump on both sides of this potential trade.

[waswan]

Would keep Alir
Pick 3 for Ladhams and Port 2021 1st Rounder

[rb4x]

Dodo has said that the bombers are working on a tentative list size of 44 all up including Cat A and Cat B rookies with a senior list max of 38. I am speculating that would mean 4 Cat A rookies and 2 Cat B rookies as I recall seeing that somewhere a while ago.

[Syd76]

Article about Ben Mathews returning to the club: https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/833576/mathews-returns-to-sydney. Along with Stevie J (forward line coach), Tadgh Kennelly (midfield?), John Blakey (backline coach), Stuey Maxfield (opposition analyst) and Lloyd Perris (development & reserves) departing and the arrival of Don Pyke, this seems to finalise our coaching structure for 2021. So we are left with:

Head Coach: John Longmire
Assistant Coaches: Dean Cox, Don Pyke, Ben Mathews & Jarrad McVeigh (unclear what they will each be responsible for at this stage).
Reserves: Laidler (stepping up into the new reserves comp)
Head of Welfare and Development: Brett Kirk

It's a leaner coaching outfit but quality and a good mix of fresh blood and club stalwarts. I think the departure of Blakey in particular means slightly greater responsibility and oversight necessary for Horse.

Mostly agree, BUT Dennis Carroll is a big loss.. a great Sydney person and a thorough gentleman at that

[Markwebbos]

Allegedly Port may offer pick 29 for AA. I assume we’d offer less than that for Hickey?

[Aprilbr]

I can't see why we would trade AA for 29 when he is still under contract and a required player?

[waswan]

If Alir goes for 29 we should add KB to the list of departures

[Syd76]

AA is not going to ... Pick 29 will turn into pick 35/36 with NGA's and F/S. There is a snowflake's chance in hell that KB would do that