2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[S.S. Bleeder]

Now that you mention it, it does seem that the male sports bra is now out of fashion. Thankfully. I never quite understood its existence?

I think you’ll find it’s called the Bro.

They wear it for the GPS tracker. Maybe they e tucked it into their undies this year?

[Jimitron5000]

I have this horrible, dreadful feeling that if McDonald is available and we let him go, then it will be like Richmond not selecting Buddy all those years ago.

[Thunder Shaker]

Looks like we will have two top 10 players along with a potentially top 20 player. I can't recall the last time (if ever) we have had three picks in the first 20.

1998: 3 Nic Fosdike (164 games), 4 Ryan Fitzgerald (10), 8 Jude Bolton (325).

[i'm-uninformed2]

1998: 3 Nic Fosdike (164 games), 4 Ryan Fitzgerald (10), 8 Jude Bolton (325).

We did VERY well from that draft. Fossie was one of the BOG in the 05 GF so that alone makes it worthwhile, Jude was Jude and Fitz was a terrific player only cruelled by injuries. Plus, the rest of the draft was very weak (bar maybe Embley and Lenny Hayes).

Where we did very well was the players from that draft we picked up a few years later: Nick Davis and Craig Bolton.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

[Velour&Ruffles]

I think you’ll find it’s called the Bro.

They wear it for the GPS tracker. Maybe they e tucked it into their undies this year?

It's not the Bro, it's the Manssiere!

[Captain]

1998: 3 Nic Fosdike (164 games), 4 Ryan Fitzgerald (10), 8 Jude Bolton (325).

Thanks for that.

Fosdike and Bolton were big parts in getting us the 05 cup.

[AB Swannie]

I have this horrible, dreadful feeling that if McDonald is available and we let him go, then it will be like Richmond not selecting Buddy all those years ago.

Possibly but it is a pretty pessimistic way of looking at things. Odds are that, in hindsight, there will be a better performed player taken later in the draft than the one we pick. I, for one, have faith.

[Mr Magoo]

Possibly but it is a pretty pessimistic way of looking at things. Odds are that, in hindsight, there will be a better performed player taken later in the draft than the one we pick. I, for one, have faith.

I think there is good reason to be pesimistic this year. With so little football, particularly in Victoria but also at a representative level across other states , much of the draft selections have been done without seen performances at that next level. This will over time provide some pretty skewed draft results in my view. I cannot be convinced that what you see out of a player at a training camp can in any way reflect what someone is capable of (or not) in a game. Time will tell I guess but I wouldnt be banking on this being a gem of a draft. Swans are probably lucky in that Gulden and Campbell have been pretty much on the radar and have produced whenever they needed to so no mysteries but I wouldnt like to be otherwise building my future around this draft.

[Rod_]

1998: 3 Nic Fosdike (164 games), 4 Ryan Fitzgerald (10), 8 Jude Bolton (325).

And we let Lenny Hayes pass to get the above.

Is it likely we would let Campbell or Gulden go, to get a better option (Eg Phillips or ?? )

[Mr Magoo]

And we let Lenny Hayes pass to get the above.

Is it likely we would let Campbell or Gulden go, to get a better option (Eg Phillips or ?? )

Nope - they are locked and loaded. With the current year , how would anyone know if Phillips was a better option. At least with Campbell and Gulden you have known quantities. From what Ive seen at junior rep levels there really isnt that much seperating the guys considered top twenty to the next fifty in line. Hence why you will often see some pretty good guys come from later in the draft or even from rookie.

[AB Swannie]

I think there is good reason to be pesimistic this year. With so little football, particularly in Victoria but also at a representative level across other states , much of the draft selections have been done without seen performances at that next level. This will over time provide some pretty skewed draft results in my view. I cannot be convinced that what you see out of a player at a training camp can in any way reflect what someone is capable of (or not) in a game. Time will tell I guess but I wouldnt be banking on this being a gem of a draft. Swans are probably lucky in that Gulden and Campbell have been pretty much on the radar and have produced whenever they needed to so no mysteries but I wouldnt like to be otherwise building my future around this draft.

I agree that this draft is riskier than previous ones. My point is that, there is no point in any of us suggesting in hindsight that we got it wrong because that it pretty likely for every club. To liken our non-selection of Logan McDonald (if that actually happens) to Richmond's non-selection of Buddy is a pretty big stretch.

[Thunder Shaker]

Nope - they are locked and loaded. With the current year , how would anyone know if Phillips was a better option. At least with Campbell and Gulden you have known quantities. From what Ive seen at junior rep levels there really isnt that much seperating the guys considered top twenty to the next fifty in line. Hence why you will often see some pretty good guys come from later in the draft or even from rookie.

Yes, this year's draft is going to be more like a lucky dip than sound recruiting based on players' performances in the draft year.

Will we get the best player available at our pick? The chances are, we will pass over a better player. However, such assessments cannot be made at the time of the draft, but can only be seen in hindsight. It's best not to fret over what might be, and just hope we get it right.

We will end up drafting at pick 4. We don't have a good record on the few occasions we've had pick 4, but all of those were in the first 15 drafts when drafting was still hit and miss. I'm hoping we will put the pick 4 curse behind us and get a good player who plays 250 games or more. The last time we had pick 4, the player we drafted played 10 games for Sydney and 18 games total (Ryan Fitzgerald, 1998).

[barry]

Yes, this year's draft is going to be more like a lucky dip than sound recruiting based on players' performances in the draft year.

This could actually be the draft where order is most accurate. Because the selections will be based more on scientific analysis (combine test, psych tests, interviews) rather than catching them on a good or bad day out on the field, and the subjective analysis of watching a game, and translating that to 5 years into the future when they should be at AFL functioning level.

[Mr Magoo]

This could actually be the draft where order is most accurate. Because the selections will be based more on scientific analysis (combine test, psych tests, interviews) rather than catching them on a good or bad day out on the field, and the subjective analysis of watching a game, and translating that to 5 years into the future when they should be at AFL functioning level.

What your also likely to get is someone with a good underlying cv with no ability to deliver on the pitch under pressure.

[barry]

2020 is going to spawn an armada of psychological PhD papers.