2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[MattW]

Former No.1 pick “still in the mix” to receive AFL lifeline

Seems Paddy McCartin's spot on the list is far from a sure thing. He is still 'in the mix'.

There's an interview with Longmire (yesterday morning) included in this article. He talks about McCartin but covers a few other topic. Unsurprisingly, he refers to Sheldrick as 'a competitor'.

Haha - yep. Also cagier re Paddy McCartin than Kinnear.

[Ludwig]

I spoke to Paddy and he told me he is definitely going to be added to the list in the SSP period, and that's why he skipped the ND. He also said he expects to be playing down back.

Just wondering if this is the same source that guaranteed that Jordan Dawson was staying with the Swans.

I do feel that Paddy will join our list. The cards are falling into place.

I wish we had a more reliable 3rd party player information source. Draft Guru gets close, but not quite right. I like Footywire, but their info is often wrong.

I'm feeling more an more confident with our draft picks. Chris Doerre gave us an A rating. He really rates Sheldrick and so do I. I checked some of the June and July player rankings and Roberts was #4 with Chris Doerre and in the top 5 with others, so I don't give much credence to his fall down the pecking order for anything other than his syndesmosis injury. He should be a quality player. I can see Corey Warner eventually taking over for Harry Cunningham as a lock down defender. He has the tools to do the job.

[bloodspirit]

Just wondering if this is the same source that guaranteed that Jordan Dawson was staying with the Swans.

I do feel that Paddy will join our list. The cards are falling into place.

I wish we had a more reliable 3rd party player information source. Draft Guru gets close, but not quite right. I like Footywire, but their info is often wrong.

I'm feeling more an more confident with our draft picks. Chris Doerre gave us an A rating. He really rates Sheldrick and so do I. I checked some of the June and July player rankings and Roberts was #4 with Chris Doerre and in the top 5 with others, so I don't give much credence to his fall down the pecking order for anything other than his syndesmosis injury. He should be a quality player. I can see Corey Warner eventually taking over for Harry Cunningham as a lock down defender. He has the tools to do the job.

Paddy never said anything to me about Dawson, and I never reported any intel about Dawson from any other source either.

Doerre wound up having Roberts outside his final top 20 draft rankings injury or no. He felt Roberts didn’t have enough impact in the games against SA and wasn't damaging enough with his ball use. That said I think that Roberts' selection was a clear case of us taking the best player available.

I'm feeling a bit for Roberts at the moment. He must have had very mixed feelings on draft night given he slid as far as he did after going on record to say he wanted to be picked as high as possible. He's been drafted interstate to a city he's visited once in his life and to a club where he doesn't know anyone. So far the coaches haven't really spoken to him about what they want from him. I look forward to the club wrapping their arms around him and him settling in.

I'm much less concerned about the other draftees, mostly because of their different personalities but also Corey's got Chad plus those 4 WA guys are having a bit of small group bonding time now and forming a team within a team, which will help them when they join the main group.

I like your suggestion about Warner one day being a lockdown defender. He's got the competitiveness and toughness to do the job and the athleticism to offer a bit coming out of defence too. Meanwhile I think a player like JMac is a better fit for the wing position, Corey's alternative mooted role.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Roberts is a wonderfully composed mid in traffic which is a special talent and he certainly has a lovely kick which looked very obvious when playing HFF.

He is more active and involved than I expected when I watched him play for SA vs WA.

He reminds me of a Robert Harvey or Dawson style of player where everything looks in slow motion and they have alot of time.

But he appears to not have the exit speed from contests of the modern day mid. Yet nor did Chad Warner in the footage I watched prior to drafting. Then in 2021 Chad looked like he doubled his exit speed from contests

Look forward to watching his development.

[Roadrunner]

Roberts is a wonderfully composed mid in traffic which is a special talent and he certainly has a lovely kick which looked very obvious when playing HFF.

He is more active and involved than I expected when I watched him play for SA vs WA.

He reminds me of a Robert Harvey or Dawson style of player where everything looks in slow motion and they have alot of time.

But he appears to not have the exit speed from contests of the modern day mid. Yet nor did Chad Warner in the footage I watched prior to drafting. Then in 2021 Chad looked like he doubled his exit speed from contests

Look forward to watching his development.

This could be our most productive draft haul in many years. All our picks have heaps of potential and midfield is where most games are won, so KB and team have done a great job imo- I’m confident that all these lads will make a contribution. Of course we still have a need for talls but I’m expecting a lot from Ladhams both in the ruck and up forward. Big Tom needs a partner and has to be managed re his workload. Our only weakness seems to be in defence and I wonder what the coaches are going to come up with; however a strong midfield will help reduce the pressure.

Maybe this is the reason Horse wants more time in the middle for Isaac?

[707]

I posted something like this on draft night but to repeat - I watched Roberts play for South Adelaide seniors on a number of occasions this year, he's a very good footballer who is a great pick up in the 30's, looked to be a very good kick which is a must and plenty of upside. Will be a favourite of the coaches.

[bloodspirit]

This could be our most productive draft haul in many years.

That is a massive call given our hauls last year and in 2018! I would rate Logan, Braeden, Errol & Marc as potentially our greatest ever draft haul. Blakey, Rowbottom, McInerney & Wicks is also turning out very well.

In case it's not clear, I'm rapt we drafted Roberts. I think he's the most likely to debut first of our latest draftees. Both he and Sheldrick ooze promise, while Warner and Rankin have potential.

[bloodspirit]

From Inside the draft: The 20 first-round deals that didn't get done (afl.com.au) - fascinating:

While the Giants were on the clock [with their second first round pick that they used to take Alleer], Sydney rang about moving up from pick 18, while Melbourne had offered pick 19 and 39 for the selection and Brisbane was interested with 20 and a future second-round pick. It's likely all had the same idea in mind – snaring defender Darcy Wilmot – and even though the Lions had the next pick (where Wilmot was selected), by purchasing the Giants' selection it would have meant no other club could leapfrog them.

- - - Updated - - -

So, if that's true, we would have preferred Wilmot to Sheldrick. [Not sure any other scenario makes sense - unless we were also interested in Alleer.] Wilmot was possibly a greater need but hopefully Sheldrick will be the better player.

[Mr Magoo]

That is a massive call given our hauls last year and in 2018! I would rate Logan, Braeden, Errol & Marc as potentially our greatest ever draft haul. Blakey, Rowbottom, McInerney & Wicks is also turning out very well.

In case it's not clear, I'm rapt we drafted Roberts. I think he's the most likely to debut first of our latest draftees. Both he and Sheldrick ooze promise, while Warner and Rankin have potential.

Feel like there is a bit of sydney afl parochialism in that call bloodspirit. Reality is that last years draft haul wont really be proven as greatest ever for quite a while yet. While Gulden has definitely shown his colours , McDonald and Campbell just showed promise (albeit some very nice glimpses of class ) and Sheather hasnt even performed at the highest level yet and its not like hes smashing it like say hannaberry did in ressies in his first year.

[Blood Fever]

Feel like there is a bit of sydney afl parochialism in that call bloodspirit. Reality is that last years draft haul wont really be proven as greatest ever for quite a while yet. While Gulden has definitely shown his colours , McDonald and Campbell just showed promise (albeit some very nice glimpses of class ) and Sheather hasnt even performed at the highest level yet and its not like hes smashing it like say hannaberry did in ressies in his first year.

Hanneberry played little or no ressies IIRC

[AB Swannie]

Roberts is a wonderfully composed mid in traffic which is a special talent and he certainly has a lovely kick which looked very obvious when playing HFF.

He is more active and involved than I expected when I watched him play for SA vs WA.

He reminds me of a Robert Harvey or Dawson style of player where everything looks in slow motion and they have alot of time.

But he appears to not have the exit speed from contests of the modern day mid. Yet nor did Chad Warner in the footage I watched prior to drafting. Then in 2021 Chad looked like he doubled his exit speed from contests

Look forward to watching his development.

I’ve watched a couple of the full games between SA and WA. Admittedly, I was conscious of watching for the Swans draftees but I thought both Sheldrick and Roberts were excellent. Despite this, for some reason only the expert phantom drafters know, Roberts dropped quickly down their rankings. Contrastingly, as much as I hate to say it, Corey Warner was only average in these games. It’s a small sample size but I would rate Roberts much higher than the 6 draft picks between him and Warner.

[The Runner]

Hanneberry played little or no ressies IIRC

He was still at school when he debuted

[Ludwig]

So, if that's true, we would have preferred Wilmot to Sheldrick. [Not sure any other scenario makes sense - unless we were also interested in Alleer.] Wilmot was possibly a greater need but hopefully Sheldrick will be the better player.

It seems like a lot of clubs rated Wilmot highly and was much in demand in the last quarter of the first round, pretty much where he was ranked by Twomey. I suppose we were one of those clubs, plus we like going for late December birthday boys.

We ended up with Rankin for that spot instead of Wilmot or Brown. It could turn out for the best in the end, especially if Sheldrick plays like a Lachie Neale.

In any case, I don't feel we have such a great need for a speedy HBF. We have plenty of options already on our list. Blakey has looked great in the role, plus he has the height to intercept mark. I also prefer McInerney in the midfield. He's more offensively minded than a defender, but I'm sure he could be moulded into the role if need be.

Ollie Florent spends a lot of time down back and has become a key part of our rebound. He does well back there. He just falls apart a times when he has to make a play into the forward line.

We will be a bit overloaded with midfielders, so one of the speedy ones will be available to play in a HBF role, like Campbell or Stephens.

I noticed that this draft had so many quick outside players who were purported to be good kicks as well. They're in vogue now and there should be plenty available in future drafts and during the trade periods.

We have a very well balanced list right now.

[Aaron]

AFL confirms rookie rules for SSP, Mid-Season Draft

The AFL has confirmed the eligibility rules for the SSP and Mid-Season Rookie Draft

Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) will take place from Monday January 10 to Wednesday March 9, 2022 while the Mid-Season Rookie Draft is currently scheduled for Wednesday June 1, 2022.

[stevoswan]

Doerre wound up having Roberts outside his final top 20 draft rankings injury or no. He felt Roberts didn’t have enough impact in the games against SA and wasn't damaging enough with his ball use. That said I think that Roberts' selection was a clear case of us taking the best player available.

I'm feeling a bit for Roberts at the moment. He must have had very mixed feelings on draft night given he slid as far as he did after going on record to say he wanted to be picked as high as possible. He's been drafted interstate to a city he's visited once in his life and to a club where he doesn't know anyone. So far the coaches haven't really spoken to him about what they want from him. I look forward to the club wrapping their arms around him and him settling in.

Seems pretty happy here.....don't think we've got too much to be worried about.

Roberts: Over the moon - YouTube