2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[stevoswan]

I like Stephens and think he has the potential to become a very good player but must admit I am less confident of that now than when he arrived at the Swans......but can someone tell me why we picked him and not Serong, a life long Swans fan?

Goal of the Year: "You've got every right to be amazed"

Second goal.....that's sheer class.....and he slotted right into the Dockers senior line up from day one and has been consistently good ever since! I understand that this is all in the past and it's probably a question that only KB can answer but why was he not preferred over Stephens? That is a question that is now very relevant.....considering Stephens slow and frankly underwhelming development as a senior prospect and Serong's strong and consistent career start.

[NeonBible]

I like Stephens and think he has the potential to become a very good player but must admit I am less confident of that now than when he arrived at the Swans......but can someone tell me why we picked him and not Serong, a life long Swans fan?

Goal of the Year: "You've got every right to be amazed"

Second goal.....that's sheer class.....and he slotted right into the Dockers senior line up from day one and has been consistently good ever since! I understand that this is all in the past and it's probably a question that only KB can answer but why was he not preferred over Stephens? That is a question that is now very relevant.....considering Stephens slow and frankly underwhelming development as a senior prospect and Serong's strong and consistent career start.

Hi Stevo,

Isn't Serong a beauty? That goal tucked against the boundary line was a "see it to believe it" moment!!

In defence of KB, he seems to go for slow burners.. young boys who are quite raw but have enormous talent.. they won't blow up the stats sheet like Serong, Sam Walsh, Bailey Smith, Zak Butters do.. but they will show promising signs.. get better with every year.. and then be ready to take over the mantle. Think about Florent.. The Chad.. even Stephens.. we don't need them to be prolific or dominant at this stage of their careers! They are the underlings of great champions like Parks and Joey, and an emerging leader in Millsy.. they only need to play their role

I am confident that if and when the time came where we needed to hand over the keys to the midfield to our younger brigade - maybe after Joey retires? Or - God forbid - Parker gets injured - then we will see Florent and Chad and these types step up and start putting in Serong-like performances!! And Stephens would also then have a greater opportunity too! It is the beauty of keeping these great stalwarts around.. we don't have to rush our youngsters into roles that they're not ready for! Or that might see them burn out by the time they are 25, like Cripps!!

CHEER CHEER

[joeykanga]

I have a positive long term outlook for Stephens. As for this point in time, I don't see what Stephens has to complain about. He's been given opportunities to show he belongs in our senior side, and frankly, hasn't performed to the level. He can read the stats. He gets feedback from the coaches. He must know that it's not a problem that he's with the Swans, or any relatively strong club, that's keeping him out of senior footy. What's the point of him leaving for another club when he must realise that he is the one who hasn't taken his opportunities and played to the level when he's had his chances.

Maybe he has an issue with his development at the Swans. He might have a case. The counterpoint being that Covid has created challenges for players coming into the AFL system the past 2 years. He's one of many players with the misfortune of poor timing.

What's the rational way to approach this? How should Stephens weigh up these factors? I think he works out the problems with his development program and gets on with it. He stays with the Swans and works his way into the senior side with consistent performances in whatever kind of game he can get on a weekend.

I don't see why he should feel mistreated and go looking for a better place to work. Stephens seems like a level-headed guy who can put the situation in its proper perspective.

Totally agree with this …if a good system of development and culture exists at a club and the player sees that and is willing and keen to improve and learn which I have no reason to believe otherwise that Stephens is like that..
Some players just take a little longer ..not everyone can take a first or second opportunity
If the synchronicity and effort and belief is there from both sides he’ll stay.
Not everyone runs away when at first they’re disheartened by their results ..plenty stick
it out ..it’s a great quantity to have players like that that do stay after toughing out the
lessons
Gould might be the same although he hasn’t got the opportunities just yet but it doesn’t show theyre on the scrapheap.
I’d rather have some of those that took longer to get there than a team of players that found it easy to get there ..they will really appreciate their journey and add to the finale of the team ..it’s not just about instant hits ..
We have quite a few players that are like that in the team now and have had in the past .
Cunningham is a great example .one of the unsung heroes who took far longer.
And didn’t it take McVeigh a long time to blossom .

[111431]

Totally agree with this …if a good system of development and culture exists at a club and the player sees that and is willing and keen to improve and learn which I have no reason to believe otherwise that Stephens is like that..
Some players just take a little longer ..not everyone can take a first or second opportunity
If the synchronicity and effort and belief is there from both sides he’ll stay.
Not everyone runs away when at first they’re disheartened by their results ..plenty stick
it out ..it’s a great quantity to have players like that that do stay after toughing out the
lessons
Gould might be the same although he hasn’t got the opportunities just yet but it doesn’t show theyre on the scrapheap.
I’d rather have some of those that took longer to get there than a team of players that found it easy to get there ..they will really appreciate their journey and add to the finale of the team ..it’s not just about instant hits ..
We have quite a few players that are like that in the team now and have had in the past .
Cunningham is a great example .one of the unsung heroes who took far longer.
And didn’t it take McVeigh a long time to blossom .

Spot on - there was also a bloke called Goodes who spent a year of learning in the 2's. They tell me he ended up ok

[bloodspirit]

100% Agree

Rumour swirling Freo Longmuir making contact with Mcdonald

Entirely possible, even likely. Probably plenty of others doing the same thing. But too soon to get nervous about it.

[joeykanga]

Spot on - there was also a bloke called Goodes who spent a year of learning in the 2's. They tell me he ended up ok

I didn’t know that as I came along as a swans fan a little later …thank you ..my favourite player ever ..he’s the perfect example

[royboy42]

Im a fan of the kid but if he is that soft that he will look elsewhere for opportunities then good riddance . Blakey Hayward Wicks Melican , i have been hard on all of them but they didnt sulk when they were in the 2s , they sucked it up and got on with the job . At least 2 of them came in and have been great since , we will see with the other 2 but ALL of them did not go running to another club who would take them . Thats the way you should be . Stick by the club that gave you your chance and trust they will get you where you need to get to and if it still doesnt work out THEN you walk

You sure do jump to conclusions quickly, mate.
"Soft"
"Good riddance"
"Sulk"
"Run to another club".
Where do you get all this stuff?
No statement from the kid or his management.
No statement from the club.
And if you're " a fan of the kid', I'd hate to see how you treat a lad that you're NOT a fan of. Oh, hang on .

[gloveski]

Salary cap squeeze could impact top Swans draftee and veteran forward among others


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[Mark26]

Salary cap squeeze could impact top Swans draftee and veteran forward among others


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Nothing to see here. I'm confident we'll re-sign the players we need moving forward.

[caj23]

How is it that teams like the Dogs, Dees and Cats etc. manage to continue adding high price recruits on a seemingly annual basis, while we have to cull best 22 players year after year?

Buddy's deal significantly reduces next year so why would our cap still be a problem? Is it mismanagement by the club? Who are we overpaying to get us in to this mess?

We will never be contenders if we can't retain players we need to keep, GWS and Gold Coast are prime examples of clubs that churn through players and replace them with draftees. It's not sutainable and is a recipie for failure.

If these reports are true then we can probably kiss goodbye most of the progress made this year, lets hope Sam Edmund is off the mark

[Roadrunner]

Levi Casboult delisted by Carlton- would we consider as back-up ruckman, or in defence? Wouldn’t trust him up forward as his goal kicking is worse than Sammy’s but he’s a very good mark. Wouldn’t cost much, I think.

As for Stephens, I can’t see why he would want to leave. His current form doesn’t warrant a permanent spot in a pretty young team so he would be in a similar position everywhere else. As far as his development is concerned, our coaches are quite capable in this regard. His best position? Probably the wing as he is not strong enough as yet for midfield. Let’s hope next year after a full pre-season he can show his undoubted talent.

[Markwebbos]

Sam Edmund explained that the “problem” with Stephens is that as a top-10 pick there is an expectation his new contract in year 3 would be $400k plus. So they are seeing if anyone else wants to take him and his salary expectations on.

We may end up losing him for not that much I suspect

[caj23]

Nobody is paying Stephens $400k +

[liz]

Sam Edmund explained that the “problem” with Stephens is that as a top-10 pick there is an expectation his new contract in year 3 would be $400k plus. So they are seeing if anyone else wants to take him and his salary expectations on.

We may end up losing him for not that much I suspect

Where is this expectation loitering?

[Markwebbos]

Where is this expectation loitering?

I heard it on trade radio

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