2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Roadrunner]

Im not above self improvement and i can take criticism. I am a no frills person and i dont take nonsense and i dont mince my words , i say what i am feeling and it is not meant to cause offense but apparently it does. Im going to have to rethink my wording because all it does is get me in trouble over statements that appear to be more inflammatory than intended !

I am a apretty chuffed swans fan these days , its not lost on me that we are a game clear in the eight ! If i am "angry" with our management or Longmire or Blakey or Rowbottom or Melican or anyone its because i want this club to be successful and i want every one of them to get the best out of themselves ! Maybe i get too frustrated if i think that isnt happening with those people and go off on tangents , maybe thats where instead of accusing me of being a hater and making ridiculous innuendos about personal vendettas i have against players you could just tell me what you disagree with me on and we can have a yarn about it like civil people ! E g. Bangalore and i dont agree on Rowbottom but rather than pass judgment on me for my opinion of him they respectfully disagree and we get on with it and exchange views on things we agree or dont agree on ! Try it you might just realise im not all that bad ! In return i will do my best to be less Angry

I’ve picked on you a bit in the past TB, but I appreciate your above response and am happy you have realised why you have copped the criticisms in the past. Let’s put all that behind us after all we all want the best for our beloved club and want our boys to succeed,

We have a group with great potential but there are gaps to fill- our defence needs another tall as does our forward setup. Tom Hickey is a great surprise in the ruck, but we know we can’t rely on big Sam at this stage, so another ruckman is needed. When will Amartey get a chance to show if he can fill that role?

Regarding Logan- forwards need the most time to develop and it may be 2-3 years until he can impose himself as a key forward. Until then we have Buddy and Mc lean as Reidy’s calf is a problem.

I’m hoping Paddy McCartin is picked up and play a role for us up front- is there anyone else?

[Auntie.Gerald]

RR.........McClean is certainly showing great versatility and between he and Logan, Reid, Sinkers I am guessing that the tall forward who stands in the goal posts and or a straight lead has plenty of depth now........ it maybe hard for Paddy feature in 2021?

McCartin and McCartin in the backline is seeming more likely and maybe a possibility in 2022

I have been super impressed with how composed PAddy has been in ressies in the backline and also creative before suspended

[Markwebbos]

Mid season draft will reveal all for the Swans. I’m hoping they see Paddy as the answer despite his indiscretion.

I’m also hoping we’ve made someone like CCJ an offer he can’t refuse.

With one more KPD (Paddy) and a ready to play young ruckman we’d be in a pretty strong position going into 2022.

Still need to draft some more KPFs, but the emergence of McLean is a huge bonus.

[TheBloods]

I’ve picked on you a bit in the past TB, but I appreciate your above response and am happy you have realised why you have copped the criticisms in the past. Let’s put all that behind us after all we all want the best for our beloved club and want our boys to succeed,

We have a group with great potential but there are gaps to fill- our defence needs another tall as does our forward setup. Tom Hickey is a great surprise in the ruck, but we know we can’t rely on big Sam at this stage, so another ruckman is needed. When will Amartey get a chance to show if he can fill that role?

Regarding Logan- forwards need the most time to develop and it may be 2-3 years until he can impose himself as a key forward. Until then we have Buddy and Mc lean as Reidy’s calf is a problem.

I’m hoping Paddy McCartin is picked up and play a role for us up front- is there anyone else?

Yes we need another KD and ruck . Hickey is not young

Its easy to say P Mccartin but he is 25 of course he looks good at lower level but the huge majority of those taken in the mid season draft will end up busts , good chance that happens with Paddy .. but i spose we added him to the VFL list for a reason

[Aprilbr]

On Footy Classified last night, Chad Cornes highlighted Will Hayward as a player who is starting to showcase his great talent. He showed some of Wilbur's great marks on Saturday as evidence. The thing that most impressed me about him on Saturday was that he had 7 tackles. Given his defensive efforts have been his big weakness that's a good sign. I know some on here have been highly critical of this guy but he may be turning the corner?

[bloodspirit]

The Cripps clause: Should the AFL consider a loyalty bonus?

This article raises the possibility of allowing clubs to pay some stars extra money above the salary cap to retain them when larger rival offers come to poach them away. My response? Just no. Completely defeats the point of having a salary cap and managing it responsibly. We already have some built in flexibility to pay above the salary cap in certain circumstances (when you have paid under the salary cap in the preceding season) and that is enough.

[111431]

On Footy Classified last night, Chad Cornes highlighted Will Hayward as a player who is starting to showcase his great talent. He showed some of Wilbur's great marks on Saturday as evidence. The thing that most impressed me about him on Saturday was that he had 7 tackles. Given his defensive efforts have been his big weakness that's a good sign. I know some on here have been highly critical of this guy but he may be turning the corner?

I thought it was his best effort this year. He has an exceptional standing start leap which is hard to defend and his pressure looked good. Onwards and upwards Wilbur

[Bangalore Swans]

I’ve picked on you a bit in the past TB, but I appreciate your above response and am happy you have realised why you have copped the criticisms in the past. Let’s put all that behind us after all we all want the best for our beloved club and want our boys to succeed,

We have a group with great potential but there are gaps to fill- our defence needs another tall as does our forward setup. Tom Hickey is a great surprise in the ruck, but we know we can’t rely on big Sam at this stage, so another ruckman is needed. When will Amartey get a chance to show if he can fill that role?

Regarding Logan- forwards need the most time to develop and it may be 2-3 years until he can impose himself as a key forward. Until then we have Buddy and Mc lean as Reidy’s calf is a problem.

I’m hoping Paddy McCartin is picked up and play a role for us up front- is there anyone else?

Great post. I hope they take Paddy as well. May be a surprise performer in the spirit of Hickey and McLean.

A poster on here said that the Academy crop of 2021 is not in the class of 2020.

Would it be worth swapping our first two picks in 2021 for two future 2022 picks and loading up for the next draft? We could take the minimum two kids late in the draft. We can do this because Guldon, Campbell and McDonald are projected to be best 22 in 2022 and we can consolidate the kids we already have. The 2022 Acdamy crop may be better than the 2021 crop meaning the deferal of draft pick strategy may make sense.

[bloodspirit]

I agree we need KPPs and rucks:

* I would suggest we bring in a couple of young ruck prospects - one, perhaps by trade, who's been in the system a couple of years already but who is still on the fringes and willing to be a bit patient and compete with Hickey and Sinclair for a spot, and another who is just a raw project, probably via the ND or rookie draft. This would go in tandem with retiring Sinclair (I think it's time) and probably Amartey too, and effectively replace them.

* I like the idea of Paddy, especially picking him up for a bargain price. However my suspicion is that we won't draft him at the mid-season draft, especially in light of his recent indiscretion. If I'm wrong, I will be glad because it will mean that we have quite a lot of confidence in him. I would probably be happiest if we could pick up two in the mid-season draft and Paddy could be the second one, but I don't know that we have any long term injuries (and I'm not wishing for any!) to get a second pick.

* I have already mentioned a couple of times a number of KPPs we could target by way of trade at either a medium or high price. I hesitate to mention their names again and bore you all, but I'm curious what other people think and there hasn't been much response: Harrison Petty, Aaron Francis, Jarrod Brander, Sam Weideman (in the medium price range) or Jack Lukosius in the high price range (I think someone like Harry McKay is just not going to happen). I reckon Jarrod Brander would be a great get. Brander is stuck behind JJK, Darling and Oscar Allen at West Coast (although I think he's getting some games thanks to injuries) and so feels gettable. Wouldn't be cheap or easy though. I reckon he would cost our first round draft pick (minimum) and a tidy salary.

* the development of McLean this year is fabulous! He has far surpassed my expectations! I thought his strength and running ability wouldn't be enough to compensate for his lack of skill and agility (to score goals and apply pressure) but he's proven me wrong. It's especially welcome because he will complement Logan McDonald really well as they are pretty different types. It does relieve some pressure to find KPF depth. First, McLean has significantly improved his running and fitness, which was really apparent over the pre-season when he finished surprisingly well in the time trials (compared to Amartey who was distant last, same as the previous pre-season). Second, as he has been getting more games into him, he's getting better at both his bread and butter (presenting a strong marking option) and erasing his weaknesses (applying pressure more effectively than previously). The fact that he isn't rucking doesn't appear to matter now. And he is a big unit. I remember seeing him in one of pre-season intraclub matches brushing Will Gould off and I was struck the noticeable size difference, and Will Gould is himself a pretty significant unit. Finally, ever since McLean's first game I have been impressed by his character. If I recall correctly, he was picked for his first (or one of his first) game(s) when we had no ruck stocks and he had to ruck against NicNat or Sandilands and he really competed well, had a great appetite for the challenge and didn't back down. This impression is also affirmed by the fact that he was captain for the Sandringham Dragons and vice-captain for Vic Metro in his draft year.

I am undecided about how much we need more midfielders. I'm torn between loving the players we have on our list and recognising the need to give them opportunities on the one hand, and the idea that you can't have too many midfielders on the other hand and looking at how the Bulldogs depth of midfielders is proving such an asset to them this season. The transfer of Treloar from Collingwood to the Bulldogs seems to be having a real impact on those clubs' respective fortunes this season (although obviously it's hard to know how much that has to do with it). I think the answer is somewhere in between although I lean towards the idea that you can't have too many. I suspect we'll recruit (whether by way of trade or draft) a mix of players in this year's post-season, including a midfielder. I think we are well served for outside types (would you include Blakey in this category? He's very hard to categorise, a bit like Dawson) and I would probably prioritise another in the vein of RB and Chad, who can win the contested ball.

While I'm here, just another hats off to our recruiters who have done an inspired job with our 2nd-3rd round draft picks for so long (to say nothing of the rookie picks!). In recent times, pundits considered that we "reached" a bit for each of RB, Warner and, especially, McInerney (who came from the clouds). But haven't our recruiters been vindicated! I guess Elijah Taylor didn't work out (although not for lack of talent), and we are yet to find out with Gould, but overall I think we have just done so well.

[bloodspirit]

A poster on here said that the Academy crop of 2021 is not in the class of 2020.

Would it be worth swapping our first two picks in 2021 for two future 2022 picks and loading up for the next draft? We could take the minimum two kids late in the draft. We can do this because Guldon, Campbell and McDonald are projected to be best 22 in 2022 and we can consolidate the kids we already have. The 2022 Acdamy crop may be better than the 2021 crop meaning the deferal of draft pick strategy may make sense.

We don't have to pick Academy players and 2021 is projected to be a particularly strong draft year. So, no, I'm not convinced by your logic.

Besides which I'm not sure that there are any particular players that we know about for 2022 either. The club may know of some. And possibly a few posters on here who have some involvement with the Academy may have an idea. But I take it from your point of view it is entirely speculative. Anyway there's no reason to suppose we'll have any great difficulty paying for Academy players we want to draft in 2022 if there are some. Even last year, when we had to pay for a high first round pick and a second round pick, without using our first round pick (which we spent on Logan), we managed it without a deficit and without burning much of our currency at this year's draft.

[bloodspirit]

Another idea for a possible trade target: James Sicily. All the talk is that Hawthorn is a million miles from a flag and need to do a full-blown rebuild. Therefore they may be interested in trading out some of there less young stars for draft picks. He would be about the only player on their list of interest to me (apart from recent draftees like DGB who they obviously won't be trading). He's not too old and he's not so young that they will need to hang on to him for their next flag push. He's a fiery customer, but I think we can work with that. Better than him being non-competitive. And he could fill the gap created by Mills moving to the midfield. Potentially we could pay for him by trading out Hewett, although Sicily is probably worth more than Hewett (even after Sicily's ACL injury last year). Hewett seems to have lost his place in our team - no longer played in the midfield but not as good a defender as Sicily would be. You've got to give something to get something. I'm not sure exactly what a fair price would be but I would be willing to pay, say, whatever we can get for Hewett plus our second rounder, for Sicily. Thoughts? AG, you might like this idea?

[TheBloods]

Another idea for a possible trade target: James Sicily. All the talk is that Hawthorn is a million miles from a flag and need to do a full-blown rebuild. Therefore they may be interested in trading out some of there less young stars for draft picks. He would be about the only player on their list of interest to me (apart from recent draftees like DGB who they obviously won't be trading). He's not too old and he's not so young that they will need to hang on to him for their next flag push. He's a fiery customer, but I think we can work with that. Better than him being non-competitive. And he could fill the gap created by Mills moving to the midfield. Potentially we could pay for him by trading out Hewett, although Sicily is probably worth more than Hewett (even after Sicily's ACL injury last year). Hewett seems to have lost his place in our team - no longer played in the midfield but not as good a defender as Sicily would be. You've got to give something to get something. I'm not sure exactly what a fair price would be but I would be willing to pay, say, whatever we can get for Hewett plus our second rounder, for Sicily. Thoughts? AG, you might like this idea?

Sicily is a flog ! Dont care how good he is we as a club shouldnt accept worms like him on our list we are better than that

[TheBloods]

I am undecided about how much we need more midfielders. I'm torn between loving the players we have on our list and recognising the need to give them opportunities on the one hand, and the idea that you can't have too many midfielders on the other hand and looking at how the Bulldogs depth of midfielders is proving such an asset to them this season. The transfer of Treloar from Collingwood to the Bulldogs seems to be having a real impact on those clubs' respective fortunes this season (although obviously it's hard to know how much that has to do with it). I think the answer is somewhere in between although I lean towards the idea that you can't have too many. I suspect we'll recruit (whether by way of trade or draft) a mix of players in this year's post-season, including a midfielder. I think we are well served for outside types (would you include Blakey in this category? He's very hard to categorise, a bit like Dawson) and I would probably prioritise another in the vein of RB and Chad, who can win the contested ball.

While I'm here, just another hats off to our recruiters who have done an inspired job with our 2nd-3rd round draft picks for so long (to say nothing of the rookie picks!). In recent times, pundits considered that we "reached" a bit for each of RB, Warner and, especially, McInerney (who came from the clouds). But haven't our recruiters been vindicated! I guess Elijah Taylor didn't work out (although not for lack of talent), and we are yet to find out with Gould, but overall I think we have just done so well.

Make no mistake about it bloodspirit we need at LEAST one other mid . Melbourne and those seagulls at Footscray have shown how important it is to bat 6 or 7 deep in your midfield. We have 6 - Jpk, Parker, zmills, Chad, RB and Florent.

Look at those individually .. JPK ? Probably got a year left. Parker ? Still carrying this team too often he'll be done by the time hes 30 if we dont get him more help . Mills & Chad are exceptional . Florent is better on the outside we tried him inside in previous years it didnt work. Hes suited to wing then rotating on the inside a couple of times to switch it up. RB ive been clear on i think he is not a midfielder and better in defence, the majority think he will be a star mid. Time will tell whose right there.

Count them all up and that is only six - ONE who will be retired soon, and TWO who arent convincing ! Stephens wants to play inside but he cant even get a game ! Very obvious we need at least one more to help a midfield 2-3 yrs down the track of Parker, Mills and Chad. And someone with speed too ! We have little by way of speed in the midfield - after Chad it drops away very quickly .

[bloodspirit]

Make no mistake about it bloodspirit we need at LEAST one other mid . Melbourne and those seagulls at Footscray have shown how important it is to bat 6 or 7 deep in your midfield. We have 6 - Jpk, Parker, zmills, Chad, RB and Florent.

Look at those individually .. JPK ? Probably got a year left. Parker ? Still carrying this team too often he'll be done by the time hes 30 if we dont get him more help . Mills & Chad are exceptional . Florent is better on the outside we tried him inside in previous years it didnt work. Hes suited to wing then rotating on the inside a couple of times to switch it up. RB ive been clear on i think he is not a midfielder and better in defence, the majority think he will be a star mid. Time will tell whose right there.

Count them all up and that is only six - ONE who will be retired soon, and TWO who arent convincing ! Stephens wants to play inside but he cant even get a game ! Very obvious we need at least one more to help a midfield 2-3 yrs down the track of Parker, Mills and Chad. And someone with speed too ! We have little by way of speed in the midfield - after Chad it drops away very quickly .

Yep, good points TB. Still, I think the cupboard is not as bare as you're suggesting. We do have other midfield prospects:

* Hopefully Stephens can develop to be inside and outside, like Florent has done.
* Could Blakey become a midfielder? (I know your personal views on this.) I don't really see it but he's going to be somewhere between the midfield and forward. I don't see him as a defender. But then again, why not? He's got height and the perfect tools for rebounding (speed and an excellent kick). Maybe he could become a defender?? I guess he would have to become a much more accountable defender, learn to read the ball better in flight and be more composed and reliable with the ball in hand.
* Bell is useful depth but not looking like best 22 material.
* Sheather is a work in progress but looking ok at this point.
* Heeney could be moved to spending more time on ball (maybe a bit like Petracca) - would help if Hayward can consolidate some improvement to free us from needing Heeney forward.
* Campbell and Gulden are midfield prospects and Campbell brings speed, like Warner, Florent and Stephens.

Still, makes it obvious why we have re-signed JPK and moved Mills to the midfield at last. Also strengthens the case for retaining Hewett - but Hewett deserves to be more than a depth player. I don't know if Adelaide would be into Hewett - but they should be. So, for that matter, should Port. Their midfield shallowness was exposed by the Bulldogs.

All in all, after thinking on the page, I think we're ok in our midfield. We will draft at least one more prospective midfielder in and we've still got JPK and the youth will continue to develop. We could still trade a mid in if the right prospect crops up. I keep thinking that with their depth, one of the Demons or Bulldogs must be ready to spill someone of quality.

***

Also, returning to the KPPs, I just realised that as things stand Gold Coast have both Jack Lukosius and Ben King coming out of contract at the end of next season (just when our cap space opens up big time). I reckon one of them might be gettable because the Suns are going to struggle to hold on to all the numerous high draft picks they have on their list (Rowell, Anderson, Lukosius, King, Rankine, Flanders, Sharp, Ainsworth, Bowes, Powell, Hollands, Budarick, McLennan etc. etc.). And I reckon Lukosius is a better fit for us, not least because I think he's more likely to be willing to come to Sydney than King. So, if that's what we think might be a good direction to invest our $$, I hope we're speaking to his management now.

[royboy42]

Sicily is a flog ! Dont care how good he is we as a club shouldnt accept worms like him on our list we are better than that

Flog?? Worm? Pretty strong words. Care to elaborate?