2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[The Runner]

It's interesting that the general consensus a fortnight ago is that we are sceptical on whether Stephens will make it and may be a bust. But the thought of someone else having him frightens the life out of us..

If we get something back that is of value, and provides more future certainty, it's probably worth looking in to.

[dejavoodoo44]

Barry O'Connor has had a crap two years with us Covid wise, two years that should have seen him developing in the NEAFL/VFL games have been non existent.

Anyone seen him play in recent times that could give us an idea of how he's going? Looked a great build last time I saw a pic of him.

Our rookies going into this year are Sam Gray, Marc Sheather, BOC, Malachy Carruthers, Hayden McLean, Robbie Fox, Sam Wicks, then we added McAndrew. Not sure whether some of those re-signings announced a while back mean that a couple of these were moved to the main list going forward.

Certain delists from the main list would be Brand and Clarke, possible to go or move to rookie list on modest $ are Sinclair, Ronke, Ling, Taylor saved by having a contract for 2022.

So many moving pieces and a tight salary cap mean it could be a whole lot different to we think on here.

I tend to think that O'Connor is worth another year on the rookie list, but at this stage, no more than that. I've seen him win a fair few one on one defensive contests and he usually gets away an effective disposal. However, he still looks a bit hesitant, in regards to positioning and what options to take.

[Bangalore Swans]

Maybe with all this contract talk and alleged salary cap squeeze that the time is now.

Must win it in 2021.

Lose Parker and Dawson and you need another two seasons for the draft picks to mature and another big run to come.

[Markwebbos]

It's interesting that the general consensus a fortnight ago is that we are sceptical on whether Stephens will make it and may be a bust. But the thought of someone else having him frightens the life out of us..

If we get something back that is of value, and provides more future certainty, it's probably worth looking in to.

I agree it might be worth seeing what a club from SA would give us for him (late first round maybe) and using that on a KPP.

If he wasn’t pick 5 but off the rookie list what would our view of him be?

[caj23]

What's the point in trading out highly rated draftees after 2 interrupted seasons for another (worse) draft pick? It's not sustainable for a club in the long run, GWS and GCS are perfect examples of it.

Not all players can be superstars in their second year, he has the talent, we should back him in and be patient. It's ridiculous the amount of stick he cops on here.

[dimelb]

What's the point in trading out highly rated draftees after 2 interrupted seasons for another (worse) draft pick? It's not sustainable for a club in the long run, GWS and GCS are perfect examples of it.

Not all players can be superstars in their second year, he has the talent, we should back him in and be patient. It's ridiculous the amount of stick he cops on here.

Hear hear.

[Auntie.Gerald]

to be honest I think Ling is also worth persisting with........ if affordable.

he is in alignment with the 2017 GF Adelaide style of footy of short kicks, post up and roll off.

The Don has been genius to our youthful faster team

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I agree it might be worth seeing what a club from SA would give us for him (late first round maybe) and using that on a KPP.

If he wasn’t pick 5 but off the rookie list what would our view of him be?

He finished last season off very positively, it's second year blues.

[Markwebbos]

What's the point in trading out highly rated draftees after 2 interrupted seasons for another (worse) draft pick? It's not sustainable for a club in the long run, GWS and GCS are perfect examples of it.

Not all players can be superstars in their second year, he has the talent, we should back him in and be patient. It's ridiculous the amount of stick he cops on here.

Drafting a player involves a level of risk that they won’t become part of the best-22.

I don’t know if Stephens will make it as I don’t think talent is his issue. We’ve now got quite a lot of outside players (although he could turn out to be better than any of them).

The club will know what’s best to do, but it could be in everyone’s interest to let him go. Particularly if we can get a good pick in return.

[The Runner]

What's the point in trading out highly rated draftees after 2 interrupted seasons for another (worse) draft pick? It's not sustainable for a club in the long run, GWS and GCS are perfect examples of it.

Not all players can be superstars in their second year, he has the talent, we should back him in and be patient. It's ridiculous the amount of stick he cops on here.

Because you have an extra two years of data to make a decision on?

[gloveski]

Stephens had a limited pre season , hasn’t set the world on fire when he’s been seen in the ones this year so far. But I think people are forgetting how well he played the end of last season . Supposedly wants to stay but wants opportunities. He’s in the ones this week so the ball is in his court . Good sides have log jams for positions this is exactly what we have at the moment with a very healthy list


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[TheBloods]

Stephens had a limited pre season , hasn’t set the world on fire when he’s been seen in the ones this year so far. But I think people are forgetting how well he played the end of last season . Supposedly wants to stay but wants opportunities. He’s in the ones this week so the ball is in his court . Good sides have log jams for positions this is exactly what we have at the moment with a very healthy list


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He is a real talent and deserves to be where he is now . Hope he makes it work and keeps his spot , i think he will

[Aprilbr]

He is a real talent and deserves to be where he is now . Hope he makes it work and keeps his spot , i think he will

I hope we can keep him too. It sounds like he is keen to stay but is concerned about lack of senior opportunities. Totally understandable. Its a difficult balancing act with these emerging players. We can't gift him games and he needs to perform when picked. We can see his potential (as can other teams). If we lose him then its unlikely that we will receive adequate compensation. That's just the way it usually works. He is out of contract and potentially open to going where he can play seniors. That's not a strong bargaining position for us to be in. Hopefully we can convince him that his future lies in Sydney in a potentially strong team for several seasons.

[TheBloods]

I hope we can keep him too. It sounds like he is keen to stay but is concerned about lack of senior opportunities. Totally understandable. Its a difficult balancing act with these emerging players. We can't gift him games and he needs to perform when picked. We can see his potential (as can other teams). If we lose him then its unlikely that we will receive adequate compensation. That's just the way it usually works. He is out of contract and potentially open to going where he can play seniors. That's not a strong bargaining position for us to be in. Hopefully we can convince him that his future lies in Sydney in a potentially strong team for several seasons.

Naismith is the only player on our injury list and Chad will be back next week , likely in Stephens' place . So on a playing group of 40 odd blokes on a list with no injuries , at worst he will be ranked 23rd . He is ahead of other young swans like Bell who is 22, Campbell is 19, McDonald 19, Amartey is 21 . So hes not doing too bad . Considering its a list that will be contending for flags , to be the 23rd man on it is pretty good going

If hes not happy with that and thats not good enough for him then he's not a true BLOOD anyway !

[NeonBible]

Naismith is the only player on our injury list and Chad will be back next week , likely in Stephens' place . So on a playing group of 40 odd blokes on a list with no injuries , at worst he will be ranked 23rd . He is ahead of other young swans like Bell who is 22, Campbell is 19, McDonald 19, Amartey is 21 . So hes not doing too bad . Considering its a list that will be contending for flags , to be the 23rd man on it is pretty good going

If hes not happy with that and thats not good enough for him then he's not a true BLOOD anyway !

Hi TB,

That is an excellent point you made here.. I would not go as far as to say that if Stephens wants to leave that he isn't a true Blood (although not being at the club would rule that out anyway ) But I find the discourse around young Dylan fascinating.. one would think he is the only young Swan who is on the fringes and unable to get his foot in the door! You mention Campbell and McDonald, both also top 5 picks, have played less games in their first seasons than Stephens played in his.. But there are players who are older than Stephens who are also on the outs and now you could argue are behind him .. Rowbottom is a year above Stephens but has fallen out of favour, Amartey is 21 and cannot get a game, Bell is 22 was just dropped FOR Stephens, McLean is 22, Melican 24.. all in the VFL.

Should we be expecting all of these players to request a trade for opportunities too?? Not likely! I think Stephens will re-sign and make a name for himself in our team by 2022!