2022 List management, trading, drafting

[Maltopia]

I think that arguably, Jackson is the hottest young talent in the game at present along with the King brothers. Acquiring him will cost a long-term contract of $1 million p.a. in my view. There will be many lining up for his services. Given he is from W.A., I think should he leave Melbourne (which is still unlikely) he would head back there anyway.

Lance Franklin is from WA and he didn't return home. We have also invested in the Warners and McDonald from WA, so why not Jackson?

But money will be tight and we won't win a bidding war with who we also want to re-sign in coming years.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

King at St Kilda is rapidly developing into a marquee forward. We certainly could do with someone like that as Buddy nears the end. Maybe McDonald can step up to do that as he certainly has the talent? However, he is a different type of forward to King. I would argue McDonald plays more like Reiwolt did at St Kilda. Athletic running key forward who gets up and down the ground. King stays near the goals and so he should. He is an elite marking option. His brother at GC shows lots of promise too, but has recently re-signed there . Interesting times ahead!

After 40 years, do you really think the Swans position is so tentative and fanbase still so immature that we need to purchase another marquee forward?

[stevoswan]

After 40 years, do you really think the Swans position is so tentative and fanbase still so immature that we need to purchase another marquee forward?

I think he meant for winning premierships....not for new fans.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Oh, you could be right stevoswan.
In which case I wonder whether purchasing another big$ marguee forward would lead us to a flag or keep us from one though? Our cygnets will need pay rises as their profiles improve, I'd hate to see an exodus just to fit in an expensive buy - and we didn't need one in 2012.

[NeonBible]

Oh, you could be right stevoswan.
In which case I wonder whether purchasing another big$ marguee forward would lead us to a flag or keep us from one though? Our cygnets will need pay rises as their profiles improve, I'd hate to see an exodus just to fit in an expensive buy - and we didn't need one in 2012.

An exodus might be inevitable anyway .. and might be necessary .. we may take a few years to settle on the core group that we think can take us to a flag.. and the rest .. may be the collateral damage we need to clear up salary cap space for the kind of talent who will push us over the edge for a flag!

It seems unthinkable now .. they are such a big group of young cygnets, and oh so impressive .. so tight knit as they talk about all the time .. but the harsh truth is a few of them probably won't finish their careers as swans! Tis the reality of being a NSW club.. money will always be tight!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Agreed Neon, we will lose some cygnets, the trick would be to ensure we don't lose enough to keep us from another flag - I see a big$ signing (especially at this point) as a way to increase the exodus beyond that likely to occur as the kids develop.

[NeonBible]

Agreed Neon, we will lose some cygnets, the trick would be to ensure we don't lose enough to keep us from another flag - I see a big$ signing (especially at this point) as a way to increase the exodus beyond that likely to occur as the kids develop.

It will come down to how well we balance the list and also the budget!! If we balance things correctly.. we may just have the money to push for a big-name, big-game player who could give us the edge over the rest of the competition!!

Nature will take its course and the cygnets we think we wont be able to win a flag without will soon be commanding very good coin, which should keep them around. It will then be up to the less-essential players to make a choice... stick around and settle for less with a greater chance of success, or take your chances elsewhere for better money!

Anyone we don't think will prove essential to a flag tilt, we will not risk overpaying for.. as we saw with Hewett.. Aliir.. I am confident the club will make the right decisions when placing our cygnets in the "essential" and "non-essential" categories and then paying them accordingly.. call me naive i suppose!!

[bloodspirit]

I agree with I'm Uninformed2 about Lloyd.

I think having shed Dawson and Hewett, and having JPK retire and Buddy's salary drop significantly (as a minimum) at season's end, we will be in a strong position salary cap wise to retain all our young talent that we want to keep (unless it is for lack of playing opportunities).

I don't think the KPD cupboard is nearly as bare as I feared 9 months ago (and I don't have your glass half-empty view, Aprilbr) but I still support drafting KPPs and/or trading them in. Gould may well be a good success or to Rampe (versatile, good kick but not as good at locking down or perhaps as playing on talls) and BOC still has potential that we haven't seen.

Anyway, I don't think Luke Jackson is a viable target. He is one of the hottest properties in the game and, if he doesn't stay at the Dees, he's most likely to return to WA because both WA clubs are desperate for a player like him and would probably have cap space. I continue to think that Jack Lukosius would be an excellent acquisition if we could lure him here. His form this year hasn't been so hot but I still think he's a great prospect and we have the currency in both draft picks and cap space to trade for him. I don't have any problem trading in players - we have shown in the past that it can work well and you often get very good value. Every year clubs trade in steals (or just get them for free via free agency).

[Markwebbos]

I’d love to see Gould get a game v soon. With the two McCartins down back it may be that he can play the 3rd tall rather than the Rampe role of playing on a much taller opponent.

Sadly the Great Dane will be 32 this year and is showing signs of slowing down this year.

I see Alex Pearce at Freo has put off talks. He’s tall and quick. Although probably going nowhere.

[707]

I’d love to see Gould get a game v soon. With the two McCartins down back it may be that he can play the 3rd tall rather than the Rampe role of playing on a much taller opponent.

Sadly the Great Dane will be 32 this year and is showing signs of slowing down this year.

I see Alex Pearce at Freo has put off talks. He’s tall and quick. Although probably going nowhere.

Except where he usually goes, the medical room! He'd be 26/27 and spent most of his career injured

[Roadrunner]

Trading in players for a specific role makes a lot of sense, for example when we brought in Hickey and last year Ladhams, to fill our badly needed ruck positions. However, I’m not for getting in purely depth players like Clarke, Gray and to a lesser extent Squizzy. There was little chance that they would be regulars in the team and though they may add value in the twos, much better to blood youngsters who may eventually become senior players.

We have such a talented group of youngsters that I’d much rather splash the cash on them than bring in an expensive big name player. But if one became available and wanted to come to us, of course we should take him. A recent example was Joe Daniher- he wanted to come but we couldn’t strike a deal with Dodo and we had concerns about his fitness and injuries. No doubt he would have been a huge success with us once our medicos got him fit, as he can play forward and ruck.

I’d love to get someone like Harry McKay who can take a big grab but then you become overly focussed on kicking the ball to him and become one dimensional. But they don’t grow on trees!

[Ludwig]

I don't think we are in such bad shape with our KPDs and am reasonably confident that we will find solutions to any weak spots.

Our forward line is fine with Franklin playing and we seem to cover his absences well enough. McDonald is the heir apparent with McLean and Amartey in support. There are better tall forward lines going around, but I think this group is good enough to be a premiership side. I don't think it requires the recruitment of another KPP, at least until we see how we do after Franklin retires.

With the 2 McCartins we have a solid KPD duo. The questionable depth in this area has been rightfully pointed out. Right now Melican would be a replacement if one of the McCartins is injured. I have a positive feeling about Gould, but see him more as a 3rd defender, Rampe replacement, than a key defender. I'm not sure about BOC, but hopefully we'll find out more by season's end.

If we keep our 2 late first round picks, we can focus on getting a couple of KPPs this year, given our focus on midfielders last year. I think we need to give our young group of midfielders time to develop before going out and overloading that position, which just forces players out the door.

[bloodspirit]

I agree with you Ludwig, and I would add that we should remember we always have the option of switching either of the McCartins forward. Especially Paddy could go well there.

[Aprilbr]

Oh, you could be right stevoswan.
In which case I wonder whether purchasing another big$ marguee forward would lead us to a flag or keep us from one though? Our cygnets will need pay rises as their profiles improve, I'd hate to see an exodus just to fit in an expensive buy - and we didn't need one in 2012.

Yes, just to clarify my comments from a few days back, I meant "marquee" in the sense of a topline goal-scoring key forward who can help us win a flag. I don't mean a flamboyant player like Capper. McDonald may develop into that player but we are not sure yet.

[Goal Sneak]

Yes, just to clarify my comments from a few days back, I meant "marquee" in the sense of a topline goal-scoring key forward who can help us win a flag. I don't mean a flamboyant player like Capper. McDonald may develop into that player but we are not sure yet.

I'm tempted to think that Logan is worth banking on at this stage.