2022 List management, trading, drafting

[Ludwig]

There are 35 sleeps until the mid-season rookie draft. Currently we are one of just 5 clubs with a space to fill on our list, although apparently there are 3 more that could join, and more again if there are additional injuries between now and 1 June. I think we will make use of our pick. Who should we take? Best available? Or choose for need?

I tend to think we could use an extra KPD, especially if we are not convinced about Gould. While we certainly have a few options there (Melican, BOC and Gould are all outside our best 22 and have ability to play as KPDs, with Sam Reid another who has trained to play as a KPD over the last pre-season) none of them are really proven and Paddy's head knock shows we could benefit from some extra depth. Fortunately we are no longer in great need of rucks having recruited Hickey and McAndrew and Ladhams in the past 18 months. And I don't think there is any other position of great need either. On the other hand we didn't draft a KPD at the end of 2021 because we didn't believe in the quality of the options available and so maybe we want to hold out until someone we really rate is available?

Anyway, assuming there is no standout option other than a defender, I reckon a player we might well go for is Mutaz El Nour. We got to see him play against us when he was part of the Bullants team that beat our reserves in their last outing and he did well. He is also one of the players we have nominated to be a top-up for us in case we get ravaged by Covid - so clearly we have an eye on him. He's not super tall (192 cm) but he's rangy, athletic, good interceptor from a Sudanese background. He offers a bit of a point of difference to the others on our list. He turns 21 years old in August and has been on the radar of recruiters for a while without ever having been picked and struggling to even get games at VFL level through the pandemic. Anyway, he's been doing well at VFL level this season and here's a great write up about him: A young Bullant taking all before him – Northern Bullants FC.

Does anyone have a better, or just an alternative, suggestion?

I like your idea about El Nour.

I thought he was very impressive against us, but I wasn't sure if it was only because we were crap. He's definitely worth a look-in.

[bloodspirit]

With the mid season draft, I think the only scenarios you would participate are if you:

1) have a desperate need due to injury and need to replace that ASAP

2) there is a standout player (who missed out in last year’s draft) who will go early in the main draft this year, and you have the chance to grab them early

Last year was quite speculative with some of the ruckmen, after a couple of COVID years.

I think we have reasonable depth in most areas - I don’t think it’s overly realistic anyway to bring someone in mid-year and expect they’ll be ready-to-go and fill a void.

I disagree. There's plenty of evidence that mature agers are under-rated and also that clubs have had success in previous years' mid-season rookie drafts, like Jai Newcombe, Marlion Pickett and John Noble. What's more I suspect the reason that we have kept a list spot available is so that we have the option to grab someone. However, I do agree that we're more likely to pick a project player with an eye to getting a bargain rather than a plug-and-play journeyman type player (as we have done previously e.g. with Cody Hirst and Michael Knoll and Lachie McAndrew). El Nour fits this bill - I think he would still have a lot of scope for development. We would be more likely to call up the likes of Melican, Reid, Gould and possibly even BOC in case of injuries this season - but El-Nour could prove a canny investment in depth for the future once he is schooled in our systems etc.

Finally, what's the downside?? I'm pretty sure we can de-list them at the end of THIS season if they don't look worth further investment.

[Steve]

What's more I suspect the reason that we have kept a list spot available is so that we have the option to grab someone.

…

Finally, what's the downside?? I'm pretty sure we can de-list them at the end of THIS season if they don't look worth further investment.

Absolutely it is “have the option” - but I don’t think we’ll use it just on a ‘what have we got to lose’ basis.

We do have to pay the state league side compensation. Yes we can flick them at the end of the year but I reckon we’d only draft them if we genuinely saw them as a 1-2 year project and be prepared to make that commitment.

Maybe the mature-aged ones are a bit different, but personally I don’t think the scenario like a Cody Hurst reflects well - he would have been better off staying in the NAB League and maximise his chances of getting drafted playing against contemporaries.

[Ralph Dawg]

I read somewhere that Dusty spent his time away from footy in Sydney. I'm pretty sure he spent plenty of his youth in Sydney and is good mates with Buddy. Given we are likely heading into a premiership "window", would he be worth a look if he was interested?

[Ludwig]

I read somewhere that Dusty spent his time away from footy in Sydney. I'm pretty sure he spent plenty of his youth in Sydney and is good mates with Buddy. Given we are likely heading into a premiership "window", would he be worth a look if he was interested?

Dusty is contracted until 2024 on probably over 1 million per year, so it would cost plenty in players, picks and cash. Seems very unlikely. He is a great player, but he doesn't fit the profile of the Swans build toward a premiership. With a solid core of youth, our best course is just to continue down the same track, mostly developing from within and filling a deficiency in our list when appropriate, like we did with Ladhams.

[bloodspirit]

I'm with Ludwig - no to Dusty and stick with our list. Dusty is (or was) good but is not a great fit for Sydney, especially when you consider what it might take to get a deal done. Plus Chad plays the role most similar to Dusty and I wouldn't want it to be at his expense. Even those who are not Rowbottom fans would be hard pressed to argue that Dusty could fill Rowbottom's role given that Dusty is known for lacking a defensive game despite his offensive excellence. Arguably Dusty would be an upgrade on Heeney but I'd rather have Heeney. Remember Dusty is over 30, and he has been out of fitness and form the past several months for various reasons.

[TheBloods]

I'm with Ludwig - no to Dusty and stick with our list. Dusty is (or was) good but is not a great fit for Sydney, especially when you consider what it might take to get a deal done. Plus Chad plays the role most similar to Dusty and I wouldn't want it to be at his expense. Even those who are not Rowbottom fans would be hard pressed to argue that Dusty could fill Rowbottom's role given that Dusty is known for lacking a defensive game despite his offensive excellence. Arguably Dusty would be an upgrade on Heeney but I'd rather have Heeney. Remember Dusty is over 30, and he has been out of fitness and form the past several months for various reasons.

Now i 've seen everything !

[Ralph Dawg]

I agree with you Ludwig and Bloodspirit. Just interested to see if anyone would be for his recruitment and potential reasons. Tigers would want us to give them players and picks for an ageing star with a history of off field issues.

[Bangalore Swans]

Now i 've seen everything !

Yep. Stick with RB because there are some things that Dusty can’t do well that RB can.

That’s like saying no to Tom Brady because we have Tim Tebow at QB.

[TheBloods]

Yep. Stick with RB because there are some things that Dusty can’t do well that RB can.

That’s like saying no to Tom Brady because we have Tim Tebow at QB.

In english please

[Bloods05]

In english please

Magnificent mate. Keep the boring American crap off this forum.

[Faunac8]

Why would you even think about bringing in a a player over 30 who has played over 250 games and physically taken a battering and put him in a core group of 20-26 year olds who are on an upward trajectory ? Maybe 2 years ago but not now.
So I say no to Dusty because we already have a Chad

[Mark26]

Why you would even think about bringing in a a player over 30 who has played over 250 games and physically taken a battering and put him in a core group of 20-26 year olds who are on an upward trajectory? Maybe 2 years ago but not now.
So I say no to Dusty because we already have a Chad

And we're not Geelong.

[i'm-uninformed2]

And we're not Geelong.

Buddy’s too young for Geelong

[Mark26]

Buddy’s too young for Geelong

Horse might get a start though.