2022 List management, trading, drafting

[bloodspirit]

We were never going to get Green, but we could at least have forced GWS to match a bid. I think it's a interesting (in a slightly suspect kind of way) that we didn't bid on Green. Anyway, no point crying now.

[stevoswan]

I think we are a worse team than last year with the loss of Hewett and Dawson. Ladhams was a handy pick up and Chad Warner, Florent, Mills and McInerney have improved. But Hewett and Dawson are two gaping holes in our list that are stopping us from top 4.

Not much we could of done about Dawson, but all accounts pointed at Hewett staying but no room for him in the mids with JPK, Rowbottom and Mills. Its a harsh call but it might of been best for the team if we forced out JPK to keep Hewett. Feels dirty saying that about such an icon but I think Hewett was criminally underrated by many posters.

Not by me...I was not happy when Hewitt was moved on but understood the freeing up of cap space. In hindsight, the keeping of him and the ejection of a club champion may have been the better move....but that was never going to happen was it?

[goswannies]

Most of those precedents were a long time ago, GS, but I get your point. I think there is a lot of obstacles to Mitchell coming to us, most notably that he has publicly stated that he wants to stay in Melbourne. Salary cap and his age would also be obstacles.

LoL - they were ALL a long time ago & we could add Paul Morwood and Richard Ambrose to the list. And yes, Tom might have publicly stated a desire to stay in Melbourne, but other players have come despite initial reservations (Tony Lockett for one). I’m not saying we should go for Tom (we’ve missed his best years I’d say and he’d have a hefty price tag) but few obstacles are insurmountable.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Footy Classified also had a long discussion last night about North's dire onfield situation and highlighted that they passed over Logan McDonald to take a midfielder in the selection before us. I think that was a huge mistake by them and the panellists seemed to take this view too.

So reminds me of Fitzroy picking Donato rather than McCartney - makes me wonder whether North will go the same way. I mean it's great that they're debt free, but is staying in Melbourne tenable? They've burnt their bridges regarding a move to Sydney, Gold Coast and Tasmania. Just like Fitzroy did with Sydney and Brisbane. It seems to me tha Victorian clubs would prefer extinction to relocation - certainly that would have been the Swans fate if KSAS hadn't been out manouvered by the VFL.

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Richard Ambrose?

[TheBloods]

Not by me...I was not happy when Hewitt was moved on but understood the freeing up of cap space. In hindsight, the keeping of him and the ejection of a club champion may have been the better move....but that was never going to happen was it?

Kennedy is on 1 yr as a 34 year old , its not his contract that cost us

[Roadrunner]

Kennedy is on 1 yr as a 34 year old , its not his contract that cost us

Spot on TB. Really sad we lost George, and not just because he is doing so well at the Blues. He was a very valuable player for us period! Yes, we often played him as a defender but we knew we could depend on him to do a reasonable job, and move him to midfield whenever needed. A bad move on our part indeed.

[Ludwig]

I know that there has been a recent focus on our current need for midfield strength and I don’t disagree with this perception. Nonetheless, I believe we should continue with the development of our current midfielders and ignore the temptation to recruit an older top-level midfielder like Martin or Mitchell. Only Parker, at 29, is anywhere close to retirement, and he is signed through age 32, season 2025. Excluding JPK, which has already been factored in, we won’t be losing any midfielders for until at least 2026 if we can manage to keep the ones already on our list.

We can start with the midfield that finished the game on Friday, i.e. Campbell in for JPK, and to that we add Rowbottom, who will come into the side this Friday v. Richmond. That’s a very solid group of midfielders, consider that 6 are still under 24 yo.

To this we can add Sheldrick and Roberts, who both look to be very promising young midfielders who can win plenty of contested ball. Stephens has been improving, and although he might be primarily an outside player, I can see him continuing to grow into a decent AFL midfielder. Marc Sheather has been playing well since drafted, and has particularly looked good the past several weeks in defence. I’ve been impressed with Corey Warner and now feel very strongly that he might be as good a pick as his older brother. They are different players in some respects, in that Corey is very quick, but doesn’t have the power of Chad, but who knows how well he might develop in the coming years. I can see him as a lock down defender or small forward. His kicking has looked much improved in recent weeks. And then there is Angus Anderson, who I believe is a very good chance of being drafted this year. So that’s 6 additional good midfield prospects to add to the ones who are now playing. So no regrets about creating space by trading Hewett, despite knowing that he's been a very good player, and certainly one who I've long admired. The larger picture looks better without Hewett when considering list demographics, team balance and TPP.

However, what we do need are a couple of additional key position players. I hope we take Mutaz El Nour in the mid-season draft, or another KPP. We go into this year’s main draft with 2 probable picks in the teens and another in the 30s. I think we should try to pick up at least another KPP, hopefully a forward in that draft.

McDonald looks to be the mainstay of the post-Franklin era. From there we need to fill in 2 other good key forwards and one depth forward. Things can change, but as of now I can see Amartey as our 2^nd key forward and McLean as a depth forward, which would leave room for another high quality forward, although we would have to be very lucky to pick one up in the draft of the McDonald quality.

That’s my mid-season summary of how I think we stand on list management. It’s always a moving target and we’ll see how things progress this year.

[goswannies]

So reminds me of Fitzroy picking Donato rather than McCartney - makes me wonder whether North will go the same way. I mean it's great that they're debt free, but is staying in Melbourne tenable? They've burnt their bridges regarding a move to Sydney, Gold Coast and Tasmania. Just like Fitzroy did with Sydney and Brisbane. It seems to me tha Victorian clubs would prefer extinction to relocation - certainly that would have been the Swans fate if KSAS hadn't been out manouvered by the VFL.

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Richard Ambrose?

Oopsie, apologies R’n’R, my error. I meant Andrew Bomford. Both came to the Swans from Essendon, but Bomford started with us before going to the Bombers and then making his way home.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

That makes more sense goswannies, Sheedy mesmerised us (yet again) into giving up draft pick #36 for him. I'd forgotton that particular episode in the dark times.

[longmile]

I see Cam Zurhaar has parked talks with North. Not followed him closely but impressed with what I've seen - seems like a real hard nut and still a skillful forward. Wonder if the Swans would be interested? Would be a good upgrade on Hayward and Bell.

Also saw Horne-Francis went interstate for contract talks, any word on what state?

[TheBloods]

I see Cam Zurhaar has parked talks with North. Not followed him closely but impressed with what I've seen - seems like a real hard nut and still a skillful forward. Wonder if the Swans would be interested? Would be a good upgrade on Hayward and Bell.

Also saw Horne-Francis went interstate for contract talks, any word on what state?

He stopped in SA where he is from on the way back from WA without Norths permission What a wreck that club is . How does a bloke leave the rest of the squad and get on a separate flight to another state without the club finding out ?

We should go after every kid they 've taken in the 1st round in the last 5 yrs . Tell em they can join a real club or stay at North and throw their careers down the tubes !

[royboy42]

So reminds me of Fitzroy picking Donato rather than McCartney - makes me wonder whether North will go the same way. I mean it's great that they're debt free, but is staying in Melbourne tenable? They've burnt their bridges regarding a move to Sydney, Gold Coast and Tasmania. Just like Fitzroy did with Sydney and Brisbane. It seems to me tha Victorian clubs would prefer extinction to relocation - certainly that would have been the Swans fate if KSAS hadn't been out manouvered by the VFL.

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Richard Ambrose?

Memories I don't need. Still scarred, and always will be.

[royboy42]

I know that there has been a recent focus on our current need for midfield strength and I don’t disagree with this perception. Nonetheless, I believe we should continue with the development of our current midfielders and ignore the temptation to recruit an older top-level midfielder like Martin or Mitchell. Only Parker, at 29, is anywhere close to retirement, and he is signed through age 32, season 2025. Excluding JPK, which has already been factored in, we won’t be losing any midfielders for until at least 2026 if we can manage to keep the ones already on our list.

We can start with the midfield that finished the game on Friday, i.e. Campbell in for JPK, and to that we add Rowbottom, who will come into the side this Friday v. Richmond. That’s a very solid group of midfielders, consider that 6 are still under 24 yo.

To this we can add Sheldrick and Roberts, who both look to be very promising young midfielders who can win plenty of contested ball. Stephens has been improving, and although he might be primarily an outside player, I can see him continuing to grow into a decent AFL midfielder. Marc Sheather has been playing well since drafted, and has particularly looked good the past several weeks in defence. I’ve been impressed with Corey Warner and now feel very strongly that he might be as good a pick as his older brother. They are different players in some respects, in that Corey is very quick, but doesn’t have the power of Chad, but who knows how well he might develop in the coming years. I can see him as a lock down defender or small forward. His kicking has looked much improved in recent weeks. And then there is Angus Anderson, who I believe is a very good chance of being drafted this year. So that’s 6 additional good midfield prospects to add to the ones who are now playing. So no regrets about creating space by trading Hewett, despite knowing that he's been a very good player, and certainly one who I've long admired. The larger picture looks better without Hewett when considering list demographics, team balance and TPP.

However, what we do need are a couple of additional key position players. I hope we take Mutaz El Nour in the mid-season draft, or another KPP. We go into this year’s main draft with 2 probable picks in the teens and another in the 30s. I think we should try to pick up at least another KPP, hopefully a forward in that draft.

McDonald looks to be the mainstay of the post-Franklin era. From there we need to fill in 2 other good key forwards and one depth forward. Things can change, but as of now I can see Amartey as our 2^nd key forward and McLean as a depth forward, which would leave room for another high quality forward, although we would have to be very lucky to pick one up in the draft of the McDonald quality.

That’s my mid-season summary of how I think we stand on list management. It’s always a moving target and we’ll see how things progress this year.

Luddy, I've been meaning to mention this for a while.

In between the occasional Thai inspired meanderings, you throw in some of the most insightful contributions on here.

This one, in particular.

So, thank you.

BTW, how long since you saw the red and whites live?

[Ludwig]

BTW, how long since you saw the red and whites live?

3 years ago. The game v. Essendon in May 2019 at the SCG. It was the last time I left Thailand, with Covid coming the following year. Nico came up from Melbourne to see the game with me. My eyesight isn't that great, so Nico had to do a lot of commentary.

[bloodspirit]

I know that there has been a recent focus on our current need for midfield strength and I don’t disagree with this perception. Nonetheless, I believe we should continue with the development of our current midfielders and ignore the temptation to recruit an older top-level midfielder like Martin or Mitchell. Only Parker, at 29, is anywhere close to retirement, and he is signed through age 32, season 2025. Excluding JPK, which has already been factored in, we won’t be losing any midfielders for until at least 2026 if we can manage to keep the ones already on our list.

We can start with the midfield that finished the game on Friday, i.e. Campbell in for JPK, and to that we add Rowbottom, who will come into the side this Friday v. Richmond. That’s a very solid group of midfielders, consider that 6 are still under 24 yo.

To this we can add Sheldrick and Roberts, who both look to be very promising young midfielders who can win plenty of contested ball. Stephens has been improving, and although he might be primarily an outside player, I can see him continuing to grow into a decent AFL midfielder. Marc Sheather has been playing well since drafted, and has particularly looked good the past several weeks in defence. I’ve been impressed with Corey Warner and now feel very strongly that he might be as good a pick as his older brother. They are different players in some respects, in that Corey is very quick, but doesn’t have the power of Chad, but who knows how well he might develop in the coming years. I can see him as a lock down defender or small forward. His kicking has looked much improved in recent weeks. And then there is Angus Anderson, who I believe is a very good chance of being drafted this year. So that’s 6 additional good midfield prospects to add to the ones who are now playing. So no regrets about creating space by trading Hewett, despite knowing that he's been a very good player, and certainly one who I've long admired. The larger picture looks better without Hewett when considering list demographics, team balance and TPP.

However, what we do need are a couple of additional key position players. I hope we take Mutaz El Nour in the mid-season draft, or another KPP. We go into this year’s main draft with 2 probable picks in the teens and another in the 30s. I think we should try to pick up at least another KPP, hopefully a forward in that draft.

McDonald looks to be the mainstay of the post-Franklin era. From there we need to fill in 2 other good key forwards and one depth forward. Things can change, but as of now I can see Amartey as our 2^nd key forward and McLean as a depth forward, which would leave room for another high quality forward, although we would have to be very lucky to pick one up in the draft of the McDonald quality.

That’s my mid-season summary of how I think we stand on list management. It’s always a moving target and we’ll see how things progress this year.

Good comment. I especially agree with the bolded part.

I see Amartey as a hybrid ruck-forward and I feel as though Buddy and Logan are the only two proper KPFs on our list (with the McCartin brothers being the next closest). McLean is arguably a full forward and, while he can play a role, I would prefer another prospect as our second best KPF (after Logan) once Buddy is gone.

I was the first to suggest we consider Mutaz El-Nour or another KPD for the MSD and so I am in complete agreement there. I also agree we want at least one more KPP in the ND later this year (or possibly by way of trade... there's a certain player I've mentioned 1-15 times). Happily there are a number of KPDs available at the MSD and also a some promising KPP prospects for the ND - at least one of whom should slip to our first pick.

Here's an article from foxsports that discusses various MSD prospects including the KPDs: AFL mid season draft news 2022: Order, date, nominations, phantom mock, Jake Carmichael, Jai Culley, Massimo D’Ambrosio.