2022 List management, trading, drafting

[Auntie.Gerald]

Hasnt Aaron changed it up in recent times to become a forward?

good versatility and what we need while juggling our talls in defence / attack

For me at just on 25yrs of age last month and his skill set would be a good addition while in a window of a repeat GF

Who knows ....... he could enable Paddy to maybe go forward and kick 50 in 2023 !!!!

Aaron Francis | AFL

[Nico]

Mitch Cleary reporting we are in discussions with Aaron Francis.

Heaven help us.

[ugg]

Hope he’s more Ted Richards or Craig Bolton than Michael Talia or Kaiden Brand

[mcs]

I don't get the want to push Paddy forward. He has a career best season playing back, and will only improve with more experience down there.

Francis won't cost much (well at least in theory - we know how those scoundrels over at the Bombers over-value their players), and could fill a spot for us potentially at either end of the ground. For the right price would be worth a look - a new start might be just what he needs. That is the sort of bargain basement trading I suspect we will look at this year, rather than chasing any big names.

[Auntie.Gerald]

no push
just a stir in the realms of maybe........

[Ludwig]

Aaron Francis is indicative of the part of the trade market that we find ourselves this year. Maybe we can pluck a risky player and make it work out. Similar to Lewis Taylor, who didn't work out, but looked a reasonable risk at the time. We just have to acknowledge that we are not big players this year and will be mostly working the edges.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I’m not wanting to be unsympathetic as Francis has been honest about his mental health challenges, and that should never exclude a player. It’s a big issue for Horse, and we’ve seen Buddy take time out for it. (Sure he’s not the only one, just the one we know about.)

But Francis has never shown signs of being a competitive beast, and if we’re looking at him, we must have real doubts on Gould, who’d be his nearest comparison as a third tall defender.

[mcs]

Aaron Francis is indicative of the part of the trade market that we find ourselves this year. Maybe we can pluck a risky player and make it work out. Similar to Lewis Taylor, who didn't work out, but looked a reasonable risk at the time. We just have to acknowledge that we are not big players this year and will be mostly working the edges.

Exactly. As long as we dont give anyone a stupid value contract or length, not against it if we focus on getting it right in the draft.

[dejavoodoo44]

A talented player with a troubled history. It depends on how things go with Melican and Gould. I think Melican will leave next year anyway, and perhaps he can find a new home this year.

I wonder if Essendon would be interested in a player swap for Ronke or Wicks. They can use a small forward with AMT and Devon Smith going. And we have an excess of small forwards. Bell can always be thrown in, although I'm not sure I would call it a sweetener.

There's also GWS, because Hill and Bruhn want to be traded. Which leaves them light on for pressure forwards.

[Ludwig]

There's also GWS, because Hill and Bruhn want to be traded. Which leaves them light on for pressure forwards.

That's a good idea.

They will have loads of draft picks. Maybe something can be worked out with them. I don't think we can get anything for Taylor, but Ronke, Wicks, Bell and Clarke all should have some value, even if we are talking about 3rd round up or draft position swaps. Maybe we can hold 1 for depth, but they would all have a better future at another club.

[Aprilbr]

That's a good idea.

They will have loads of draft picks. Maybe something can be worked out with them. I don't think we can get anything for Taylor, but Ronke, Wicks, Bell and Clarke all should have some value, even if we are talking about 3rd round up or draft position swaps. Maybe we can hold 1 for depth, but they would all have a better future at another club.

The only one that may be worth anything of that lot might be Wicks, Ludwig. Maybe a third rounder. I think that Clarke will play with us another season but has very little trade value. Same with Bell. Ronke may well be de-listed.

[Markwebbos]

Mitch Cleary reporting we are in discussions with Aaron Francis.

That’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel …

Now we’ll trade him in and he’ll become an all Australian!

Given the renaissance of Robbie Fox and his performance on Cameron, anything is possible.

[Ludwig]

Ronke may well be de-listed.

Ronke! He's the best of the lot and the only one who I think could hold down a senior spot on about half the teams.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I’m not wanting to be unsympathetic as Francis has been honest about his mental health challenges, and that should never exclude a player. It’s a big issue for Horse, and we’ve seen Buddy take time out for it. (Sure he’s not the only one, just the one we know about.)

But Francis has never shown signs of being a competitive beast, and if we’re looking at him, we must have real doubts on Gould, who’d be his nearest comparison as a third tall defender.

.......just to give some context re Mental Health challenges and sports in a high performance

I am lucky enough to work with a Neuroscience and Psych Lab team at a University in the States. We work with a couple NBA teams.

It would be fair to say, in our experience, 1 in 3 players encounter Mental Health challenges through out their career........and these numbers are probably baseline given that high performing indvs, especially in sport, dont like to share everything given contract negotiations, perception etc

if we had 40 players on our list at the Swans at least 12 of those players will encounter high states of stress and or anxiety and or depressed states through out their career.

I suspect that our Swans image in the AFL marketplace is one of understanding and tolerance for athletes challenged by Mental Health and it can be only a chapter........not a book

[lwjoyner]

Francis not for me. Trust our own and add some from draft.