Swans Academy Games - 2022.

[liz]

Let’s not count Blakey as one. We got kissed on the arse by a rainbow with that arrangement.

This comment - when it comes from supporters of other clubs on BF - annoys me intensely.

It takes hours of training and development for young boys to turn into draftable AFL players. Sure genes, and early family activities, and parental encouragement play a part. But only a small part.

Without the academy, there is no pathway for young boys in NSW to get access to the training and development required to get them to an elite level.

Sure, it is possible that Blakey jr would have been sent to boarding school in Melbourne so that he did have access to requisite development opportunities but that doesn't take away from the fact that it was actually the Swans Academy programme that provided him with this.

[Mr Magoo]

In my view , its due to a number of factors -
1. The academy boys only get a few games a year to impress at the highest level and are otherwise unseen. Neither recruiters or the swans themselves place much emphasis on club albeit they do seek feedback from people in the clubs.
2. The swans identify a few at about 16s level that they consider absolute standouts who they go all in on. ie Heeney , mills, gulden, campbell etc. Everyone around them is effectively then used to help them develop, often to their own detriment.
3. There is still a lot of "old boys" network and unspoken favouritism going on , even at academy level.
4. The recruiters seem to me to pretty much discount anyone from the academy if the swans themselves arent interested in them. Hence the few players to be taken by other clubs. This to me is pretty unfair considering the above but the reality of the situation.
5. The southern kids are in front of the recruiters at club , school , TAC cup and then nationals level. Therefore they are seeing more of those kids then just the few swans games where the kid may be played totally out of position to where they might normally shine at club level , often due to some of the factors above.
6. Therefore , the swans themselves (and the other clubs) are far more likely to take a chance on that "next level" kid from interstate as he has been able to show a much bigger body of work then the academy boys.

I might be wrong but its just my view of things having watched the academy a fair bit.

[707]

Don’t forget (or maybe you should) Hiscox and Abe Davis. And how about the ones who have ended up at other clubs Ben Davis and Luke Parks

Ben Davis six years on the Crows list for 7 senior games - the ultimate list clogger

[707]

Thanks for your analysis Magoo.

I always hope we'd give academy players a chance as a rookie although there's often not a lot of spare rookie places free at draft time. Mark Sheather is from the academy and on the rookie list. Anderson is playing with our VFL side I believe, which gives him a chance.

You'd reckon with the amount of kids the recruiters have seen from everywhere from U16 up that they would have a fairly good idea of the template for likely AFL standard players. There's always late bloomers of course.

Given no academy player undrafted by us has ended up as a long term player elsewhere probably indicates our recruiters know what they're doing.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

In my view . . . .

Thanks for explaining the mechanism - I remarked on the results but hadn't the foggiest how it was coming about.

[Mr Magoo]

Thanks for your analysis Magoo.

I always hope we'd give academy players a chance as a rookie although there's often not a lot of spare rookie places free at draft time. Mark Sheather is from the academy and on the rookie list. Anderson is playing with our VFL side I believe, which gives him a chance.

You'd reckon with the amount of kids the recruiters have seen from everywhere from U16 up that they would have a fairly good idea of the template for likely AFL standard players. There's always late bloomers of course.

Given no academy player undrafted by us has ended up as a long term player elsewhere probably indicates our recruiters know what they're doing.

Very few players have been drafted outside the swans - I think maybe two or three . I dont think those threes lack of success indicates the swans know what they are doing as they are such a small sample over all these years of academy existing.

[vicswan]

Mr magoo
you have nail it re: your view on the academy
the better under16-17 NSW kids are better of going to vic for 17-18 years
they get more of a chance ....

[Mr Magoo]

Mr magoo
you have nail it re: your view on the academy
the better under16-17 NSW kids are better of going to vic for 17-18 years
they get more of a chance ....

Take Angus Anderson - went to Melbourne for his 16s and 17s year and played in the Northern Knights programme. Moved back to Coffs for his 18s year and was brought straight into the Academy programme as if he had just been wallowing away in Coffs all that time.

I think this is why a lot of the riverina boys head to melbourne private schools for Year 11 and 12. Much better exposure and level of competition than they would ever get just playing at home and then a few games with the giants.

Also note that the Academy had one boy in 16s level picked for NAB Academy - Mitchell Woods - I also understand he is a fullback in the NSW Blues junior rugby squad so clearly both codes are interested and must be pretty reasonable. Will be interesting to see which way he heads.

[707]

Guys like Heeney, Mills, Campbell, Blakey were all well know and highly rated well before their draft year.

Anyone know if we have any likely prospects, not this year but next year in the 2023 draft?

[dejavoodoo44]

Guys like Heeney, Mills, Campbell, Blakey were all well know and highly rated well before their draft year.

Anyone know if we have any likely prospects, not this year but next year in the 2023 draft?

Caiden Cleary. Lively in and under midfielder, who racked up big numbers as an underager, when playing for the academy this season. Also played pretty well for the Allies. Definite prospect

I also quite like the young ruck, Caleb May, but I'd like to see how he goes next season, before I start using terms like definite.

[707]

I notice we didn't get any players invited to the combine, GWS a couple.

Thanks for the U17 info

[vicswan]

I notice we didn't get any players invited to the combine, GWS a couple.

Thanks for the U17 info

0f the 3 kids invited to the combine this year 2 live and play in the Melbourne.............nab league
only 2 kids from Qld and 2 from NT got invited this year .........the northern and tassie kids not rated or the programs they are in underperforming.

in nsw the RAMS (GWS and SWANS) must play full time in the NAB league .just like tassie does .that would be a great start

[Mr Magoo]

I notice we didn't get any players invited to the combine, GWS a couple.

Thanks for the U17 info

Swans actually had few u18s really in focus. Christian Webster is about it really. If swans are going to draft anyone this year , it could possibly be to rookie someone like Will Edwards as an overager.

[Mr Magoo]

I notice we didn't get any players invited to the combine, GWS a couple.

Thanks for the U17 info

Will Edwards now invited to the state combine. Only one from Swans Academy. FYI - the difference is that you are invited to AFL combine if three or more clubs express interest in you , state combine if two clubs express interest.

[ugg]

Swans interested in Leon Cameron to oversee the Academy

AFL: Sydney Swans interested in ex-GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron as new Academy boss | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site