Academy games 2024

[dejavoodoo44]

Rookie Me are quite keen on the Allies chances for next season. They reckon that our trio of Carmichael, Chamberlain and King should feature.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2024/12/03/afl-draft-why-the-2025-allies-can-repeat-history/

They also mention Kaiden McNamara, who I've always rated pretty highly. He's a skilful medium size player, who mainly plays on the half back flank, with the occasional spell on the ball. I think that he's a reasonable draft chance, but with the AFL's draft points changes, he'd have to slip through to the rookie draft for him to get to the Swans.

[dejavoodoo44]

Two of our academy players, Lachlan Carmichael and Noah Chamberlain, made the national academy squad for next season. It'll be interesting how they develop, along with Max King, who was sidelined with injury for much of last season, but is also promising.

Family ties, Academy guns loom large in 2025 AFL Academy squad - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1255010

[dejavoodoo44]

The Rookie Me scouting notes from the recent Futures game. They say nice things about our academy pair, Carmichael and Chamberlain. Both have the potential to be first rounders, if they have decent academy seasons next year.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2024/09/30/scouting-notes-2024-afl-national-futures-match/

[dejavoodoo44]

The final teams have been announced for the Futures Game, that takes place at 9.35am on Saturday. Lachlan Carmichael and Noah Chamberlain are in Team Heppell, but Max King isn't playing. I hope he isn't injured again. Oh well, perhaps that slightly increases the chances of him being a draft bargain next year?

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2024/09/26/final-teams-2024-afl-national-futures-match/

[chalbilto]

Perhaps they thought it was some sort of, "get tough or die" type of name?

Johnny Cash - A boy named Sue.

[dejavoodoo44]

Lol, hilarious!

Perhaps they thought it was some sort of, "get tough or die" type of name?

[Meg]

And looking down the list, I noticed that a kid from WA, named Wes Walley, has made the side. Some parents really don't think things through, do they? I mean, every @@@@ing roll call!

Lol, hilarious!

[dejavoodoo44]

Three of our players have been selected for the upcoming U17 Futures game: which I assume will be on grand final morning. The players are Lachlan Carmichael, Noah Chamberlain and Max King. It'll be good to see what King can do against quality opposition, because he was out injured for the Talent League season, after looking an exciting prospect earlier in the year.

2024 Marsh AFL National Future Boys squad announced - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1217516

And looking down the list, I noticed that a kid from WA, named Wes Walley, has made the side. Some parents really don't think things through, do they? I mean, every @@@@ing roll call!

[dejavoodoo44]

I just noticed that Mason McGroder, who was impressive when playing for our U16s this season, has won a bronze medal in the long jump at the world U20 championships. The fact that he's still only 15 makes it even more noteworthy. I hope he chooses AFL.

[dejavoodoo44]

Conrad Blackwell-Smith was awarded our MVP for the championship. Which seems fair enough. While he didn't spend that much time in the middle in the final game, he showed his class an inside mid in the previous games.

Also, these are the Rookie Me scouting notes for the game against Tasmania.

Scouting Notes: 2024 AFL U16s - Tasmania vs. Swans Academy - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

[707]

Thanks everyone for their comments.

Looks like we may have a KPF & KPD to consider in the ND this year, hopefully as later picks or rookies. A number of the non aligned Allies read very well for our current picks 18 & 19.

[dejavoodoo44]

That was a tough, physical game, with both teams laying hard into tackles (and giving away a lot of frees as a result). As per Deja’s comment above, it felt as though Tasmania were better skilled. They were stronger in the air, and seemed to be able to time their running to create free options.

Yet the scoreboard tells a different story so a lot of credit must go to the work rate of our young Swans.

I continue to be impressed by Beavis in defence.

Yes, I like Beavis. He seems to read the ball well, goes hard when he decides to go and is good at hitting targets coming out of defence. And with a passing resemblance to his cartoon namesake, he's already giving off cult hero vibes.

[dejavoodoo44]

Very good effort in the last, to win 59-46. Finally took our chances and kicked four straight in the quarter. Which means that our kids are the champions of Group B, as this was a game between the only two unbeaten teams.

Perhaps where we won it, was our ability to scrap for the loose ball and put pressure on Tasmania when they had it. We actually won the disposal count 277-201. And while I don't know the free kick count, I suspect that we had the better of it.

By my reckoning, our goalkickers were two each to Pignatelli and Newman, and singles to Meaney, Titmuss, O'Loughlin and McCartney. Since he also had a couple of goal assists, I thought Pignatelli was our best forward today. I particularly liked his effort early in the last, when he took possession on the left forward flank, then found an unmarked Titmuss in the opposite pocket with an excellent kick.

Having said that, it's hard to pick out our best, as it was a really even team performance, with no one dominating. Perhaps Guy Jenkin was our leading disposal getter, though his brother Will also was busy on the opposite wing. Price, Griffiths and Kingsley were busy in the middle. In defence, Beavis, Coble and McGroder all had their moments.

Obviously still a long way away from their draft time, but there's quite a few decent prospects in this cohort. And I'm sure that going through the academy season undefeated, will help with both their confidence and motivation.

[liz]

That was a tough, physical game, with both teams laying hard into tackles (and giving away a lot of frees as a result). As per Deja’s comment above, it felt as though Tasmania were better skilled. They were stronger in the air, and seemed to be able to time their running to create free options.

Yet the scoreboard tells a different story so a lot of credit must go to the work rate of our young Swans.

I continue to be impressed by Beavis in defence.

[dejavoodoo44]

Still a scrappy and frustrating game. We had all the territory in that quarter, but only kicked 1-5 to eke out a 35-26 lead. McCartney was perhaps the worst culprit, missing two set shots from about 15 metres out. Meaney kicked the only goal and had a pretty good quarter.

Griffiths has been good in the ruck, but more so with his competitiveness when the ball hits the ground. Price has been busy as an inside mid. Jenkin and Jenkin have got plenty of it, perhaps Guy more so.