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Game Day 2025 Trade and Draft

What does Sydney need the most?

  • Tall Forward

    Votes: 11 100.0%
  • Small forward

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Midfielder

    Votes: 4 36.4%
  • Tall Defender

    Votes: 4 36.4%
  • Small Defender

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    11

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Kiera Yerbury has received a late call-up to Monday night’s event at Marvel Stadium.

12 invitees:

Chloe Baker-West (Vic)
Dekota Baron (Qld/GC)
Chloe Bown (Vic)
Evie Cowcher (WA)
Georja Davies (Qld/GC)
Scarlett Johnson (Vic)
Sunny Lappin (Qld/GC)
Ally Neyland (NSW/Syd)
Ava Usher (Qld/GC)
Alannah Welsh (Qld/GC)
Olivia Wolmarans (WA)
Kiera Yerbury (NSW/Syd)
 
"AFLW DRAFT BOLTER ALERT: Sydney Academy midfielder Kiera Yerbury has received a late invite to Monday's AFLW draft in Melbourne. Speculation that GWS could bid on two Swans with picks 2/3, Alex Neyland then Yerbury, wiping Sydney's pick 18 and ability to match a secondary bid." (via Code Sports)

 
Even allowing for “go home factor” - and there’s been insufficient time since the draft went national to know how significant it is - GWS would surely be shooting them selves in the foot using one of their top couple of picks on Yerbury. She looks like a reasonable prospect but not compared to many of the players expected to go early.
 
Even allowing for “go home factor” - and there’s been insufficient time since the draft went national to know how significant it is - GWS would surely be shooting them selves in the foot using one of their top couple of picks on Yerbury. She looks like a reasonable prospect but not compared to many of the players expected to go early.
Especially because its easy for girls to just move after a year, spend #3 on her and get back like a #15 the next year is just dumb imo.

I fully understand bidding up within reason, but don't think you bid on someone at #3 that can't be matched when they are realistically like a #15-20 prospect or so
 

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Surely its time we had an unofficial agreement with GWS to not select each others Academy players. It ultimately hurts both clubs.
This is just my opinion, but my observation is they seem to be using our academy as a recruitment zone, because they are clearly struggling to identify and bring in talent from the western Sydney area of their academy zone.
 
This is just my opinion, but my observation is they seem to be using our academy as a recruitment zone, because they are clearly struggling to identify and bring in talent from the western Sydney area of their academy zone.
I thought I noticed in that Junior series they played against us they had one solitary junior from Penrith and one from Camden across the 12 to 16 range. The only other area apart from the Canberra and surrounds region was a fair sprinkling from Bomaderry and a few down the South Coast
 
I thought I noticed in that Junior series they played against us they had one solitary junior from Penrith and one from Camden across the 12 to 16 range. The only other area apart from the Canberra and surrounds region was a fair sprinkling from Bomaderry and a few down the South Coast
For those who know, how much genuine effort do GWS put into their Academy compared to us? People, facilities, other resources? Throughout their "zone", not just Western Sydney which seems not a lot. Or perhaps they put in the effort but are an unattractive proposition?
Does anyone actually KNOW as opposed to supposing?
 
For those who know, how much genuine effort do GWS put into their Academy compared to us? People, facilities, other resources? Throughout their "zone", not just Western Sydney which seems not a lot. Or perhaps they put in the effort but are an unattractive proposition?
Does anyone actually KNOW as opposed to supposing?
Looking at the Newcastle stuff it seems that Max King is already a bit of a hero and he hasn't done anything much yet. What opportunities when local kids get drafted! Boys and girls both.
 
For those who know, how much genuine effort do GWS put into their Academy compared to us? People, facilities, other resources? Throughout their "zone", not just Western Sydney which seems not a lot. Or perhaps they put in the effort but are an unattractive proposition?
Does anyone actually KNOW as opposed to supposing?
I wasnt meaning to suppose. Im actually not against GWS like some others are. I think itll just take time. I dont think theyre unattractive...itll happen. Theyre just not a natural afl area. It only takes that one or 2 from the Western Sydney area to provide that springboard.
 
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I wasnt meaning to suppose. Im actually not against GWS like some others are. I think itll just take time. I dont think theyre unattractive...itll happen. Theyre just not a natural afl area. It only takes that one or 2 from the Western Sydney area to provide that springboard.
I'm not against GWS per se but genuinely wonder what kind of effort they put in over all.
The Swans area isn't "natural" AFL either but they've been at it longer, possibly better.
I grew up out west and footy was pretty much 50:50 between South West League and Group 20. Further west was all Aussie Rules. Wagga was 50:50 but Albury mostly Rules. Further north was all league except Canberra.
 
I'm not against GWS per se but genuinely wonder what kind of effort they put in over all.
The Swans area isn't "natural" AFL either but they've been at it longer, possibly better.
I grew up out west and footy was pretty much 50:50 between South West League and Group 20. Further west was all Aussie Rules. Wagga was 50:50 but Albury mostly Rules. Further north was all league except Canberra.
They do seem to be gaining traction in Bomaderry by the looks of the juniors in some of the teams. Its been very much longer and wouldnt any type of afl local comp originally have been based in the inner city areas. Im imagining professionals, teachers, academics and students migrating to the Eastern parts of Sydney. The Gold Coast has that influx of Victorians and some strong teams with some history.
The West of Sydney is a more unnatural afl area than most even including the Swans Sydney area.
There does seem to be some correlation with Coastal areas and afl popularity. Maybe again its families setting up roots interstate.
Maybe its a little bit of affluence and ability to try different sports in those regions.
I think ive always seen afl grounds up and down the coast but they werent so obvious in the Western regions of Sydney.
I Know the Swans have put a lot of work into the Northern coastal belt. Perhaps theres a more natural population exposed to the game in those areas where migration from Victoria might have happened. Im kind of making it up but i do believe some of what im saying.
 
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They do seem to be gaining traction in Bomaderry by the looks of the juniors in some of the teams. Its been very much longer and wouldnt any type of afl local comp originally have been based in the inner city areas. Im imagining professionals, teachers, academics and students migrating to the Eastern parts of Sydney. The Gold Coast has that influx of Victorians and some strong teams with some history.
The West of Sydney is a more unnatural afl area than most even including the Swans Sydney area.
There does seem to be some correlation with Coastal areas and afl popularity. Maybe again its families setting up roots interstate.
Maybe its a little bit of affluence and ability to try different sports in those regions.
I think ive always seen afl grounds up and down the coast but they werent so obvious in the Western regions of Sydney.
I Know the Swans have put a lot of work into the Northern coastal belt. Perhaps theres a more natural population exposed to the game in those areas where migration from Victoria might have happened. Im kind of making it up but i do believe some of what im saying.
😅
When I first moved up to Sydney in 1970 the comp ended at Wests, based at Croydon Park, except for Baulkham Hills and Pennant Hills (home of the McVeighs). It was actually a pretty strong comp.
The arrival of the Swans sucked the life out of it for a while. It bounced back some but it has never reached the level it was in the early 80s.
When my son was playing in the late 90s juniors was quite strong through St George (included parts of the east), Sutherland Shire, North Shore and Campbelltown. To the best of my knowledge growth out that way has pretty much stagnated.
There were some good kids in his club. Paul Bevan and Greg Stafford's nephew were in the grade ahead of him and there was an amazing kid who played for Heathcote. Only Bevan went further.
As far as I know, we never made any capital out of James Bell coming from Shellharbour.
 
Couple of phantom drafts for anyone interested.


Interesting to read but filled with more ifs and ands than tinkers pans (my gran's favourite saying).
 
Interesting to read but filled with more ifs and ands than tinkers pans (my gran's favourite saying).
Yes. GWS will definitely be shaping the top end of the draft - and the Swans in particular.
 
GWS can stuff us over but you better hope they have a good culture in place and improve because Sydney would come calling for Yebury to return home in the next trade period. Especially if we said heres a midfield role in a top 8 side
 

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GWS can stuff us over but you better hope they have a good culture in place and improve because Sydney would come calling for Yebury to return home in the next trade period. Especially if we said heres a midfield role in a top 8 side
Maybe. Though she’s a self-proclaimed Pies fan who just wants to be drafted, rather than having a hankering for the Swans. It sounds like the Giants have concerns someone like Bown won’t stick around. But she’s significantly better performed at underage level than Yerbury. Surely the Giants will be shooting themselves in the foot playing these kinds of games. There’s far more movement anyway in the W so if Bown wants to head back to Victoria they’ll get something very good for her if her U18 form translates.
 
Maybe. Though she’s a self-proclaimed Pies fan who just wants to be drafted, rather than having a hankering for the Swans. It sounds like the Giants have concerns someone like Bown won’t stick around. But she’s significantly better performed at underage level than Yerbury. Surely the Giants will be shooting themselves in the foot playing these kinds of games. There’s far more movement anyway in the W so if Bown wants to head back to Victoria they’ll get something very good for her if her U18 form translates.
Not just Bown, there are a number of players they could pick before Yerbury. Swans definitely can't match it so GWS can't play silly buggers around it either, they either pick her because they think she's worth a top 5 spot or they move on to a number of others who are, at this point, better players.
 
"GWS. Do they bid on Neyland, Yerbury or both? Some now suggesting Giants only bid on Yerbury. Would the Swans match knowing Neyland would have to get to pick 10 for them to be able to get her as well?"

 
I had wondered if the Giants might bid on Yerbury first, forcing the Swans to choose, or appearing to. But if they (the Swans) are committed to Neyland as a priority, it should be an easy decision. I think the chances of Neyland lasting beyond ten are low, and with interest in Quinn also seeming to pick up, we can almost certainly only get two of them (at best).
 

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