List Mgmt. 2026 Draft and Trade Thread

[bedford]

In which case it would be a pointless exercise for any northern club to put in so much money & other resources into running an academy in order for mainly VIC clubs to benefit. Whereas with father/ sons, that club doesn’t have to contribute anything in order to get them.
The pendulum has fully swung back the other way & it will jeopardise the whole academy system & in turn, the National competition. Make no mistake, in NSW, NRL has hit back hard at the AFL.

Make no mistake , we will get the evil dooers

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Gun Acadmey player gets told by swans..sorry son, but we probably can't get the picks to get you to the swans, most likely a vic team will take you..Gun player reverts to rugby league to stay in Sydney..could happen.

Not trying to doomsday, but I can guarantee this will happen.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

I'm not the most informed on this, but I feel like the academy's main benefit for us now is having more Sydney-siders on AFL lists we can lure home (albeit still nowhere near enough relative to the Vic, SA & WA clubs.) This is the advantage that those clubs have had for decades and it may end up our best path to acquiring academy players in the future, rather than always drafting them.

We currently have 3 players (I think) that we've passed on on AFL lists - Cochran, Carmichael and Anderson (passed over twice!)

I personally believe that there is almost a zero chance they would want to come back to the club that didn't match the bid and passed them over in the draft. Maybe they'll prove me wrong.... but Cochran hasn't played a senior game yet, and way too soon on Carmichael to make any judgements yet.

 

[Jewelsbon]

We currently have 3 players (I think) that we've passed on on AFL lists - Cochran, Carmichael and Anderson (passed over twice!)

I personally believe that there is almost a zero chance they would want to come back to the club that didn't match the bid and passed them over in the draft. Maybe they'll prove me wrong.... but Cochran hasn't played a senior game yet, and way too soon on Carmichael to make any judgements yet.

To add to this, my nephew is mates with Anderson and he's loving his life in Melbourne.

 

[Donza]

Not trying to doomsday, but I can guarantee this will happen.

IMO. I'm not sure the AFL to League link (that you proposed) is that compatible nowadays.

If you're all the way to a AFL draft from an Academy. I'm not sure that you would pivot to League. Not nowadays.

The physique that League scouts are looking for is heading in a opposing direction to what Aussie rules scouts are favouring.

Its no shock that the pathways for Pasifika kids is becomg more prominent in league and union.


IMO a sport like Cricket or Soccer is more likely.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

IMO. I'm not sure the AFL to League link (that you proposed) is that compatible nowadays.

If you're all the way to a AFL draft from an Academy. I'm not sure that you would pivot to League. Not nowadays.

The physique that League scouts are looking for is heading in a opposing direction to what Aussie rules scouts are favouring.

Its no shock that the pathways for Pasifika kids is becomg more prominent in league and union.


IMO a sport like Cricket or Soccer is more likely.

On rugby league specifically, if you're a player such as Mitch Woods, you'd be keeping close connections and regimens to league and if not it wouldn't take too long to adapt body type.

It is also A LOT easier than risking the draft in AFL than walking to another sport, and simply signing a contract. Again, Woods is the most recent examples we had, and Zemes Pilot also basically said if he can't go to Port next year, he's going back to basketball rather than going to another club.

Whilst I was agreeing on players reverting to RL, the only sporting links I am aware of are 2 players with a union background and are still active with connections to the Waratahs (Smith and Clifton), McGroder (long jump), Hardy (soccer), and Medved (touch). And then there are probably others with basketball and cricket backgrounds.

 

[Donza]

On rugby league specifically, if you're a player such as Mitch Woods, you'd be keeping close connections and regimens to league and if not it wouldn't take too long to adapt body type.

It is also A LOT easier than risking the draft in AFL than walking to another sport, and simply signing a contract. Again, Woods is the most recent examples we had, and Zemes Pilot also basically said if he can't go to Port next year, he's going back to basketball rather than going to another club.

Whilst I was agreeing on players reverting to RL, the only sporting links I am aware of are 2 players with a union background and are still active with connections to the Waratahs (Smith and Clifton), McGroder (long jump), Hardy (soccer), and Medved (touch). And then there are probably others with basketball and cricket backgrounds.

Was Mitch Woods really in the frame though?
Basically born and raised in Bulldogs heartland.
Seemed to be talented in three sports. Being a half. He'd be one of the few body types that could play league and aussie rules.


Though I think the new draft rules and how they impact academies is BS.

 

[Olian]

Was Mitch Woods really in the frame though?
Basically born and raised in Bulldogs heartland.
Seemed to be talented in three sports. Being a half. He'd be one of the few body types that could play league and aussie rules.


Though I think the new draft rules and how they impact academies is BS.

Tom Trbojevic is another example, in the Swan Academy up to 17 years of age. Manly offered him a deal that the Swans couldn’t as we had to draft him first.

Now we can’t even guarantee drafting.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Was Mitch Woods really in the frame though?

For the Swans and AFL yes we were, but in the end he chose league because he walked to them on a 4-year contract without having to deal with a draft. He himself said he was torn, but chose the league option.

Though I think the new draft rules and how they impact academies is BS.

I have the totally opposite view, but that's the beauty of BigFooty!

 

[caesar88]

The problem I can see with this is that it may feel like to the players that aren't matched that there is a bridge burned? So many want to prove that the club was incorrect in not matching them and thus might not be inclined to want to trade back to NSW just to be home

We currently have 3 players (I think) that we've passed on on AFL lists - Cochran, Carmichael and Anderson (passed over twice!)

I personally believe that there is almost a zero chance they would want to come back to the club that didn't match the bid and passed them over in the draft. Maybe they'll prove me wrong.... but Cochran hasn't played a senior game yet, and way too soon on Carmichael to make any judgements yet.

I get these points, but I don't know that AFL players really care all that much in the grand scheme of major life & career decisions. If a Sydney-sider is homesick then I doubt any resentment from a conundrum with picks at draft time years earlier will be the thing that deters them from moving. Clubs are also pretty diligent in making it clear to their academy prospects that there are no guarantees.

I'd also argue that there are many players who have returned home to clubs that originally snubbed or overlooked them in their drafts.

West Coast took Jarred Brander over Brandon Starcevich, but Starcevich still chose to return home to West Coast.

Adelaide took Jordan Gallucci over Isaac Cumming, but Cumming still chose to return home to Adelaide.

Richmond took Reece Conca over Tom Lynch, but Lynch still chose to return home to Richmond.

Fremantle took Michael Apeness over Rory Lobb, but Lobb still chose to return home to Fremantle.

Carlton very infamously took Paddy Dow over Adam Cerra, but Cerra still chose to return home to Carlton.

And many other examples. Adelaide took two players in the draft instead of Alex Neal-Bullen, but Neal-Bullen still chose to return home to Adelaide. Collingwood took two players in the draft instead of Dan McStay, but McStay still chose to return home to Collingwood. Adelaide took two players in the draft instead of Jordan Dawson, but Dawson still chose to return home to Adelaide. Melbourne took four players in the draft instead of Ed Langdon, but Langdon still chose to return home to Melbourne. Hawthorn took four players in the draft instead of Karl Amon, but Amon still chose to return home to Hawthorn.

Not to mention players taken in the rookie drafts, overlooked by clubs completely yet still choosing to return home to them later on, like Liam Baker, Dan Houston and Judd McVee.

Footballers have short memories & things can change pretty quickly.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

I get these points, but I don't know that AFL players really care all that much in the grand scheme of major life & career decisions. If a Sydney-sider is homesick then I doubt any resentment from a conundrum with picks at draft time years earlier will be the thing that deters them from moving. Clubs are also pretty diligent in making it clear to their academy prospects that there are no guarantees.

I'd also argue that there are many players who have returned home to clubs that originally snubbed or overlooked them in their drafts.

West Coast took Jarred Brander over Brandon Starcevich, but Starcevich still chose to return home to West Coast.

Adelaide took Jordan Gallucci over Isaac Cumming, but Cumming still chose to return home to Adelaide.

Richmond took Reece Conca over Tom Lynch, but Lynch still chose to return home to Richmond.

Fremantle took Michael Apeness over Rory Lobb, but Lobb still chose to return home to Fremantle.

Carlton very infamously took Paddy Dow over Adam Cerra, but Cerra still chose to return home to Carlton.

And many other examples. Adelaide took two players in the draft instead of Alex Neal-Bullen, but Neal-Bullen still chose to return home to Adelaide. Collingwood took two players in the draft instead of Dan McStay, but McStay still chose to return home to Collingwood. Adelaide took two players in the draft instead of Jordan Dawson, but Dawson still chose to return home to Adelaide. Melbourne took four players in the draft instead of Ed Langdon, but Langdon still chose to return home to Melbourne. Hawthorn took four players in the draft instead of Karl Amon, but Amon still chose to return home to Hawthorn.

Not to mention players taken in the rookie drafts, overlooked by clubs completely yet still choosing to return home to them later on, like Liam Baker, Dan Houston and Judd McVee.

Footballers have short memories & things can change pretty quickly.

The examples you have listed are irrelevant to the point I was making, in that the 3 players I named were specifically from the Swans Academy. Someday, they very well may return back to "Sydney" the city (Anderson is from the Sawtell on Central Coast), but would they return to the club that passed on them in the draft? In my opinion, VERY unlikely.

Using just your first 3 examples:

Brandon Starcevich was never a part of the West Coast NGA.

Isaac Cumming was born in Broken Hill, and was in the Giants Academy. He played for North Adelaide in the U18's.

Tom Lynch was from the Dandenong Stingrays

 

[caesar88]

The examples you have listed are irrelevant to the point I was making, in that the 3 players I named were specifically from the Swans Academy. Someday, they very well may return back to "Sydney" the city (Anderson is from the Sawtell on Central Coast), but would they return to the club that passed on them in the draft? In my opinion, VERY unlikely.

Using just your first 3 examples:

Brandon Starcevich was never a part of the West Coast NGA.

Isaac Cumming was born in Broken Hill, and was in the Giants Academy. He played for North Adelaide in the U18's.

Tom Lynch was from the Dandenong Stingrays

I don't think the added academy aspect would make a difference in most cases though. All the examples I listed were passed on by the very clubs they ended up requesting trades to.

The point I was making (evidently not very well) was that what happens at draft time will seem incredibly minor and insignificant by the time the players are at the stage where they're making decisions based on career, money, family, etc.

 

[bedford]

I don't think the added academy aspect would make a difference in most cases though. All the examples I listed were passed on by the very clubs they ended up requesting trades to.

The point I was making (evidently not very well) was that what happens at draft time will seem incredibly minor and insignificant by the time the players are at the stage where they're making decisions based on career, money, family, etc.

Please wait for the great man

 

[Adnico26Parker]

I don't think the added academy aspect would make a difference in most cases though. All the examples I listed were passed on by the very clubs they ended up requesting trades to.

The point I was making (evidently not very well) was that what happens at draft time will seem incredibly minor and insignificant by the time the players are at the stage where they're making decisions based on career, money, family, etc.

I understood your point, I just happen to have an opposing view.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I don't think the added academy aspect would make a difference in most cases though. All the examples I listed were passed on by the very clubs they ended up requesting trades to.

The point I was making (evidently not very well) was that what happens at draft time will seem incredibly minor and insignificant by the time the players are at the stage where they're making decisions based on career, money, family, etc.

Agree with last para unless there's a big grudge involved.

 

[tombomb]

AFL used Heeney as an hypothetical example if he went at pick 2 and we were on top of the ladder. We would have to come up with picks 7 & 8.

It would take a couple players of quality to get those picks. Campbell as an example won’t be enough. It ends up being a fire sale in effect.

Unless the Swans are at the bottom of the ladder there would be no benefit if the academy produced another Heeney or Mills in a year.

Except clubs know years in advance when a Heeney or Mills is coming along and have time to prepare by trading for future selections.

 

[rustycrate]

IMO. I'm not sure the AFL to League link (that you proposed) is that compatible nowadays.

If you're all the way to a AFL draft from an Academy. I'm not sure that you would pivot to League. Not nowadays.

The physique that League scouts are looking for is heading in a opposing direction to what Aussie rules scouts are favouring.

Its no shock that the pathways for Pasifika kids is becomg more prominent in league and union.


IMO a sport like Cricket or Soccer is more likely.

Exactly why there has been less than a handful of Victorian batsman who play test cricket for Australia in last 30 years.
Mostly NSW and QLD.
Guess why!!

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

In which case it would be a pointless exercise for any northern club to put in so much money & other resources into running an academy in order for mainly VIC clubs to benefit. Whereas with father/ sons, that club doesn’t have to contribute anything in order to get them.
The pendulum has fully swung back the other way & it will jeopardise the whole academy system & in turn, the National competition. Make no mistake, in NSW, NRL has hit back hard at the AFL.

F/S should of been a entirely different system to the academy why are they lumped together.

 

[bedford]

I understood your point, I just happen to have an opposing view.

I like that and all cordial

 

[bedford]

Exactly why there has been less than a handful of Victorian batsman who play test cricket for Australia in last 30 years.
Mostly NSW and QLD.
Guess why!!

Put the baggy blue on and you get a baggy green

 

[bedford]

Mid season draft May 26 between rounds 11 and 12

 

[NinjaSwan]

IMO. I'm not sure the AFL to League link (that you proposed) is that compatible nowadays.

If you're all the way to a AFL draft from an Academy. I'm not sure that you would pivot to League. Not nowadays.

The physique that League scouts are looking for is heading in a opposing direction to what Aussie rules scouts are favouring.

Its no shock that the pathways for Pasifika kids is becomg more prominent in league and union.


IMO a sport like Cricket or Soccer is more likely.

Yeah it's cricket and also basketball that would be the main two we'd lose players to, soccer I'd say similar to league - different body type and very different skill wise + basketball and cricket being summer sports vs the football codes in winter.

Basketball would be the closest sport to footy in terms of player physique and build (ignoring the fact you need to be 6' at a minimum), there's a ton of both footy and basketball players who've either played both professionally/collegiately or had the option to.

 

[Donza]

The examples you have listed are irrelevant to the point I was making, in that the 3 players I named were specifically from the Swans Academy. Someday, they very well may return back to "Sydney" the city (Anderson is from the Sawtell on Central Coast), but would they return to the club that passed on them in the draft? In my opinion, VERY unlikely.

Using just your first 3 examples:

Brandon Starcevich was never a part of the West Coast NGA.

Isaac Cumming was born in Broken Hill, and was in the Giants Academy. He played for North Adelaide in the U18's.

Tom Lynch was from the Dandenong Stingrays

Sawtell is more Brisbane than Sydney.
Its on the Coffs Coast.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Sawtell is more Brisbane than Sydney.
Its on the Coffs Coast.

Is it in the Swans Academy zone? Yes

 

[bedford]

Sawtell is more Brisbane than Sydney.
Its on the Coffs Coast.

Sawtell is in NSW end of story