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Past Oliver Florent

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Oliver Florent
Young speedster Oliver Florent has become a crucial element of coach John Longmire’s team since the Sydney Swans secured him with their first selection at the 2016 AFL Draft. The Victorian has shown glimpses of exhilarating footy on a wing, most memorably when he jagged a runaway goal in Round 4, 2018 to seal a gripping victory for the Swans over the Bulldogs. But Florent, who’s also spent time on the inside of the contest, is determined to continue to grow his game as a hybrid midfielder in 2020.

Oliver Florent
DOB: 22 July 1998
DEBUT: 2017
DRAFT: #11, 2016 National Draft
RECRUITED FROM: Beaumaris (Vic)/Mentone Grammar (Vic)/Sandringham U18

www.sydneyswans.com.au

Oliver Florent | AFL

Follow Oliver Florent's progress through AFL
www.sydneyswans.com.au www.sydneyswans.com.au
 
GoTheSwannies said:
Doesn't appear to be one of Cox's favourites as he was with Horse. His form has been very poor for a player with his experience. He has never been a catalyst in driving us to a win. I can't remember many/any games where the others in the team have underperformed and he has shone through.

You don't win premierships with player like Florent in your side. I'd much prefer someone with limited talent that applies themselves every game and performs close to their best even when the chips are down.

Florent is part of the swans soft underbelly. I don't care how much we get in return for him. He's a list clogger.
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I guess the rest of the team is in trouble trying to win premierships given that Florent was equal highest possession getter in the GF.
 

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hairy biker said:
I don't have favourite players or get particularly attached to individuals but I think it's worthwhile to remember Ollie's background.

I posted this on the Carlton BF board in response to a suggestion that Ollie had been reluctant to relocate to Sydney when drafted;

To be fair to Ollie he never kicked up a fuss about relocating.

He lost his dad, at the age of 45, in August of his draft year, after a 3 year battle with bowel cancer.
The family unit then became, he, a younger sibling and Ollie's mum.
The Swans met with Ollie and his mum and made it clear they wouldn't draft Ollie without his mum's approval.

To their credit never once was the homesickness card played, even though the circumstances would have been extremely difficult.
Ollie is now an ambassador for the Jodie Lee (Bowel cancer) Foundation.

So by all means debate Florent's ability, but if he were to join Carlton you would be getting a very solid citizen,from a bloody good family.. :thumbsu:

I also made a post in our T&D thread about us needing to be careful about forcing players out so that it doesn't have an adverse effect on the group as a whole;

List Mgmt. - 2025 Draft & Trade Thread - Picks 31, 32, 42, 60 and 71

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From a football/contractual prospective (and maybe some would argue that's all that should matter) it may make sense to move Ollie on, but from a cultural viewpoint he may actually be the worst player to push out.
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This.

I strongly agree that it's important to consider the less tangible impacts—like culture and morale—when making decisions.


There are also several key points missing from the conversation:


  • We re-signed Ollie for five years just last year, along with other long-term deals for players we identified as our core: Errol, Rowy, Will, Ollie, and others. That was a strategic choice, and we need to own it.
  • Ollie's form has dropped off this season. In 2024, he was top 10 in the B&F for the fifth straight year. The reasons could be many—perhaps Cox doesn’t see a role for him, maybe bulking up backfired, or there could be personal factors. We just don’t know.
  • Ollie is deeply connected to the team and Sydney. He’s close with Will Hayward, they run a business together, and he’s built a life here since moving at 18. Leaving that behind to join a team like Carlton, which may not be contending soon, might not appeal to him—especially after re-signing with us on good money despite other offers. Lifestyle and relationships matter.

I’m conflicted about the idea of pushing a player out, though I don’t think that’s what’s happening. There’s a big difference between inviting someone to explore options and making it untenable for them to stay, like Treloar at Collingwood.


If it’s just Ollie leaving due to form, we can manage. But if both Will and Ollie are forced out despite being contracted and wanting to stay, that could seriously affect team morale—especially with limited senior leadership. I’m not sure Heeney or Mills can unify the group, and while Errol has potential, he’s still young.


Also, sending both to Carlton and expecting two first-rounders feels excessive. Two firsts and a decent player—or one first and two solid players—seems more reasonable.
 
In case my last post was confusing: I don't mind trading out Ollie, he isn't pulling his weight. But I agree with hairy that there are a bunch of other factors to consider that haven't been much discussed (and are very difficult for us to evaluate).

And for those who complain that Ollie isn't leaping at the idea of leaving, I would point out that if Ollie had finished top 10 again and he were initiating a trade (for either more money or better prospects of a flag) after just signing a 5 year deal, how would you feel then?
 
I rekn we're so spoilt for choice in terms of quality across the ground that we look at players like Florent through swans coloured glasses - in regards to feeling the need to rate players on our list from best to worst, without realising how good they actually are relative to the rest of the comp.

Just like Hewett and Newman before him, i think we will truly realise how good of a player Florent really is once he's playing in a side of average footballers.

An even bigger miss will be his 184 games experience and durability. Injuries (or lack there of) nearly made us in 2024, and absolutely broke us in 2025 - players who genetically suffer less soft tissue injuries are a blessing and provide loads of value in itself.
 
zyzzbruh said:
I rekn we're so spoilt for choice in terms of quality across the ground that we look at players like Florent through swans coloured glasses - in regards to feeling the need to rate players on our list from best to worst, without realising how good they actually are relative to the rest of the comp.

Just like Hewett and Newman before him, i think we will truly realise how good of a player Florent really is once he's playing in a side of average footballers.

An even bigger miss will be his 184 games experience and durability. Injuries (or lack there of) nearly made us in 2024, and absolutely broke us in 2025 - players who genetically suffer less soft tissue injuries are a blessing and provide loads of value in itself.
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Newman admitted he didn't really do the right things with us
Hewett should still be on the list
Florent has been a good honest player and that's it
 
bedford said:
Newman admitted he didn't really do the right things with us
Hewett should still be on the list
Florent has been a good honest player and that's it
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Which is something a lot of clubs actually don't have beyond their group of 5-10 top players. He might seem average to us, but once he is playing with legitimately average footballers you'll very quickly realise he is levels above.

I'd be pretty confident betting that Florent will make Carltons top 8 in the B&f next year.
 
bedford said:
Newman admitted he didn't really do the right things with us
Hewett should still be on the list
Florent has been a good honest player and that's it
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with a good honest player. It would be great if we could have 23 Isaac heeneys but we all know thats not possible and every team has it fair share of role players.
 

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Florent being traded to the Blues leaves Hayward (probs not for long) as the only draftee left from the 2016 draft

Sydney Swans AFL Draft History

AFL draft history for the Sydney Swans. Includes national, pre-season and rookie draft picks.
www.footywire.com www.footywire.com

National Draft - Florent, Hayward, Maibaum, Cameron
Rookie Draft - Ronke, Fox, Edwards, Pink
 
I'm just very sad about Florent leaving. Not because I disagree with what we've done, but just because I don't think I've ever wanted a Swans player to succeed so bad. 184 games, two grand finals and a few top 10 finishes in the B&F is objectively "succeeding", but I wanted more for him and hopefully he can achieve it at Carlton.

I still wish that we'd done more to hold him accountable for his incredibly disparate performances over his first seven or eight years. If he'd spent some time in the reserves developing his craft and working on his weaknesses at, say, 22, then he might never've been in the position he was in this year, at 27.

Coulda-shoulda-woulda.

Wish him nothing but the best, can't say a bad word about Florent as a person from what I've heard so can only thank him for the memories.
 

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Ollie is deservedly a life member of the Swans. A pity we didn't give him (and he didn't give us) a premiership to remember us by. He needs a chance to play at footy club where he can shine, and hopefully he'll do that at the Blues. He has been incredibly durable, playing something like 130 odd games in succession before being dropped earlier this season, mostly because we didn't have a role for him. His versatility arguably counted against him. He managed 5 consecutive seasons finishing top 10 in the B&F from 2020-2024. That is, by any measure, a solid player. He delivered on his promise to us after we drafted him with pick 11 in 2016.

I assume his family are still in Melbourne and will be glad to get him back. I wish Olly well.
 
We went with strategy of the pump as many games into youngsters as we could

However Florent never really got better past 100 games

We just have better options with where he plays now

Wing - JMac, Errol, arguably Campbell could over take
HB - Wicks, arguably Roberts could over take

BOL to Florent at Carlton
 
grimlock said:
Florent being traded to the Blues leaves Hayward (probs not for long) as the only draftee left from the 2016 draft

Sydney Swans AFL Draft History

AFL draft history for the Sydney Swans. Includes national, pre-season and rookie draft picks.
www.footywire.com www.footywire.com

National Draft - Florent, Hayward, Maibaum, Cameron
Rookie Draft - Ronke, Fox, Edwards, Pink
Click to expand...
I will miss Ollie.
 

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Past Oliver Florent

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