Agree with Liz, Rowe should definitely be picked up if he qualifies for a NSW rookie. If he does, I would like to see someone like Smouha or Gaertner. There's already rumours that Gourdis is training with Richmond and I don't he would slide down to us (Rookie draft order is same as AFL draft without the priority picks?)
I wouldn't want to say if they decide to pick up another midfielder in the rookie draft.
Steve Gaertner - Tall Forward. 196cm, 83kg. Dandenong/Edithvale-Aspendale
Joel Smouha - Ruck/Forward/Back, 196cm, 80kg. Queensland/Mt Gravatt
Gaertner's too young to be rookied. He's consigned to another year of U18 footy.
Not entirely sure about Smouha but if he is eligible there's a decent chance Brisbane will pre-list him. And if they don't, there must be something wrong with him!! In any case, having two raw athletic Queensland rucks who have barely ever played a game before might be a bit too much.
Not sure of the eligibility of all the non-draftees but someone like Travis Dulic might fit the bill. He's a tall fullback who apparently isn't that quick but is good on the one-on-one stuff.
Liz could you clarify exactly how many rookie spots are still available. I note that there is one spot for non NSW players. Does this mean that there are more spots available for NSW players?
Teams can have 4 rookies plus another 2 rookies / outside veterans. Sydney will go into 2008 with a senior list of 40, meaning both Magic and Leapin' are listed as 'outside veterans', reducing our rookie quota to 4.
Smith was retained from 2007. Murphy and Orreal have already been pre-listed. Hence just one spot is available in the rookie draft.
In addition to the normal rookie list, the Swans (and Lions) are allowed 3 additional spots for players from their home state. There are no geographical limitations akin to those of the Scholarship scheme - so the Riverina area and ACT come into play. The club doesn't have to fill this quota (personally I think it ought to be obliged to so as to fit with the spirit of the allowance) but those it picks can be nominated before the rookie draft starts (but after the PSD).
We haven't retained any NSW rookies on the list (Barlow and Rowe were but one has been promoted and the other chopped - temporarily?) So there are three spots available. Since Rowe was originally a NSW priority pick there is a chance he is eligible to fill one of these spots again. Not entirely sure of what the rule is when a player has previously been listed, but pretty sure that a few years ago Gerrard Bennett was redrafted as a NSW boy, even though he originally wasn't. Looking at the numbers, I think Shaw must have been redrafted as a NSW rookie last year, suggesting Rowe should be eligible.
Previous NSW rookies we have had include Barlow, Rowe, Meiklejohn, Adam Prior, Paul Bevan, Nick Potter, Andrew Hayes (Lenny's cousin), Earl Shaw, Ed Clarke.
And before someone points out that I've forgotten Kieran Jack, I haven't. He wasn't.