2nds Official Swans Academy Thread (Player News and Discussion)

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All good, it’s interesting though that Cal focussed on Max over the others given his lack of consistent footy this year.

It’ll be interesting to see how the year pans out for all three, and for any of the over-agers from this year.


I wonder if, because he has a namesake firmly established in AFL ranks, King was maybe put there for clicks.

Interestingly Cal left out Addinsall and Rodriguez too.
 
I wonder if, because he has a namesake firmly established in AFL ranks, King was maybe put there for clicks.

Interestingly Cal left out Addinsall and Rodriguez too.
Cal has long had it out for the Swans, due to the fact they give him absolutely zero information.

The cynic in me says that he put King in there to drive up the hype/bidding price. But more realistically, King is a unique talent (tall mid/potential to get taller) and has a unique skillset that may be unmatched in the 2025 draft.
 
All good, it’s interesting though that Cal focussed on Max over the others given his lack of consistent footy this year.

It’ll be interesting to see how the year pans out for all three, and for any of the over-agers from this year.
I think Max is one of the best prospects we have ever had in the academy.
 

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25 in 2025: A look ahead to next year’s top prospects

With the 2024 AFL Draft in the books, it is time to look forward to next year's crop. We highlight 25 prospects to watch in 2025.
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Lachlan Carmichael (Swans Academy/NSW-ACT)
Defender | 183cm | 27/08/2007


Another top performer at last year’s Under 16 National Championships, Carmichael has gone on with it and was a consistent performer for the Allies in 2024. He averaged 18.8 disposals and 5.8 rebound 50s throughout a full four-game carnival, nailing down his role as a primary distributor down back. While an asset in transition on the representative stage, his intercept prowess was on show in four games with the Swans Academy earlier this year, averaging 20.8 touches and six marks.

Noah Chamberlain (Swans Academy/NSW-ACT)
Tall Forward/Wing | 192cm | 21/03/2007


There is plenty of upside to Chamberlain’s game, and the Swans clearly rate him highly having debuted him in the Under 18 side during his 16th year. The mobile 192cm prospect presents as a dynamic marking target up forward but has also been exposed to the wing role, showcasing great versatility. He turned out twice for the Allies at this year’s National Championships, averaging 14.5 disposals and four marks – improvements on his numbers for the Swans Academy earlier in the season.

Max King (Swans Academy/NSW-ACT)
Midfielder/Forward | 191cm | 09/01/2007


A player with serious upside, King missed out on Under 16 All-Australian honours last year but has plenty to like. He dominated the Swans Academy’s preseason testing event with top five results across the board, pointing towards considerable athletic upside. He can play, too, utilising his mobility at 191cm to carve through stoppages and impact aerially when rotating forward. He starred for NSW-ACT’s Under 17 outfit this year, showing promise in a variety of roles despite missing out on the Swans’ CTL stint.

Ok, we'll take 3, if we must.

This is the year to play silly buggers and trade in though, either before bids, or between bids. There's a couple of interesting KPP's that have late birthdays and I really like Emmett as a KPF/Ruck. There's also a KPF from NSW in the AFL academy who plays for the Bushrangers - Hetherton. None of those solve our 'legitimate sized' KPD deficiency though... and that is my biggest worry
 
Ok, we'll take 3, if we must.

This is the year to play silly buggers and trade in though, either before bids, or between bids. There's a couple of interesting KPP's that have late birthdays and I really like Emmett as a KPF/Ruck. There's also a KPF from NSW in the AFL academy who plays for the Bushrangers - Hetherton. None of those solve our 'legitimate sized' KPD deficiency though... and that is my biggest worry

My worry is that we haven't done anything to prepare for the potential huge haul next year.

IF we have three picks inside 25 and IF Warner stays then we are going to have a huge battle to get the points we need to match bids on all three.

I think there is a potential that we will be looking back and thinking it was a really short-sighted decision not to move one of our selections into next year's draft.
 
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Cal has long had it out for the Swans, due to the fact they give him absolutely zero information.

The cynic in me says that he put King in there to drive up the hype/bidding price. But more realistically, King is a unique talent (tall mid/potential to get taller) and has a unique skillset that may be unmatched in the 2025 draft.


That's also a possibility and something I've not ever thought of.

Whichever one is the taller player, does King compare favourably to Chamberlain or Carmichael?
 
Someone to keep an eye out for 2027 draft year - Coen Hardy. Would be playing u16 next year. 193 cm indigenous player, selected Australian All Schools u15 this year. Have not seen any footage of him so know nothing about him. Maybe someone with links to the academy can provide something.
Played with flying boomerangs and believe it is up on the 2027 draft thread on DT


Will keep an eye out in the u16s this year.

Few players to watch:

2025 - Carmichael, Chamberlain and King
2026 - McCartney (also North F/S), Jenkins x 2, Pignatelli, Smith and McGroden
2027 - So far going off of whispers but Hardy and Taylor. Will need to watch some
 
Played with flying boomerangs and believe it is up on the 2027 draft thread on DT


Will keep an eye out in the u16s this year.

Few players to watch:

2025 - Carmichael, Chamberlain and King
2026 - McCartney (also North F/S), Jenkins x 2, Pignatelli, Smith and McGroden
2027 - So far going off of whispers but Hardy and Taylor. Will need to watch some
Do we have any line of sight on James O'Loughlin, and his development? Played well at the U16 Champs this year

He's part of the 2026 year as well as a F/S
 
Do we have any line of sight on James O'Loughlin, and his development? Played well at the U16 Champs this year

He's part of the 2026 year as well as a F/S
I believe he's eligible to be drafted in 2025. He participated in the U16 championships this year as an overager. He does have a late birthday - Dec - so he was only just a overager, but that does make him eligible in the next draft. I gather he's had some injuries in recent years that may have held him back.

I only saw one game in this year's U16 championships and O'Loughlin showed some class but just in flashes. He played in the forward line but more in the style of a medium forward than a small forward. Maybe modelling his game off dad. But at this stage, his height and physique are more what you'd expect for a small forward rather than a medium.
 
Played with flying boomerangs and believe it is up on the 2027 draft thread on DT


Will keep an eye out in the u16s this year.

Few players to watch:

2025 - Carmichael, Chamberlain and King
2026 - McCartney (also North F/S), Jenkins x 2, Pignatelli, Smith and McGroden
2027 - So far going off of whispers but Hardy and Taylor. Will need to watch some

I would add Conrad Blackwell-Smith and Lachlan Price to the 2026 group.

I thought those two plus McCartney and McGroder were the standouts in the three or four games I watched this year.
 
Do we have any line of sight on James O'Loughlin, and his development? Played well at the U16 Champs this year

He's part of the 2026 year as well as a F/S

As Liz said, injuries have not allowed him to develop as much.

As things stand, would not get drafted IMO
 

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2025 - Lachlan Carmichael, Noah Chamberlain and Max King.
Kaiden McNamara, Louis Jans, Ned Hardman, Oscar Clifton & Lucien Sennitt are a watch.
2026 - Aidan McCartney (also North F/S), Conrad Blackwell-Smith, Mason McGroder & Guy Jenkin.
Lachlan Price, Ben Pignatelli, Cody Beavis, Leon Titmus, Will Jenkin & Patrick Smith are a watch.
2027 - Coen Hardy & Hugh Taylor

Need more names for 2027 if anyone knows of any prospects?
 
2025 - Lachlan Carmichael, Noah Chamberlain and Max King.
Kaiden McNamara, Louis Jans, Ned Hardman, Oscar Clifton & Lucien Sennitt are a watch.
2026 - Aidan McCartney (also North F/S), Conrad Blackwell-Smith, Mason McGroder & Guy Jenkin.
Lachlan Price, Ben Pignatelli, Cody Beavis, Leon Titmus, Will Jenkin & Patrick Smith are a watch.
2027 - Coen Hardy & Hugh Taylor

Need more names for 2027 if anyone knows of any prospects?
Why , your Port Adeliade , what's the interest in us ?
 

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2nds Official Swans Academy Thread (Player News and Discussion)

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