Opinion Sydney Swans Academy and Rebuild

[Saab NLAW]

The northern academies are really an equalisation tool. It's used to combat the natural advantages that come with being based in a 'footy state' and the fact that Victoria, SA & WA provide the vast majority of draftees every year. None of the teams based in Queensland or NSW have even half of their players originate from their home state so every year there's the very real possibility of the 'go home' factor making a mockery of what is supposed to be a fair national draft system that feeds exceptional talents into the worst teams in the league, regardless of which state they are based in.

Whether it's Gold Coast's Izak Rankine (pick 3) going home to SA this year, Sydney's Jordan Dawson going home to SA last year, GWS's Jeremy Cameron (Coleman Medallist) going home to Victoria the year before or Brisbane's Josh Schache (pick 2) going home to Victoria the year before that; this is a regular occurrence for the teams based in Queensland and NSW. Northern academy graduates like Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills, Tom Green, Harry Perryman, Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews and Jack Bowes help counteract the natural disadvantage of being based in Queensland or NSW.

Every team loses players, putting Sydney into the same bracket as GCS is a bit rich, especially considering the types of players Sydney have been able to poach.

It's not an equalisation tool at all, let's be real about it. The AFL needs Sydney and Brisbane to be strong to increase income, so they will continue to manufacture ways to prop both clubs up.

I understand the reasoning and it's ok with me, I just think it's hilarious watching Sydney fans trying to claim that they face the same problems that GCS and GWS have

 

[Number37]

Every team loses players, putting Sydney into the same bracket as GCS is a bit rich, especially considering the types of players Sydney have been able to poach.

It's not an equalisation tool at all, let's be real about it. The AFL needs Sydney and Brisbane to be strong to increase income, so they will continue to manufacture ways to prop both clubs up.

I understand the reasoning and it's ok with me, I just think it's hilarious watching Sydney fans trying to claim that they face the same problems that GCS and GWS have

Not as hilarious as watching Vic club supporters pretending the entire competition isn't skewed in their favour.

 

[SM]

Every team loses players, putting Sydney into the same bracket as GCS is a bit rich, especially considering the types of players Sydney have been able to poach.

It's not an equalisation tool at all, let's be real about it. The AFL needs Sydney and Brisbane to be strong to increase income, so they will continue to manufacture ways to prop both clubs up.

I understand the reasoning and it's ok with me, I just think it's hilarious watching Sydney fans trying to claim that they face the same problems that GCS and GWS have

If the Academies prop us up, what happened in 2019/20?

Why are Campbell and Wicks running around in the Reserves? Could it be that even using the Academy not every player is a guaranteed success?

Why are roughies like Papley and Warner such stars in our side?

Don't think we've won a flag yet with an Academy player in the side..

 

[Saab NLAW]

If the Academies prop us up, what happened in 2019/20?

Why are Campbell and Wicks running around in the Reserves? Could it be that even using the Academy not every player is a guaranteed success?

Why are roughies like Papley and Warner such stars in our side?

Don't think we've won a flag yet with an Academy player in the side..

No, Sydney won a flag with COLA

The AFL wants Sydney to be playing finals purely for money, don't pretend that you don't understand.

As I said, I have absolutely no issue with it at all, so not sure what you're carrying on about

 

[Saab NLAW]

Not as hilarious as watching Vic club supporters pretending the entire competition isn't skewed in their favour.

Not sure why you're getting so worked up about it, I'm in favour of it champ

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

The AFL wants Sydney to be playing finals purely for money, don't pretend that you don't understand.

Which is why they gave us a trade ban without reason?

 

[Saab NLAW]

Which is why they gave us a trade ban without reason?

I was definitely against the trade ban, it was the pressure from the other clubs after getting Franklin, but i wouldn't call it without reason lol

You Swans fans certainly like to rewrite history

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

I was definitely against the trade ban, it was the pressure from the other clubs after getting Franklin, but i wouldn't call it without reason lol

You Swans fans certainly like to rewrite history

No, just want the full story to be told.

Not sure there's anything in the AFL's charter specifically referring to capriciously slapping a trade ban on a club because they've done very well.

Whatever people think of COLA and the academy (and I'm perfectly happy to hear reasoned criticism of them; well, not COLA in this thread) they were clear policies adopted by the AFL (in COLA's case, signed off on by all other club presidents - something Eddie McG always conspicuously failed to mention), not just something dreamed up over a boys' club long lunch.

 

[Saab NLAW]

No, just want the full story to be told.

Not sure there's anything in the AFL's charter specifically referring to capriciously slapping a trade ban on a club because they've done very well.

Whatever people think of COLA and the academy (and I'm perfectly happy to hear reasoned criticism of them; well, not COLA in this thread) they were clear policies adopted by the AFL (in COLA's case, signed off on by all other club presidents - something Eddie McG always conspicuously failed to mention), not just something dreamed up over a boys' club long lunch.

Sydney hasn't had issues with player retention for a long time, and I mean that as a compliment because your mob has been one of the best run clubs for a long time.

 

[Back One Out]

Swans fans would have to be the most deluded bunch of supporters in the AFL. They really believe their NSW academy is justified to "grow the game" in NSW. (Just like they believed in COLA and they didn't view that as a systemic leg-up.) They can't see it's a huge advantage for their club to handpick the best athletes in Sydney and teach them how to play footy from a young age.

It's no surprise to see many of their NSW kids hit the ground running in their AFL careers. Victorian, SA and WA kids have to wait until they are 18 or 19 before they get onto an AFL list and receive professional coaching. The Swans academy kids have already been in the Swans system for YEARS. They've received years of intensive coaching & prepping from the Swans development coaches & ex-players. They've already been schooled in the Swans way of playing football well before they were drafted.

Do you think other AFL clubs wouldn't like to have have exclusive rights to the best young athletes and coach them up from the age of 13, 14, 15 ?

I've seen Swans fans trying to pour cold water on the idea it's an advantage. They say, "Which Academy kids? Who exactly? Well, how about 2020 All Australians: Mills and Heeney just for starters? Then there is Blakey, Gulden and Campbell (pick 5 in 2020). That's 5 players in their 22. Or 4 players in their current best 18. The number is only going to increase over the next 10 years.

They've drafted plenty of other Sydney kids via their NSW academy who haven't made the grade for whatever reason. Plus the likes of Rampe, Naismith and Kieren Jack

Kieren Jack

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37

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178cm

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81kg

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M/F

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Last 5

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19.6

5star

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11.4

4star

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8.2

5star

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2.8

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5.1

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3.8

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10.8

3star

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6.2

3star

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4.6

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.0

5star

& his brother Brandon who were recruited from the Sydney region before the academy was set up. Obviously there is plenty of talent in the nation's most populous region.

I get that Swans fans think it "evens out" the disadvantage of them losing Victorian born and bred players to poaching raids from Vic clubs. But when was the last time that happened? Which players have the Swans lost over the past 15 years? Hannebery was washed up and should've retired. Lewis Jetta went home to WA. Tom Mitchell wanted more opportunity to play on ball and earn the big bucks. Swans had Kennedy, Hannebery, Parker, Jack, McVeigh. (Plus he felt he wasn't treated well by Longmire, being made to play games in the Reserves, when lesser talented players were playing seniors.)

The Swans were pretty happy to get those guys off their books in return for players or picks. Jordan Dawson

12

Jordan Dawson

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27

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191cm

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91kg

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Mid

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17.0

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11.4

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5.7

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4.8

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2.8

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0.6

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D

15.7

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K

10.9

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HB

4.9

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

2.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

D

11.8

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K

7.8

3star

HB

4.0

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M

5.0

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T

3.0

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CL

0.6

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was one that got away, but every club has a story like that. The bad old days of their top picks deserting them have long gone. (Anthony Rocca

Anthony Rocca

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47

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195cm

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105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

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D

11.3

3star

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8.1

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3.2

3star

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5.2

5star

T

1.5

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G

1.9

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

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7.2

3star

HB

3.6

3star

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5.2

5star

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1.8

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2.0

5star

, Shannon Grant

Shannon Grant

Age

47

Ht

180cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

12.0

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.6

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G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.2

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G

0.8

4star

, Darren Gaspar

Darren Gaspar

Age

48

Ht

192cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

6.3

2star

HB

5.1

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

4.6

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.0

4star

)


The Swans are a brilliantly well-run club who recruits and develops kids from Vic, SA and WA better than almost every other club. Most of their talented young players are happy to stay in Sydney because of the great club culture, the lifestyle and the relative anonymity of playing AFL footy in a rugby town.

Kudos to the Swans.

But then you factor in the expanded salary cap (COLA) which enabled them to poach the likes of Franklin, Tippett, Mumford, Kennedy, Benny McGlynn, Rhyce Shaw

Rhyce Shaw

Age

43

Ht

182cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.8

4star

K

12.0

4star

HB

5.8

4star

M

4.3

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

313.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.4

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

1.6

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

, Marty Matter, Darren Jolly

Darren Jolly

Age

43

Ht

200cm

Wt

108kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.4

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

4.2

3star

CL

2.3

4star

HO

21.0

5star

No current season stats available

D

3.2

1star

K

1.6

1star

HB

1.6

2star

HO

3.2

5star

, Spida Everett, Ted Richards

Ted Richards

Age

41

Ht

193cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.6

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.7

4star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

153.4

2star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.8

3star

, etc. The AFL finally nixed their COLA after the Swans signed Buddy as a free agent and trumped the AFL's plan for him be the Giants marquee player. Swans fans lament the short-lived "trade ban", but meanwhile their club were given sole rights to Sydney, the Central Coast and Northern NSW as their recruiting zone.

Is it any wonder the Swans have a near permanent residency in the Top 8 ?

Why the hell can't the AFL's northern franchises play by the same rules as everyone else? Why must the AFL always hand them competitive advantages?
The Swans have proved that if you have a well-run club, then your players are more likely to stick around.

 

[SM]

No, Sydney won a flag with COLA

The AFL wants Sydney to be playing finals purely for money, don't pretend that you don't understand.

As I said, I have absolutely no issue with it at all, so not sure what you're carrying on about

My god you're a sook.

 

[SM]

I was definitely against the trade ban, it was the pressure from the other clubs after getting Franklin, but i wouldn't call it without reason lol

You Swans fans certainly like to rewrite history

You mean following the rules as set out by the AFL?

 

[SM]

Sydney hasn't had issues with player retention for a long time, and I mean that as a compliment because your mob has been one of the best run clubs for a long time.

Didn't we literally just lose Jordan Dawson?

 

[Saab NLAW]

My god you're a sook.

How am i sooking? Do you actually read my posts? I'm in favour of the concessions given to Sydney hahaha

Only a Sydney fan would get angry at someone agreeing with them

 

[SM]

How am i sooking? Do you actually read my posts? I'm in favour of the concessions given to Sydney hahaha

Only a Sydney fan would get angry at someone agreeing with them

Claiming the AFL wants us to be playing Finals is a tinfoil hat crackpot theory. Of course they want us to be successful, they want all clubs to be successful and engage more and more people. It's the whole notion of a draft, equalisation, etc. They would have loved both GCS and GWS to have won flags by now and have large supporter bases. Have those things happened? They had a NSW scholarship program prior to the Academies that were a complete bust, so we've been entrusted to doing it better. Amazingly, it's actually worked. Funny that.

 

[Saab NLAW]

Didn't we literally just lose Jordan Dawson?

So? Most clubs lose players, what are you having a sook about now?

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

How am i sooking? Do you actually read my posts? I'm in favour of the concessions given to Sydney hahaha

Only a Sydney fan would get angry at someone agreeing with them

We're angry at everything!

Sydney hasn't had issues with player retention for a long time, and I mean that as a compliment because your mob has been one of the best run clubs for a long time.

No, but as my worthy constituent pointed out, the academy isn't just about player retention, it's about growing the talent pool, and footy across the board, in the northern states.

Whether it's the best way about it is obviously up for discussion, but that's a pretty genuine and admirable goal of the AFL.

 

[SM]

So? Most clubs lose players, what are you having a sook about now?

You just said we have no issues with retaining players which was a lie. I'm not saying we're any better or worse than others but claiming we don't have issues was a ****ing dumb comment. Up there with saying there was a reason to give us a trade ban.

 

[Saab NLAW]

Claiming the AFL wants us to be playing Finals is a tinfoil hat crackpot theory. Of course they want us to be successful, they want all clubs to be successful and engage more and more people. It's the whole notion of a draft, equalisation, etc. They would have loved both GCS and GWS to have won flags by now and have large supporter bases. Have those things happened? They had a NSW scholarship program prior to the Academies that were a complete bust, so we've been entrusted to doing it better. Amazingly, it's actually worked. Funny that

Do you have a problem with comprehension? I've already stated multiple times that I support the concessions that Sydney get haha

You're a weird one, it's like I'm not allowed to have an opinion even if i agree with you lol

BF is a bizarre place

 

[SM]

Do you have a problem with comprehension? I've already stated multiple times that I support the concessions that Sydney get haha

You're a weird one, it's like I'm not allowed to have an opinion even if i agree with you lol

BF is a bizarre place

Haha yeah lol yeah you're totally agreeing with us haha.

 

[Saab NLAW]

We're angry at everything!

No, but as my worthy constituent pointed out, the academy isn't just about player retention, it's about growing the talent pool, and footy across the board, in the northern states.

Whether it's the best way about it is obviously up for discussion, but that's a pretty genuine and admirable goal of the AFL.

And I support it hahaha

So what's your problem?

 

[Saab NLAW]

Haha yeah lol yeah you're totally agreeing with us haha.

If i support the concessions then why does it matter what my reasoning is for it?

Or do you just like being a victim?

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

And I support it hahaha

So what's your problem?

I'm just saying that the argument about player retention is only part of the picture, and as I said from (I think) my first post in our exchange here, I just want to see the whole story being told. Unlike the other poster replying to you, I have no problem with your comments.

 

[SM]

If i support the concessions then why does it matter what my reasoning is for it?

Or do you just like being a victim?

Because it'd be like saying "Yeah I think Melbourne are a great club, I love that May is a violent thug who knocks out teammates. It's great." You might disagree with my reasoning even if you also think Melbourne are a great club. Do you get how that works? If you say "Yeah I love that the AFL cheats to help Sydney make finals every year, it's great" Swans supporters might not agree with you? Haha.

 

[Saab NLAW]

Because it'd be like saying "Yeah I think Melbourne are a great club, I love that May is a violent thug who knocks out teammates. It's great." You might disagree with my reasoning even if you also think Melbourne are a great club. Do you get how that works? If you say "Yeah I love that the AFL cheats to help Sydney make finals every year, it's great" Swans supporters might not agree with you? Haha.

So you're a victim lol

Enjoy the outrage champ haha