Sydney’s list and midfielders have fallen well down the Champion Data rankings
Sydney hit this month’s draft looking for midfielders. Now we know why. Champion Data has the former powerhouse ranked well outside the top 8 heading into 2019 and it all starts in the middle of the ground.
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Sydney list manager Kinnear Beatson walked away from the draft a happy man.
“We came into the draft looking to get a bunch of midfielders and we’ve been able to do that,” Beatson said.
“We really rate (James) Rowbottom – a bigger-sized midfielder, very explosive around the stoppages and we needed to address that. We’ve also been able to address a bit of outside run with (Justin) McInerney and (Zac) Foot.
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“As per our plan coming into today, we’re happy.”
Well, now it makes a little bit more sense. The Swans’ list has plunged to 13th in the eyes of Champion Data and it is largely because of a midfield drop off.
For the first time in a long time, Sydney’s engine room is a concern. While Luke Parker is still rated an above average midfielder (in the 11-35 per cent bracket), Josh Kennedy has fallen to the average category (35-65 per cent).
In fact, Kennedy is 10 per cent off being rated below average by Champion Data while Dan Hannebery is now at St Kilda.
Isaac Heeney is rated an above average mid-forward although he is untried as a pure midfielder and so there remains a question mark over whether he can help fill the void.
The Swans have played finals in 13 of the past 15 seasons but they did not win a final this year and, according to Champion, have the 13th-best midfield in the AFL.
Let’s hope the draft class can get a wriggle on.
Originally published as Sydney’s list and midfielders have fallen well down the Champion Data rankings
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