Sydney will target midfielders and a ruckman in the national draft

THIS year’s national draft is looming at Sydney’s most important since the Swans snared Gary Rohan, Lewis Jetta and Sam Reid in 2009.

Gary Rohan has been a draft win for Sydney. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE Swans are aiming to use the draft to bolster their midfield talent and add a back-up ruckman after the departures of Tom Mitchell and Toby Nankervis in the trade period.

But football manager Tom Harley says the club’s plan is to use their early picks simply on the best player available and look after any specific needs with later selections.

Sydney are set for their most important draft since 2009 when they landed Gary Rohan with the sixth pick, Lewis Jetta at 14 and Sam Reid at 38. They have improved their position in the annual lottery to now have picks 9, 19, 46, 49 and 93.

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“We will just go for the best player available,” Harley told the Daily Telegraph.

“If that’s a speedy, skilful midfielder we’ll go for that. It’s a heavy midfield draft particularly in the first round.

The Swans are looking for a Tom Mitchell replacement. Picture: Getty Images

The most important thing is we are in the position from our supporters’ point of view to bring in at the very least two very talented players.

There’s always gems later in the draft with picks 46 and 49 and who knows we might draft the next Adam Goodes or Luke Parker.”

Diamonds in the rough like Goodes (pick 43 in 1997) and Parker (pick 40 in 2010) are rare but not uncommon at Sydney with recruiting guru Kinnear Beatson calling the shots. Dan Hannebery came at pick 30 in 2008 and Aliir Aliir at 44 in 2013.

Beatson is set for a big night when the draft comes to Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on November 25.

The Swans started the trade period with picks 17, 39, 54 and 93 but negotiated their way into a much stronger position. Harley believes the class of 2016 will be one of the best in years.

“It’s an even draft and outside the top 10 picks 10-20 you could throw a blanket over,” he said.

“Moving from 14 to nine was important for us. With the early picks you just go for the absolute best player. You have to take each pick on its merits and the later you are in the draft the more you look for players you have a need for. We need a ruckman but it doesn’t mean we will use the national draft for that. We might use the rookie draft for that.”

With no Isaac Heeney or Callum Mills type players in the Swans academy this year there was no need to stockpile lower draft picks to match potential bids from rival clubs.

Picks 9 and 19 will almost certainly be used on midfielders and if there are any quality key position players left at 46 and 49 they could be used there.

Originally published as Sydney will target midfielders and a ruckman in the national draft