How the Sydney Swans built an AFL powerhouse

THEY might have fallen at the final hurdle today, but Sydney’s power-packed list was the result of clever, specific recruiting and exceptional player development, writes Jon Anderson.

The Swans had “seen a lot of Joey’ and really liked him, and Josh Kennedy nearly rewarded them with a Norm Smith Medal against the Dogs. Picture: Getty Images

FOR all the perceptions of sweethearts deals and the squealing that sometimes emanates from the south, another visit to the Grand Final for Sydney is basically the result of clever, specific recruiting and exceptional player development.

The recruiting team, led by list manager Kinnear Beatson, oversaw a losing Grand Final side yesterday that contained a remarkable nine rookies, players who were overlooked in national drafts before being given a second chance by the Swans.

SWANS FALL SHORT IN 2016 AFL GRAND FINAL

It’s a long way removed from the bleating we heard when Buddy Franklin joined the club on a multi-million dollar deal over nine years, when in essence, other clubs boast players with highly paid long-term contracts including the Western Bulldogs and Tom Boyd.

Lance Franklin is the club’s highest profile recruit under Beatson. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Yes, Sydney was blessed to pay “unders” for a rare talent in Isaac Heeney, pick 18 being around 17-18 places away from the 1-2 where he belonged in the 2014 draft, but a year later they paid correct odds for Callum Mills at 3.

And Kurt Tippett was a godsend, arriving for nothing via the 2013 pre-season draft. And after that Swans’ list is a long way removed from the bountiful treasures boasted by their across city and at times bitter rivals in the GWS Giants.

So why did Beatson and his national recruiting team choose the 22 who yesterday helped Sydney ‘honour the name by day and by night”? Beatson, who has been with the Swans since 2006, likes pure footballers.

LANCE FRANKLIN INJURED IN AFL GRAND FINAL

“History shows that if you punt on someone’s athleticism in the hope they will become more competitive, invariably that doesn’t happen. You can make a competitive type more athletic but rarely the other way,” said Beatson.

ROOKIE DRAFT

Tom Papley (Rookie draft, Pick 14): We had been searching for a genuine small forward for a long time. Gippsland threw him up as a midfielder but it didn’t work, then he went back in 2015 and had a ripping finals series. Sometimes we try too hard to make them into things they are not.

Jake Lloyd (rookie, 15): Just an accumulator who could really run. A natural footballer who doesn’t get too far ahead of the play and can really read the play, a very smart small mid.

Nick Smith (rookie, 15): At Oakleigh he was playing on a wing but we had seen him play defence and liked the way he went about it in his methodical manner. Very smart and a good person.

Xavier Richards made it all the way to the Grand Final under Sydney’s superb development program. Picture: David Caird

Xavier Richards (rookie, 29): A 19-year-old who had a lot to learn as an 18-year-old. His running capacity for his size was very compelling and at Sandringham his season was turned around when he went forward.

Harry Marsh (rookie, 32) : He is a poster boy for highlighting the patience that is sometimes required, given we originally took him in the national draft. He could have spat the dummy when we took him back as a rookie but his conduct has been exemplary.

Dane Rampe (rookie, 37): Rick Barham spotted him in the Australian Country Championships so we bought him in for two games with the NEAFL team. Mentally strong, good runner and he gave us no reason not to pick us.

*Heath Grundy (rookie, 42)

*Kieren Jack (rookie, 58)

Sam Naismith (rookie, 59): He initially looked a 1000 miles away and was terribly out of condition. Injuries have hindered him but it allowed his body to develop. He would always do one or two things as an Academy kid that were unique.

FIRST ROUND

Callum Mills (Pick 3): Has been a really, really good player all the way through. In time he will become a really good midfielder.

*Jarrad McVeigh (5)

Gary Rohan (6): He was in the same draft as Lewis Jetta. We had a lot of debate about whether we would take Gary or Lewis first. We knew if we took Lewis at Pick 6, there was no chance Gary would be there at 14 so it worked out well because we got them both.

Zac Jones (15): Had a tremendous back end of the year for Dandenong. Played mainly as a defender then coach Graeme Yeats threw him on the ball in the finals and they couldn’t stop him. If you threw the ball out in front of two players at training, Zac would win more than lose. He will bleed for you.

Isaac Heeney was a steal at pick 18. Picture: Mark Stewart

Isaac Heeney (18): Like Callum Mills. If the bidding system had been in, we wouldn’t have been able to get him at Pick 18. I’m not sure the footy public realise how tough he is.

Tom Mitchell (21): We had our hands full because GWS were trying to get him as one of their 17-year-olds. A ball magnet who catches them out a bit with his left foot. Just a natural footballer.

SECOND ROUND

Dan Hannebery (30): In a game for Oakleigh he went from an outside to an inside mid. It’s this energetic character that is invaluable around a footy club, great tank, loves to train and compete.

George Hewett (32): Was very young in his draft year. Could find the ball in traffic and then get out of traffic. Plus he can mark it well for his size. In the prelim final he had more pressure acts than anyone else on the ground.

Luke Parker (40): Is a reflection of the mindset of what we as recruiters can develop. Lack of height and the fear of how a mature body type will look like in five years time. I remember when he reached Pick 40 saying to John Longmire ‘his kid is just too good to go past’. As recruiters we can keep searching for something else when it’s standing right there in front of us.

“Great tank, loves to train and compete”: Dan Hannebery in a nutshell. Picture: AAP

Aliir Aliir: We knew we had problems coming up back with Teddy (Richards), Reg (Heath Grundy) and LRT (Lewis Roberts-Thomson) getting older. He was always very athletic but needed to improve his conditioning. He rarely lost his feet. Working with Reg Grundy over summer helped him enormously. His peripheral awareness is outstanding.

TRADE/FREE AGENCY

Josh Kennedy (traded from Hawthorn): ‘Joey’ was part of the 2009 draft where we brought in Gary Rohan, Lewis Jetta, Ben McGlynn, Shane Mumford and Mark Seaby. George Stone had seen a lot of ‘Joey’ and really rated him. And Hawthorn needed draft picks to help facilitate the Shaun Burgoyne trade.

Ben McGlynn (traded from Hawthorn): We were looking for that crumbing, quicker forward who could apply the defensive pressure that’s so necessary. Our mid-range picks in that trade prevented that Burgoyne trade from going to mediation.

Jeremy Laidler (de-listed by Carlton): A de-listed free agent who’d played some good footy at Carlton but had some injury problems. One of our staff in Mick Agresta knew he was a good fella from their time at the Calder Cannons.

Kurt Tippett (Pre-season draft): Key forwards who can ruck are hard to get. To get him through the pre-season draft was a bonus.

Lance Franklin (Restricted free agent): It was just very exciting that he would want to come to our club. If you saw Buddy walking anywhere in casuals, you would pick him as a sportsman of some type. People don’t realise how much of a footy head he is, how much input he has in team meetings. Our younger forwards, and defenders, get a lot of information off him on how to beat players. He is very astute.

*Chosen prior to Beatson becoming recruiting manager.

Kurt Tippett was had for nix, but has become a key figure in Sydney. Picture: Colleen Petch.