AFL news: Gary Buckenara’s end-of-season list ratings revealed
List guru Gary Buckenara felt Sydney needed to rebuild in 2021 but, like many analysts, he’s had to put his hand up. He rates the Swans’ list.
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What an amazing club Sydney is.
The Swans again defied the predictions of most analysts in 2021 – and I’m happy to put my hand up here.
Even though they lost their first final against cross-town rivals Greater Western Sydney, the Swans’ performance was courageous to come back after a very costly lapse in the second quarter.
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They had their chances to win the game and some misses in front of goal under the pressure of a final were costly.
I had felt Sydney was in need of a rebuild but with smart recruiting and list management they added Tom Hickey, who has been a great pick-up in an area they needed immediate help in.
They have a wonderful development program at the Swans and this must be the template for
developing clubs.
The Swans managed players like Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker very well and added some exciting youngsters that have shown great signs in 2021.
Their reward was to play finals again – quicker than most expected.
The last two years have been very hard on all clubs due to the Covid disruptions but Sydney has been well managed during this period.
The Swans have handled the changing circumstances well compared to a club like West Coast, which, on paper, has far more talent at the top end on their list, yet failed to adapt in 2020 and 2021.
The Swans’ list could do with some more top-end talent in A and B-ranked players but the great sign is the 10 future AB players coming through.
Players like Nick Blakey, Tom McCartin, Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell, Logan McDonald, Justin McInerney, Will Gould, Chad Warner, Dylan Stephens and James Rowbottom all look as though they will develop into A and B-grade talent in time, which will help those numbers at the top end as players retire.
LIST NEEDS
Sydney has set the standard for the other northern clubs to follow with its academy set-up and development of young talent. This is paying handsome dividends for the club, along with the excellence in list management and recruiting for many years under Kinnear Beatson.
The Swans have 15 A and B-graders plus a number of very good C-graders which gives them good depth to cover injuries.
I really like the fact they have 10 future AB players and only five players in the “need more time” development category. Not many clubs have more of the top development rating and this is a great sign for the future and also a reflection of their recruiting excellence over many years, so credit must go to Kinnear and his team at the Swans.
Their list is well balanced but if there was an opportunity to bring in a free agent or out of contract player that adds to the club’s needs, I am sure they will look at doing that.
Sydney fans should know their list management and recruiting is in very good hands – and has been for a long time.
TRADE TARGETS
The Swans are very clever and plan their strategies very well during this period. I am sure they will have a plan to suit their list – whether it is adding a free agent or an out of contract player. Like all clubs, I am not expecting huge changes on their list.
UNTOUCHABLES
All the A, B and developing players with some selective C-grade players that provide great depth such as Robbie Fox, Hayden McLean, Colin O’Riordan, Harry Cunningham, Kaiden Brand, Ryan Clarke, Sam Naismith (inj), James Bell, Ben Ronke and Matthew Ling that can come in and all play a role for the team.
TRADE BAIT
I doubt the Swans will be looking to trade out any players without requests, but you never say never. Defender Jordan Dawson has requested a trade home to South Australia while midfielder George Hewett has found a new home at Carlton. Dawson is a big loss with his beautiful kicking skills but he should net them a top-20 selection.
WHAT THE RATINGS MEAN
List management is one of the most important jobs at an AFL club.
Poor decisions can be catastrophic — and Collingwood proved that last year.
Far too many clubs can often hold an overly-optimistic view when ranking their own lists and this can lead to years of mediocrity and has Carlton done this recently?
When clubs are rating their lists, they should rank players as: A+, A, B+, B, C+, C and Development.
In this list analysis, I have just done A, B, C and two tiers of development (“future AB players” and “need more time”) because with the younger players it is important to see who is coming through and those that need more time.
The important area for clubs to look at is how many A and B ranked players they have as well as future consistent AB players.
These rankings are my opinions, but they should give supporters a reasonable snapshot as to where their playing list sits now — and how they might look in a few years’ time.
Players 22 and over
A-grade: Elite players on any AFL list
B-grade: Top 10-18 player on most lists
C-grade: An 19-30 player on a list
Developing: Aged 21 or under
Future AB players: These are players that will hopefully develop into an A or B ranked player once they turn 22. They might be playing to this level now, but it takes sustained years.
Need more time: These players would be a player recently drafted that is still developing and therefore will need more time to see if he is likely to develop into an A or B grade player.
RATING THE LIST
A-grade: Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley, Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin, Dane Rampe, Luke Parker.
B-grade: Will Hayward, Oliver Florent, Callum Mills, Callum Sinclair, Sam Reid, Tom Hickey, Jordan Dawson, Jake Lloyd.
C-grade: Kaiden Brand, Ryan Clarke, Harry Cunningham, Sam Naismith, Sam Gray, Matt Ling, Ben Ronke, Lewis Taylor, James Bell, Barry O’Connor, Colin O’Riordan, Hayden McLean, Robbie Fox, Lewis Melican.
DEVELOPING
Future AB players: Chad Warner, Dylan Stephens, Logan McDonald, James Rowbottom, Braeden Campbell, Will Gould, Errol Gulden, Nick Blakey, Justin McInerney, Tom McCartin.
Need more time: Marc Sheather, Joel Amartey, Malachy Carruthers, Sam Wicks, Lachlan McAndrew.
Free agency: George Hewett (to Carlton for end-of-second round compensation)
SYDNEY’S LIST BREAKDOWN
A-grade: 6
B-grade: 8
C-grade: 14
DEVELOPING
Future AB players: 10
Need more time: 5
CRYSTAL BALL
I have so much respect for the Sydney Swans and how they have established such a strong club and culture – a far cry from the ugly duckling days that I was caught up in.
They have a terrific group of people who work together on and off the field to support the players and this provides them with the tools to blossom under a great development program and coaching team.
Having said that, I am sure the club would have liked to have added some more silverware to the cabinet over the past few decades. They have been thereabouts quite a few times in this period, only to fall short.
I predicted 2021 was going to be a bit harder for them to make the top-eight but I learnt never to write this club off, as their fighting spirit and culture carries them a long way.
The Swans will be around the mark again in 2022 but are they good enough to win a flag? I wouldn’t bet against it but I do feel their list just lacks the top-end talent of other clubs and keeping their best players on the park is the key.
The list has some ageing players but the good news for Sydney fans is the strong number of future AB players on the list that are likely to develop into top-ranked stars and this is why the list is in good shape.
Bucky: Lions must consider another Hodge-style deal
Brisbane’s campaign fell short again in September this year but the Lions should be a team challenging for the finals for the next five years.
The Lions’ list is in very good shape and it is one of the better-balanced lists in the AFL with very good top-end talent and a strong number of future AB players coming through.
Their first final against Melbourne was disappointing and they were smashed all over the ground by Demons’ finals pressure.
The Lions were taught a lesson on how to adapt to the next level of finals football pressure and what you need to bring and prepare for.
The semi-final against the Western Bulldogs could have easily gone either way and, in the end it was a heartbreaking loss for the Lions.
But again it was a straight-sets departure from the finals for Brisbane, which is something that should really burn and drive the club after being so close, yet so far two years in a row.
With a hungry young list, this group can regroup for 2022. They just need the sting from not getting the job done for the past two years.
The Lions’ faithful will be disappointed but I feel there are some great opportunities ahead over the next five years or so for this group.
If they learn from the last two campaigns, they can seize them.
LIST NEEDS
The Brisbane list is very well-balanced with a strong number of developing players, in particular the future AB graders – it is a great sign for the future.
At the top-end, there are 16 A and B-grade players with six very steady C-grade players, including Nakia Cockatoo who could be anything if his body could stand up regularly.
They are well poised to be a regular in the top-eight for a number of years yet, so if there are players on the free agency market like a Luke Hodge or Grant Birchall role for a year or two, I am sure they would consider that scenario as the list is young with 20 developing players.
TRADE TARGETS
Brisbane has been very smart during the trade period recently and I am sure they will have a plan in place for 2021.
They have become a destination club for players because they are going to be a finals team for a number of years and they will be interested in adding to the list of A and B-graders – if the right type of player is available through free agency or as an out of contract player.
UNTOUCHABLES
All of their A, B and future AB players. This gives them 27 talented players with experience and potential and some handy depth players in the C-ranked players
TRADE BAIT
I doubt many players will want out of this group nor do I expect the Lions to move out any of their A or B-graders – unless there was an opportunity to add another class A-grader from another club.
I expect Brisbane will have minimal changes to its list for season 2022.
WHAT THE RATINGS MEAN
List management is one of the most important jobs at an AFL club.
Poor decisions can be catastrophic — and Collingwood proved that last year.
Far too many clubs can often hold an overly-optimistic view when ranking their own lists and this can lead to years of mediocrity and has Carlton done this recently?
When clubs are rating their lists, they should rank players as: A+, A, B+, B, C+, C and Development.
In this list analysis, I have just done A, B, C and two tiers of development (“future AB players” and “need more time”) because with the younger players it is important to see who is coming through and those that need more time.
The important area for clubs to look at is how many A and B ranked players they have as well as future consistent AB players.
These rankings are my opinions, but they should give supporters a reasonable snapshot as to where their playing list sits now — and how they might look in a few years’ time.
Players 22 and over
A-grade: Elite players on any AFL list
B-grade: Top 10-18 player on most lists
C-grade: An 19-30 player on a list
Developing: Aged 21 or under
Future AB players: These are players that will hopefully develop into an A or B ranked player once they turn 22. They might be playing to this level now, but it takes sustained years.
Need more time: These players would be a player recently drafted that is still developing and therefore will need more time to see if he is likely to develop into an A or B grade player.
RATING THE BRISBANE LIST
A-grade: Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale, Daniel Rich, Dayne Zorko, Charlie Cameron, Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews, Oscar McInerney.
B-grade: Joe Daniher, Mitch Robinson, Jarrod Berry, Lincoln McCarthy, Jarryd Lyons, Marcus Adams, Daniel McStay, Darcy Gardiner.
C-grade: Callum Ah Chee, Nakia Cockatoo, Tom Fullarton, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Rhys Mathieson, Connor Ballenden.
Developing
Future AB players: Brock Smith, Deven Robertson, Ely Smith, Tom Berry, Cam Rayner, Keidean Coleman, Connor McFadyen, Zac Bailey, Brandon Starcevich, Jack Payne, Noah Answerth.
Need more time: Henry Smith, Jaxon Prior, Harry Sharp, Thomas Joyce, Blake Coleman, Carter Michael, Deividas Uosis, James Madden, Kalin Lane.
Retired/delisted: Archie Smith (retired), Grant Birchall (retired).
BRISBANE LIST BREAKDOWN
A-grade: 8
B-grade: 8
C-grade: 6
DEVELOPING
Future AB players: 11
Need more time: 9
CRYSTAL BALL
The Brisbane list is in strong shape and it is a credit to the list management and recruiting teams at the Lions, who have done a mighty job over the past five years.
The Lions supporters are going to have an exciting journey in the next five years or so as this club should be set for a very good era.
But winning premierships is much harder to do than it is to say and a lot of things need to come together to win one and Covid has just added another layer to the challengers.
The Lions have the pieces there and I am confident this group can bounce back from the finals disappointment of the past two years to again be a challenger.
GWS LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKY URGES GREENE TO GROW UP … FAST
Greater Western Sydney has been a real let-down as a club.
When they first started, they were blessed with some wonderful draft and player concessions and many in the industry wondered how anyone was going to beat such a talented group of players.
Over time, players have gradually left the club to return to their own states – or to a football state – and this has slowly eroded the depth of the list.
But there does seem to be a real spirit emerging within the group and players committing to the club long-term, which is a great sign for the team to build around some star players.
Perhaps their biggest star, Toby Greene, continues to let himself – and more importantly the club and his teammates down. So disappointing.
Plenty of players have had white-line fever and many can control it without it impacting their aggressive attack on the ball.
Greene needs to learn the difference and adjust his stupid acts and temper and redirect it to a fierce no-nonsense attack on the ball and contest.
It’s time for Toby to grow up or his time as a player is going to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
The Giants made the finals again in 2021 after a challenging year on the road, compounded by some bad injuries, so it was a great effort to get so far as they did.
They have been competitive and made a Grand Final but that ended badly and you have to wonder what lasting effect this has had on the group.
The list boasts 15 A and B-grade players and has depth with a number of C-graders still capable at the AFL level.
I like the number of future AB players in Lachie Ash, Tanner Bruhn, Tom Green, Sam Taylor, Jake Riccardi and Bobby Hill that are likely to become very good players.
The Giants need these younger players to develop as they will find it harder now to attract experienced A and B-grade players through free agency.
So, they need an outstanding development program that produces players just like Sydney has done so well.
The good news is seeing players committing to the club for the long term with Josh Kelly signing on for eight years, so hopefully they can now keep this core group together and add talent through their academy program as the Swans have.
LIST NEEDS
The Giants’ list is still quite strong on paper with a good number of A and B-grade players, some good C-rated depth players and seven future AB players.
But they just continue to disappoint in games they should win, especially at home.
They need some ruck back-up for Shane Mumford because, as good as he is, father time is coming very soon.
The list is well balanced but it is time GWS produced more consistently to become a genuine premiership contender and not be satisfied with sneaking into the top-eight.
Stephen Coniglio is a player that seems to have lost all confidence and the club needs to help him find his mojo again.
Playing him in the reserves won’t do much to help him but if he can get back to his best it will be a bonus for the Giants.
TRADE TARGETS
They need another ruckman and Braydon Preuss is not the answer. Hawthorn’s Jon Ceglar would be a great fit as he is in and out of the Hawks’ team and he can play forward as well.
Just like the Gold Coast, it is hard for GWS to attract top talent to the club because it’s a non AFL-state and environment. If a player can get reasonable offers in a southern football state – or from their own club – they will stay and reject better offers to fly north.
They tend to lose players and get draft picks and this makes it extremely hard to build a list.
UNTOUCHABLES
The core A and B-graders as well as their seven development players would ideally be their best 22 and players like Adam Kennedy, Daniel Lloyd and Jesse Hogan – if fit – can provide back-up and depth. Hopefully the Giants can develop some younger players from within over time to help build a list like Sydney has.
TRADE BAIT
GWS most likely won’t have a say in who wants to leave as a free agent or uncontracted players because if they want to return home, they will accept less money to do so.
But we have seen some players re-sign, which is an encouraging sign for the club and hopefully this trend continues. This might allow the club to finally be able to keep a talented group of players together for the first time in the club’s history.
WHAT THE RATINGS MEAN
List management is one of the most important jobs at an AFL club.
Poor decisions can be catastrophic — and Collingwood proved that last year.
Far too many clubs can often hold an overly-optimistic view when ranking their own lists and this can lead to years of mediocrity and has Carlton done this recently?
When clubs are rating their lists, they should rank players as: A+, A, B+, B, C+, C and Development.
In this list analysis, I have just done A, B, C and two tiers of development (“future AB players” and “need more time”) because with the younger players it is important to see who is coming through and those that need more time.
The important area for clubs to look at is how many A and B ranked players they have as well as future consistent AB players.
These rankings are my opinions, but they should give supporters a reasonable snapshot as to where their playing list sits now — and how they might look in a few years’ time.
Players 22 and over
A-grade: Elite players on any AFL list
B: Top 10-18 player on most lists
C: An 19-30 player on a list
Developing: Aged 21 or under
Future AB players: These are players that will hopefully develop into an A or B ranked player once they turn 22. They might be playing to this level now, but it takes sustained years.
Need more time: These players would be a player recently drafted that is still developing and therefore will need more time to see if he is likely to develop into an A or B grade player.
RATING THE LIST
A-grade: Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly.
B-grade: Phil Davis, Jacob Hopper, Callan Ward, Isaac Cumming, Tim Taranto, Brent Daniels, Nick Haynes, Matt de Boer, Harry Himmelberg, Matthew Flynn, Harry Perryman, Daniel Lloyd, Shane Mumford.
C-grade: Stephen Coniglio, Jacob Wehr, Braydon Preuss, Jesse Hogan, Lachlan Keeffe, Zach Sproule, Jeremy Finlayson, Adam Kennedy, Jake Stein, Jack Buckley.
DEVELOPING
Future AB players: Tanner Bruhn, Lachie Ash, Tom Green, Sam Taylor, Jake Riccardi, Xavier O’Halloran, Ian Hill.
Need more time: Ryan Angwin, Conor Stone, Cameron Fleeton, Kieren Briggs, Will Shaw, Connor Idun, Callum Brown, James Peatling.
Retired/delisted: Matt Buntine (delisted), Sam Reid (delisted), Nick Shipley (delisted), Tom Hutchesson (delisted).
LIST BREAKDOWN
A Grade: 3
B Grade: 12
C Grade: 11
Developing
Future AB players: 7
Need more time: 8
CRYSTAL BALL
The Giants have a well-balanced list, albeit without the quality at the top they once had.
But the challenge for GWS is much the same as it is for Gold Coast.
As they are both the second sides in their northern states, it is much harder for them to gain the support in areas that have their own challenges and GWS is in the heart of the western suburbs of Sydney that loves soccer.
The Giants did not have the luck they needed in 2021 with injuries to key players, but the reality for all teams has been the last couple of years with Covid have been very hard.
The bottom line is GWS still has a strong list of players with good depth and they should be a top-six team based on talent.
With some even luck with injuries in 2022, they should be a contender again.
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