Swans play AFL draft antagonist for rivals
Anna Harrington |
If GWS were the protagonist of the AFL draft, then cross-town rivals Sydney were more than happy to play chief antagonist.
The Giants entered Monday’s opening night of the draft with a monster haul of picks: No.1 (Aaron Cadman), No.15 and No.18, which they would have hoped to take before a bid came in on any of their academy products.
After bids on Brisbane father-son duo Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher, their latter two picks were bumped to No.17 and No.20 respectively.
But there, ready to pounce, were Sydney – holding pick No.16.
Giants recruiting boss Adrian Caruso looked exasperated on the broadcast cameras as the Swans bid on GWS academy prospect Harry Rowston.
It meant rather than being able to take another player at No.17 and use later picks to tally up the points for Rowston, the Giants’ second selection was swallowed up in the bid for the talented young midfielder.
“We planned for the scenario and ultimately it hasn’t affected us too much,” Caruso told reporters.
“Not at all (did it rub salt in the wound that the bidding rival was Sydney). Clubs are doing what’s in the best interest for them, I don’t think the Swans owe us anything.
“It is what it is. We were more looking at what’s our overall draft hand, and we don’t feel like it’s affecting us at the moment.”
Having stymied GWS, the Swans were not yet done.
Sydney then bid on Adelaide prospect Max Michalanney, the son of Norwood great Jim Michalanney, with the Crows quickly matching the bid for the defender at pick No.17.
After all that, the Swans did not draft a player with their first selection, which became pick No.18.
Instead, they traded it to Hawthorn – who drafted Josh Weddle – in exchange for pick No.27 plus future second and third-round picks.
The Swans finally entered the draft in their own right when they snapped up Victorian forward Jacob Konstanty with pick No.20.
GWS landed small forward Darcy Jones with pick No.21, the final selection of the first round.
The Giants will open Tuesday’s second night with pick No.22.
AAP
