Richards to Swans

[Glenn]

From the limited times I have seen Ted Richards play and the reports, seems the Swans have come out on the better end of the deal, especially considering how this years draft is of a weaker standard overall

[woo]

Originally posted by hammo
The money saved on Spida will help pay for the pay rise to Ryan O'Keefe

YAYAYAYAY...i like that idea...

[cowcar]

I reckon this is a good deal for the swans. Richards is tall, strong, and mobile, which is what every backline needs (except the bumbers, as their back line is quite good).
The plus side from this, as someone pointed out, is that it will mean less pressure on Leo, or B2, plus the possiblity of Kenelly in the middle.

[Newbie]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I think it's excellent news. Essentially we've picked up Richards for pick #19. Looks to be a capable tall backman. Much of the draft is a lottery anyway.

I reckon we got screwed. Dont think a fringe Essendon player worths a top 20 pick anyhow. Sheedy must be a pretty good trader but I hope this is payback time for us and Richards could fulfill a role for us.

[swan_song]

Was listening to KB on SEN on the net a bit this morning...even there the opinion seems divided on whether he's a dud or not. The reasoning was that if he had been any good he would have got more game time than he had. Still, if he develops under the guidance of super coach Paul Roos, fills in at FB to allow Leo back to the flank and Tadhg a run in the midfield...i'll be happy...
My daughter though is now worried that one of her 22 heroes who brought us the premiership will have to miss out if Richards plays... The good news is that like Spriggs last year, not all traded players are walk-ins to the starting 22.

[SimonH]

Saddo is well and truly worth a pick in the 20s. I would rather keep him (we can always try again next year!) if we can't do better than mid or late 30s. Interesting that Essendon preferred a pick at #19 to him (as no doubt he was offered). Trying to equate Powell with a draft pick is meaningless, b/c he would be closer to one in the late 50s or 60s, which are untradeable; so Powell could just be added in to any existing deal to sweeten it, if the other club is interested in giving him a go.

With these 2 new tall dudes, one of whom is mobile, hanging around the club, Saddo's opportunities will be even further diminished in 2006 and so you've gotta hope that we can do him a deal.

[barry]

Originally posted by sharpie
You mind explaining this?

Why would Essendon get rid of a 22 year old tall who the hold in "high regard" when they are rebuilding and have no cap problems.

It doesnt make sense unless he's a dud.

Sheedy loves us. We've got another "Saddo" and somehow lost our 1st round pick

[Newbie]

Originally posted by cowcar
I reckon this is a good deal for the swans. Richards is tall, strong, and mobile, which is what every backline needs (except the bumbers, as their back line is quite good).
The plus side from this, as someone pointed out, is that it will mean less pressure on Leo, or B2, plus the possiblity of Kenelly in the middle.

I am not quite sold on the idea of playing Kennelly in the midle. Watch him closely and his short kicks do not seem to carry the same precision as his long kicks.

Playing in the midle would require a decent short kick to start with.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by Newbie
I reckon we got screwed. Dont think a fringe Essendon player worths a top 20 pick anyhow. Sheedy must be a pretty good trader but I hope this is payback time for us and Richards could fulfill a role for us.

One thing Essendon have had recently is plenty to choose from for key defensive positions: Fletcher and Lucas, and trying to develop Kepler Bradley. So he did face plenty of competition to get a run.

And I'm not worried about giving up a top 20 pick, just as I wasnt last year with the Jolly trade. In both cases we've taken a punt on a young guy that has some experience in the AFL system and a body to match. All a top 20 pick gives you in the draft is the chance to take a punt on a young kid with no experience in the AFL system and most likely a body 3-4 years away from developing suitably for AFL, especially for talls).

As I see it, a 22 year old has a much bigger upside than a draft pick in a reportedly weak draft.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by barry
Why would Essendon get rid of a 22 year old tall who the hold in "high regard" when they are rebuilding and have no cap problems.

It doesnt make sense unless he's a dud.

Sheedy loves us. We've got another "Saddo" and somehow lost our 1st round pick

See my previous post regarding Essendon's stock of key defenders.

[Young Blood]

http://bombersfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=players&spg=playerprofile

194cm but only 86kg (if you can believe that). Would like him to beef up a bit if we're looking at him to play KP.

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player.asp?ID=55

Here it says 96kg!Robert Shaw's comments are also interesting - they fit with my overriding memory of him: he always looks like he's trying really hard. Should fit in well with that attitude. But it could also be a sign that he doesn't quite have the class for senior footy (at least, not yet).

[Ryan Bomford]

Originally posted by Young Blood
[url]Robert Shaw's comments are also interesting - they fit with my overriding memory of him: he always looks like he's trying really hard. Should fit in well with that attitude. But it could also be a sign that he doesn't quite have the class for senior footy (at least, not yet).

Like Powelly?

[Plugger46]

What's this rubbish about Sheedy being the master? Murphy, Allan, Cupido, Alvey, Zantuck. Gee what an amazing bunch of footballers they are.

[Young Blood]

Originally posted by barry
Why would Essendon get rid of a 22 year old tall who the hold in "high regard" when they are rebuilding and have no cap problems.

It doesnt make sense unless he's a dud.

Sheedy loves us. We've got another "Saddo" and somehow lost our 1st round pick

The fact he told them he wanted to leave probably had something to do with it.

And another Saddo, aged 22 and injury-free doesn't sound too bad to me. Possibly we paid a little over the odds for him, but only a little.

[Young Blood]

Originally posted by Ryan Bomford
Like Powelly?

To be honest, I've barely seen Powell play.
Richards is 4cm taller, and I'd say (admittedly from pretty dodgy memories) that he's more nimble than Powell.