SYDNEY Swans entered the draft knowing full well they would have a points squeeze on their hands, and ended up making one of night one’s biggest calls. On top of landing three academy graduates, the Swans also had a look at the open draft and opted for a mature-age bolter late in the piece.

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DRAFT HAUL

NATIONAL DRAFT:
Pick 14. Harry Kyle
Pick 35. Jevan Phillipou
Pick 42. Billy Cootee
Pick 49. Max King

ROOKIE DRAFT:
Jake Lloyd (re-listed)
Dane Rampe (re-listed)
Noah Chamberlain (Cat A Academy)
Liam Hetherton (Cat B NSW Zone)

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

It’s a situation Sydney knows all too well. The Swans came into night one with murmurs surrounding a possible bid on club-tied talent Harry Kyle in the teens. That came to fruition as local rival GWS called out the rugby convert’s name, with Sydney in a willing position to match just before that pick 14 threshold.

On the back of just one full year in the Swans Academy, Kyle showcased his upside with a strong rate of development and highly desirable athletic profile. He will likely slot in off half-back and the wing to start off, with scope to fulfil his growing potential as a tall and dynamic 188cm midfielder.

With a bunch of points swept up in the Kyle bid, Sydney would next have a tough decision on its hands. Having come into the draft with priorities and a grasp on each possible scenario, there was little the Swans could do when Lachlan Carmichael was called out by the Western Bulldogs with pick 21.

In a case of deja vu, the Swans let their nominated talent walk to Whitten Oval just like Josh Dunkley did in 2015. While the reliable defender would have been a great addition, his first round selection is another win for the club’s academy. It also gave Sydney the freedom to make open draft selections.

With a second academy prospect in Max King slipping all the way down to pick 49, Sydney nabbed childhood Swan Jevan Phillipou and 22-year-old Billy Cootee to round out a high-upside crop with some readymade mid-forward depth.

King has enormous potential with some of the most explosive athletic traits going, capable of playing as a tall forward or midfielder. Philippou, the brother of St Kilda’s Mattaes, is a hard-running midfielder who can play in, out, or on a flank. He, too, is a powerful athlete with his leap and agility.

Cootee was one of the draft’s real surprise packets. Once Essendon’s VFL captain, the Western Jets product ventured over to Norwood where his fast feet and clean skills impressed Sydney. He’ll be ready to go as a high forward who can pinch-hit inside, balancing out a haul of long-term talent.

Sydney was also busy in the Rookie Draft. Veterans Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd were re-listed, while a third academy graduate in Noah Chamberlain earned his shot as a Cat A rookie. NSW export Liam Hetherton also got through the National Draft to be listed as a Cat B rookie.

Chamberlain came into the year with big wraps as an aggressive high-marking forward and wingman. Fellow National Academy member Hetherton missed much of the season through injury but showed plenty as a key forward/ruck early in the year, looking strong in the air and agile over the ground.

GRADE: B

This is the kind of draft crop which could look very good in hindsight, it just may take a while to come through. There’s a lot of upside in the likes of Kyle, King, and the two fresh rookies. Kyle’s early bid was offset by a late one for King, and while losing out on Carmichael hurts, it allowed Sydney to bring in Phillipou and secure some maturity in Cootee. Athleticism is where the game is going and there is no shortage of speed, nor a depth of tall forward options to develop under new recruit Charlie Curnow.