2008 AFL Draft Review – Sydney Swans

Sydney was the lightest player in the 2008 AFL Draft only using three picks. They once again found themselves in a familiar territory with a late first round pick (12) being their top pick. The emphasis was on key position players and they certainly filled this area. Let’s have a closer look at their three draftees.

Pick No. 12 – Lewis Johnston

There was no great surprise when it came to Sydney’s first pick and they read out the name of Lewis Johnston. Johnston is a strong, athletic power forward from South Australia who has the ability to do the brilliant but also the ability to be a coach killer. He is a very good mark both as a lead up forward and in a contested situation. The areas that need improvement are his work rate when the other team has the ball and his discipline as he is prone to giving away silly free kicks. Don’t expect to see a huge amount of Johnston in 2009 as he was a bottom age recruit and it’s more than likely the Swans will look to ease him into it.

Pick No. 30 – Daniel Hannebery

 

 
Daniel Hannebery is a hard running midfielder from the Oakleigh Chargers with great endurance. He has great courage and was a big ball winner at Under 18 level. Hannebery will need to work on bulking up through the preseason but already has that added advantage of having a great tank and being able to run with a lot of the AFL midfielders. He finished 1st in the 3km time trial at NAB AFL Draft Camp.

Pick No. 61 – Campbell Heath

 

 
Campbell Heath is a medium sized defender from the Gippsland Power. He is a good user of the ball off half back and reads the play well. This pick was a bit of a surprise but the Swans have had a good record in recent times with their late picks.

Stuart Maxfield from Sydney had the following to say after the Draft:

We were after a key position player and a genuine midfielder and we got both of those. We got a bonus tacked on the end when we got Campbell Heath, who is a very skillful player.

Once again the Swans were a small player at Draft time. Johnston was a good pick for them as they need someone to replace their veteran key forwards over the next couple of years. Hannebery is a hard working midfielder that should suit the Swans style of play. Heath was a bit left field but he is a bottom age player and it is likely he would have gone higher had he been in the draft next year.

How do you think Sydney fared at the draft? Do you think Lewis Johnston was the right man for them at Pick 12? Leave us with your thoughts.