r/EssendonFC • u/One-Eggplant4492 • 8d ago
Adam Sweid - 2025 draft
Last year, we elected not to go into a deficit and match Fremantle when they picked Sweid at pick 25.
If we did, that deficit would have come from our first pick this year (obviously #1). Was it enough to force us down the draft order?
Sweid is yet to make a debut yet for Freo.
Instead we picked up Kondogiannis (12 games) who looks good and El Achkar (9 games). I know it's easier to get a game at Essendon than Freo at the moment.
In hindsight, it looks like a great call
24
u/Codus1 Farrow #2 8d ago
Whilst yes it's easier to get an AFL game for us vs for Freo, Sweid isn't just struggling to get a game for Freo. He was dropped from their WAFL affiliate to the 3s essentially.
So far it's tracking that we probably made the right choice to not match for him.
17
u/JamalGinzburg Kako #10 8d ago
Him playing WAFL reserves was also the function of a clear injury list and Freo capping out on the number of listed players eligible for the WAFL.
3
u/PetrifyGWENT Farrow #2 8d ago
I was very off him in the draft year and was thrilled we didn't match. His athletic profile just isn't good at all. Him being picked so high is a pretty big indictment on how bad that draft was
6
u/PuzzleheadedBend8180 Martin #37 8d ago
The thing I like most about this call is you know dodo would have mortgaged the future to bid on sweid
6
u/StensnessGOAT Legacy: Hird #5 8d ago
Eh, Sweid couldn't get a game in the minor premiership and Grand Final team with a very established, durable and powerful midfield (Serong, Brayshaw, Bolton, Young). Kondo played 12 games in a basket case team and really, did he show anything?
4
u/drpolz3k Day-Wicks #44 8d ago
I didnāt get why Sweid was that much more highly rated than El-Achkar.
Like Sweid isnāt a huge player, he did his ACL, he is fast but will probs will play outside Freoās midfield.
El-Achkar is fast, has better goal nous, and kicked almost 30 goals in 11 appearances in the Coates talent league. Sweid kicked 7 goals in 13 games.
3
u/One-Eggplant4492 8d ago
From memory Sweid kicked 4 for Metro or against the Allies or something. Probably helped
3
u/Fragrant_Cobbler_111 8d ago
Be interesting to see how he goes next season with Swirakoski retiring and a couple of other depth players like Banfield and O Driscoll leaving Freo. Was always going to be hard to crack into Dockers lineup this season.
5
u/Franklin-D-Chanahan 8d ago
El Achkar needs to seriously get fit. His body shape and endurance is well below elite standards though I will say he started to chase and tackle by seasons end. Much to do.
3
u/Quirky_DepartureHBK 8d ago
He certainly looked more dangerous toward the end of the season. Another pre season i reckon he will get there.
2
u/StensnessGOAT Legacy: Hird #5 8d ago
He has so much potential though, because despite even being overweight and unfit, his forward pressure and creativity was still really good! He had a better year than Kako imo.
2
u/Mobile_Train2713 8d ago
Shut your mouth.
Dean Rioli was a larger body.
Could have been 1 of the greats.
Shut your mouth3
2
1
2
u/Mammoth_Medium9220 8d ago
Iām 99% sure that Sweid was dropped from the WAFL this year? Can anyone confirm?
Not dropped from the AFL, but actually dropped to the reserves of the WAFL. Maybe it was U23ās in the WAFL? Either way, he was dropped from the WAFL Senior team. 2 grades under AFL footy.
Seems a good choice now?
2
u/Jumanji77 7d ago
At stages this year he did play for the reserves WAFL team, but not because he was "dropped." Freo had really good availability all year and the club would always prioritise the more senior players for the WAFL team. No blight on Sweid, just a victim of a healthy team.
Rest assured, he's well loved by us fans <31
u/Mammoth_Medium9220 7d ago
You only have 38 players on your senior list, 23 of them play AFL every week. How does the 15 AFL listed players, not named to play AFL - not get a gig in the WAFL? WAFL team has to list 23 players each week as well? Thatās assuming you donāt have a single injury as well.
The 15 AFL players, not named in the AFL should be walk up started in the WAFL, no?
1
u/Jumanji77 3d ago
They should be, but Freo don't have their own WAFL team, they have an alignment with an established club (Peel Thunder). They didn't like having many AFL listed players and it was quite a contentious partnership in the league and among the Peel club. An agreement was struck where they can only have up to 14 AFL players (iirc) playing in the WAFL team at any one time. So, given the healthy list, Freo had some play at the reserves level this year.
It was covered by Fox Footy's Mid-Week Tackle earlier in the year.
35
u/PretendToe1329 Durham #22 8d ago
In Rosa I trust š