THE SYDNEY Swans have rounded out their senior list by recruiting South Australian medium forward James Rose at Thursday's NAB AFL Draft.
Rose, from Sturt, is a powerful package with good hands, great leap, penetrating kick and a love for physicality.
He was taken with pick No.37 – the Swans' only live pick in the draft – and will fill the void left by delisted free agent Tim Membrey, who is now with St Kilda.
The 2014 runners-up had already successfully bidded on three of their own academy players in the lead-up to the draft, including highly touted midfielder Isaac Heeney.
Heeney was taken with the Swans' first round pick (No.18) after Melbourne had bid its first selection (No.2) on him.
Jack Hiscox (No.38) and Abaina Davis (No.70) were also locked in prior to the draft.
Hiscox is the running machine who set the 3km record (9.18) at the Draft Combine in October.
"We got James with our live pick at 37 and the three academy boys - we've had a really good night," Swans general manager of football Tom Harley said.
Earlier on Thursday, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said the League might reconsider the trade ban imposed against the Swans that would threaten the club's right to use the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).
Selection No.18 – Isaac Heeney (Cardiff/Swans Academy)
Tom Harley says: "He's your typical midfielder, he's a good size, he's hard at it, he works hard, he uses the ball well in traffic and he's good overhead, so to get Isaac at pick 18, we're very happy about that."
Selection No.37 – James Rose (Sturt)
Tom Harley says: "He played a lot of footy for Sturt reserves this year. James plays predominantly as a hard-working half-forward. We really like his intensity and scope for improvement. We think we've got a really good, versatile player that can play a number of roles."
Selection No.38 – Jack Hiscox (Sydney Uni/Swans Academy)
Tom Harley says: "He's an elite runner and we know he'll be able to work all over the ground. He's got a good frame he'll grow into and he can play a variety of positions. When you look at the big grounds … if we can forecast forward, we'd love to see Jack tearing up and down the wing at the MCG."
Selection No.70 – Abaina Davis (UNSW-Easts/Swans Academy)
Tom Harley says: "Abe's a key position player who's impressed our coaching staff with his aerobic capacity when the going gets tough. He's a good size and can play either centre-half back or centre-half forward – that'll be up to John (Longmire) and the coaching staff."
