THE SYDNEY Swans have shored up their defensive stocks, recruiting three defenders in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
Victorians Sean McLaren, Nicholas Newman and Lewis Melican were taken with picks 17, 35 and 52 respectively in the rookie draft on Wednesday.
Coach John Longmire said the trio were bright prospects that will bolster the Swans' backline, with 21-year-old Newman seen as a potential replacement for Nick Malceski, who moved to Gold Coast as a free agent at the end of last season.
"We are really pleased to secure Sean and Lewis who are both tall defenders, as well as Nicholas, who comes off an outstanding season in the VFL where he was awarded the Fothergill-Round Medal for most promising young talent," Longmire told the club’s website.
"We are really pleased with what we have been able to achieve this pre-season via the draft and rookie draft, and full credit to our recruiting team and our academy."
The Swans passed on picks 64 and 69 and then snared Jordan Foote with pick 76.
The 182cm midfielder is the fourth Swans academy player to be added to the list this pre-season, alongside Isaac Heeney, Jack Hiscox and Abaina Davis who were selected in the national draft last Thursday.
"This has been an outstanding year for talent in New South Wales with record numbers being drafted to AFL lists,” Longmire said.
"Jordan is the fourth player from our academy we have selected this year. It is a strong indication of the academy programs working and delivering positive outcomes for the entire competition."
Swans rookie picks:
Selection No.17 – Sean McLaren (Sandringham Dragons)
Football manager Tom Harley says: "Sean is a key defender at 198cm and is a really competitive player. He's been part of the AIS-AFL Academy … the really top-end part of the program. He's spent a bit of time in the ruck also, so has some versatility and is really servicing a need in both our key defensive stocks and in our ruck stocks."
Selection No.35 – Nicholas Newman (Frankston)
Football manager Tom Harley says: "We were really surprised that Nicholas was still there at pick 35. Our recruiting staff has kept an eye on him for a while and he is a beautiful kick and plays off half-back. He was targeted from our end with the hole that Nick Malceski obviously vacated going to the Gold Coast. He won the Fothergill-Round Medal, which is the Rising Star equivalent in the VFL."
Selection No.52 – Lewis Melican (Geelong Falcons/Birregurra)
Football manager Tom Harley says: "He's a terrific prospect. He's young in the draft age but is really task-focused and is a good size at 193cm and a key defender. We really liked the way Lewis progressed this year and he's got a lot of upside going forward.
Selection No.76 – Jordan Foote (Uni of NSW/Eastern Suburbs/Maroubra Saints)
Football manager Tom Harley says: “We went in with the four picks and we had committed to QBE Sydney Swans Academy player Jordan Foote with our fourth pick in the rookie draft, which is great and is another success story for the academy and for football in Sydney. He’s an inside-mid and he’s really professional with the way he prepares his body to get himself up to play, so we’re really hopeful that he’s going to have a long career with the Swans.”
