The holes in every club's list ahead of the AFL Draft

Whether in key posts or through a lack of depth, each team still has rostering potholes to fill.

SUBSCRIBER | November 5, 2021 - 12:25pm

Despite being less than a month until the start of the AFL Draft, almost all of the league's 18 clubs will believe their starting line-ups are close to complete

But irrespective of this confidence, every roster still has holes.

Due to the nature of the league, it is almost impossible for two sides to be in exactly the same place, so some of these gaps may be chasmic, whilst others may be wafer-thin.

However, if left unattended, those of any magnitude could lead a side to ruin.

Although fixing an issue can often be more challenging than identifying it, with these holes in mind, every side now has a starting point for sealing ahead of next September.

Sydney

Having flown back into the finals following a fast start with impressive kids, the Swans appear to have refound a formula that served them so well for decades on end.

While the Bloods strengthened their foundation for the future by blooding Campbell, McDonald, and Gulden, the continued rise from fellow youngsters Warner, Rowbottom, McInerney, McCartin and Blakey were sure to create a swarm of smiles between Albert and Moore Parks.

2020 AFL Draft Media Opportunity — SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 10: Braeden Campbell (L) of the Swans and Errol Gulden of the Swans pose for a photo during a media opportunity following the 2020 AFL Draft at Lakeside Oval on December 10, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Given the variety of roles that each of these players perform, almost every position on John Longmire's whiteboard has been covered.

However, the departure of a winger that found new heights last season leaves at least one base without a runner.

After entering 2021 just shy of the 50-game mark, there was a hope that Jordan Dawson would both elevate his own game and his side's service between the arcs.

And after more than doubling his output for marks and rebound 50s from the season before, as well as almost doing the same for disposals, tackles, and forward line entries, the South Australian repaid this faith with an entire deck of spades.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Jordan Dawson of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal during the round 17 AFL match between Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium on July 11, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Across the course of his final 23 appearances in a red and white guernsey, Dawson recorded the astronomically ameliorated averages of 22.3 disposals, 5.5 marks, 4.9 rebound 50s, three inside 50s, and 2.95 tackles.

This exponential growth was enough to see the now 24-year-old rewarded with a podium finish in the Bob Skilton Medal count.

Yet, with the quiet achiever opting to trade feathers this off-season, the sterling young wing partnership of Dawson and McInerney was ended.

As mentioned, Longmire has plenty of other names he can deploy in this up-and-back role next season, so even though this is a hole, it is one that has the ability to be filled with relative ease.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: John Longmire, Senior Coach of the Swans coach addresses the team at three quarter time break during the 2019 AFL round 18 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium on July 20, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Still, if rotations to find a fit are required, and a suitable successor isn't found with pace, then the Swans could be set to stall for a portion of next season.

Some may believe this view is too alarmist and that I am inflating his influence given his ubiquity during the recent trade period, but with these previously mentioned averages in mind, and his true ceiling still out of reach, Dawson's departure does meet the metrics for this particular piece.