With the club’s first selection, the Swans picked up North Ballarat midfielder Dean Towers at pick 22.
The 22-year-old, who was one of the leading mature-age hopefuls in the draft, impressed at this year’s AFL Draft Combine, where he posted outstanding results in the sprint tests. Towers also smashed former Hawk Trent Croad’s vertical leap record, which had not been broken in 15 years.
Swans Recruitment and List Strategy Manager Kinnear Beatson said the club has had their eye on Towers for quite some time.
“Dean’s a typical, late-maturer, but he won the best young talent award in the VFL,” Beatson told sydneyswans.com.au.
“He’s a 190cm wingman/halfback who has good speed and good power - we’re pleased with him; he was a priority for us.
“We just felt Dean’s got the talent to be of real use to us, so it’s not like we just picked up a 22-year-old because he’s 22, we feel with his speed and power and ability overhead, he really suits us.”
With pick 44, the club selected East Fremantle defender Harrison Marsh.
The 17-year-old has been described as having a ‘prodigious’ kick and impressive drive out of defence.
Beatson said the Swans are looking forward to developing the young defender into a quality senior player.
“Harrison Marsh is a young boy from Margaret River who just came up to East Fremantle this year, so 2012 was a bit of a learning curve for him,” he said.
“He’s around the 188cm mark, he’s powerful, quick and good around stoppages. He’s got a bit to learn but that’s OK because he’s a good kid, he applies himself and all of the reports on him have been really good.”
Marsh played three games for Western Australia in the AFL Under-18 Championships and showed signs of being a talented one-on-one defender.
Marsh also showed his speed at this year’s AFL Draft Combine, where he finished in second place overall in the repeat sprint test.
Gippsland Power forward Tim Membrey was the Swans third selection in this year’s draft at pick 46.
The 189cm forward, who has been likened to West Coast Eagles forward Jack Darling, kicked 54 goals at TAC Cup level this year for the Power and Vic Country and possesses strong overhead marking capabilities and a long accurate kick for goal.
Described as “too good to pass up” by Swans coach John Longmire, Beatson said the Swans were surprised a player of Membrey’s calibre did not go in the first round.
“Tim Membrey was a bit of a Luke Parker situation where you’re just sitting there and thinking what’s happened here,” he said.
“We just felt he’s too good a player to go past.”
Calder Cannons defender Matthew Dick was the final new face to join the Swans in this year’s draft, with pick 64.
The 18-year-old was a member of the Vic Metro side that won the 2012 NAB AFL Under-18 Championship and possesses great speed and uses the ball well by foot.
Beatson said the club was excited to secure the 188cm defender.
“For Vic Metro this year in the last couple of rounds he was asked to play fullback, which isn’t really his cup of tea because he’s a quick player, who kicks the ball with plenty of penetration,” Beatson said.
“He’s strong through the core, so we’re excited about Matty.”
Dick also impressed at this year’s draft combine, setting a new record in the clean hands test with a score of 29.
The Swans passed on picks 65, 96 and 104 and utilised pick 107 to elevate 2012 Swans rookie Harry Cunningham to their senior list.
Beatson said overall, the Swans were pleased with the four draftees set to join the club in 2013.
“The four players we got are all big, strong bodies and they’re all quick,” he said.
“We know they’re good people, all of these four men, they’re strong and they’re going to adapt to training pretty quickly.
“We’re pleased with the pace, the power and the size of the guys and they can all kick the ball with a bit of depth.”
