Sydney has been significant shapers of the first round of the National Draft, particularly causing havoc on GWS and Adelaide.
The opening night saw 21 picks taken after four bids were matched, with Greater Western Victoria Rebel Aaron Cadman taken with the first selection.
The agile tall forward joined GWS, and the first 10 picks went largely according to many experts' phantom drafts.
But Sydney got involved late in the piece. The Swans entered the draft with picks 14 and 17, which slipped to 16 and 18 after early bids for now-Brisbane duo Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher.
But the Swans surprised with two bids of their own at their first pick. The first was on Harry Rowston out of the Giants Academy, who wasn’t expected to be seen in the first round of the draft on Monday.
Giants won’t forget that Harry Rowston bid from the Swans. Whack…
— Marc McGowan 🗣✍️👨🏻💻📰 (@ByMarcMcGowan) November 28, 2022
I am so, so impressed by the pettiness of Sydney bidding on Harry Rowston knowing it would cost GWS pick 17 is why the bidding system was created - pure, unapologetic pettiness. I love it so much.#AFLDraft
— Carlton News & Stats (@UptheBaggers) November 28, 2022
GWS had pick 17 but lost that selection when matching the bid on Rowston. Had Sydney not bid, the Giants could have taken a player at pick 17 and then Rowston when a later bid came.
Essentially, Sydney’s list management team – led by list manager Kinnear Beatson – cost GWS a first round selection.
The Giants say they aren't bitter about the selection.
“Clubs are doing what’s in the best interest for them, I don’t think the Swans owe us anything,” GWS recruiting boss Adrian Caruso said after the draft.
“It is what it is.”
“I don’t think the Swans owe us anything, it is what it is.”
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) November 28, 2022
Giants recruiting boss Adrian Caruso on their arch-rivals bidding on academy prospect Harry Rowston in the first round. #AFLDraft pic.twitter.com/DAERl6Y4ir
But the drama didn’t end there. Max Michalanney, who was tied to Adelaide and also not expected to be taken in the first round, was the next subject of Sydney’s bid, one which the Crows eventually matched.
It comes after Adelaide played hardball in a trade for Jordan Dawson, who requested a trade to West Lakes and out of Sydney last year.
To add more intrigue to matters, Sydney then traded down the draft order to take Hawthorn’s pick 27 and future picks.
Every chance Sydney just got 27 and ~20 (plus a bonus third-rounder) for 18... which seems really good? (Without analysing the quality of each draft in those areas)
— Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) November 28, 2022
The Swans had previously declared an interest in trading into next year’s draft.
Sydney selected Jacob Konstanty with what ended up being pick 20, a pressure forward who has been likened already to Swans star Tom Papley.
The remaining picks of the 2022 National Draft will be selected on Tuesday night.