Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy has heard on the grapevine that Collingwood are targeting Port Melbourne ruckman Sam Naismith in the mid-season draft.
Naismith, who played 30 games for Sydney between 2014 and 2020, was delisted by the Swans last off-season after struggling to remain fit having undergone three knee reconstructions.
Now playing for the Borough in the VFL in an attempt to earn another shot at the top level, Healy told Kane Cornes and Josh Gabelich on SEN Sportsday that he was told the 30-year-old was a player of interest for the Pies.
Healy was surprised that he might be on Collingwood’s radar given that their ruck stocks are returning to full health ahead of the draft.
Healy: “I got told this last night, Kane and Josh.
“Sam Naismith, who spent a long, long time on the list at Sydney Swans and I think had to end up having three knee reconstructions.
“He's shooting the lights out from my understanding as a ruckman in the VFL.”
Gabelich: “He’s playing with Port Melbourne.”
Healy: “I'll give you three guesses as to which club is likely to pick him up, from what I was told last night.
“So don't take this to the bank.”
Cornes: “There are only eight clubs have got to pick, isn't there?”
Gabelich: “Right now, yes but they've got all the way up until the 30th of May to add some spots.”
*We saw Max Lynch added to the long-term injury list as of today (at Hawthorn).
“So, I think we'll see how the clubs do that throughout the next couple of weeks.”
Cornes: “Naismith to West Coast (is my guess) Gerard.”
Healy: “No, much closer to home, a Victorian based club.”
Gabelich: “Well, Richmond have had injury issues in the ruck, but they’ve now got (Toby) Nankervis back.”
Healy: “It’s a club that doesn’t need a ruckman, which is quite surprising. But I reckon they could do with another ruckman as back up, it’s the Pies.
“That’s what I was told, but I looked at that and went, ‘Hmm, that would be unusual, but we’ll see’.”
Gabelich: “I was told a couple of months ago (they were interested) when Darcy Cameron went down.”
Healy: “But he’s available (now), Mason Cox is also now playing.”
Gabelich: “Aiden Begg is back too.”
Healy: “If I was Sam Naismith, I wouldn’t go to the Pies.”
Cornes: “He could win a premiership though, he’s unlikely to get into the best 22 but imagine Marlion Pickett style.”
Healy: “I would like him to go to the Swans, they need a ruckman.”
Cornes: “Even West Coast.”
Healy: “Well, St Kilda need a ruckman.”
At this stage, Collingwood don’t have a pick available for the mid-season draft but they can open up a slot by moving a player to the long-term injury list.