As we near the end of the first week of the 2015 AFL Trade Period it again feels that the build-up throughout the season to the ‘finals for the teams outside the eight’ has again let AFL fans down.
At the time of writing there had been a total of five trades made – in my mind this is a complete joke.
For all the rumour, gossip and ‘inside-mail’ that we all hear leading up to the 12 days of the AFL trade period, you would think there would have been a lot more movement between clubs to get their decks in order so they could hit the ground running.
This is especially so for trades that is a straight player for player swap. The conversation would sound like: “We need him, you want this bloke, let’s get it done!”
But it just seems to drag on for so long.
If you have had a chance to listen to the AFL Trade Radio program you might be like me and struggle to believe they can fill the airwaves with so much fluff. It is mind-numbing and extremely frustrating.
The free agent system is also a farce and I don’t care whatever AFL Media spin is provided; free agency makes the top teams stronger and the lower clubs weaker. The players have all the control and the clubs are virtually powerless to do what is in the best interest for them.
It is all ‘short-term’ gain and for supporters like me who follow clubs that are rebuilding I feel we keep getting kicked in the nuts. I want my team (Melbourne) to say: “If you want out that’s fine but we will work out the best deal for us, not you. If you don’t like it – stiff. You are under contract to us and we’ll decide what we need to grow or you can wait until your contract is up and then you are free to go wherever you like.”
On that note, if I have to hear the term ‘destination club’, ‘required player’, or ‘quality player’ again over the next week I will pull my hair out.
It makes me sick to hear clubs say that someone who couldn’t get a regular senior game through the season and is genuine fringe player, is suddenly worth a first-round pick during trade time. They need to take a trip on Mark Neeld’s ‘reality bus’ and have a good look at themselves.
What can the AFL do to speed the process up? Do they open trading up throughout the year like the NRL? I know that AFL fans think it is ludicrous that a player can commit to one club yet play the rest of the year for their current one, but if you think about it, they are already doing this.
Trade conversations are happening all through the season but there are only 12 days to secure a signature. It’s a little backwards.
Do they shorten the period? Not sure. But something has to happen as the AFL community are getting overly frustrated that there is too much talk and not enough action.
What do you think? Leave your opinion in the comments below.
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