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The Roar's AFL trade and free agency period report card - every club graded, as voted by you!

Expert
23rd October, 2016
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Richmond Tigers player Brett Deledio (left) leaves the ground after they were defeated by the North Melbourne Kangaroos in the first qualifying final of the AFL at the MCG Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Expert
23rd October, 2016
241
3312 Reads

The results are in! Roarers, on Friday I asked you to grade the performance of every AFL club in this year’s free agency and trade period – and now we’ve totalled up your votes, and bring you the final judgements.

For each team we’ve got the grade that you gave them, the grade that I gave them, and a few short comments from me on why I think what I do. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we definitely do not!

Have a read and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Adelaide Crows

In: Picks 43, 67
Out: Jarryd Lyons, pick 71
2016 draft picks: 13, 43, 53, 67, 89

Unlike many, I don’t think the Crows need a Bryce Gibbs to become premiership contenders. They’re a youngish side and aren’t going to see too many big retirements over the next few years, so can afford to build more patiently.

That said, to go after Gibbs and fail to land him – and not come out looking too good in the media stakes – makes it hard to give them any kind of positive grade. They gave up Jarryd Lyons too cheaply as well.

Voters’ grade: D (41.6 per cent)
My grade: D

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Brisbane Lions

In: Jack Frost, picks 3, 16, 22, 76, 2017 first-round pick (Port Adelaide), 2017 third-round pick (Collingwood)
Out: Pearce Hanley, picks 2, 19, 31, 51, 60, 2017 third-round pick, and 2017 fourth-round pick
2016 draft picks: 3, 16, 21, 22, 76, 78, 96

A pretty canny set of moves from the Lions really, acquiring two additional first-round picks – one this year, and one next – at fairly low cost. Jack Frost could be handy too.

Voters’ grade: B (48.3 per cent)
My grade: B

Carlton Blues

In: Billie Smedts (Geelong), Caleb Marchbank (GWS), Jarrod Pickett (GWS), Rhys Palmer (GWS), picks 48, 63, 66, 70
Out: Zach Tuohy, picks 45, 58, 135, and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 5, 25, 48, 63, 81, 99

Carlton missed a great chance to get another high draft pick by trading Gibbs, and continue to clog their list as Stephen Silvagni goes back in for his own sloppy seconds… Marchbank and Pickett could be something if they get out of the rehab group. Colour me unconvinced.

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Voters’ grade: B (45.7 per cent)
My grade: F

Collingwood Magpies

In: Daniel Wells (North Melbourne, unrestricted free agent), Chris Mayne (Fremantle, unrestricted free agent), Lynden Dunn (Melbourne), Will Hoskin-Elliott (GWS), picks 44, 51, 62, 105, 2017 third-round selection (Brisbane Lions)
Out: Nathan Brown (unrestricted free agent), Travis Cloke, Marley Williams, Jarrod Witts, Jack Frost, pick 47, 2017 second-round selection, 2017 third-round selection
2016 draft picks: 28, 44, 51, 62, 65, 83, 101, 105

Every now and then I look at this and think I’ve made sense of it, but really, no, I’m very confused as to exactly what Collingwood are trying to do or trying to be. Whatever it is, it feels high-risk, low-reward. Hoskin-Elliott I like, and Wells is all class.

Voters’ grade: C (38.3 per cent)
My grade: D

Essendon Bombers

In: James Stewart, picks 29 and 68
Out: Michael Hibberd, picks 59 and 77
2016 draft picks: 1, 20, 29, 41, 68, 95

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They didn’t do much, but they didn’t need to do much. Held firm on what they wanted for Michael Hibberd and got it.

Voters’ grade: C (43.9 per cent)
My grade: B

Michael Hibberd Essendon Bombers 2015 AFL

Fremantle Dockers

In: Cam McCarthy (GWS), Bradley Hill (Hawthorn), Joel Hamling (Western Bulldogs), Shane Kersten (Geelong), picks 7, 35, 40 and 71
Out: Chris Mayne (unrestricted free agent), picks 3, 43, 61, and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 7, 35, 40, 71, 79, 97

Four recruits could all turn out to be long term players for the club, but I fell like they’re all guys who’ve only shown a little of their potential and need to lift to be real successes. Not enough of a ‘sure thing’ factor on any of those players for me to give them top marks.

Voters’ grade: A (46.3 per cent)
My grade: B

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Geelong Cats

In: Zach Tuohy, Aaron Black, picks 24, 64, 72, 2017 second-round pick (Carlton)
Out: Shane Kersten, Josh Caddy, Billie Smedts, Nathan Vardy, picks 56, 92, 2017 first-round pick
2016 draft picks: 24, 38, 42, 64, 72 and 74

The Cats’ eyes were too big for their stomach with Brett Deledio, they gave up Caddy way too cheaply, and dealt themselves out of the first-round of the draft until 2018 at the earliest – for little return. Time will tell but at first glance, they botched this one pretty badly.

Voters’ grade: C (38.2 per cent)
My grade: F

Gold Coast Suns

In: Pearce Hanley (Brisbane Lions), Jarrod Witts (Collingwood), Jarryd Lyons (Adelaide), picks 6, 10, 73, 2017 second-round pick (Richmond), 2017 second-round pick (Hawthorn), 2017 second-round pick (Fremantle)
Out: Jaeger O’Meara, Dion Prestia, picks 22, 24, 26, 30, 44, 62 and 80
2016 draft picks: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 73

Carried on like pork chops over Jaeger, not convinced that’s doing them any favours especially when they still ultimately caved on the offer. I like Pearce Hanley but is he really the right choice to lead cultural change?

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They gained a strong hand at the draft by trading their wantaway players, but they’re basically just back to square one, and I don’t have any faith that we won’t be back here again in 4-5 years time.

Voters’ grade: B (33.9 per cent)
My grade: D

Pearce Hanley Brisbane Lions AFL 2015

GWS Giants

In: Brett Deledio (Richmond), picks 2, 39, 45, 52, 57, 58, 59, 60, 77, 2017 second-round pick (St Kilda), 2017 second-round pick (Geelong)
Out: Cam McCarthy, Jack Steele, Paul Ahern, James Stewart, Pat McKenna, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Caleb Marchbank, Jarrod Pickett, Rhys Palmer, picks 7, 16, 35, 73, 2017 second-round pick, 2017 third-round pick
2016 draft picks: 2, 15, 37, 39, 45, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 77, 109

Swooping on Brett Deledio was the killer move of the trade period. Mature and professional in all their dealings.

Voters’ grade: A (41.6 per cent)
My grade: A+

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Hawthorn Hawks

In: Ty Vickery (Richmond, restricted free agent), Jaeger O’Meara (Gold Coast), Tom Mitchell (Sydney Swans), pick 88, 2017 second-round pick (Carlton)
Out: Bradley Hill, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, picks 14, 36, 54, 72, 2017 first-round pick and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 88, 90, 108

Went after their three big targets and got it done, but didn’t play it smart. Reckon they could easily have kept a few of those picks – and one of Sam Mitchell or Jordan Lewis – had they thought their way through things a bit more.

If any other club in the league recruited Tyrone Vickery, they’d be a laughing stock.

Voters’ grade: B (32.6 per cent)
My grade: B

Melbourne Demons

In: Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn), Michael Hibberd (Essendon), Pat McKenna (GWS), picks 47 and 69
Out: Lynden Dunn, picks 29, 48 and 66
2016 draft picks: 47, 69, 84, 102

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Brought in two great recruits in Lewis and Hibberd at low cost, though we’ll be seeing little of them in this year’s draft. Regardless, I believe they’ve primed themselves to make the finals.

Voters’ grade: A (42.1 per cent)
My grade: A

Jordan Lewis Isaac Smith Hawthorn Hawks AFL 2016

North Melbourne Kangaroos

In: Paul Ahern (GWS), Nathan Hrovat (Western Bulldogs), Marley Williams (Collingwood), picks 33 and 92, 2017 third-round pick (Western Bulldogs), 2017 fourth-round pick (Western Bulldogs)
Out: Daniel Wells, Aaron Black, picks 69 and 105
2016 draft picks: 11, 32, 33, 87, 92

Didn’t make a big splash, but picked up the right kind of players at the right kind of price. If one or more of them pans out, great, if not, well, they didn’t cost much.

Voters’ grade: C (43.6 per cent)
My grade: C

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Port Adelaide Power

In: Picks 14, 17, 30 and 31
Out: Picks 19, 49, 67, and 2017 first-round pick
2016 draft picks: 14, 17, 30, 31, 85 and 103

Traded into a strongish hand at this year’s draft but potentially gave up two top ten picks in the process, so I’m not convinced they’ve won out with what they’ve got here. Their larger list management strategy does not seem to be going well.

Voters’ grade: D (39.4 per cent)
My grade: D

Richmond Tigers

In: Dion Prestia, Toby Nankervis, Josh Caddy, picks 27, 56, 2017 first-round pick (Geelong), 2017 third-round pick (GWS)
Out: Brett Deledio, Ty Vickery, picks 6, 46, 64, and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 27, 56, 82 and 100

Took them a while to get involved but when they did they were excellent. Paid a fair price for Prestia, got Caddy incredibly cheap, and secured an excellent return for Deledio. Top of the class.

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Voters’ grade: B (33.5 per cent)
My grade: A+

Dion Prestia Gold Coast Suns AFL 2016

St Kilda Saints

In: Jack Steele (GWS), Nathan Brown (Collingwood), Koby Stevens (Western Bulldogs), picks 23, 36, and 2017 first-round pick (Hawthorn)
Out: Picks 10, 68, and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 23, 36, 50, 86, 104

I’m not as blown away as some others here – Steele I like, and the picks swap with the Hawks was canny, but not sure Brown or Stevens add anything worth having.

Voters’ grade: A (45.1 per cent)
My grade: B

Sydney Swans

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In: Picks 9, 19, 46 and 49
Out: Tom Mitchell, Toby Nankervis, picks 17, 39 and 57
2016 draft picks: 9, 19, 46, 49, 93, 111

Got unders for Tom Mitchell but a nifty little swap into the top ten of the draft has them coming out as winners in my book, albeit minor ones.

Voters’ grade: C (43.9 per cent)
My grade: B

West Coast Eagles

In: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Nathan Vardy (Geelong) and pick 54
Out: Picks 52, 70 and 88
2016 draft picks: 12, 34, 54, 106

Sam Mitchell for pick No.88. ‘Nuff said.

Voters’ grade: B (40.5 per cent)
My grade: A

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Shaun Burgoyne Sam Mitchell AFL Hawthorn Hawks 2016

Western Bulldogs

In: Travis Cloke, picks 26, 50, 80, 2017 third-round pick (North Melbourne), 2017 fourth-round pick (North Melbourne), 2017 round-five selection (St Kilda)
Out: Joel Hamling, Nathan Hrovat, Koby Stevens, picks 40, 63, 76, 2017 third-round pick, 2017 fourth-round pick
2016 draft picks: 18, 26, 50, 75, 80, 94, 112

Couldn’t decide if they were in or out on Brett Deledio and as a result, they were out. Unlike most, I reckon Cloke could be a masterstroke. Mature in their dealings to trade away fringe players.

Voters’ grade: C (50.9 per cent)
My grade: C

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