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The Roar's 2017 AFL trade period report card - every club graded, as voted by you

Expert
20th October, 2017
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Crows recruit Bryce Gibbs. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Expert
20th October, 2017
232
22593 Reads

The 2017 AFL trade and free agency period came to an end yesterday and we asked you to help us grade the performance of every club.

Thanks to all those who put in their votes. We’ve tallied them up and I’ve put in my own personal grades for each club as well. In some cases you and I are on the same page – in others, that is very much not the case!

Adelaide Crows

In: Bryce Gibbs, Sam Gibson, pick 12, pick 39, pick 77, Melbourne’s 2018 first-round pick, Carlton’s 2018 second-round pick, Carlton’s 2018 third-round pick, Melbourne’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Out: Jake Lever, Charlie Cameron, Harrison Wigg, pick 16, pick 54, pick 73, pick 91, Adelaide’s 2018 second-round pick, Adelaide’s 2018 third-round pick, Adelaide’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Adelaide overpaid for Bryce Gibbs – there’s no way to get around that fact when you look at the sheer amount of draft capital given up to secure him.

However, by virtue of the inclusion of a future second-round pick from Carlton, the deal is a better one than it was last year, and worth doing to give the team some hope of improvement on the personnel front next year.

Further to that, they more than balanced this out by getting a very good return for Jake Lever, and a significantly overvalue return for Charlie Cameron.

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They lost those players, and that’s a bummer, but at the end of the day they’ve got the mature midfielder they want to bolster their team, pick 12 this year, and two-maybe-three top 20 picks next year.

Also, thanks for giving Gibbo a lifeline.

The Crowd’s grade: B (53 per cent)
My grade: A

Bryce Gibbs Sam Gibson Adelaide Crows AFL

(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Brisbane Lions

In: Charlie Cameron, Luke Hodge, pick 15, pick 18, pick 40, pick 44.

Out: Tom Rockliff, Josh Schache, pick 12, pick 20, pick 43, pick 75.

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Brisbane successfully landed both of the players that they wanted to in Charlie Cameron and Luke Hodge, while finding deals for those they wanted to move on, albeit not until the final moments of the trade period.

However they didn’t really win any of their individual deals – pick 12 for Charlie Cameron is overpaying no matter how you look at it, and picks 25 and 40 for Josh Schache goes vastly in the opposite direction.

It should be an enormous concern for the AFL that a Queensland-based team is forced to pay so much to bring a local player home, but is expected to receive so little in return for a Victorian player who wants to leave.

The Schache deal was made even worse by the fact they then used pick 25 to upgrade pick 20 to pick 15 – is that really all a bloke taken at pick 2 in 2015 was worth?

The net result is that they’ve essentially traded Tom Rockliff and Josh Schache for Charlie Cameron and two years of Luke Hodge, plus some minor pick shuffling. That’s not good.

The Crowd’s grade: B (46 per cent)
My grade: D

Carlton Blues

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In: Matthew Kennedy, Darcy Lang, Matthew Lobbe, pick 10, pick 30, pick 73, Bulldogs’ 2018 second-round pick, Adelaide’s 2018 second-round pick, Geelong’s 2018 second-round pick.

Out: Bryce Gibbs, pick 40, pick 58, pick 95, Carlton’s 2018 second-round pick, Carlton’s 2018 third-round pick, Carlton’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Carlton finally made the call to trade Bryce Gibbs and it was a good one – they got a more than fair price from the Adelaide Crows considering his age, and that allowed them to spin off minor pieces into deals for Matthew Kennedy and Darcy Lang.

In addition to that they still get to keep a good hand at this year’s draft boasting two picks inside the top 10 and another inside the top 30.

Trading out most of their own future picks for the 2018 draft is something that could come back to haunt them if they once again have a low finish, and that seems more likely than not with Gibbs gone.

However they’ve balanced it out by investing in other clubs’ second-round picks which should help them match bids for what might be a bumper crop of father-son players in 2018.

The Crowd’s grade: B (37 per cent)
My grade: A

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Collingwood Magpies

In: Sam Murray, pick 70, Sydney’s 2018 third-round pick.

Out: Collingwood’s 2018 second-round pick.

Collingwood made only a single transaction for the entire trade period, and that transaction was to trade out their 2018 second-round pick – potentially a top 25 pick if they again have a bad year – for a rookie-listed player with no profile and who has never played a game, and some spare change.

That restructure of the list management team cannot come soon enough.

The Crowd’s grade: D (45 per cent)
My grade: F

Essendon Bombers

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In: Jake Stringer, Devon Smith, Adam Saad, GWS’ 2018 second-round pick.

Out: Pick 11, pick 30, Essendon’s 2018 second-round pick, Essendon’s 2018 third-round pick.

The Bombers identified three very talented targets and managed to secure them all without selling the farm to do so – vitally, they still retain their first-round pick in next year’s draft. Bravo.

Jake Stringer obviously has some ways to go before he can really be considered a winner but if in his time at Essendon he hits form anywhere near the level of his 2015 season he’ll have been a massive bargain.

Devon Smtih and Adam Saad are both your classic underrated types who Victorian fans will now get a closer look at and come to love. Smith in particular will surprise many with just how high his cieling is.

The Crowd’s grade: A (68 per cent)
My grade: A

Adrian Dodoro Essendon Bombers AFL

(Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)

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Fremantle Dockers

In: Nathan Wilson, Brandon Matera, pick 2, pick 66, pick 71, pick 83.

Out: Lachie Weller, Harley Balic, Hayden Crozier, Fremantle’s 2018 second-round pick, Fremantle’s 2018 third-round pick, Fremantle’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Things looked to be teetering on the edge of disaster when Lachie Weller asked for a trade – Wilson in, Weller out didn’t really seem like much of a net gain of talent this year, if any at all.

But then Fremantle asked for pick 2 for Weller – a fine young player, but by no means worth pick 2 – and they got it. Snowballs have had better chances of success in hell than that request did, and yet here we are.

As a result Fremantle have two top five picks at the draft (while still retaining next year’s first) and a roughly even amount of talent coming into versus going out of the club. Winner winner.

The Crowd’s grade: A (52 per cent)
My grade: A

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Geelong Cats

In: Gary Ablett, pick 24, pick 58, Richmond’s 2018 third-round pick, Gold Coast’s 2018 fourth-round pick, Carlton’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Out: Steven Motlop, Darcy Lang, pick 53, Geelong’s 2018 second-round pick, Geelong’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

The Cats completed their mission in this trade period which was to land Gary Ablett and, thanks to the wildly unbalanced free agency compensation pick that came their way from the AFL, managed to do so while retaining two top 25 picks this year, although they gave up their 2018 second-rounder.

However, they did ultimately fall short on pursuits for both Jake Stringer and Jack Watts, and lost Darcy Lang – for a team that has talked about ‘rebuilding’ its list, their focus was entirely on recruiting a 33-year-old.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m as excited as anyone for the second coming, and it may well win Geelong a flag in the short term – but if you take the sentiment out of this it would be seen as a significant gamble.

The Crowd’s grade: B (43 per cent)
My grade: B

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Gary Ablett AFL Geelong Cats

(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Gold Coast Suns

In: Lachie Weller, Aaron Young, Harrison Wigg, pick 19, pick 41, pick 50, pick 54, West Coast’s 2018 first-round pick, Essendon’s 2018 second-round pick, Geelong’s 2018 second-round pick, Fremantle’s 2018 third-round pick.

Out: Gary Ablett, Adam Saad, Brandon Matera, pick 2, pick 21, pick 24, pick 26, pick 37, Gold Coast’s 2016 second-round pick.

Pick 2 for Lachie Weller.

Look, I understand the argument that a somewhat mature player who actively wants to be at the club is potentially more valuable to Gold Coast then a new draftee, no matter how talented.

I understand the point of view that Weller is more likely be at the club in four years time than a fresh draftee, who may leave for peanuts after his initial contract.

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But that kind of defeatist logic should not be used by AFL list managers. If you’re giving up on your ability to retain players before they even arrive at the club, you’re going nowhere.

And if you have to pay a talented-but-not-elite player $4 million over five years and give up pick 2 in the draft just to get them to your football club, you’re not much of a football club.

The Crowd’s grade: C (34 per cent)
My grade: F

GWS Giants

In: Pick 11, pick 28, pick 57, Fremantle’s 2018 second-round pick, Essendon’s 2018 third-round pick.

Out: Devon Smith, Nathan Wilson, Matthew Kennedy, pick 25, pick 71, GWS’ 2018 second-round pick.

The Giants again made the best of a disappointing situation when several players wanted out and by moving quickly in the early part of the trade period were able to beat both Gold Coast and the Bulldogs in the race for Essendon’s pick 11.

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The Crowd’s grade: C (56 per cent)
My grade: B

Hawthorn Hawks

In: Jarman Impey, pick 43, pick 68, pick 75.

Out: Luke Hodge, pick 34, pick 44, pick 62, Hawthorn’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

What exactly is it that Hawthorn hate so much about taking draft picks anywhere in the first half of the night?

Jarman Impey offers speed and could be a solid pickup, and I appreciate that their hands were a bit tied this year by having little available to trade.

Still, it surprises me that they didn’t at least consider pursuing free agency a little more, and I’m not sure what their overall list strategy is at the moment. I’m not sure they’re sure either, which is worrying.

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The Crowd’s grade: C (50 per cent)
My grade: D

Melbourne Demons

In: Jake Lever, Harley Balic, pick 31, pick 36, Adelaide’s 2018 third-round pick.

Out: Jack Watts, pick 10, pick 66, Melbourne’s 2018 first-round pick, Melbourne’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Melbourne paid a lot to recruit Jake Lever but he will prove to be worth every penny – there’s no other player his age who is anything like him, and the Demons will find themselves a with a unique, elite player in their backline for ten years to come.

Harley Balic I like too and he came cheap. No complaints.

Unlike most I am guessing, I reckon trading out Jack Watts was a good call. He’s been little other than a headache for near on ten years and there’s a point where it’s just not worth the effort anymore.

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Melbourne will have a quiet few years at the draft table but have assembled more than enough talent to take them to the pointy end of the ladder over the next decade.

The Crowd’s grade: B (52 per cent)
My grade: A

North Melbourne Kangaroos

In: Pick 91, St Kilda’s 2018 third-round pick, West Coasts’ 2018 third-round pick.

Out: Sam Gibson, pick 46, North Melbourne’s 2018 third-round pick.

North Melbourne made noise about Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly this year but ultimately delivered nothing.

I’m glad that the Roos didn’t decide to trade in players who wouldn’t take the club forward just for the sake of appearing active, but there’s no mistaking it – this is a failed trade period.

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The Crowd’s grade: D (40 per cent)
My grade: F

Port Adelaide Power

In: Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop, Jack Watts, pick 46, pick 59, pick 62, pick 63, pick 95, St Kilda’s 2018 second-round pick, North Melbourne’s 2018 third-round pick.

Out: Jackson Trengove, Jarman Impey, Brendon Ah Chee, Aaron Young, Logan Austin, Matthew Lobbe, pick 31, Porth Adelaide’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Port Adelaide traded out six players this year and ultimately came away with no real return for any of them other than to clear out a bit of salary cap space.

This is counterbalanced by the fact that they brought in three players, certainly a net gain of talent, without really giving up anything either.

They have essentially lost depth but gained talent, and many see that as an excellent result for the Power, one that can push them to premiership contention.

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Personally, I’m a long way from being sold on the idea. Motlop and Watts have consistenly been headaches for their previous clubs and I’m not conviced things will be different at Port Adelaide.

Rockliff is a player I like and a solid enough recruit, but I have my doubts as to whether he’s the missing link between Port Adelaide and a premiership.

Acquiring Rockliff and Motlop as the only two free agents of note left on the list at the end of the year and Watts, a player rejected by his own club, feels more like taking what you can get than targetting what you need.

They haven’t sold the farm to bring in any of these players but they’ve tied up something in the area of $1.5 million to $2 million of salary cap in long-term contracts for them.

That comes at an opportunity cost and if these players don’t lift Port to the next level in 2018 they may find themselves regretting being too eager instead of waiting for the right time to strike and make a big signing.

The Crowd’s grade: A (67 per cent)
My grade: D

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

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Richmond Tigers

In: Pick 20, pick 25, pick 53.

Out: Pick 15, Richmond’s 2018 third-round pick.

Didn’t do much, didn’t need to.

The Crowd’s grade: C (45 per cent)
My grade: C

St Kilda Saints

In: Logan Austin, pick 34, Port Adelaide’s 2018 fourth-round pick, Adelaide’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

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Out: Pick 59, pick 63, St Kilda’s 2018 second-round pick, St Kilda’s 2018 third-round pick.

A variety of creative attempts to trade picks 7 and 8 for mature talent or shuffle them higher in the draft order ultimately came to naught, but that’s by no means a bad result for St Kilda, if not a particularly attention-grabbing one. There’s nothing wrong the slow, patient play.

The Crowd’s grade: C (44 per cent)
My grade: C

Sydney Swans

In: Collingwood’s 2018 second-round pick.

Out: Sam Murray, pick 70 and Sydney’s 2018 third-round pick.

Out goes the rookie who never played a game, in comes a second-round draft pick. Only a small piece of business but a very nifty one.

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The Crowd’s grade: C (40 per cent)
My grade: B

West Coast Eagles

In: Brendon Ah Chee, pick 21, pick 26, pick 37, Gold Coast’s 2018 second-round pick, Hawthorn’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Out: Pick 50, West Coast’s 2018 first-round pick, West Coast’s 2018 third-round pick.

We’ll need to see how things pan out over the next few years with the draft before definitively saying whether or not the deal with Gold Coast was a mistake, but for a team that looks headed for the cliff to trade their future first-round pick out strikes me as a recipe for disaster.

The Crowd’s grade: C (49 per cent)
My grade: D

Western Bulldogs

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In: Josh Schache, Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier, pick 16, Fremantle’s 2018 fourth-round pick.

Out: Jake Stringer, pick 28, pick 41, pick 83, Bulldogs’ 2018 second-round pick.

I thought that the Jake Stringer deal had become a lose-lose situaiton and if you looked at them accepting pick 25 and pick 30 for him that seemed to be the case.

However they followed this up by making two quality deals to bring in pick 16 and Josh Schache, essentially at the overall cost of Stringer and two second-round picks.

I still have to knock them down a few points for passsing up their chance at pick 11 when it was on the table, but they’ve ultimately done well, much better than I expected.

On Thursday morning I had them pegged for an F as the slowest students in the class, but they turned it around admirably.

The Crowd’s grade: B (35 per cent)
My grade: B

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