Trade week has, once again, witnessed a lot of intrigue for little actual result. As the week rolls on, footy fans and journalists alike stay glued to their computer screens, radios, TVs, newspapers and exhaust every rumour mill, inside source, prophets and self confessed gurus they know for any piece of news.
And for nothing.
Most years, trades are known about and all but completed in theory and principle before the week even begins.
All that happens from Monday to Thursday is boring and scandal free haggling over price.
Every year has one big mover- the past big names have been Luke Ball from St Kilda to Collingwood, Justin Sherman from Brisbane to the Western Bulldogs and, the biggest one in recent years, Chris Judd to Carlton.
This year’s big trade talk has surrounded Mitch Clarke from Brisbane to a Western Australian club, and so far- nothing. No deal done, no life in the proceedings at all.
And we shouldn’t be surprised – a real deal probably won’t be completed until Friday and even then it will probably still involve Fremantle, a series of draft picks and some second tear player as a set of steak knives. No surprises or intrigue there!
By know most will be asking- why do even need intrigue and scandal in trade week?
For the most part trade week is what it is- a necessity, allowing clubs to restock their lists or for players to make their moves before the Draft. No drama needed, right? Just get it done and enjoy or lament at the results and move on.
Consider this then.
Next years trade period will be extended to three weeks. Just under a month of pointless news updates about clubs haggling over price.
And this month will dominate the footy news from grand final weekend to draft week. And those of us hungry for any skerrick of football news will spend this month in sweets of withdrawal.
If the AFL want this time as publicized as they seem to, time for a revamp.
With the confusion of the 17 year old ‘mini draft’ out of the way, I say we should cut out the filler, and condense the period to a singular (or perhaps staggered) event(s).
Throughout these three weeks, allow haggling and posturing for four days, Monday to Thursday.
No actual deals can be approved by the AFL over these four days, only handshakes between clubs and players, remembering free agency will mean individuals will be searching out new homes and good deals.
Then, come the Friday of that week, have a draft day-esque ceremony, where all deals are done.
Think of the marketing- the AFL can film the ‘event,’ selling the rights to foxtel or seven, who turn the whole thing into a Friday night prime time special.
The intrigue would continue, and we’ll still be champing at the bit, but at least a bit of glamour and formality will be put into deals.
For the sake of the 18 clubs that will be involved, as well as the players moving around on their own accord, a singular ‘Trade Day’ is unrealistic, but three weeks might see a ridiculous amount of empty posturing and wasted oxygen.
Two weeks, the first for clubs, the second for players, and two Trade Days, should be all that’s needed.
Lets get rid of the hot air and lacklustre attempts at making the week exciting. Condense, refine and formalise the deals, and give footy fans something to actually look forward to.
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