In one of the busiest trade weeks in recent memory (factoring in the GWS ‘mini draft’), many clubs and players have benefitted greatly from their respective moves. Here are the winners and losers from trade week.
Even the unexpected deals will undoubtedly prove fruitful for the clubs involved, and the long expected trades have come through benefitting all parties.
Every club bar Carlton took part in the annual meat market, with only a few unable to complete a deal but, as is usually the case, some clubs have done better than others.
The high profile trade of the round, Mitch Clark to Melbourne, is an example of a club doing well, while another fails tragically.
Melbourne have pulled of the trade coup of the year, obtaining a hard edged, versatile tall on a four year contract- that kind of deal doesn’t appear every day.
Ultimately the Demons benefitted from the stand still which occurred between the Dockers and Lions, which is proof that there is such a thing as too much haggling.
Melbourne now have a back-up to Jamar in the ruck as well as the power forward they’ve been craving since the departure of David Neitz.
From a marketing and publicity point of view, the big haired, tattoo sporting giant may also go a long way towards being a marketing dream, helping with moving on from the loss of Tom Scully.
Fremantle, on the other hand clearly paid the price for complacency.
As has been revealed so often over the course of the last two years, players are now more savvy as to what they are worth than ever, and will choose security, opportunity and the promise of a good life after football over personal club loyalty.
So to release a press release hinting at Clarke’s desire to come to the club at all costs when a suitable deal had still not been finalised has left the Dockers with egg on their face, and smacks of arrogance.
Even if Fremantle had all but secured his signature, they should of kept their powder dry and their public persona set to firmly on ‘quietly optimistic’.
Melbourne isn’t the only club to benefit by securing a ruckman.
Port Adelaide’s much understated deal with ex-Hawk Brent Renouf has shored up the Powers ruck stocks for the next few seasons while providing badly needed support and guidance for young Matthew Lobbe.
Richmond, in one of the more expected deals of the week, also sured up their big man department with the underated and much maligned ex-Crow Ivan Maric.
Meanwhile Adelaide, normally quiet players in trade week, have picked up untrade Essendon big man Josh Jenkins.
The new kids on the block, however, have clearly won the title of biggest and best player.
It takes serious intestinal fortitude to attempt what the Giants attempted in getting, then trading, then trading back Jaeger O’Meara, the ‘next Judd’ as he’s been described, in a five-way deal from hell.
Although it didn’t work, the deal was a gutsy attempt to impose themselves on the AFL drafting world- summed up beautifully by JackBoards’ article ‘Sheedy building a giant monster out west.’
However five first round-draft picks to go with their current picks, as well as two priority picks, Luke Power, Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan is good value in any language.
The Giants have masterfully set themselves up for a premiership off the back of their first experience in the AFL Business, and all that remains to be seen is just how long it will take for the ultimate prize to be revealed.
So I hereby crown the GWS Giants this year’s trade week best and fairest. Fair play and good health to the junior Giants!
Shane
Guest
I appreciate this may sound far fetched, but the way Tommy Walsh seems to have been handled throughout the year when it appeared obvious to Saints supporters he should have got a game, one could think Ross knew he was going and arranged for his mate John Longmire to pick him up cheap. Something does not smell right about the trade and how if I was Tommy Walsh I wouldn't want anything to do with a mate of his, just a though!
Adrian
Guest
No mention of some other strong players from the past week; Sydney, seem to have done well in poaching Tom Walsh. They desperately needed a strong forward to propel them into top four territory, and, as with Mumford a few years ago, may well have done a good job in assessing a potentialy strong player being under rewarded by another club. Also, have once again backed themselves to turn other team's fringe players into quality with Morton and Armstrong. Adelaide have markedly changed their approach to the circus, aggresively pursuing the big trade for Crouch, but balancing this with the saviness to nab Brown as well for excellent value. They have succesfully covered all the deficiencies exposed by players walking out, admittedly with a likely drop in potential. They have done very well to make the best of a bad situation. Collingwood have clearly judged the draft class this year to be poor, and have instead picked up a number of mature players at bargain basement price, at worst they will add useful depth to a strong side. Clearly focusing on making hay now. Also, Geelong, whislt only making one trade, got excellent value with two picks in the thirties, and are obviously happy to back their development program to once again produce the goods. Have to admire the way this club is going about it right now. Hawthorn adding Gunston at the right price will work wonders for their team, look for Roughhead to play back next time Cloke is tearing them up in a final, without sacrificing too much potency up forward. The best forward line in the AFL likely to get much better next year.
TW
Guest
Cattery, Totally agree about Mitch Clarke - see my comments on your free agency thread
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Considering that the calibre of player put forward in negotiations was either pretty low, or involved extremely young, untried players, then you'd have to conclude that GWS is the winner having nabbed 11 of 14 of the first draft selections. Surely the joke is on Melbourne in paying over the odds for what is an average player? The 2nd winner of trade week? It may have been Carlton who did nothing either way.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
The real coup for GWS are the compo picks - they now own much of the compensation from players moving to Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast. This is important because it will let them "reload" on talent in 2014 with another three (!) first round picks, right at the time they start losing talented players, and cutting less talented ones, at the end of their first contracts.