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They’re the new kids on the block and no one likes them. But with just a morsel of integrity, they can change their entire public image by trading for Lance Franklin. The catch – Buddy needs to request it.
The notion of offering something for someone who is essentially ‘free’ via free agency sounds farfetched. In fact, one of the reasons free agency was bought in was because teams refused to trade for certain players who were out of contract.
And that’s why Franklin needs to initiate the trade.
If GWS were to show a kind heart by offering Hawthorn reasonable compensation for one of the league’s best players, the good will can go a long way.
With all the GWS-haters out there waiting for the blood of this allegedly failing franchise, they have a wonderful opportunity to act with integrity in a league where allegiances and loyalty are no longer existent.
Six years ago, we saw Chris Judd move from West Coast to Carlton via a trade. While free agency did not exist at the time, Chris Judd took the initiative and requested a trade be made rather than he enter the preseason draft
Had Judd entered the draft, West Coast would have received nothing and there would have been plenty of resentment across the league directed at Judd. It would have been identical to the feelings towards Kurt Tippett by Adelaide fans at present.
Each passing week seemingly increases the chance of Franklin departing Hawthorn and fans are warming to the idea of his departure freeing up crucial salary cap space. The excellent form of Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston also slightly alleviates the pain.
In order for a trade to be done, GWS must offer more via a trade than Hawthorn would receive as compensation from the AFL.
The departures of Gary Ablett from Geelong and Tom Scully from Melbourne landed each of the respective teams with a Band 1 draft pick and a Band 2 draft pick. Those picks gave each team a first round pick to be used directly after their allocated first round pick (dependent on ladder position) and a middle of the first round in the years they nominated to use them.
Hawthorn should expect to receive the same compensation which would be picks 10 and a pick around 19 in the draft, assuming they stay near the top of the ladder.
So far, Hawthorn has been furious with this probable outcome, but they shouldn’t actually be bothered.
Their frustration is merely a PR move to get the most out of the AFL, polarising Franklin and GWS.
Quite frankly, picks 10 and 19 are reasonable compensation for Buddy because he’s not quite as good as Ablett but he’s much better than Scully. But the Hawks will never admit that.
GWS have a lot of talented young kids and will also have draft picks to deal. If a deal can be brokered with Hawthorn, it would be a win-win situation and there should be no ill feelings towards Buddy or GWS.
Just look at Judd. It’s impossible to hate the guy and Eagles fans grin when they see Josh Kennedy on the field in their colours.
It looks like GWS are going to have the first overall draft pick but if they land Buddy, it is unlikely they will take Tom Boyd, the best prospect of the draft who happens to also be a key position player.
Suggestions have been floated that they will trade the first overall pick and that would make sense. They should have no problem getting two first round picks in exchange, most likely a middle and end of first round pick. Reasonable players could also be exchanged.
This would require plenty of dealing with third parties in order to get a the right picks for Franklin but that will be no problem because GWS currently has an abundance of stockpiled draft picks up their sleeve.
As part of all the raids by GWS and Gold Coast over the past three years, there are quite a few compensation picks still in the system which are yet to be used. GWS just happen to hold most of them and they’re pretty good picks
They possess an end of first round pick which they acquired from Gold Coast as part of the Jack Martin deal and has not yet been activated.
They also hold a middle of first round pick which they received from Gold Coast as part of the Jaeger O’Meara deal which has been activated an is likely to be pick 11 in this year’s draft.
While it is too late for GWS or Hawthorn to activate the end of first round pick for the upcoming draft, it is valid until the 2015 draft. By then, the value of the compensation pick will be much higher to Hawthorn who is likely to be in greater need of kids than at present.
While Buddy can walk away from Hawthorn, scorning his onetime loving supporters, he doesn’t have to. If he follows Chris Judd’s lead, he has the chance to walk away with dignity and repay the club where he forged his career.
GWS would command respect for their goodwill towards Hawthorn and it would be a win-win situation for all parties involved.
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