The countdown until the AFL’s silly season has begun! We’re just three days away from free agency, and six days away from the trade period.
Already discussions are beginning around the country in talk shows, chat forums, living rooms and of course right here on The Roar about the players who might move this year, and what their value is.
» Every trade rumour, all in one place!
» Key dates for free agency and trades
» Complete list of free agents
» Every club’s draft picks
Roarers, I’ve picked out ten players of the dozens who’ve been rumoured to be on the move this off-season, and I want to know what you think they’re worth.
To make things simple, this is the proposition we’re putting to you – if the player was going to be traded for a single draft pick, whereabouts in the draft would that fall?
We’ve broken it down into seven categories. They are:
– Top five (1-5)
– Top ten (6-10)
– Late first round (11-18)
– Early second round (19-27)
– Late second round (28-36)
– Third round (37-54)
– Fourth round or later (55+)
It wasn’t easy to pick just ten players, but I’ve picked a smattering of different types, whose value I suspect there will be a range of different opinions on. They are:
Travis Cloke – Headed to the new premiers by all reports, was All-Australian just a few years ago but his kicking and defensive work are both suspect. Not a fan favourite!
Brett Deledio – The classic battle of short term vs long term. Elite player on the half-forward flank but surely only has two or three years left, at most.
Pearce Hanley – No shortage of class and knows how to win the ball in big amounts, but haven’t seen his best form in a while and his on-field attitude, at times, has been shockingly bad.
Hamish Hartlett – Plenty of talent but often seems to be running at only sixty or seventy per cent of his potential. Port want him out, What would you pay?
Brad Hill – Three-time premiership player. Got some speed, got some skills. Still quite young too. But do some off-field headaches decrease his value?
Jarryd Lyons – Can be a bit anonymous as a minor player in a non-Victorian team, but I reckon he had a great year. Only 24 too, plenty of footy ahead of him.
Caleb Marchbank – Top ten pick two years ago, highly rated by all and sundry, but has only played a handful of games. Wants to go to the Blues, but can they afford to trade away pick 5?
Tom Mitchell – Only 23 years old, knows how to find the footy and hits the scoreboard often enough – why can’t the Swans find a few more dollars for this bloke?
Jaeger O’Meara – The ultimate risk-reward scenario. Close to the best debut year we’ve ever seen, and backed it up in his second season, but hasn’t played a game since.
Tom Rockliff – Racks up the touches and the tackles, but does he do enough damage? Maybe he’d look a bit better in a top-flight team. Is attitude a problem?
These are the big questions that AFL clubs are asking themselves right now, and Roarers, we want to know what you reckon!
Have a vote below, and we’ll publish the results later this week.
Macca
Guest
Mattyb - Motlops primary role is not that of a small forward - he plays as much if not more through the midfield. When comparing looking at his numbers this is an important distinction for while his number are good for a player like Betts, Milne or Ballantyne who don't go through the middle his number are poor for those in comparison to those who do - such as the example Don used of Stevie J, this has been clearly demonstrated. This isn't nit picking but a vital point in doing an accurate comparison. His numbers are even worse when you look beyond the average to who he performs against poor teams when Geelong win big to how he performs against good teams or when Geelong get done.
mattyb
Guest
And here we go with the nitpicking that will undoubtedly go on in a similar fashion to Jupiter's orbit. Motlops primary role is that of a small forward. If he was to be traded the club that picks him up would do so with the primary purpose of using him as a small forward. Players spend time in other positions,so what? Hawkins has been known to go into the ruck but he's a key forward. Sanderlands has spent time in the goal square but he's a Ruckman. Comprehension obviously does get more difficult when people try and muddy the dialogue.
Macca
Guest
Once again you show your legendary lack of comprehension. Milne, Ballantyne and Betts are small forwards and don't go through the midfield - the stats I posted above would be good for those type of players. Motlop is a forward whole spends at least an equal amount of time in the midfield (if not more) - he is not what I would deem a "small forward" and therefore the numbers Iposted are not good for that type of player. You said Motlop is replacing Steve Johnson which is the perfect example - in his prime between 2011 and 2014 Johnson didn't once average below 22 possessions and peaked at 28.7 in 2013 - Motlop has only once in his career reached 22 possessions (2015 at 22 even) and this year averaged just 19.5. Also Johnson averages 1.8 goals per game over his career - Motlop is at just 1.4. On top of that (and this is the main point of the numbers I posted above) Motlop pads his average by dominating the weaker sides but goes missing against the better sides or when the Cats lose.
Don Freo
Guest
Good observation, Macca. They are small and they are forwards too. That makes them small forwards.
Macca
Guest
Don, Stephen Milne was a small forward, Ballantyne is a small forward - Motlop spends plenty of time in the mid field so isn't exclusively a forward who isn't big
Don Freo
Guest
He is a forward...and he is not big. Of course he is a small forward...he is their Stevie J replacement and he does ok.
Macca
Guest
Don -I live in South West Victoria, Geelong is the most supported club. They might be good numbers for a small forward but Motlop isn't a small forward. And i don't disagree with the words you associates use, just when you match them with words like inconsistent, lazy and undisciplined they don't mean much.
Don Freo
Guest
Those are very good numbers for a small forward. Your stats agree with Geoff but your tone doesn't. Motlop is excellent. I'd expect you don't know that many Geelong supporters. All the Geelong supporters I know love him. "All" is more comprehensive than "every". Words like stunning, magic, mercurial, lightning are often used by the aforementioned "all".
13th Man
Guest
To think we (Fremantle) offered him a million a season!!! Glad that didn't happen!
13th Man
Guest
Think you are over valuing Hill, according to the West the deal is done, it will be the compensation for Mayne (probably pick 22) which will be on-traded to Hawthorn for Hill, effectively Freo getting Hill for Mayne, Hawks picking up 22 and the Pies getting Mayne..... the loser out of that deal is the Pies in my opinion!!!!
13th Man
Guest
More likely West Coast than Fremantle, I think Freo will look at Shane Kersten as he's younger.
13th Man
Guest
I would love Freo to bring Pickett home, do a deal with GWS for McCarthy and Pickett, would be very happy with that.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
I agree with most of that SportsFan. I think Hanley is worth a late first round. He's been a bit inconsistent. Rockliff might lack pace but he'd be phenomenal help in a team that had more support around him. And he is so consistent - whoever picks him up will know they will get a gun every single week. I think he's best suited at Crows, Demons, Tigers or Hawks. The Pies should target him miles ahead of Wells.
Tricky
Guest
It looks obvious, Bucks is having a tilt at the 8 to save his backside - at the detriment of the long term sustainability. Me thinks Derek & co in recruiting don't have a say at the Holden centre. Totally goes against the spin Collingwood have been sprouting the last few years about youth for the medium to long term.
Tricky
Guest
WB will offer up pick 71 to the Pies for Cloke - oh how the mighty power forward that he once was has fallen. Be lucky to get in the 22 next season even if the dogs continue current trend with injuries. Wouldn't have thought he be worth more than a 3rd round anyway.
jim
Guest
The Giants need to get rid of players for money and to make room on their list. So pick five for marchbank, Stewart, Steele and Picket or pick 15. If someone is to give a high first round for Touhy. Sos would be happy.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Pumping Dougie - Congrats on the GF win for your Doggies first off! Secondly on the Rockliff potential trade - I honestly believe that the Lions need to make it happen. He will attract a First Round Pick for the Club who is once again full rebuild mode. Rockliff is an accumulator but doesn't possess speed or an overly long kick so any team on the up that requires an extractor that can tackle all day would do will to pick him up. The Crows for one could give Sloane a shop out by getting Rockliff into that side and Rockliff can then train with the aim of playing in front of 50K a week at Adelaide Oval and finals in September. Sending Hanley on his way will also attract a First Rounder and that solves two massive issues the Lions have currently: 1. Not enough First Round Picks, and 2. Two players who by all reports have been divisive in the playing group and would possibly flourish with a fresh start under new administrations. If the Lions can enter the draft with Pick 2 alongside Rockliff pick, Hanley pick and Priority Pick 19 and their picks in the 20's, this gives the new combo of Noble and Fagan the kick start they need for the rebuild at the Lions, which is essentally at Year 1 in 2017.
mattyb
Guest
Nice upsell there Dougie.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
I reckon Rockliff is the pick of this year's trade talks - ahead of Mitchell, O'Meara, Prestia, Motlop, Hanley, Hartlett, etc. (wow, some very good players being discussed - and I haven't even mentioned budding superstar Lin Jong). He'd be a guaranteed gun in most sides and still has at least 5 years of good footy in him. He'd be a better get for Tigers than Prestia. Would be handy at Adelaide, Melbourne and Hawks too.
Macca
Guest
Also Motlop got more than 25 touches 4 times this year, the opponents were Brisbane, Gold Coast, Bulldogs & Freo. He got less than 15 touches 4 times - the opponents were Sydney, Melbourne, Collingwood & GWS. He got between 15 & 17 touches 7 times the opponents were Hawthorn (twice), Richmond, Sydney, Carlton, North & St Kilda. Looks to me he does really well against poor sides and not so well against good sides or when the team loses.