Well folks, after much anticipation, the time has arrived. At 10am today (AEDT), the 2016 AFL trade period will officially open!
» All the trade rumours
» List of free agents
» Every trade and free agency move
Now, don’t explode with excitement too much, because as we all would remember from trade periods past, there’s usually little in the way of confirmed trades early on.
Like a uni student studying for an exam, the majority of the work doesn’t get done until the time the deadline starts being measured in hours, not days. (Click to Tweet)
For the record, trade period officially closes at 2pm (AEDT) next Thursday, October 20.
So what trades might we see on the first day? The most likely one is Travis Cloke moving to the Western Bulldogs on a two-year deal.
This deal seems to be more or less already sorted out – Cloke has agreed to a contract with the Dogs, and Collingwood and the Bulldogs have probably already settled on what the trade will be.
It’s expected the Magpies will gain just a third or fourth round pick for Cloke. While that’s little return, they’ll probably be happy enough just to clear some salary cap room and get rid of a perpetual selection headache by moving him on.
Another trade that is reportedly likely to get done early, possibly on the first day, is Cam McCarthy’s move to Fremantle.
The word is that this trade will see a number of pick swaps between the Giants and the Dockers, quite possibly involving Fremantle’s pick No.3.
Outside of that? Well, it’s hard to say.
Clubs are going to focus on the big fish before looking at players of lesser note, but those big-name trades are also the ones that will take a while to nut out.
One deal that will likely go through however is Tyrone Vickery’s move to Hawthorn. Vickery agreed to a two-year contract with the Hawks on Friday, and this afternoon is the deadline for Richmond to say whether or not they will match the offer.
It’s believed they have decided not to match, with it being reported that Vickery will earn $1 million on his two-year deal, probably enough to net Richmond a second-round or end-of-second-round draft pick.
Not a massive return for a guy once drafted in the top ten, but much like Collingwood and Cloke, it’ll mean salary cap space and one less headache around the club. The Tigers will be happy with that.
Daniel Wells and Chris Mayne could also both land at Collingwood today. Free agency is only open till 5pm on Sunday this week – October 16 – so the Pies will be looking to get these deals done as soon as possible and move on to other matters.
There wasn’t a whole lot of action on the rumours front on Sunday, but a few tidbits did emerge.
It’s been known for a while now that Fremantle are interested in out-of-contract Bulldogs premiership player Joel Hamling, and yesterday the news surfaced that Hamling’s potential Freo deal is bigger than what the Bulldogs have offered and he is seriously considering a move.
It makes a degree of sense; he is a Western Australian, so the go-home factor is always there, plus the increased deal and likely greater job security at the Dockers would be very appealing. Still, he might decide to stick with the Dogs all the same – walking away from premiership teammates would be a hard thing to do.
The chances of Steven Motlop leaving Geelong look to be increasing, with it being reported he had meetings with Richmond last week to potentially discuss joining the Tigers.
Michael Barlow is said by some to no longer be in the mix for the Gold Coast Suns – with no clear reason as to why that is – which leaves him without a clear potential destination for 2017.
Hayden Ballantyne is likely to join the West Coast Eagles in exchange for a third-round draft pick, though the Eagles may wait until other deals are finalised before officially making the offer.
St Kilda have thrown their hat in the ring for Koby Stevens, who is a chance to leave the Western Bulldogs. Essendon were seen as the club most likely to gain his services.
Sydney’s Toby Nankervis will make a decision this week on whether or not to seek a trade, with Richmond expected to be his most likely destination if he leaves.
Eric Mackenzie is likely to stay at the West Coast Eagles, despite some interest from other clubs.
Macca
Guest
I read today the blues want a second round pick instead of him - given how highly Sammy values him Adelaide should be able to trade him for that no worries and pass the pick on to us.
The Original Buzz
Guest
The latest on Lyons in the Gibbs to Adelaide deal: "The 24-year-old has been linked to Carlton as part of discussions to send Bryce Gibbs to the Crows, but it is now unlikely he will be part of that deal. "
Macca
Guest
Ha, I am sure they do!
The Original Buzz
Guest
I think it is a smart move by Wells. 3years is more than he will get at any other club.
The Original Buzz
Guest
There have been a few names mentioned here in SA. Not many of them good though. Mitch Grigg was mentioned, is an average player around the likes of Simon White. He won't go anyway. Lyons would be reasonable, looks to be a player that could give some good service but not sure if he has enough to be elite though. I hear they want to give us Menzel back....
Macca
Guest
Sammy - I went to Footy wire and hit the compare tab - take a look Lyons only bests Gibbs in goal assists 0.9 to 0.7, contested possessions 10.4 to 9.6 and contested marks 0.2 to 0 - if you have other stats please provide them. I will say this though - for Ave possessions per game Gibbs ranked equal 31st with Luke parker on the Afl site, Lyons ranked equal 96th with Danyle Pearce - so not that close at all really. And for you to directrly qute stats you need to actually quote them - not allude to them
sammy
Guest
Those lyons stats are not the ones on the AFL website that I directly quoted in a post above which are quite close to Gibbs for this season.. go back and do a proper look
dave
Guest
If Hawthorn somehow manage to get all the players linked to them and I reckon they will. The AFL might need to look at a way to make the interstate teams more attractive.I mean Its perfectly natural as a young player turning professional you would want to play in Victoria for one of the big clubs at the MCG as opposed to having to catch a plane every second week. Maybe some extra money would help sway a few but please please please don't call it a cost of living allowance.
dave
Guest
If Freo get Mcarthy and Petrovski-Seton(I'l learn his name If we draft him) all is good. Hill would be nice.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Bryce Gibbs is off to the Giants in 2017 for a set of Gold Star Pokemon cards and a harbourside mansion at Mosman.
Macca
Guest
I would have thought the 7and 3 pick exchange was better for both, especially if the dockers want the pick for Hill
Macca
Guest
Sammy - it sent her opinion, the blues aren't giving up on keeping Gibbs and believe his personal issues (wanting to have more family support to help with his kid) can be overcome. She goes on to say that he will get to the Crows but the blues hold the whip hand. As for the 2 first round picks he clearly isn't going to go for that but it is an opening gambit - but the strength of it clearly shows the blues aren't just going to take what they can get. As for Lyons stats I have had a look and they are no where near Gibbs, 25% down on disposals, less tackles, less inside 50s, less rebound 50s less marks, less clearances, less 1%ers pretty much less everything - Gibbs even had the same scoring shots despite playing less time forward- throw in the fact it is Lyons only good year the they aren't even remotely the same. And who said anything about getting Pickett and Marchbank for 23? I have always said I would take Marchbank alone for 23 but the talk of Pickett, Marchbank & Stewart for 13 is very doable.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Interesting tweet from Perth sports radio show: 6PR SportsToday @6PRSportsToday 45m45 minutes ago Hagdorn says the Cam McCarthy deal has been done for a long time. The compensation pick for Mayne committed to the Giants. The significance of this is that many Freo fans were hoping to use the Mayne compensation pick to get Hill. I'm not sure how high that Mayne compensation is meant to be - perhaps early to mid 2nd round?
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Sammy, Marchbank has played 7 senior games and Pickett hasn't played a senior game and is recovering from a serious foot injury. Just because they went first round does not mean they are still worth first rounds so I agree with Macca that Carlton could get Marchbank with pick 23 and Pickett could probably be got with a late third round pick providing he passed a medical. As for the Gibbs trade pick 13 and Lyons would be fair and no way would you be getting back an early second round pick.
Sammy
Guest
Emma has her opinion and carlton have to want to trade but if they dont elect to trade gibbs may not be the player they want him to be as he has cited personal reasons to come home and he has decided he does not want to be at carlton anymore. As for the crows needing to come up with 2first round picks...yeah and why not throw in tex walker and daniel talie...pure fantasy. At best it will involve a straight swap for pick 13 or will include a swap of picks and a player
Macca
Guest
Emma Quayle has an interesting article discussing the Gibbs trade, she claims the blues are by no means conceding and the Crows are going to have to make a good offer to get him out - should be an interesting week.
Sammy
Guest
Go check lyons stats this year. They stack up up quite close to gibbs so if gibbs year was a standout then lyons will be an even better fit in a club that is bereft of small forward / midfielder types. Shame that he plays a role that adelaide have lots of like type players and you dont drop eddie or mcgovern or douglas or charlie cameron or rory atkins or tom lynch. As for getting picket AND marchbank...both 1st round picks in their own right..you got no hope for pick 23 for both and silvagni will know that. But the crows know that they will get a 2nd round pick for lyons whether that be from carlton or brisbane or north melbourne etc. so carlton might miss out on him
Macca
Guest
Sammy - have a look at this article in the age from Emma Quayle. Gibbs' demand for trade forces Carlton Blues to make a tough call
Josh
Expert
As mentioned by Paul, I don't think Port have anything in the realm of the cap space required.
Josh
Expert
I reckon that trade idea is about fair but if I was the Suns I'd say no to Motlop, they've got a lot of players like him already and I don't think he'd help to improve the professionalism around the club which is what the Suns really need. Same goes for Hanley, to be honest.